Polarizing Optical System

• US 20080278812A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumus Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lumus Ltd.
• Inventors: Amitai, Yaakov
• Granted Patent: US 9,551,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/487
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/285 comprising arrays of elements, e.g. microprisms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3083 Birefringent or phase retarding elements G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements

Abstract

There is provided an optical system, including a light-transmitting substrate having at least two major surfaces parallel to each other and edges, and an optical device for coupling light into the substrate by total internal reflection. The device includes a polarization sensitive reflecting surface.

Claims

1. An optical system, comprising:

a light-transmitting substrate having at least two major surfaces parallel to each other and edges, and

an optical device for coupling light into said substrate by total internal reflection,

characterized in that said device for coupling light includes a polarization sensitive reflecting surface.

2. The optical system according to claim 1, further comprising an array of at least one partially reflecting surface located in said substrate which is non-parallel to said major surfaces of the substrate.

3. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein said optical device for coupling light is embedded inside said light-transmitting substrate.

4. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein said optical device for coupling light is non-parallel to said major surfaces of the substrate.

5. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein said optical device for coupling light is a polarizing beam splitter.

6. The optical system according to claim 5, wherein said optical device for coupling light reflects s-polarized light and transmits p-polarized light.

7. The optical system according to claim 5, wherein said optical device for coupling light reflects p-polarized light and transmits s-polarized light.

8. The optical system according to claim 5, wherein said optical device for coupling light comprises a polarization sensitive thin film dielectric coating.

9. The optical system according to claim 5, wherein said optical device for coupling light comprises a wire grid polarizer.

10. The optical system according to claim 2, wherein said optical device for coupling light into said substrate is parallel to said array of partially reflecting surfaces.

11. The optical system according to claim 1, further comprising a quarter-wave retardation member located next to one of said major surfaces.

12. The optical system according to claim 11, further comprising a reflecting surface located next to said quarter-wave retardation member.

13. The optical system according to claim 12, wherein said reflecting surface is cemented to said quarter-wave retardation member.

14. The optical system according to claim 12, wherein said reflecting surface is coated on the back side of said quarter-wave retardation member.

15. The optical system according to claim 12, wherein said quarter-wave retardation member is a film laminated on the front surface of said reflecting surface.

16. The optical system according to claim 11, further comprising a converging lens located next to said quarter-wave retardation member.

17. The optical system according to claim 16, wherein the back surface of said converging lens is coated with a reflecting coating.

18. The optical system according to claim 16, wherein said converging lens is a plano-convex lens.

19. The optical system according to claim 1, further comprising a display source.

20. The optical system according to claim 19, wherein light waves emerging from said display source enter said light-transmitting substrate through one of said major surfaces.

21. The optical system according to claim 20, further comprising an optical module which collimates said light waves.

22. The optical system according to claim 20, wherein said light waves are linearly polarized.

23. The optical system according to claim 20, wherein said light waves are unpolarized.

24. The optical system according to claim 21, wherein said collimating optical module comprises a folding prism.

25. The optical system according to claim 24, further comprising at least one polarizer beamsplitter embedded inside said folding prism.

26. The optical system according to claim 24, further comprising a quarter-wave retardation member located next to said folding prism.

27. The optical system according to claim 24, further comprising at least one converging lens located next to said quarter-wave retardation member.

28. The optical system according to claim 24, wherein the back surface of said at least one converging lens is coated with a reflective coating.

29. The optical system according to claim 11, further comprising a converging lens located next to said quarter-wavelength retardation member.

30. The optical system according to claim 29, wherein said converging lens is a plano-convex lens.

31. The optical system according to claim 29, wherein the back surface of said converging lens is coated with a reflective coating.

32. The optical system according to claim 29, wherein the back surface of said converging lens is coated with a reflective coating.

33. The optical system according to claim 29, wherein said converging lens is optically attached to said quarter-wave retardation member.

34. The optical system according to claim 29, wherein said converging lens is a collimating lens.

35. The optical system according to claim 1, further comprising a reflecting surface embedded inside said light-transmitting substrate.

36. The optical system according to claim 35, wherein said reflecting surface is parallel to said optical device for coupling light into said substrate.