RELAY SYSTEMS

1 . An energy system configured to receive imaged light from first and second imaged sources and direct focused imaged light along a combined energy path, the energy system comprising:

an energy combining subsystem operable to combine the imaged light from the first and second imaged sources;

a first energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element having a first optical power profile; and

a second energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element having a second optical power profile;

wherein the first and second energy subsystems are configured to cooperate to have a combined optical power profile for directing the imaged light from the first and second imaged sources through energy combining system and forming the focused imaged light along the combined energy path.

2 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second optical power profiles are the same with opposite polarities.

3 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second optical power profiles are different.

4 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second optical power profiles are correlated to result a desired combined optical power profile.

5 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy focusing element of the first or second energy subsystem comprises at least one of a refractive surface, a diffractive surface, or a curved reflective surface.

6 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy focusing element of the first or second energy subsystem comprises at least one lens or Fresnel lens.

7 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy focusing element of the first or second energy subsystem comprises an array of refractive surfaces, diffractive surfaces, or curved reflective surfaces.

8 . The energy system of claim 7 , wherein the array of refractive surfaces, diffractive surfaces, or curved reflective surfaces are arranged to collectively define a single focal length of the at least one energy focusing element of the first or second energy subsystem.

9 . The energy system of claim 7 , wherein the array of refractive surfaces, diffractive surfaces, or curved reflective surfaces are arranged to define a multifocal power profile of the at least one energy focusing element of the first or second energy subsystem.

10 . The energy system of claim 7 , wherein the array of refractive surfaces, diffractive surfaces, or curved reflective surfaces comprise a pair of first and second arrays in series, wherein the first array has higher optical power in a first dimension than a second dimension, and the second array has higher optical power in the second dimension than the first dimension.

11 . The energy system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem comprises a first pair of crossed lenslet arrays and the at least one energy focusing element of the second energy subsystem comprises a second pair of crossed lenslet arrays.

12 . The energy system of claim 10 , wherein each of the crossed lenslet arrays are assembled in a tiled arrangement.

13 . The energy system of claim 7 , wherein the array of refractive surfaces, diffractive surfaces, or curved reflective surfaces are assembled in a tiled arrangement.

14 . The energy system of claim 13 , wherein the tiled arrangement comprises a square packing arrangement.

15 . The energy system of claim 13 , wherein the tiled arrangement comprises a hexogonal packing arrangement.

16 . The energy system of claim 13 , wherein the tiled arrangement comprises an aperiodic packing arrangement.

17 . The energy system of claim 13 , wherein the tiled arrangement comprises a periodic packing arrangement.

18 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the combined optical power profile is adjustable.

19 . The energy system of 18 , wherein the at least one energy focusing element of the first or second energy subsystem comprises an adjustable power profile.

20 . The energy system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one energy focusing element of the first or second energy subsystem comprises an electrically controlled focusing element.

21 . The energy system of claim 19 , wherein the energy system further comprises a mechanical mechanism operable to change the relative positioning between the at least one energy focusing element of the first and second energy subsystem such that the combined optical power profile is adjusted.

22 . The energy system of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first or second energy subsystem further comprises an additional focusing element positioned to contribute to the combined optical power profile, and further wherein the position of the additional focusing element is adjustable such that the combined optical power profile is thereby adjusted.

23 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the energy system further comprises a mechanical mechanism operable to change the relative positioning between the energy system and at least one of the first or second imaged source.

24 . The energy system of claim 1 , further comprising an occlusion system optically following at least one of the first or second imaged source, the occlusion system configured to occlude a portion of imaged light from the at least one of the first or second imaged sources.

25 . The energy system of claim 24 , wherein the focused imaged light along the combined energy path is observable in a viewing volume as defining first and second image surfaces, and wherein the occluded portion of the imaged light corresponds to an occluded portion of the first image surface that is observable as being occluded by the second image surface.

26 . The energy system of claim 25 , wherein the occlusion system comprises at least one occlusion layer.

27 . The energy system of claim 26 , wherein the at least one occlusion layer comprises one or more individually addressable elements.

28 . The energy system of claim 27 , wherein the one or more individually addressable elements comprise occlusion sites configured to block a portion of incident light or parallax barriers.

