Light polarizer

• US 20080088923A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edward Phillips, Michael Hanrahan, Patrick Mullen, Robert Nilsen
• Original Assignee: Edward Phillips, Michael Hanrahan, Patrick Mullen, Robert Nilsen
• Inventors: Mullen, Patrick, Phillips, Edward, Nilsen, Robert, Hanrahan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/900,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088923A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/486
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/328 Diffraction gratings; Holograms
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/391 absorbing or reflecting polarised light
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/11 Anti-reflection coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/118 having sub-optical wavelength surface structures designed to provide an enhanced transmittance, e.g. moth-eye structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12107 Grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12116 Polariser; Birefringent
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4277 being separated by an air space
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/008 Surface plasmon devices diffractive gratings with a pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength G02B5/1809; surface plasmons in integrated optics G02B6/1226; optical analysis of materials by means of surface plasmons G01N21/553
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1809 with pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1814 structurally combined with one or more further optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms or other diffraction gratings G02B5/189 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3025 Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3033 in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3058 comprising electrically conductive elements, e.g. wire grids, conductive particles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/126 using polarisation effects G02B6/1226 takes precedence

Abstract

A polarizer comprising at least one subwavelength optical microstructure that includes linear prisms, and wherein said microstructure is partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface.

Claims

1. A polarizer, comprising:

at least one subwavelength optical microstructure, said microstructure being partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface; and

a coating disposed over at least part of the optical microstructure and the inhibiting surface.

2. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the coating is collimating.

3. The polarizer of claim 2, wherein the coating is formed into at least one linear prism.

4. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the coating is formed into a cube-corner prism to form a transparent polarizing cube-corner film.

5. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the coating is formed into a lens.

6. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the coating is formed into a surface relief diffuser.

7. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the optical microstructure include moth-eye structures, linear prisms, or a combination thereof.

8. The polarizer of claim 1 wherein the light-transmissive inhibiting surface includes reflective surface.

9. The polarizer of claim 1 wherein the light-transmissive inhibiting surface is a metalized coating.

10. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the optical microstructure includes a flat surface upon which the light-transmissive inhibiting surface is disposed.

11. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the optical microstructure includes peaks and valleys, wherein the light-transmissive inhibiting surface is primarily disposed on the peaks.

12. The polarizer of claim 11, wherein the light-transmissive inhibiting surface is disposed on one side of substantially all of the peaks.

13. A filter, comprising:

at least one subwavelength optical microstructure having at least a part of a surface covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface; and

a resonance structure adjacent to the microstructure for reflecting light of a predetermined wavelength that has passed through the microstructure.

14. A method of forming a polarizer, comprising:

partially covering a subwavelength optical microstructure with light-transmissive inhibiting surface, wherein optical microstructure includes linear prisms; and

disposing a coating over at least part of the optical microstructure and the metalized surface.