Examples of light projector systems for directing input light from a light source to a spatial light modulator are provided. For example, an optical device is disclosed which includes a first surface having a diffractive optical element, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a third surface arranged at an angle to the second surface. The third surface may be a beam splitting surface that is reflective to light of a first state and transmissive to light of a second state. The diffractive optical element may receive an input beam made up of light having the first state, and may convert the input beam into at least a first diffracted beam at a first diffraction angle such that the first diffracted beam is directed toward the second surface, is reflected by the second surface toward the third surface via total internal reflection, and is reflected by the third surface in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface.

A fiber scanning projector includes a piezoelectric element and a scanning fiber mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric element. The fiber scanning projector also includes an optical assembly section operable to receive light from the scanning fiber. The optical assembly section includes a prism element, a collimating element coupled to the prism element at an interface, a quarter wave plate, and a polarizing beam splitter disposed at the interface.

An optical device may include an optical fiber having a fixed end and a free end a first actuator positioned at a actuator position between the fixed end and the free end and configured to apply a first force on the actuator position of the optical fiber such that a movement of the free end of the optical fiber in a first direction is caused, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber; and a deformable rod disposed adjacent to the optical fiber, and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to a first rod position of the optical fiber and the second end is connected to a second rod position of the optical fiber.

A projector includes a cantilever position detection system. The projector also includes a chassis, an actuator mounted to the chassis, and a cantilever light source having a longitudinal axis and mechanically coupled to the actuator. The projector also includes a position measurement region including an aperture, wherein the cantilever light source extends through the aperture, and a plurality of optical source/photodetector pairs disposed in a lateral plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

Images perceived to be substantially full color or multi-colored may be formed using component color images that are distributed in unequal numbers across a plurality of depth planes. The distribution of component color images across the depth planes may vary based on color. In some embodiments, a display system includes a stack of waveguides that each output light of a particular color, with some colors having fewer numbers of associated waveguides than other colors. The stack of waveguides may include by multiple pluralities (e.g., first and second pluralities) of waveguides, each configured to produce an image by outputting light corresponding to a particular color. The total number of waveguides in the second plurality of waveguides is less than the total number of waveguides in the first plurality of waveguides, and may be more than the total number of waveguides in a third plurality of waveguides, in embodiments where three component colors are utilized.

A virtual image generation system for use by an end user comprises a projection subsystem configured for generating a collimated light beam, and a display configured emitting light rays in response to the collimated light beam to display a pixel of an image frame to the end user. The pixel has a location encoded with angles of the emitted light rays. The virtual image generation system further comprises a sensing assembly configured for sensing at least one parameter indicative of at least one of the emitted light ray angles, and a control subsystem configured for generating image data defining a location of the pixel, and controlling an angle of the light beam relative to the display based on the defined location of the pixel and the sensed parameter(s).

A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system includes a motion actuator having longitudinal side members, an internal orifice, a first support region, a central region, and a second support region. The fiber optic element also includes a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice and having a first fiber joint as well as a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice. The second fiber optic cable has a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint, a second coupling region, a light delivery region, and a light emission tip. The light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.

The present disclosure pertains to an apparatus and methods of an imaging device for obtaining images from the walls of luminal organs or a surgical cavity. The device is capable of passage through luminal organs or introduction into surgical cavities, and obtains images by rapidly scanning a focused light beam on the tissue to be imaged and receiving light from the tissue. The device comprises at least one mechanism for projecting a 2-dimensional (2-D) optical pattern, such as a 2-D scanner (508) or a 2-D optical array forming a closed loop scan pattern (506). The device comprises at least one other beam scanning mechanism, such as a rotary or angular scanner (510) such that cycloid scan pattern is formed on the surface to be scanned, and also has embodiments of focusing optics at different regimes of numerical aperture. The disclosure also describes methods for accurate image reconstruction with embodiments of hardware control and post-acquisition processing.

An endoscope having an optical fiber scanning apparatus that includes an optical fiber a fixed end of which is fixed and a free end for emitting illumination light of which vibrates in a first direction and a second direction, a ferrule which includes a through hole including an opening on a distal end surface and fixes the optical fiber inserted through the through hole, a pair of first fixing members which sandwich and fix the optical fiber in the first direction, a pair of second fixing members which sandwich and fix the optical fiber in the second direction, and piezoelectric elements or a magnet configured to vibrate the optical fiber, in which a Young's modulus of the pair of first fixing members is smaller than a Young's modulus of the pair of second fixing members.

Examples of light projector systems and methods of use. A method can include providing an optical device having a first surface, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a third surface arranged at an angle to the second surface. The third surface can be reflective to light of a first state and transmissive to light of a second state. An input beam having the first state can be normally incident on the first surface. A transmissive diffractive optical element on the first surface can convert the input beam into at least a first diffracted beam directed toward the third surface, where it is reflected by the third surface in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface. The reflected first diffracted beam can be modulated with image information using a spatial light modulator to produce a modulated light beam having the second state.