A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system with a large field-of-view (FOV) and low operating power includes an intensity modulator, a controller, and one or more camera sensors. The intensity modulator includes a modulating cell that is configured to receive an optical signal and change a polarization state of the optical signal, in response to an electrical signal received from the controller. The modulating cell includes a material that (i) has at least one of a first order electro-optic effect and a second order electro-optic effect and (ii) has an amount of birefringence that is less than or equal to a predefined amount of birefringence. The camera sensor(s) are configured to measure an intensity of the optical signal and determine range information of an object based on the measured intensity.

Provided are a thin film for optical element as a single-layer thin film which contains a Si simple substance, a Si compound excluding Si alloy, and a metal or metal compound, a method of manufacturing the thin film for optical element, and an optical element including the thin film for optical element. Further provided are an inorganic polarizing plate including a reflection suppressing layer composed of the thin film for optical element, a method of manufacturing the inorganic polarizing plate, and an optical device including the inorganic polarizing plate.

An electro-holographic light field generator device is disclosed. The light field generator device has an optical substrate with a waveguide face and an exit face. One or more surface acoustic wave (SAW) optical modulator devices are included within each light field generator device. The SAW devices each include a light input, a waveguide, and a SAW transducer, all configured for guided mode confinement of input light within the waveguide. A leaky mode deflection of a portion of the waveguided light, or diffractive light, impinges upon the exit face. Multiple output optics at the exit face are configured for developing from each of the output optics a radiated exit light from the diffracted light for at least one of the waveguides. An RF controller is configured to control the SAW devices to develop the radiated exit light as a three-dimensional output light field with horizontal parallax and compatible with observer vertical motion.

An optical waveplate is provided. The optical waveplate includes a plurality of liquid crystal (LC) layers stacked together. At least one of the plurality of LC layers includes LC molecules that are in-plane switchable by an external field to switch the optical waveplate between states of different phase retardances.

The present disclosure discloses a display panel and a smart device. The display panel includes a first display area and a second display area adjacent to each other. Further, the display panel further includes a display substrate, a lens on the display substrate, and a transparent cover plate covering the lens and the display substrate. The display substrate includes a first display portion in the first display area and a second transparent portion in the second display area. The lens is configured to emit a part of the light from the first display portion from the second display area.

An optical apparatus includes a main body, a reflecting object lens pivotally connected to the main body and a cover pivotally connected to the reflecting object lens. The reflecting object lens is rotatable with respect to the main body within a first angle, and the cover is rotatable with respect to the reflecting object lens within a second angle.

A liquid crystal lens, a manufacturing method and a corresponding curved display device are disclosed. The liquid crystal lens is configured to be adhered over a flat display device for achieving curved display, and includes liquid crystals, a first electrode and a second electrode for driving the liquid crystals, and an elevation layer. The first electrode includes a plurality of independent electrodes separate from each other, each independent electrode being arranged on the elevation layer. The elevation layer is further configured such that each independent electrode is located in a different position along a thickness direction of the elevation layer.

A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a lens assembly, and a polarization converting unit. The lens assembly includes a first lens layer and a second lens layer. The first lens layer includes a plurality of first lenses. The second lens layer includes a plurality of second lenses. The second lenses are respectively aligned with the first lenses. The polarization converting unit is located between the display panel and the lens assembly. A displaying method is also provided.

A switchable privacy display comprises a spatial light modulator, and switchable liquid crystal retarder arranged between crossed quarter-wave plates and polarisers. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance to reduce the visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers. The display may be rotated to achieve privacy operation in landscape and portrait orientations. Further, display reflectivity may be reduced for on-axis reflections of ambient light, while reflectivity may be increased for off-axis light to achieve increased visual security. In a public mode of operation, the liquid crystal retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified. The display may also be operated to switch between day-time and night-time operation, for example for use in an automotive environment.

Provided are an optical modulation device, a method of operating the same, and an apparatus including the optical modulation device. The optical modulation device may include a mirror area, a nano-antenna area, and an active area located between the mirror area and the nano-antenna area, and a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes for changing physical properties of the active area may intersect each other to form a cross-point array structure. The plurality of first electrodes may be included in the mirror area or may be provided separately from the mirror area. The plurality of second electrodes may be included in the nano-antenna area and may be provided separately from the nano-antenna area.