A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.

A virtual image display apparatus includes a diffraction optical member including a diffraction section that directs the orientation of image light based on diffraction toward the position of a viewer's eye and a light transmissive substrate that is disposed in the diffraction section and on the side facing the eye and supports the diffraction section, and an image forming section that outputs the image light toward the diffraction optical member, and the light transmissive substrate is a color separation correcting section that corrects color separation produced by the diffraction section.

An optical lens includes a substrate, at least one derivative structure and a diffractive optical structure. The substrate has an optically operable region and a derivatively operable region. The derivatively operable region is arranged around the optically operable region. The derivative structure is disposed on the derivatively operable region to increase structural strength of the optical lens and to reduce the stray light as being assembled in a module. The diffractive optical structure is disposed on the optically operable region and includes a microstructure pattern for generating a desired light and/or correcting the optical defects. Consequently, the optical lens is suitable for miniaturization and assembling applications to a module.

Optical lenses, systems, devices and methods for fabricating and manufacturing diffractive waveplate lenses that allow setting the focal length sign of an optical system by positioning the lens with its front or back surface with respect to an incoming circular polarized light beam. Applications for the lenses include optical systems comprising fibers, diode lasers, waveplates, polarizers, and variable lenses, particularly, in the form of a set of polymer films with re-attachable adhesive layers. And providing a flat mirror with concave or convex function due to diffractive waveplate lens coating.

Structures for scattering light at multiple wavelengths are disclosed. Scattering elements are fabricated with different geometric dimensions and arrangements, to scatter or focus light at the same focal distance for each wavelength, or at different focal distances according to the desired application. The scattering elements fabricated on a substrate can be peeled off with a polymer matrix and attached to a lens to modify the optical properties of the lens.

Structures for scattering light at multiple wavelengths are disclosed. Scattering elements are fabricated with different geometric dimensions and arrangements, to scatter or focus light at the same focal distance for each wavelength, or at different focal distances according to the desired application. Scattering elements can be circular or elliptical posts, allowing polarization dependent scattering. The elements can have different orientations to scatter light from multiple wavelengths at the desired focal length.

An eyepiece lens with protected Fresnel and diffractive surfaces. An eyepiece is provided with a first element having an optical axis and a diffractive structure comprising a plurality of diffraction facets formed on at least one surface of a first element, and a second element having a Fresnel structure comprising a plurality of Fresnel facets formed on at least one surface thereof, the respective draft angles of the Fresnel facets relative to the optical axis being proximate the respective incidence angles of their respective adjacent incident light rays of a nominal design so as to minimize light obscuration and scatter, the first element and the second element having essentially the same optical axis, the diffractive surface of the first element being adapted to compensate for chromatic dispersion introduced by the refractive properties of said first and second elements.

A head up display can be used in compact environments. The head up display includes a combiner system including at least one light pipe and a waveguide. The at least one light pipe includes a turning grating or mirror array for providing light into the waveguide from the light pipe. An additional light pipe can also be provided. The combiner system can be headworn or stand-alone and can provide dual axis pupil expansion.

Disclosed are an apparatus and method for providing additional degrees of freedom for diffraction gratings of an output waveguide in a near-eye display device. The near-eye display device includes an imager to generate an image based on light from a light source. The device further includes a waveguide to input a light wave representing the image received from the imager and to output the light wave representing the image toward an optical receptor of a user. The waveguide includes a plurality of diffractive optical elements (DOEs) in a common light path from an input of the waveguide to an output of the waveguide. The DOEs include a plurality of periodic diffraction patterns. Each of the periodic diffraction patterns is represented by a diffraction pattern vector. The periodic diffraction patterns are determined such that a vector summation of the diffraction pattern vectors equals zero.

Multi-wavelength light is directed to an optic including a substrate and achromatic metasurface optical components deposited on a surface of the substrate. The achromatic metasurface optical components comprise a pattern of dielectric resonators. The dielectric resonators have distances between adjacent dielectric resonators; and each dielectric resonator has a width, w, that is distinct from the width of other dielectric resonators. A plurality of wavelengths of interest selected from the wavelengths of the multi-wavelength light are deflected with the achromatic metasurface optical components at a shared angle or to or from a focal point at a shared focal length.