Aspects of the present disclosure describe optical phased array structures and devices in which hyperbolic phase envelopes are employed to create focusing and diverging emissions in one and two dimensions. Tuning the phase fronts moves focal point spot in depth and across the array. Grating emitters are also used to emit light upward (out of plane). Adjusting the period of the gratings along the light propagation direction results in focusing the light emitted from the gratings. Changes in the operating wavelengths employed moves the focal spot along the emitters.

Provided is an optical element with which a high diffraction efficiency can be obtained with a simple configuration. The optical element includes: an optically-anisotropic layer that is formed using a composition including a liquid crystal compound, in which the optically-anisotropic layer has a liquid crystal alignment pattern in which a direction of an optical axis derived from the liquid crystal compound changes while continuously rotating in at least one in-plane direction, and the optically-anisotropic layer has a region in which an alignment direction of a liquid crystal compound in at least one of upper and lower interfaces has a pre-tilt angle with respect to the interface.

A display device is provided. The display device includes a backlight module with a reverse prism structure disposed on top, and a display module disposed above the backlight module. The display module includes a display panel and a sensor component. The sensor component is embedded in the display panel. The sensor component includes a plurality of sensors. A plurality of diffraction gratings are disposed on surfaces of the plurality of sensors. A grating direction of the plurality of diffraction gratings is perpendicular to a grating direction of the reverse prism structure.

A display medium that is able to arbitrarily change the display of recorded optical image information even when viewed from the same field of view, and an image display method that uses that display medium. The display medium includes a diffraction structure section on which optical image information is recorded, a chromic device that controls the reflection and transmission using voltage, and a power supply that is connected to the chromic device.

The present disclosure provides numerous applications for the use of liquid crystal polarization gratings (LCPGs) to controllably steer light. When combined with an image sensor, light generated or reflected from different fields of view (FOV) can be steered, allowing an increase in the FOV or the resolution of the image. Further, the LCPG can stabilize the resulting image, counteracting any movement of the image sensor. The combination of LCPGs and liquid crystal waveguides (LCWGs) allows fine deflection control of light (from the LCWG) over a wild field of view (from the LCPG). Further applications of LCPGs include object tracking and the production of depth images using multiple imaging units and independently steered LCPGs. The LCPG may be used in controlling both the projection and reception of light.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display panel. The display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, a plurality of first electrodes disposed on a side, close to the second substrate, of the first substrate and spaced apart at intervals, a first dielectric layer for planarizing the plurality of first electrodes, a second dielectric layer disposed on a side, close to the liquid crystal layer, of the first dielectric layer, a light shielding portion disposed on the side, close to the liquid crystal layer, of the second substrate, and a control circuit configured to apply a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the liquid crystal layer is in a first state or a second state.

Provided is an optical scanning element, which has a large scan angle, is quickly responsive, and can be downsized. The optical scanning element includes: a photonic crystal layer having holes periodically formed in an electro-optical crystal substrate; a line-defect optical waveguide formed in the photonic crystal layer; a diffraction grating arranged in at least one portion selected from an upper portion, a left side surface portion, and a right side surface portion of the optical waveguide; and electrodes arranged on a left side and a right side of the optical waveguide. The optical scanning element is configured so that an emission angle of light emitted from an upper surface of the optical waveguide is changed.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display panel. The display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, a plurality of first electrodes disposed on a side, close to the second substrate, of the first substrate and spaced apart at intervals, a first dielectric layer for planarizing the plurality of first electrodes, a second dielectric layer disposed on a side, close to the liquid crystal layer, of the first dielectric layer, a light shielding portion disposed on the side, close to the liquid crystal layer, of the second substrate, and a control circuit configured to apply a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the liquid crystal layer is in a first state or a second state.

A two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer is described herein that can efficiently multiplex and distribute a light signal in two dimensions. An example of a two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer can include a waveguide, a first diffraction grating, and a second diffraction grating disposed above the first diffraction grating and arranged such that the grating direction of the first diffraction grating is perpendicular to the grating direction of the second diffraction grating. Methods of fabricating a two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer are also disclosed.

Unidirectional grating-based backlighting includes a light guide and a diffraction grating at a surface of the light guide. The light guide is to guide a light beam and the diffraction grating is configured to couple out a portion of the guided light beam using diffractive coupling and to direct the coupled-out portion away from the light guide as a primary light beam at a principal angular direction. The diffraction grating is to further produce a secondary light beam directed into the light guide at an opposite one of the principal angular direction. The unidirectional grating-based backlighting further includes an angularly selective reflective layer within the light guide adjacent to the light guide surface that is configured to reflectively redirect the diffractively produced, secondary light beam out of the light guide in the direction of the primary light beam.