Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first and second glazing layers, first and second transitional layers extending between the first and second glazing layers that guide light emitted from a light source, and a third glazing layer extending between the first and second transitional layers through which light emitted from the light source is guided. The light-control panel also includes a light extraction layer extending between the third glazing layer and one of the first and second transitional layers that distributes light emitted from the light source. The first and second transitional layers have refractive indices that gradually decrease from a first value at surfaces proximate to the first and second glazing layers to a second value at surfaces proximate to the third glazing layer in the stack-up of the light-control panel.

An optical device that includes a light guide plate, a first deflection means, arranged on at least one of a first surface or a second surface of the light guide plate, that deflects light incident on the light guide plate to cause the light incident on the light guide plate to be totally reflected inside the light guide plate, and a second deflection means, arranged on at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the light guide plate, that deflects the light propagated inside the light guide plate by total reflection to cause the light propagated inside the light guide plate by total reflection to be emitted from the light guide plate. The light guide plate further includes a substrate including a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface, a first planarizing film, formed on the first surface of the substrate, containing an organic material, and a second planarizing film, formed on the second surface of the substrate, containing an organic material. The substrate 500 can contain a resin material.

A waveguide for a detector system includes a transparent main body with a partially transparent incoupling region and a decoupling region that is spaced apart therefrom in a first direction. The incoupling region includes a diffractive structure which deflects only part of radiation coming from an object to be detected and impinging on the front face such that the deflected part propagates as coupled-in radiation in the main body by reflections up to the decoupling region and impinges on the decoupling region. The decoupling region deflects at least part of the coupled-in radiation impinging thereon such that the deflected part exits the main body via the front face or rear face in order to impinge on the detector system. The extent of the incoupling region in a second direction transverse to the first direction is greater than the extent of the decoupling region in the second direction.

Provided are a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display device including the backlight unit, the backlight unit being capable of switching between viewing angles in the liquid crystal display device and having a configuration in which the brightness values of emitted light on the “+” side and the “−” side at a polar angle with respect to the normal line are symmetric to each other. The backlight unit includes: a light guide plate; a first light source that guides light into the light guide plate from a long side or a short side of the light guide plate; a second light source that guides light into the light guide plate from a side of the light guide plate different from that of the first light source; a first diffraction element that is provided on one main surface of the light guide plate and diffracts only light emitted from one of the first light source or the second light source; a second diffraction element that is provided on another main surface of the light guide plate and diffracts only light emitted from another one of the first light source or the second light source; and a reflection plate that is provided on a surface of the light guide plate opposite to a light emission surface.

One embodiment provides an apparatus for displaying an image comprising: a first optical substrate comprising at least one waveguide layer configured to propagate light in a first direction, wherein the at least one waveguide layer of the first optical substrate comprises at least one grating lamina configured to extract the light from the first substrate along the first direction; and a second optical substrate comprising at least one waveguide layer configured to propagate the light in a second direction, wherein the at least one waveguide layer of the second optical substrate comprises at least one grating lamina configured to extract light from the second substrate along the second direction; wherein the at least one grating lamina of at least one of the first and second optical substrates comprises an SBG in a passive mode.

A beverage dispensing head includes a housing having a front, a rear, and a base that extends between the front and the rear. A mixing nozzle is configured to dispense a flow of beverage via the base. A valve is configured to control the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle, and a switch is movable into and between a closed position in which the valve opens the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle and an open position in which the valve closes the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle. A lighting module disposed in the housing is configured to illuminate the front of the housing and the base of the housing when the switch is moved into the closed position.

A lighting device includes a light source, a light guide, a light guide cover, and a unit frame. The light guide is in a bar form and, while guiding light that has entered from the light source along the axial direction, sends forth the light. The light guide cover holds the light guide. The light guide cover is attached to a unit frame. The light guide cover includes a main body portion and a plurality of light guide holding portions provided along the longitudinal direction of the main body portion and holding the light guide at a plurality of places, and a plurality of guide engaging portions provided along the longitudinal direction of the main body portion. The unit frame has a cover fitting face to which the light guide cover is fitted and a plurality of cover guides with which a plurality of guide engaging portions engage respectively.

An apparatus for capturing an image of an object on a platen and including a platen having a surface for receiving the object, wherein the platen is transmissive to an optical wavelength of light, an illumination module configured to illuminate at least a portion of the object with light from an illumination source, and an optical sensing module configured to receive the light from the illumination source after the light interacts with the at least a portion of the object. The light from the illumination source is spatially patterned prior to reaching the object. The illumination module can be configured to create the spatially patterned illumination and/or the platen may include a patterned optical coating creating the spatially patterned illumination. The spatially patterned illumination can include a plurality of discrete areas (e.g., a stepped pattern) of different illumination intensity and/or a gradient of different illumination intensity.

A microfluidic apparatus is provided. The microfluidic apparatus includes a first substrate; a microfluidic layer on the first substrate and defining a microfluidic channel, wherein the first substrate having a first side closer to the microfluidic layer, and a second side away from the microfluidic layer, the first side and the second side opposite each other; a plurality of detectors on a side of the microfluidic channel away from the first substrate; a unitary grating plate on the second side of the first substrate and including a plurality of grating blocks of different wavelength selectivity; and a light extraction layer including a plurality of light extractors on the first side of the first substrate and configured to extract light diffracted by the plurality of grating blocks out of the first substrate.

A stage light with an additional visual effect includes a main light source and a lampshade, the main light source being located at a bottom of the lampshade. The stage light further includes at least one effect light source and at least one light-transmitting plate located at a light outlet of the lampshade. The effect light source and the main light source are controlled independently of each other. The light-transmitting plate has a first surface and a second surface, and a first side and a second side connecting to the first surface and the second surface, respectively. At least part of the light emitted by the effect light source enters from the first side and exits from the second side. The light emitting by the effect light source exits from the second side, so that the second side is illuminated, which decorates the stage light itself.