Microvision, Inc.

Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Luxim Corporation

Markus Stefan Duelli

Alban N Lescure

Mark O Freeman

Prafulla Jinendra Masalkar

Christian Dean DeJong

Jeff Clark Adams

Donald Mitchell Cornwell

Joshua Mark Hudman

Joshua Owen Miller

P Selvan Viswanathan

Lorenzo Sorgi

Christopher Samuel Zakian

Witold R Teller

Baomin Wang

Umer Shahid

Cory Keitz

Lansing B Evans

An optical detector system provides positioning data to facilitate tracking in optical communications. The system provides first and second path lengths to direct light onto an array of photodetectors. Incoming first light with a first polarization is reflected by a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) to the array, resulting in a first path length and a relatively wide field of view (FOV). Incoming second light with a second polarization passes through the PBS, interacts with a first quarter wave retarder (QWR) and a convex mirror, is reflected by the PBS, passes through a second QWR and is reflected by a flat mirror to pass through the PBS again and onto the array. The second light experiences a second path length greater than the first path length, exhibiting a relatively narrow FOV. The resulting spots of light on the array provide information about a position of the incoming beam.

Optical detector system with multiple path lengths

A device for providing even illumination to a user's hand or other object to acquire images of the object for biometric identification of a user, includes a camera, a first light module positioned on a first side of the camera, and a second light module positioned on a second side of the camera. The camera is positioned closer to the second light module. The second light module emits light with a lesser intensity than the first light module. Light bending films positioned adjacent to the light modules redirect emitted light toward opposite edges of the field of view of the camera. Diffusers in the path of the emitted light diffuse portions of the emitted light along the edges of the field of view. Polarizers positioned in the path of the emitted light polarize the emitted light to facilitate visualization of particular features of the hand or other object.

Sensor assembly for acquiring images

An optical detector system provides beam positioning data to an optical tracking system to facilitate optical communications. The optical detector system comprises a plurality of optical photodetectors. For example, a two-by-two array may be used. Incoming light passes through one or more optical elements, such as a lens and a dispersive optical element. A first portion of the beam entering the optical elements is directed into a first spot having a first area on the array. A second portion of the beam entering the optical elements is dispersed to form a second spot having a second area on the array that is larger than the first area. This combination of first portion and second portion of the beam incident on the array provides unambiguous information in the output of the photodetectors that is indicative of a position of the incoming beam with respect to the array.

Optical detector system

An optical detector system provides output to an optical tracking system to facilitate optical communications by tracking a beam of incoming light using a fast-steering mirror (FSM). The optical detector system comprises an array of optical photodetectors, such array comprising one or more quad cells. The incoming light passes through one or more optical elements to generate a specified beam shape, such as a bar or cross, on the array. The resulting output from the array is highly responsive to changes in position of the reshaped beam on the array. As a result, noise equivalent angle (NEA) of the optical detector system representing pointing error is substantially reduced. A reduction in NEA facilitates more precise alignment, allowing incoming light to be aligned to a smaller area. For example, the incoming light may be aligned to a single mode optical fiber connected to a receiver system.

Optical tracking system

A time-of-flight camera may be used to generate depth images of a scene, where the scene includes retroreflective materials. The time-of-flight camera may capture first sensor data by illuminating the scene at a first energy level, and by exposing a sensor for a first duration. If portions of the sensor are saturated by light reflected from retroreflective materials, corrupted pixels are detected within the first sensor data. A second set of sensor data may be captured by illuminating the scene at a second energy level, or by exposing the sensor for a second duration. The corrupted pixels may be identified and masked from the first sensor data, which may be blended with corresponding portions of the second sensor data to generate a depth image.

Temporal high dynamic range imaging using time-of-flight cameras

A scanning projector includes a brightness compensation component. The brightness compensation component modifies pixel brightness as a function of instantaneous scan phase of a sinusoidally scanning mirror. The brightness compensation component uses different brightness compensation functions based on whether the instantaneous scan phase is above or below a threshold. The threshold may correspond to a knee of a maximum laser power limit curve.

Multi-segment brightness compensation

A bifocal head-up display system includes a projector, at least one projection surface in an intermediate image plane, and relay optics to direct a display image to a reflector in a vehicle operator's field of view. The display image includes two image portions focused at different distances from the vehicle operator. A first image portion focused at a first distance may include information related to vehicle operation, and a second image portion focused at a second distance may include to information related to extra-vehicular objects.

