A system for tracking eye location is disclosed. Systems in accordance with the present invention include a scanner for sweeping a first optical signal across the surface of an eye, a detector for detecting a second optical signal reflected from the eye, and a detection circuit for determining a maximum intensity in the second optical signal. In operation, the scanner sweeps the first optical signal over the surface of the eye while the detection circuitry determines a plurality of intensity maxima in the second optical signal. The time between the intensity maxima during the sweep is indicative of the location of the cornea within the eye surface.

Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) devices may include at least one actuator. The actuator has a first end attachable to more than one side of a frame of the MEMS device, and has a second end attachable to a stage of the MEMS device, particularly via a joint. Further, the second end of the actuator is configured to bend upwards or downwards when the actuator is driven and the first end is attached.

A lamp may include a display device including a first region and a second region having mutually different references for the number of a failed pixel, and a controller to control the display device.

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.

The present disclosure relates to a thermally modulated optical lens apparatus that includes an electrically resistive element that has patterned features. The patterned features may be micro-sized or smaller and may create an electrical resistance density across the electrically resistive element. The electrically resistive element is capable of electrically connecting to a controllable electrical source. The apparatus also includes at least one thermo-optical material in thermal contact with the patterned features of the electrically resistive element. The at least one thermo-optical material can have an optical refractive index profile that corresponds to the electrical resistance density.

A system for tracking eye location is disclosed. Systems in accordance with the present invention include a scanner for sweeping a first optical signal across the surface of an eye, a detector for detecting a second optical signal reflected from the eye, and a detection circuit for determining a maximum intensity in the second optical signal. In operation, the scanner sweeps the first optical signal over the surface of the eye while the detection circuitry determines a plurality of intensity maxima in the second optical signal. The time between the intensity maxima during the sweep is indicative of the location of the cornea within the eye surface.

An actuator element of a MEMS device is provided, which is fabricated using surface micromachining on a substrate. An insulating layer having a first portion contacts the substrate while a second portion is separated from the substrate by a gap. A metallic layer contacts the insulating layer having a first portion contacting the first portion of the insulating layer and a second portion contacting the second portion of the insulating layer. The second portion of the metallic layer is prestressed. Alternately, the actuator element includes a first insulating layer separated from the substrate by a gap. A metallic layer has a first portion contacting the substrate and a second portion contacting the insulating layer. A second insulating layer contacts a portion of the second portion of the metallic layer opposite the first insulating layer, where the second insulating layer is prestressed.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a mirror structure for adaptive optics devices, characterized in that it comprises: an elastically deformable layer in response to an applied force, said deformable layer comprising a central portion reflective to said an incident light beam (F); a support substrate positioned spaced with respect to said deformable layer; a spacer element connected to said elastically deformable layer and support substrate and positioned there between, said spacer element being arranged so that the separation distance between said first and second inner surface is in the range between 2 and 100 micron; an inner chamber at least partially defined by said first and substrate and by said spacer element, said inner chamber containing a pressurized gas (G); an actuator system capable of causing a deformation of said central portion counteracting the pressure of said pressurized gas; wherein, in use, said central portion is deformed according to profiles such as to control said light beam. Advantages may include thermal robustness and improved dimensional scaling properties.

A thermally actuated adaptive optic includes a base, a reflector, and a plurality of actuators coupled therebetween. The reflector has a light-receiving front surface, and a back surface facing the base. Each actuator includes a bracket rigidly bonded to the reflector at a perimeter of the reflector, and an inner rod and an outer rod. Each rod is rigidly connected between the bracket and the base, with the inner rod being closer to a center of the reflector. The length of each rod is temperature dependent. In another adaptive optic, the rods are instead bonded directly to the reflector. This adaptive optic may be modified to implement an integrally formed, thermally actuated support. The disclosed adaptive optics are suitable for use in laser systems, allow for significant cost savings over piezoelectric devices, provide a reflective area free of surface-figure perturbations caused by the actuator-interfaces, and are relatively simple to manufacture.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing electromagnetic radiation sensing using sequential beam splitting. The apparatuses can include a micro-mirror chip having a plurality of light reflecting surfaces, an image sensor having an imaging surface, and a beamsplitter unit located between the micro-mirror chip and the image sensor. The beamsplitter unit includes a plurality of beamsplitters aligned along a horizontal axis that is parallel to the micro-mirror chip and the imaging surface. The beamsplitters implement the sequential beam splitting. Because of the structure of the beamsplitter unit, the height of the arrangement of the micro-mirror chip, the beamsplitter unit, and the image sensor is reduced such that the arrangement can fit within a mobile device. Within a mobile device, the apparatuses can be utilized for human detection, fire detection, gas detection, temperature measurements, environmental monitoring, energy saving, behavior analysis, surveillance, information gathering and for human-machine interfaces.