29 . The energy system of claim 27 , wherein the one or more occlusion layers comprises one or more transparent LED panels, transparent OLED panels, LC panels, or other panels operable to selectively occlude light.

30 . The energy system of claim 26 , wherein

the second image surface comprises a foreground surface in front of the first image surface comprising a background surface; and

the at least one occlusion layer is operable to define an occlusion region having a size and shape scaled to that of the foreground surface so that an occluded portion of the background surface cannot be observed behind the foreground surface.

31 . The energy system of claim 30 , wherein the occlusion region defined by the at least one occlusion layer substantially coincides with the foreground surface as defined by the focused imaged light.

32 . The energy system of claim 30 , wherein the energy system further comprises a controller operable to coordinate a movement of the occlusion region with a movement of the foreground surface.

33 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the first imaged source is located on a first side relative to the energy combining subsystem and the energy system further comprises at least one first energy sensor located on the first side, the at least one first energy sensor operable to detect energy transmitted through the energy combining subsystem to the first side.

34 . The energy system of claim 33 , wherein the at least one first energy sensor is configured to detect electromagnetic energy.

35 . The energy system of claim 33 , wherein the at least one first energy sensor is configured to detect mechanical energy.

36 . The energy system of claim 33 , wherein the at least one first energy sensor is configured to detect thermal energy.

37 . The energy system of claim 33 , wherein the second imaged source is located on a second side relative to the energy combining subsystem and the energy system further comprises at least one second energy sensor located on the second side, the at least one second energy sensor operable to detect energy transmitted through the energy combining subsystem to the second side.

38 . The energy system of claim 37 , wherein the at least one first and second energy sensors are operable to detect the same type of energy.

39 . The energy system of claim 37 , wherein the at least one first and second energy sensors are operable to detect the different types of energy.

40 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the first energy subsystem comprises:

a first energy focusing element positioned to receive the imaged light from the first imaged source, the first energy focusing element configured to cooperate with the at least one energy focusing elements of the second energy subsystem to have a first combined optical power profile to focus the imaged light from the first imaged source; and

a second energy focusing element positioned to receive the imaged light from the second imaged source, the second energy focusing element configured to cooperate with the at least one energy focusing elements of the second energy subsystem to have a second combined optical power profile to focus the imaged light from the second imaged source.

41 . The energy system of claim 40 , wherein the first and second combined optical power profiles are the same.

42 . The energy system of claim 40 , wherein the first and second combined optical power profiles are different.

43 . The energy system of claim 40 , wherein the energy combining system comprises a beam splitter configured to receive the imaged light from the first imaged source through the first energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem and direct focused imaged light from the first imaged source to the at least one energy focusing elements of the second energy subsystem.

44 . The energy system of claim 43 , wherein the beam splitter of the energy combining system is configured to receive the imaged light from the second imaged source through a second energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem and direct focused imaged light from the second imaged source to a reflective surface of the energy combining system whereby the focused image light from the second imaged source is reflected from the reflective surface to return back to the beam splitter, and the beam splitter is further configure to redirect the returned focused imaged light from the second imaged source to the to the at least one energy focusing elements of the second energy subsystem.

45 . The energy system of claim 44 , wherein the first and second energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem comprise first and second optical corrective elements, respectively, that account for an optical power profile of the at least one energy focusing elements of the second energy subsystem.

46 . The energy system of claim 45 , further comprising an additional energy subsystem comprising at least two focusing elements, wherein the additional energy subsystem is positioned along the combined energy path to receive the focused imaged light from the at least one energy focusing elements of the second energy subsystem, and wherein the at least two focusing elements are configured to have a third combined optical power profile and are operable cooperate to relay the received focused imaged light therethrough.

47 . The energy system of claim 45 , further comprising first and second additional energy subsystems each comprising at least two focusing elements, wherein first and second additional energy subsystems are positioned to receive the imaged light from the first and second imaged sources, respectively, and wherein the at least two focusing elements of the first and second additional energy subsystems are configured to have third and fourth combined optical power profiles, respectively, and are operable cooperate to relay the imaged light from the first and second imaged sources to the first and second focusing elements of the first energy subsystem, respectively.

