A laminate of optical elements comprises a transparent first optical element, a second optical element, and a transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer for bonding the first optical element to the second optical element. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer comprises a base adhesive zone, a transparent refractive index-adjusting zone. The base adhesive zone is made essentially of a transparent base pressure-sensitive adhesive material and formed over a given range from a first principal surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer facing the first optical element, in a thickness direction of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The a transparent, adherent, refractive index-adjusting zone is formed over a given range from a second principal surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer facing the second optical element.

A method for fabricating an optical element is provided. A substrate is provided. A plurality of metal grids are formed on the substrate. An organic layer is formed on the substrate and the metal grids. The organic layer is etched to form a first patterned organic layer including a plurality of first protrusion portions and a plurality of first trenches surrounded by the first protrusion portions. The first patterned organic layer is etched to form a second patterned organic layer including a plurality of second protrusion portions and a plurality of second trenches surrounded by the second protrusion portions. Each second protrusion portion covers one metal grid. There is a distance between the center axis of one second protrusion portion of the second patterned organic layer and the center axis of one metal grid covered by the one second protrusion portion of the second patterned organic layer.

An inkjet is used to fabricate an optical device having a varying refractive index. The inkjet deposits a first material having a first refractive index and a second material having a second refractive index in a pattern on a substrate. The first material and/or the second material are processed to form an optical device having a refractive index that varies in one or two dimensions. The optical device is used in a virtual-reality system or augmented-reality system to provide angular selectivity from display to a user's eye.

A cladding light stripper may include a double-clad optical fiber having a core for guiding signal light, an inner cladding surrounding the core, and an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding. The optical fiber may include a stripped portion forming an exposed section. The exposed section may include a plurality of spirally-arranged transversal notches disposed along the optical fiber to enable light to escape the inner cladding upon impinging on the plurality of notches. A circumferential segment of the optical fiber may include a single notch of the plurality of notches. Each of the plurality of notches may have a depth of only a partial distance to the core.

An imaging light guide for conveying a virtual image has a waveguide with first and second color channels for directing light of a first and second wavelength range toward a viewer eyebox. Each color channel has an in-coupling diffractive optic to diffract an image-bearing light beam into the waveguide and a reflector array having a partially reflective surface and a dichroic filter surface in parallel. Reflector array surfaces expand the respective light beam of the channel from the in-coupling diffractive optic in a first dimension and direct the expanded light beams toward an out-coupling diffractive optic. The dichroic surface reflects light of the color channel toward the reflective surface and transmits other light out of the waveguide. The out-coupling diffractive optic expands the image-bearing light beam orthogonally to the first dimension and directs the further expanded light beam toward the viewer eyebox.

Disclosed is an improved diffraction structure for 3D display systems. The improved diffraction structure includes an intermediate layer that resides between a waveguide substrate and a top grating surface. The top grating surface comprises a first material that corresponds to a first refractive index value, the underlayer comprises a second material that corresponds to a second refractive index value, and the substrate comprises a third material that corresponds to a third refractive index value. According to additional embodiments, improved approaches are provided to implement deposition of imprint materials onto a substrate, which allow for very precise distribution and deposition of different imprint patterns onto any number of substrate surfaces.

An optical element is produced by introducing a first liquid and a second liquid into respective inlets of a mold. The inlets are connected to a channel that extends to an outlet of the mold, the channel being tapered towards the outlet. The first and second liquids have different refractive indices and partially diffuse into each other inside the channel to form a multi-layer structure. The multi-layer structure is extruded through the outlet, onto a substrate. Curing the first and second liquids forms a solid optical element having a spatially varying refractive index profile in at least one dimension.

Disclosed is an improved diffraction structure for 3D display systems. The improved diffraction structure includes an intermediate layer that resides between a waveguide substrate and a top grating surface. The top grating surface comprises a first material that corresponds to a first refractive index value, the underlayer comprises a second material that corresponds to a second refractive index value, and the substrate comprises a third material that corresponds to a third refractive index value. According to additional embodiments, improved approaches are provided to implement deposition of imprint materials onto a substrate, which allow for very precise distribution and deposition of different imprint patterns onto any number of substrate surfaces.

A light guide having a light guide body plate having a plurality of elongated light channels extending substantially parallel to each other; the light guide having an out-coupling arrangement for coupling light propagating in the light channels out of the light guide body plate through the first and/or the second main surface. In a horizontal transverse direction, each light channel is confined between two confining stripes formed of a solid confining material having a second refractive index lower than the first refractive index, confining stripes between two adjacent light channels having a height less than the thickness of the light guide body plate.

A method for fabricating an optical element is provided. A substrate is provided. A plurality of metal grids are formed on the substrate. An organic layer is formed on the substrate and the metal grids. The organic layer is etched to form a first patterned organic layer including a plurality of first protrusion portions and a plurality of first trenches surrounded by the first protrusion portions. The first patterned organic layer is etched to form a second patterned organic layer including a plurality of second protrusion portions and a plurality of second trenches surrounded by the second protrusion portions. Each second protrusion portion covers one metal grid. There is a distance between the center axis of one second protrusion portion of the second patterned organic layer and the center axis of one metal grid covered by the one second protrusion portion of the second patterned organic layer.