Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.

Digitaloptics Corporation International

3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Qualcomm Incorporated

Snaptrack Incorporated

Nioptics Corporation

Robert L Holman

Roland Winston

Benjamin A Jacobson

Robert M Emmons

Matthew Brian Sampsell

Philip Gleckman

Arthur R Cox

Matthew B Sampsell, Jr

Jeffrey Brian Sampsell

Russell Wayne Gruhlke

Ming-Hau Tung

Khurshid Syed Alam

Kebin Li

John Michael Wyrwas

Kristopher Andrew Lavery

Neil A Gitkind

Matthew B Sampsell

Disclosed herein are techniques for dynamically forming an optical component that automatically aligns with and changes positions with a scanning light beam to modify the wave front of the scanning light beam, such as collimating the scanning light beam. More specifically, a patterning beam that aligns with the scanning light beam may be scanned together with the scanning light beam to form the self-aligning and travelling optical component in an electro-optic material layer that is connected in serial with a photoconductive material layer to a voltage source, where the patterning beam optically modulates the impedance of the photoconductive material layer and therefore an electric field within the electro-optic material layer, the modulated electric field causing localized changes of refractive index in the electro-optic material layer to form the self-aligning and travelling optical component.

Self-aligning travelling collimating lens for sweeping laser

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing illumination. In one aspect, an etendue preserving optical coupling system configured to: receive incident light through an input aperture; and emit the incident light through an output aperture having an area smaller than an area of the input aperture is provided. The light output from the optical coupling system is coupled into a light receiving system including material having substantially the same refractive index as the refractive index of the material of the optical coupling system. The light receiving system includes a light guide configured to internally propagate the redirected light and to release light to illuminate the ambient environment.

Etendue-preserving light coupling system having light output aperture smaller than light input aperture

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for provided masked structures on an embossed substrate. In one aspect, these masked structures may be reflected facets for use as part of a frontlight film. In another aspect, these masked structures may be masked wiring for use as part of a capacitive touchscreen array. In one aspect, the structures may have a discrete mask formed thereon, while in other aspects, these structures may have self-masking attributes, and may include an interferometric black mask.

Angled facets for display devices

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for illumination devices. In one aspect, an illumination device having a longitudinal axis includes a light source and a light guide. The light guide has a peripheral edge, a transmissive illumination surface, a center portion, and an upper surface. The transmissive illumination surface is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and disposed between the center portion and the peripheral edge. The upper surface is oriented relative to the illumination surface to define an angle &#x3b1; therebetween. In some implementations, the angle &#x3b1; can be greater than 15 degrees, for example.

Illumination device having a tapered light guide

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses for low-profile lighting systems. In one aspect, a lighting apparatus can include a lighting apparatus having a light emitter and an electronics substrate including an electrical circuit. An unrolled capacitive film can be attached to the lighting apparatus and electrically coupled to the electrical circuit.

Low-profile lighting systems

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a beam pattern projection device that includes a modulating array of light sources. In one aspect, the beam pattern projection device may include a lens. The array of light sources can be positioned such that its output plane is substantially one focal length away from the lens along the optical axis. The output of the array of light sources can be controllable to create an adjustable beam pattern out of a plurality of possible beam patterns that are each associated with a power level of each light source in the array of light sources. The device can project at a distance the adjustable beam pattern created by the array of light sources.

Beam pattern projector with modulating array of light sources

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for providing illumination. In one aspect, a light guide can be configured to propagate light received from a light source. The light can be propagated by total internal reflection (TIR) within the light guide. The light guide can include an output surface configured to output light and one or more light extraction elements, which are configured to redirect the light propagating in the light guide so that the light exits the light guide through the output surface. The light guide can have tapered side walls that are configured to at least partially collimate the light that is to exit out of the output surface. In some implementations, the light guide can be used to provide illumination for display devices, other electromechanical systems, or for lighting a room or task area.

Light guide with narrow angle light output and methods

A projector can include a projection lens that is positioned substantially one focal length away from a spatial light modulator. The projector may also include a non-imaging optic configured to illuminate the spatial light modulator. The non-imaging optic may include a light emitter and an etendue-preserving reflector. The projector can be configured to project an image created by the spatial light modulator at a distance using light from the non-imaging optic.

Efficient spatially modulated illumination system

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus relating to implementations of an electrically controlled light conditioning sheet. In one aspect, the electrically controlled light conditioning sheet includes a planar electrode having a first conductor and a second conductor and a transmissive elastic layer. The transmissive elastic layer is configured to deform in response to a potential difference applied between the first and the second conductor and produce regions of optical refractive power. The angular spread and/or the radiation pattern of an incoming beam of light incident on the electrically controlled light conditioning sheet is altered by the action of the regions of optical refractive power produced by the applied potential difference.

Voltage controlled microlens sheet

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for low-profile lighting systems. In one aspect, an LED-based light engine, which may be thinner and/or lighter than conventional light engines, may be retained in both conventionally-dimensioned and low-profile light fixtures. In another aspect, a light engine can include both convective and conductive heat transfer components, the efficacy of which will vary based on the dimensions of a light fixture in which the light engine is installed.

Low-profile LED heat management system

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for providing illumination for lighting systems. One or more light emitters can be disposed about a longitudinal axis, such as in an at least partial polygonal shape, so that the light sources emit light radially outwardly away from the longitudinal axis. A collimating reflector can be disposed radially outward of the one or more light emitters and can be configured to at least partially collimate the light and to substantially preserve etendue of the light emitted from the light emitters. The one or more light emitters can substantially fill an input aperture of the collimating reflector in a direction of the longitudinal axis. The light can be coupled into a light guide, which can be configured to distribute the light to a target lighting area.

Illumination systems and methods

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses for array illumination. In one aspect, an array of light engines is coupled to a support structure. Each light engine can be separately controlled to achieve a desired output beam. In another aspect, a support structure includes an array of LED emitters. The support structure is configured to removably receive a plurality of light guides over the array of LED emitters, thereby forming an array of light engines. The support structure can include an integrated heat sink in thermal communication with the array of LED emitters. Light from the LED emitters is distributed over the surface of the light guides to produce a desired output beam. The light engines can be configured to produce output beams of differing color, direction, shape and/or size.

Array illumination system

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing a desired illumination pattern within a given plane. In one aspect, a light wash system can be configured to provide substantially even illumination on a wall or floor. The light wash system can use light-shaping optics such as a stack of optical films to provide a light wash system which is smaller than conventional light wash systems which utilize parabolic reflectors. The light wash system may include an internal retroreflector to allow a wider range of throw distances for the light wash system.

Growing community of inventors

Evanston, IL, United States of America

Robert L Holman