Polarization recovery system using light pipes
First Claim
1. A polarization recovery system using light pipes comprising:
- a light pipe having an input surface and an output surface, said input surface having a first transmissive portion and a second reflective portion;
said output surface having a radius of curvature substantially equal to a length of said light pipe, a first focal area proximate to said first transmissive portion, and a second focal area proximate to said second reflective portion;
a polarizer applied to said output surface, said polarizer transmitting a light of a first polarization and reflecting a light of a second polarization toward said second reflective portion; and
wherein said light of said second polarization is substantially reflected by said second reflective portion toward said output surface.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A polarization recovery system using light pipes has a reflector having a first and a second focal points. A source of electromagnetic radiation is disposed proximate to the first focal point of the reflector to emit rays of light that reflect from the reflector and converge substantially at the second focal point. A light pipe having an input surface with a first transmissive portion disposed proximate to the second focal point and a second reflective portion disposed distal to the second focal point and an output surface collects and transmits substantially all of the light. The output surface has a radius of curvature substantially equal to a length of the light pipe, a first focal area proximate to the first transmissive portion and a second focal area proximate to the second reflective portion. A polarizer applied to the output surface transmits the light of a first polarization and reflects the light of a second polarization toward the second reflective area, and the light of the second polarization is substantially reflected by the second reflective area toward the output surface.
-
Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A polarization recovery system using light pipes comprising:
-
a light pipe having an input surface and an output surface, said input surface having a first transmissive portion and a second reflective portion;
said output surface having a radius of curvature substantially equal to a length of said light pipe, a first focal area proximate to said first transmissive portion, and a second focal area proximate to said second reflective portion;
a polarizer applied to said output surface, said polarizer transmitting a light of a first polarization and reflecting a light of a second polarization toward said second reflective portion; and
wherein said light of said second polarization is substantially reflected by said second reflective portion toward said output surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A method of polarization recovery comprising the steps of:
-
positioning a source of electromagnetic radiation at a first focal point of a reflector;
producing rays of light by said source;
reflecting a portion of said rays of light by said reflector toward a second focal point;
converging substantially said rays of light at said second focal point;
positioning an output light pipe having an input surface and an output surface so a first transmissive portion of said input surface is substantially proximate to said second focal point;
collecting substantially said rays of light at said first transmissive portion;
passing said rays of light through said output light pipe to said output surface;
positioning a polarizer proximate to said output surface;
polarizing substantially said rays of light into light of a first polarization and light of a second polarization;
transmitting substantially said light of said first polarization;
reflecting substantially said light of said second polarization through said light pipe toward a second reflective portion of said input surface;
circularly polarizing substantially said light of said second polarization with a wave plate;
reflecting substantially said circularly polarized light toward said output surface;
passing said circularly polarized light through said output light pipe;
polarizing substantially said circularly polarized light into light of said first polarization; and
outputting substantially light of said first polarization from said output surface of said output light pipe.
-
Specification