48 . The energy system of claim 47 , wherein the third and fourth combined optical power profiles are the same.

49 . The energy system of claim 47 , wherein the third and fourth combined optical power profiles are different.

50 . The energy system of claim 47 , wherein the at least two focusing elements of the first and second additional energy subsystems comprise a corrective optical element that accounts for an optical power profile of the other one of the at least two focusing elements of the respective additional energy subsystems.

51 . The energy system of claim 44 , wherein the second energy subsystem further comprises first and second additional focus elements positioned to receive the imaged light from the first and second imaged sources, respectively, and are configured to have first and second optical power profiles, respectively.

52 . The energy system of claim 51 , wherein the first energy subsystem further comprises an additional focusing element positioned along the combined energy path to receive the focused imaged light from the at least one energy focusing element of the second energy subsystem, the additional focusing element of the first energy subsystem having a third optical power profile, whereby the first power profile, the third power profile, and the first combined optical power profile have a first overall system optical power profile for focusing imaged light from the first imaged source, and the second power profile, the third power profile, and the second combined optical power profile have a second overall system optical power profile for focusing imaged light from the second imaged source.

53 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one focusing element of the first energy subsystem is positioned in the combined energy path and configured to cooperate with the at least one focusing element of the second energy subsystem to have the combined optical power profile to focus the imaged light from the first and second imaged source.

54 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the first energy subsystem comprises:

a first energy focusing element positioned to receive the imaged light from the first imaged source, the first energy focusing element configured to cooperate with a first energy focusing element of the second energy subsystem to have a first combined optical power profile to focus the imaged light from the first imaged source; and

a second energy focusing element positioned to receive the imaged light from the second imaged source, the second energy focusing element configured to cooperate with a second energy focusing element of the second energy subsystem to have a second combined optical power profile to focus the imaged light from the second imaged source.

55 . The energy system of claim 54 , wherein the first and second combined optical power profiles are the same.

56 . The energy system of claim 54 , wherein the first and second combined optical power profiles are different.

57 . The energy system of claim 54 , wherein the first and second energy focusing elements of the second energy subsystem comprise first and second concave reflective surfaces, respectively.

58 . The energy system of claim 57 , wherein the first and second energy focusing elements of the first energy subsystem comprise optical corrective elements that account for first and second optical power profiles of the first and second concave reflective surfaces, respectively.

59 . The energy system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one focusing element of the first energy subsystem is positioned in the combined energy path and configured to:

cooperate with a first energy focusing element of the second energy subsystem to have a first combined optical power profile to focus the imaged light from the first imaged source; and

cooperate with a second energy focusing element of the second energy subsystem to have a second combined optical power profile to focus the imaged light from the second imaged source.

60 . The energy system of claim 59 , wherein the first and second combined optical power profiles are the same.

61 . The energy system of claim 59 , wherein the first and second combined optical power profiles are different.

62 . The energy system of claim 59 , wherein the first and second energy focusing elements of the second energy subsystem comprise first and second concave reflective surfaces, respectively.

63 . The energy system of claim 62 , wherein the first and second energy focusing elements of the first energy subsystem comprise at least one optical corrective element that accounts for first and second optical power profiles of the first and second concave reflective surfaces, respectively.

64 . An energy system configured to receive imaged light from first and second imaged sources and direct focused imaged light along a combined energy path, the energy system comprising:

an energy combining subsystem operable to combine the imaged light from the first and second imaged sources;

a first energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element having a first optical power profile a focal length defining a first focal plane; and

a second energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element having a second optical power profile a focal length defining a second focal plane;

wherein the first and second energy subsystems are arranged such that the first and second focal planes are substantially coincident, whereby the first and second energy subsystems are configured to cooperate to have a combined optical power profile for directing the image light from the first and second imaged sources through energy combining system and forming the focused imaged light along the combined energy path.

