A laser beam combining apparatus, and a combined stepped reflector and a filling rate calculation method thereof are disclosed. The laser beam combining apparatus includes a two-dimensional light-emitting array and the combined stepped reflector used to reflect a plurality of laser beams emitted by the two-dimensional light-emitting array. The combined stepped reflector is composed of a plurality of reflective mirrors that have the same length but sequentially increasing widths and that are stacked in succession, where the distance between centers of the laser beams reflected by the combined stepped reflector is smaller than the distance between centers of the laser beams prior to the incidence, thus increasing the filling rate of the laser beams emitted by the two-dimensional light-emitting array. A method for calculating the filling rate of the laser beam combining apparatus is also provided.

An apparatus installed in a head-mounted display (HMD) has a coupling prism formed by packing diagonally-reflective (DR) prisms together. Each DR prism has an internal diagonal plane that is at least partially reflective. A captured image of eye or environmental scene received by a DR prism is reflected to an image-leaving end surface thereof. Image-leaving end surfaces of all DR prisms are oriented along a same direction to optically multiplex the captured images to create a multi-channel image. An imaging sensor on the coupling prism images the multi-channel image, avoiding inter-channel interference caused by spillover of captured-image signals while allowing one imaging sensor instead of multiple ones to image the captured images. A micro display displays a visible image to one DR prism, whose internal diagonal plane reflects the visible image along a direction towards an eye. Hence, the apparatus also enables image displaying to a HMD wearer.

A user-wearable fluorescence based visualization system comprising a multi-light lamp assembly that provides for the selected output of light using multiple light emitting sources, wherein the outputted light may be tailored to generate response wavelength by the interaction of the emitted light and a tissue illuminated by the emitted light, through the process of fluorescence, and a viewing system that allows a practitioner view the fluorescent light generated by the tissue, and distinguish between healthy and diseased tissues.

An optical system including a light-guide optical element (LOE) with a first set of mutually-parallel, partially-reflecting surfaces and a second set of mutually-parallel, partially-reflecting surfaces at a different orientation from the first set. Both sets of partially-reflecting surfaces are located between a set of mutually-parallel major external surfaces. Image illumination introduced at a coupling-in location propagates along the LOE, is redirected by the first set of partially-reflecting surfaces towards the second set of partially-reflecting surfaces, where it is coupled out towards the eye of the user. The first set of partially-reflecting surfaces are implemented as partial surfaces located where needed for filling an eye-motion box with the required image. Additionally, or alternatively, spacing of the first set of partially-reflecting surfaces is varied across a first region of the LOE. Additional features relate to relative orientations of the projector and partially reflecting surfaces to improve compactness and achieve various adjustments.

Disclosed herein is an optical device for augmented reality having improved light efficiency. The optical device includes: a reflective means configured to transfer augmented reality image light to the pupil of a user by reflecting the augmented reality image light toward the pupil; and an optical means adapted such that the reflective means is embedded and disposed therein, and configured to transmit at least part of real object image light therethrough toward the pupil of the user. The optical means includes a first surface and a second surface. The reflective means includes a plurality of reflective units having a size of 4 mm or less that are embedded and arranged inside the optical means. At least two reflective units of the plurality of reflective units are arranged closer to the second surface of the optical means as the distance from the image output unit increases.

A method for optical sensing includes providing a mirror comprising a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region. A beam of light from a laser light source is directed to reflect from the central region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene. The light returned from the target scene through the output optic is focused onto an optical sensor, via collection optics having a collection aperture surrounding the mirror.

A see-through display including a polarized reflective pinhole mirror display. The pinhole mirror display includes a plurality of tiny switchable polarized mirrors. The respective polarized mirrors individually reflect impinging light from an illuminator, and guide the respective portion of light into a pupil of an eye. A reflective optically powered surface reflects light from the illuminator. Each mirror has a first polarization and reflects a portion of light and produces a picture element (pixel) that forms a virtual image seen by the eye of the user. A user may view the reflected virtual image having the first polarization from the illuminator, as well as the image from the real world via a rear substrate that has a second polarization. Although the mirrors are very small, human eyes can still detect the mirrors if they are not polarized. The mirrors and other components are polarized so that the eye can see the real world filtered with the second polarization, but not the mirrors having a different first polarization.

A method for optical sensing includes providing a mirror comprising a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region. A beam of light from a laser light source is directed to reflect from the central region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene. The light returned from the target scene through the output optic is focused onto an optical sensor, via collection optics having a collection aperture surrounding the mirror.

A laser projection apparatus includes a laser source, an optical engine and a projection lens. The optical engine includes a light homogenizing component. The laser source includes a light-emitting assembly, a combining component, a first lens, a phosphor wheel and a laser dimming component. The combining component includes a reflecting portion and a transmitting portion. The phosphor wheel includes a first region and a second region. The laser dimming component is located between the light-emitting assembly and the phosphor wheel, and configured to increase Etendue of a laser beam emitted by the light-emitting assembly and change a shape of a beam spot provided by the laser beam on the phosphor wheel, so as to make a beam spot provided by the laser beam and the fluorescent beam at a beam inlet of the light homogenizing component matched with a shape of the beam inlet of the light homogenizing component.

An optical apparatus includes a folding mirror configured to direct first and second illumination lights on first and second alignment marks respectively and reflect first and second reflected lights reflected from the first and second alignment marks in different horizontal directions respectively, first and second lenses arranged respectively in optical paths of the first and second reflected lights reflected from the first and second reflective surfaces of the folding mirror, first and second reflection portions configured to reflect the first and second reflected lights passing through the first and second lenses respectively, and a beam splitter prism configured to divide an illumination light incident through a first surface into the first and second illumination lights and direct to the first and second reflection portions, and transmit the first and second reflected lights reflected by the first and second reflection portions through a second surface.