Systems for the manufacturing of waveguide cells in accordance with various embodiments can be configured and implemented in many different ways. In many embodiments, various deposition mechanisms are used to deposit layer(s) of optical recording material onto a transparent substrate. A second transparent substrate can be provided, and the three layers can be laminated to form a waveguide cell. Suitable optical recording material can vary widely depending on the given application. In some embodiments, the optical recording material deposited has a similar composition throughout the layer. In a number of embodiments, the optical recording material spatially varies in composition, allowing for the formation of optical elements with varying characteristics. Regardless of the composition of the optical recording material, any method of placing or depositing the optical recording material onto a substrate can be utilized.

The present application discloses a Transverse Electric (TE) polarizer. The TE polarizer includes a semiconductor substrate having an oxide layer. The TE polarizer further includes a waveguide embedded in the oxide layer. Additionally, the TE polarizer includes a plate structure embedded in the oxide layer substantially in parallel to the waveguide with a gap distance. In an embodiment, the plate structure induces an extra transmission loss to a Transverse Magnetic (TM) mode in a light wave traveling through the waveguide.

An optical device includes a spatial light modulator and an optical waveguide with a plurality of extraction features. The plurality of extraction features is positioned relative to the optical waveguide so that a respective extraction feature receives light, having propagated within the optical waveguide, in a first direction and directs a first portion of the light in a second direction distinct from the first direction to exit the optical waveguide and illuminate at least a portion of the spatial light modulator. The plurality of extraction features is also positioned relative to the optical waveguide so that a respective extraction feature directs a second portion, distinct from the first portion, of the light to undergo total internal reflection, thereby continuing to propagate within the optical waveguide.

Structures for a polarizer and methods of forming a structure for a polarizer. A first slotted waveguide component is positioned over a first waveguide core, and a second slotted waveguide component positioned over the first slotted waveguide component. The first slotted waveguide component includes a second waveguide core and a third waveguide core separated by a first slot, and the second slotted waveguide component includes a fourth waveguide core and a fifth waveguide core separated by a second slot. The first waveguide core is laterally aligned with the first slot and the second slot.

An optical interposer for providing optimal optical coupling between an optical transceiver interface and an external optical interface includes an interposer photonic integrated circuit (PIC) operably configured to couple an optical signal between the optical transceiver interface and the external optical interface, one or more waveguide based optical devices operably integrated on a common substrate and one or more of interposer input/output (I/O) channels operably configured with the optical transceiver interface and the external optical interface.

A single-ended output circulator includes a three-core optical fiber head having first, second, and third optical fiber cores; a walk-off crystal having a first surface facing towards the second end of the three-core optical fiber head tube and a second surface facing away from the second end of the three-core optical fiber head tube; a plurality of half-wave plates each having a first surface coupled to the second surface of the walk-off crystal and a second surface facing away from the second surface of the walk-off crystal; a collimating lens having a first end and a second end; a reflection mirror configured to reflect light beams from the collimating lens; an optical prism between the collimating lens and the reflection mirror and configured to transmit a light beam along a propagation direction according to a polarization direction of the light beam; and a polarization rotator.

Example polarization splitter and rotator devices are described. In one example, an optical apparatus includes a splitter configured to split a light signal into a first signal having a first polarization and a second signal having a second polarization, a polarization rotator configured to rotate the second polarization of the second signal into a third polarization, and a polarization mode converter configured to convert the third polarization of the second signal into the first polarization. In certain aspects of the embodiments, the splitter can be a curved multi-mode inference (MMI) polarization splitter, and the polarization rotator comprises input and output ports, with the output port being wider than the input port. The polarization mode converter can be an asymmetrical waveguide taper mode converter. The devices described herein can overcome the deficiencies of conventional devices and provide low insertion loss, flat and/or wide wavelength response, high fabrication tolerance, and compact size.

To provide an image display device that is advantageous in terms of a reduction in deterioration in image quality due to birefringence in an optical element of an ocular optical system in which polarized light is used, the image display device includes an ocular optical system including a polarization element and configured to guide light from an image display element toward an eyeball of an observer. The ocular optical system includes at least one optical element that has a forming gate mark in a part of an outer periphery. The forming gate mark is disposed in a direction of an apex of an image display region of the image display element with respect to a point on an optical axis of the ocular optical system in a cross section perpendicular to the optical axis of the ocular optical system.

An optical device for providing illumination light includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of polarization selective elements. The plurality of polarization selective elements is disposed adjacent to the optical waveguide so that a respective polarization selective element receives light in a first direction, and redirects a first portion of the light in a second direction. A second portion, distinct from the first portion, of the light undergoes total internal reflection, thereby continuing to propagate inside the optical waveguide.

Example polarization splitter and rotator devices are described. In one example, an optical apparatus includes a splitter configured to split a light signal into a first signal having a first polarization and a second signal having a second polarization, a polarization rotator configured to rotate the second polarization of the second signal into a third polarization, and a polarization mode converter configured to convert the third polarization of the second signal into the first polarization. In certain aspects of the embodiments, the splitter can be a curved multi-mode inference (MMI) polarization splitter, and the polarization rotator comprises input and output ports, with the output port being wider than the input port. The polarization mode converter can be an asymmetrical waveguide taper mode converter. The devices described herein can overcome the deficiencies of conventional devices and provide low insertion loss, flat and/or wide wavelength response, high fabrication tolerance, and compact size.