Bifocal head-up display system

A substrate guided relay includes multiple output couplers and multiple light valves positioned between the substrate and the output couplers. The number of light valves may be equal to the number of output couplers, or may be more or less than the number of output couplers. The light valves may be enabled sequentially, or may be enabled based on the position of a user's eye. The light valves may include liquid crystal material.

Wide field of view substrate guided relay

A laser-based imaging system () is configured to reduce perceived speckle in images (). The imaging system () includes one or more laser sources (), a light modulator () configured to produce the images () with light () from the laser sources (), and one or more active polarization switches () disposed in an optical path of the imaging system (). The active polarization switch () is configured to alternate a polarization orientation of the light in synchrony with an image refresh cycle of the system. The active polarization switch can be clocked in accordance with a clocking angle to optimize speckle reduction. Additionally, one or more light preconditioners () may be used to help optimize speckle reduction.

Active polarization switch for speckle reduction in laser projection sources

An imaging system (), such as a scanned laser projection system, includes one or more laser sources () configured to produce one or more light beams (), and a light modulator () configured to produce images () from the light beams (). Optional optical alignment devices () can be used to orient the light beams () into a combined light beam (). A beam separator (), which can be any of a birefringent wedge, compensated birefringent wedge, or a polymerized liquid crystal layer, is disposed between at least one of the laser sources () and the light modulator (). The beam separator () is configured to receive light from the laser sources () and deliver two angularly separated and orthogonally polarized light beams () to the light modulator () so as to reduce speckle appearing when the images () are displayed on a display surface ().

Scanned projection system using polymerized liquid crystal layer for speckle reduction

An imaging system () is configured to reduce perceived speckle () in images () by introducing angular diversity into consecutively projected images. The imaging system () includes one or more laser sources () that are configured to produce one or more light beams (). A light modulator () scans these light beams () to produce images. A light translation element () introduces the angular diversity by physically altering a light reception location () on the light modulator () between refresh sweeps. To preserve image stability, image data () in a memory () can be correspondingly shifted.

Laser scanning imaging system with reduced speckle

An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of generating light are provided. The plasma lamp may comprise a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power and a lamp body to receive the RF power. The lamp body may include a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2. A bulb is provided that contains a fill that forms a light emitting plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill. Collection optics is provided to direct the light along an optical path to an aperture, wherein the optical path includes at least one reflective surface and at least two refractive surfaces.

Light collection system for an electrodeless RF plasma lamp

An imaging system (), such as a scanned laser projection system, includes one or more laser sources () configured to produce one or more light beams (), and a light modulator () configured to produce images () from the light beams (). A polarization diversity element (), which can be manufactured from a birefringent material or from a polymerized liquid crystal layer, is disposed within the imaging system (). The polarization diversity element () is configured to alter the polarization of an incident beam to create a transmitted beam comprising diverse polarization patterns, thereby reducing speckle in projected images.

Laser projection source with polarization diversity element for speckle reduction

A optical apparatus () for use in an laser imaging system () is provided. The optical apparatus () includes one or more optical elements () that are configured to create an intermediate image plane () in the laser imaging system (). A diffractive optical element () is then disposed at the intermediate image plane () to reduce speckle. The diffractive optical element () includes a periodically repeating phase mask () that can be configured in accordance with steps, vortex functions, Hermite-Gaussian functions, and so forth. Smooth grey-level phase transitional surface () can be placed between elements () to improve brightness and image quality. The periodically repeating phase mask () makes manufacture simple by reducing alignment sensitivity, and can be used to make applicable safety standards easier to meet as well.

Diffractive optical element having periodically repeating phase mask and system for reducing perceived speckle

An imaging system (), such as a scanned laser projection system, includes one or more laser sources () configured to produce one or more light beams (), and a light modulator () configured to produce images () from the light beams (). Optional optical alignment devices () can be used to orient the light beams () into a combined light beam (). A birefringent wedge () is disposed between at least one of the laser sources () and the light modulator (). The birefringent wedge () is configured to receive light from the laser sources () and deliver two angularly separated and orthogonally polarized light beams () to the light modulator () so as to reduce speckle appearing when the images () are displayed on a display surface (). An optional glass wedge () can be used to correct optical path deviation () introduced by the birefringent wedge ().

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Markus Stefan Duelli