There are provided a volume Bragg grating and a method and a system for fabricating it. For instance, there is provided a system that includes a set of spatial light modulators configured to receive a light input. The light input can include a set of input paths where each input path in the set of input paths corresponds to a respective spatial light modulator from the set of spatial light modulators. The system can further include an input light processing module configured to condition an input light beam to output the light input to the set of spatial light modulators. The system can further include an optics module configured to receive a pattern originating from the set of spatial light modulators.

There is provided a method for making an optical element having a textured surface. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a plurality of primary optical fiber segments, each primary fiber segment comprising one or more cores; b) bundling the primary fiber segments into an assembly with the cores of said primary fiber segments extending parallely; c) transforming the assembly into a secondary structure comprising the parallely extending cores; and d) etching a surface of the secondary structure according to an etch profile of said secondary structure, the etch profile being defined by the parallely extending cores, thereby forming the textured surface of the optical element. An optical element having a textured surface is also provided.

An optical adhesive including a viscoelastic or elastomeric adhesive layer and a cured polymer layer immediately adjacent the viscoelastic or elastomeric adhesive layer is described. The viscoelastic or elastomeric adhesive layer a refractive index less than 1.570 and the cured polymer layer has a refractive index of at least 1.570. An interface between the viscoelastic or elastomeric adhesive layer and the cured polymer layer is structured. The cured polymer layer has a storage modulus of at least 2000 MPa at 20° C. and a glass transition temperature of no more than 65° C.

Methods and apparatuses related to fiducial designs for fiducial markers on glass substrates, or other transparent or translucent substrates, are disclosed. Example fiducial designs can facilitate visual recognition by enhancing edge detection in visual perception. In example fiducial designs, optical features on glass substrates can re-direct light so as to present a bright image region. Such optical features can include surface relief patterns formed in a coating on the surface of glass substrates. An exemplary method for manufacturing the fiducial markers can involve transfers of a fiducial design across a master mold or plate, a submaster mold or plate, and a target glass substrate. A fiducial marker can facilitate the use of the substrate in a variety of applications, including machine vision systems that facilitate automated performance of manufacturing processes on input working material.

An optical device includes a liquid crystal layer having a first plurality of liquid crystal molecules arranged in a first pattern and a second plurality of liquid crystal molecules arranged in a second pattern. The first and the second pattern are separated from each other by a distance of about 20 nm and about 100 nm along a longitudinal or a transverse axis of the liquid crystal layer. The first and the second plurality of liquid crystal molecules are configured as first and second grating structures that can redirect light of visible or infrared wavelengths.

An optical element includes an optical block constructed of a first material having a % transmission of at least 50% throughout a spectral range of 300 nm to 2700 nm through at least a thickness of the optical block. The optical block comprises a surface. A grating layer constructed of a second material is disposed on the surface of the optical block, the grating layer comprising a first surface that is directly in contact with the surface of the optical block and a second surface comprising a plurality of diffraction features forming a diffraction grating.

An optical device includes a concave-convex structure layer having a concavo-convex structure on a surface thereof, the concavo-convex structure formed of a plurality of convexities or a plurality of concavities which are arranged with a sub-wavelength period, a high refractive index layer made of a material having a refractive index higher than that of the concavo-convex structure layer and located on the concavo-convex structure while having a surface conforming to the concavo-convex structure, and a low refractive index layer made of a material having a refractive index lower than that of the high refractive index layer and located on the high refractive index layer. The high refractive layer includes first grating high refractive index portions located at a bottom of the concavo-convex structure to form a first sub-wavelength grating, and second grating high refractive index portions located at a top of the concavo-convex structure to form a second sub-wavelength grating.

Provided are a cholesteric liquid crystal film including a cholesteric liquid crystal, in which the cholesteric liquid crystal film has a stripe pattern in which dark portions and bright portions are alternately arranged in a straight line on an upper surface observed with a microscope; and a manufacturing method thereof.

Examples include a device including a nanovoided polymer element having a first surface and a second surface, a first plurality of electrodes disposed on the first surface, a second plurality of electrodes disposed on the second surface, and a control circuit configured to apply an electrical potential between one or more of the first plurality of electrodes and one or more of the second plurality of electrodes to induce a physical deformation of the nanovoided polymer element.

A pattern film, a method for manufacturing a pattern film, and a transmittance variable device comprising the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a pattern film includes a base layer, and a spacer pattern formed on the base layer, the spacer pattern comprises a partition wall spacer comprises a plurality of spacer dots and a spacer line connecting the spacer dots, and a ball spacer, the ball spacer is one of embedded in, partially embedded in, or in contact with the partition wall spacer, when any 3 or more spacer dots are selected, the spacer line forms a closed figure having the selected spacer dots at the vertices thereof, the selected spacer dots are not present inside the closed figure, a length of at least one side of the closed figure is different from lengths of the remaining sides, and each spacer dot has irregularity of 50% or greater.