ENCODED ENERGY WAVEGUIDES FOR HOLOGRAPHIC SUPER RESOLUTION
Disclosed embodiments include an energy device having an array of waveguide elements configured to direct energy along a plurality of energy propagation paths through the device, and an energy encoding element operable to limit propagation of energy along the plurality of paths. Energy uninhibited propagation paths may extend through first and second regions of energy locations, the first and seconds regions being overlapping and offsetting, and the energy encoding element may limit propagation of energy through each energy location in the first and second regions to one uninhibited energy propagation path. In an embodiment, the energy encoding element may limit propagation along uninhibited propagation paths through the first region at a first moment in time, and through the second region at a second moment in time. An energy system comprising an energy device subsystem and an energy combiner may be configured to superimpose energy from the energy locations.
1 . An energy device comprising:
an array of waveguide elements, wherein the array of waveguide elements comprises a first side and a second side, the array of waveguide elements being configured to direct energy therethrough along a plurality of energy propagation paths which extend through a plurality of energy locations on the first side of the array; and
an energy encoding element operable to limit propagation of energy along the plurality of energy propagation paths;
wherein uninhibited energy propagation paths through first and second waveguide elements of the array of waveguide elements define first and second regions of energy locations, the first and second regions being overlapping and offsetting; and
further wherein, the energy encoding element substantially limits propagation of energy through each energy location in the first and second regions to one uninhibited energy propagation path;
wherein the uninhibited energy propagation paths through first and second waveguide elements form at least a portion of a volumetric energy field defined by a 4D plenoptic function.
2 . The energy device of claim 1 , wherein energy passing through the plurality of energy locations is encoded in two different energy states; and
wherein the energy encoding element comprises an energy element, the energy element comprising a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions, each first region configured to allow energy in the first energy state to pass therethrough substantially uninhibited, and to substantially inhibit propagation of energy in the second energy state, and each second region configured to allow energy in the second energy state to pass therethrough substantially uninhibited, and to substantially inhibit propagation of energy in the first energy state.
3 . The energy device of claim 2 , wherein the different energy states comprise first and second energy encoding states, and the energy encoding element comprises an energy polarizing element.
4 . The energy device of claim 3 , wherein the energy encoding element comprises a polarization element selected from a group consisting of:
a) a linear polarizer;
b) a circular polarizer;
c) a quarter, half, or full waveplate; and
d) an energy polarization modulating device.
5 . The energy device of claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of regions of the energy element each comprise an energy encoding element having a first optical axis, and the second plurality of regions of the energy element each comprise an energy encoding element having a second optical axis.
6 . The energy device of claim 3 , wherein the energy locations in the first and second regions of are interlaced or woven by energy encoding states.
7 . The energy device of claim 3 , wherein the energy locations in the first and second regions of are grouped and interlaced or woven by energy encoding states.
8 . The energy device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first regions and the plurality of second regions of the energy encoding element cooperate to define an aperture for each waveguide element.
9 . The energy device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first regions and the plurality of second regions of the energy encoding element cooperate to define a plurality of apertures for each waveguide element.
10 . The energy device of claim 2 , further comprising an energy combining element configured to relay energy between a plurality of energy devices and an energy location surface formed on the energy combining element, wherein the plurality of energy locations are located on the energy location surface of the energy combining element, and further wherein energy propagating through different energy devices are relayed through interlaced or woven energy locations on the energy location surface.
11 . The energy device of claim 10 , wherein the energy combining element comprises an element exhibiting transverse Anderson localization.
12 . The energy device of claim 10 , wherein energy encoding states are retained through the energy combining element and the interlaced energy locations retain alternating encoded energy states.
13 . The energy device of claim 12 , wherein the alternating energy states are orthogonal polarization states.
14 . The energy device of claim 1 , wherein the energy encoding element is located on the second side of the array of waveguide elements.
15 . The energy device of claim 1 , wherein the energy encoding element is located on the first side between the plurality of energy locations and the array of waveguide elements.
16 . A energy device comprising:
an array of waveguide elements, wherein the array of waveguide elements comprises a first side and a second side, the array of waveguide elements being configured to direct energy therethrough along a plurality of energy propagation paths which extend through a plurality of energy locations on the first side of the array; and
an energy encoding element operable to limit propagation of energy along the plurality of energy propagation paths;
wherein uninhibited energy propagation paths through first and second waveguide elements of the array of waveguide elements define first and second regions of energy locations, the first and second regions being overlapping and offsetting; and
further wherein, at a first moment in time, the energy encoding element substantially inhibits energy propagation paths through energy locations in the first region, and the energy encoding element allows substantially uninhibited energy propagation paths through energy locations in the second region;
wherein at a second moment in time, the energy encoding element substantially inhibits energy propagation paths through energy locations in the second region, and the energy encoding element allows substantially uninhibited energy propagation paths through energy locations in the first region.
wherein temporally aggregated uninhibited energy propagation paths through first and second waveguide elements form at least a portion of a volumetric energy field defined by a 4D plenoptic function.
17 . The energy device of claim 16 , wherein the energy encoding element comprises an active energy encoding system configured to switch between at least a first state and a second state, wherein, when driven to the first state, the active energy encoding system is configured to form a first set of apertures, and when driven to the second state, the active energy encoding system is configured to form a second set of apertures.
18 . The energy device of claim 17 , wherein the first and second sets of apertures are formed by energy encoding elements of the active energy encoding system.
19 . The energy device of claim 18 , wherein the energy encoding elements comprise active aperture barriers.
20 . The energy device of claim 19 , wherein the active aperture barriers comprise shutters.
21 . The energy device of claim 17 , wherein the first and second sets of apertures are formed by controlling one or more energy encoding elements of the active energy encoding system in cooperation with one or more passive energy encoding elements of the active energy encoding system.
22 . The energy device of claim 21 , wherein the one or more active energy encoding elements are selected from a group consisting of:
a) an energy polarization switch;
b) an energy bandpass switch; and
c) an energy modulation device.
23 . The energy device of claim 21 , wherein the one or more passive energy encoding elements are selected from a group consisting of:
a) an energy polarization filter;
b) an energy bandpass filter; and
c) an energy waveguide.
24 . The energy device of claim 21 , wherein the one or more active energy elements encode energy into different energy states and the one or more passive energy elements encode energy based on the energy states.
25 . The energy device of claim 24 , wherein the one or more active energy elements temporally encode energy at a contiguous group of energy locations into different energy states.
26 . The energy device of claim 24 , wherein the one or more active energy elements temporally encode energy at interlaced or woven energy locations into different energy states.
27 . The energy device of claim 21 , wherein the one or more passive energy elements encode energy into different energy states and the one or more active energy encoding elements selectively direct energy based on the energy states.
28 . The energy device of claim 27 , wherein the one or more passive energy elements encode energy into different energy states at interlaced or woven energy locations.
29 . The energy device of claim 17 , wherein the first and second sets of apertures are formed such that a plurality of apertures are formed for each waveguide element, and wherein the energy encoding element further comprises a split aperture energy encoding element configured to limit propagation of energy along the plurality of energy propagation paths through the plurality of apertures for each waveguide element.
30 . The energy device of claim 17 , wherein the first and second sets of apertures are formed such that a plurality of apertures are formed for each waveguide element, and wherein energy is directed through the plurality of apertures for each waveguide element temporally.
31 . The energy device of claim 16 , the active energy encoding system is configured to switch to one or more additional states, wherein, when driven to one or more additional states, the active energy encoding system is configured to form one or more additional sets of apertures.
32 - 36 . (canceled)