Architectures are provided for selectively incoupling one or more streams of light from a multiplexed light stream into a waveguide. The multiplexed light stream can have light with different characteristics (e.g., different wavelengths and/or different polarizations). The waveguide can comprise in-coupling elements that can selectively couple one or more streams of light from the multiplexed light stream into the waveguide while transmitting one or more other streams of light from the multiplexed light stream.

Provided is a fluorescence imaging device comprising: a light source for irradiating a subject with a laser for exciting a fluorescent dye; a condensing lens that receives light from the light source, an endoscopic probe comprising an image fiber and a lens that is disposed on the distal end of the image fiber; a photodetector that detects return light from the subject; and an oscillating element that is connected to the image fiber or the condensing lens and that, upon application of a voltage, causes the image fiber or the condensing lens to oscillate. With this configuration, a lattice pattern of fiber elements, which appears in an image of a subject, can be cancelled in real time by oscillating the oscillating element.

An optical probe (2) for optically examining an object (1) is described, said optical probe having a first optical beam path for a scanning imaging method and a second optical beam path for a spectroscopic method. The optical probe comprises a first optical fibre (9) in the first optical beam path and a scanning apparatus (10) that is configured to laterally deflect the first optical fibre (9) or illumination light (31) emerging from the first optical fibre (9) for the purposes of scanning the object (1) during the scanning imaging method. The optical probe comprises a second optical fibre (11) in the second optical beam path, said second optical fibre being configured to guide excitation light or detected object light for the spectroscopic method, and a beam splitter filter (15), wherein the beam path of the scanning imaging method and the beam path of the spectroscopic method are brought into partial overlap in the probe (2) by means of the beam splitter filter (15). The optical probe (2) has a diameter of no more than 5 mm. Furthermore, a method for operating the optical probe (2) is specified.

An image projector includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) with a two dimensional array of pixel elements controllable to modulate a property of light transmitted or reflected by the pixel elements. An illumination arrangement delivers illumination to the SLM. A collimating arrangement collimates illumination from the SLM to generate a collimated image directed to an exit stop. The illumination arrangement is configured to sequentially illuminate regions of the SLM, each corresponding to a multiple pixel elements. A controller synchronously controls the pixel elements and the illumination arrangement so as to project a collimated image with pixel intensities corresponding to a digital image.

An optical fiber scanning apparatus 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.

This disclosure includes a description of a pair of virtual or augmented reality glasses that includes an optical scanning system that protrudes at least partially through an opening in an eyepiece of the glasses. The optical scanning system includes an optical fiber or cantilevered beam that extends through the opening and a transducer that drives the optical fiber or cantilevered beam to move in a spiral pattern.

Embodiments of optical scanners, optical projection systems, and methods of scanning optical waveguides and projecting images are described. The disclosed devices, systems and methods advantageously provide an improvement to the compactness, robustness, simplicity, and reliability of optical scanners and optical projection systems by implementing a thermally driven actuator for inducing oscillations of a cantilever within the optical scanners and optical projection systems. The stability and accuracy of optical scanners and optical projection systems are further enhanced using capacitive sensing, feedback, and phase correction techniques described herein.

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.

Disclosed are an optical fiber scanner, an optical fiber scanning device and an optical fiber scanning apparatus. The optical fiber scanner includes a slow-axis driving unit, a connector and N fast-axis driving units. The connector has a slow-axis connecting structure and N fast-axis connecting structures. The slow-axis driving unit is connected to the N fast-axis driving units by means of the connector, N being an integer greater than or equal to 2. One slow-axis driving unit is connected to N fast-axis driving units by means of a connector, that is, one slow-axis driving unit can drive N fast-axis driving units simultaneously. In this way, the N fast-axis driving units can move synchronously in the vibration direction of the slow-axis driving unit, thereby achieving the technical effect of outputting high quality images.

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.