65 . An energy system configured to receive imaged light from first and second imaged sources and direct focused imaged light along a combined energy path, the energy system comprising:

an energy combining subsystem operable to combine the imaged light from the first and second imaged sources;

a first energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element having a focal length; and

a second energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element having a focal length;

wherein the first and second energy subsystems are arranged such that the first and second energy subsystems are configured to cooperate to direct the image light from the first and second imaged sources through energy combining system to form the focused imaged light along the combined energy path;

wherein the first energy subsystem is positioned such that an object plane of the imaged light is located at first distance from a first side of the at least one energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem, the first distance being less than or equal to the focal length of the at least one energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem;

wherein the second energy subsystem is positioned relative to the first energy subsystem such that the first and second energy subsystem are configured to form the focused imaged light with a relayed object plane located at a second distance from a second side of the at least one energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem, the second distance being greater than or equal to the focal length of the at least one energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem.

66 . An energy system configured to receive imaged light from first and second imaged sources and direct focused imaged light along a combined energy path, the energy system comprising:

an energy combining subsystem operable to combine the imaged light from the first and second imaged sources;

a first energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element; and

a second energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element;

wherein the first and second energy subsystems are arranged such that the first and second energy subsystems are configured to cooperate to direct the image light from the first and second imaged sources through energy combining system to form the focused imaged light along the combined energy path;

wherein the first energy subsystem is operable to spatially modulate a first wavefront of the imaged light to form a second wavefront of the image light, wherein the second wavefront is substantially approximated by a Fourier transform of the first wavefront;

wherein the second energy subsystem is operable to receive and spatially modulate the second wavefront of the imaged light to form a third wavefront of the imaged light, wherein the third wavefront is substantially approximated by a Fourier transform of the second wavefront;

wherein the first and second energy subsystems are configured such that the Fourier transform of the first wavefront and the Fourier transform of the second wavefront, in aggregate, result in the third wavefront of the image light being formed to substantially correspond to the focused imaged light along the combined energy path.

67 . An energy system configured to receive imaged light at least one imaged source and direct focused imaged light along an output energy path, the energy system comprising:

a first energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element having a first optical power profile; and

a second energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element having a second optical power profile;

wherein the first and second energy subsystems are configured to cooperate to have a combined optical power profile for forming the focused imaged light along the combined energy path, the combined optical power profile being adjustable.

68 . The energy system of claim 67 , wherein the at least one energy focusing element of the first or second energy subsystem comprises an adjustable optical power profile.

69 . The energy system of claim 68 , wherein the at least one energy focusing element of the first or second energy subsystem comprises an electrically controlled focusing element.

70 . The energy system of claim 69 , wherein the energy system further comprises a mechanical mechanism operable to move the at least one energy focusing element of the first or second energy subsystem comprises such that the combined optical power profile is adjusted.

71 . The energy system of claim 68 , wherein at least one of the first or second energy subsystem further comprises an additional focusing element positioned to contribute to the combined optical power profile, and further wherein the position of the additional focusing element is adjustable such that the combined optical power profile is thereby adjusted.

72 . An energy system configured to receive imaged light from first and second imaged sources and direct focused imaged light along a combined energy path, the energy system comprising:

a first energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element; and

a second energy subsystem comprising at least one energy focusing element;

wherein the at least one energy focusing element of the first and second energy subsystems are configured to have a combined optical power profile to focus the imaged light from the first and second imaged sources;

wherein the at least one energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem comprises an array of refractive surfaces, diffractive surfaces, or curved reflective surfaces;

wherein the array of refractive surfaces, diffractive surfaces, or curved reflective surfaces are arranged to collectively define a focal length of the at least one energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem or a multifocal power profile of the at least one energy focusing element of the first energy subsystem.

73 . The energy system of claim 72 , wherein the array of refractive surfaces, diffractive surfaces, or curved reflective surfaces are assembled in a tiled arrangement.

74 . The energy system of claim 73 , wherein the tiled arrangement comprises a square packing arrangement.

75 . The energy system of claim 73 , wherein the tiled arrangement comprises a hexagonal packing arrangement.

76 . The energy system of claim 73 , wherein the tiled arrangement comprises an aperiodic packing arrangement.

77 . The energy system of claim 73 , wherein the tiled arrangement comprises a periodic packing arrangement.

78 . The energy system of claim 73 , wherein the array of refractive surfaces, diffractive surfaces, or curved reflective surfaces are assembled from modular unit section that have the same refractive surfaces, diffractive surfaces, or curved reflective surfaces.