A pancake lens assembly includes a partially reflective mirror, a reflective polarizer, a quarter waveplate, a polarization-dependent optical device, and at least one polarization controller. When a light beam is introduced into the pancake lens assembly along an optical axis in a Z direction to pass through the polarization controller in a first state, a polarization direction of the light beam is converted by the polarization controller. When the light beam is introduced into the pancake lens assembly along the optical axis to pass through the polarization controller in a second state, the polarization direction of the light beam is prevented from being converted by the polarization controller.

The present disclosure provides improved optical systems for particle processing (e.g., cytometry including microfluidic based sorters, drop sorters, and/or cell purification) systems and methods. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous micro-lens array optical detection assemblies for particle (e.g., cells, microscopic particles, etc.) processing systems and methods (e.g., for analyzing, sorting, processing, purifying, measuring, isolating, detecting, monitoring and/or enriching particles).

An apparatus for electromagnetic characterisation of internal features of an object, including a lens for placement between a source of electromagnetic energy and the object, the lens being composed of a first material having a first permittivity with openings therein containing or configured to receive one or more second materials having respective second permittivities different to the first permittivity, the openings being configured such that, when the openings contain the one or more second materials, the lens has a graded refractive index wherein an electromagnetic wave generated by the source and incident upon a first surface of the lens as a spherical wave exits a second surface of the lens in contact with a receiving surface of the object substantially as a plane wave, and a refractive index of the lens at the second surface of the lens substantially matches a refractive index of the object at the receiving surface to increase penetration of the plane wave into the object.

Lidar transmission optics and systems project more laser pulse energy per pixel instantaneous field-of-view (IFOV) to a portion of a sensor field of view (FOV), e.g., a portion that would be expected to have both close and distant objects of interest, and proportionally less pulse energy per pixel IFOV to other portions of the sensor FOV, e.g., those that would be expected to have or see only close objects of interest. Optics such as diffractive optical elements (DOEs), gradient-index (GRIN) lenses, and/or compound lens systems can be used for producing desired irradiance distributions having multiple parts or regions. The optics and systems improve range performance by providing for more efficient use of the total available laser pulse energy than transmit optics that project uniform pulse energy per pixel IFOV across the sensor FOV.

Gradient refractive index lenses (GRI-Ls) and methods of fabricating the same are provided. GRI-Ls can be fabricated by stereolithography (SLA) and/or photo-assisted, thermal-assisted, and/or other laser-based curing from at least two precursors with a preset refractive index gradation along the planar axis. These lenses are self-focusing lenses and may be convergent or divergent for decreasing and increasing refractive indices from the center, respectively. Rather than a gradation in lens thickness from the center, the GRI-Ls can have a gradation of composition from the center.

The present disclosure discloses an optical lens module and a virtual reality device. The optical lens module includes: a lens assembly, and transflective layers attached to surfaces on a light incident side and a light emitting side of the lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a central region and at least one annular region surrounding the central region. The central region has a refractive index smaller than the at least one annular region. When more than one annular region is provided, the annular regions are sequentially arranged layer by layer, the annular region located on the outermost side has the maximum refractive index, and for any other annular region, the refractive index is smaller than that of the annular region located outside thereof.

Techniques are described for time-of-fly sensors with hybrid refractive gradient-index optics. Some embodiments are for integration into portable electronic devices with cameras, such as smart phones. For example, a time-of-fly (TOF) imaging subsystem can receive optical information along an optical path at an imaging plane. A hybrid lens can be coupled with the TOF imaging subsystem and disposed in the optical path so that the imaging plane is substantially at a focal plane of the hybrid lens. The hybrid lens can include a less-than-quarter-pitch gradient index (GRIN) lens portion, and a refractive lens portion with a convex optical interface. The portions of the hybrid lens, together, produce a combined focal length that defines the focal plane. The hybrid lens is designed so that the combined focal length is less than a quarter-pitch focal length of the GRIN lens portion and has less spherical aberration than either lens portion.

A polarization scrambler using a retardance element (RE) is disclosed. The polarization scrambler may include an optical fiber input to transmit an optical signal, and a beam expander to receive and expand the optical signal to create an expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a retardance element (RE) to cause a polarization scrambling effect on the expanded optical signal and to create a scrambled expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a beam reducer to receive and reduce the scrambled expanded optical signal to create a scrambled optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include an optical fiber output to receive scrambled optical signal. The optical fiber output may transmit the scrambled optical signal to one or more downstream optical components.

A gradient index lens includes at least one optical material, wherein the optical material has at least two extension axes at an angle relative to one another, wherein the optical material has a refractive index gradient along at least one of the extension axes the optical material, and wherein the optical material is formed to be coiled around at least one of the extension axes.

An optical component having an NA conversion function which enables arraying without lowering a product yield, with small size and a simple assembly process. There is provided an optical component using a capillary type lens array in which plural graded index lenses each of which is surrounded with glass capillary in all circumferential directions, in which a refractive index distribution constant of the plurality of graded index lenses at one end of the optical component in an optical axis direction of the graded index lens is smaller than a refractive index distribution constant of the plurality of graded index lenses at other end of the optical component in the optical axis direction of the graded index lens.