NANO FRACTAL DIFFUSER

• US 20130155516A1
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eric Gardner, Mark Davis, Michael Lines
• Original Assignee: Eric Gardner, Mark Davis, Michael Lines
• Inventors: Lines, Michael, Gardner, Eric W., Davis, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/495,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20130155516A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/599
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0252 using holographic or diffractive means
• 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 5/3058 comprising electrically conductive elements, e.g. wire grids, conductive particles

Abstract

A diffusive device has an array of discrete facets which may be of a size and pattern similar to a fractal. The facet dimensions can be greater than half the wavelength of incident light such that the facets substantially diffract light. A polarizing wire-grid layer comprised of an array of elongated parallel conductive wires with a period less than half the wavelength of incident light may be disposed between, beneath, or above the facets. The wire-grid polarizes the light by substantially reflecting light having an s-polarization orientation and substantially transmitting a portion of light having a p-polarization orientation.

Claims

1. A light diffuser comprising:

a. a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface;

b. a layer disposed over the top surface of the substrate; and

c. at least sixteen facets;

i. having at least two different sizes;

ii. having a bottom surface disposed towards the substrate and a top surface opposing the bottom surface;

iii. formed in the layer with facet dimensions >

λ

/2, where λ

is the wavelength of light incident on the at least sixteen facets to create a substantially diffuse light beam; and

iv. forming distinct groups arranged in a fractal pattern.

2. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the substrate and the layer are formed of the same material.

3. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the substrate and the layer comprise a different material.

4. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the facets are locations that are cut into the layer.

5. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the at least sixteen facets have at least two different thicknesses.

6. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the at least sixteen facets have at least four different thicknesses.

7. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the at least sixteen facets have square shapes.

8. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the facets are locations that were masked during etching and are raised above surrounding etched locations.

9. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer comprises at least two layers and the at least sixteen facets are disposed over at least sixteen other facets.

10. The light diffuser of claim 9, wherein the at least two layers are formed of the same material.

11. The light diffuser of claim 9, wherein the at least two layers comprise a different material.

12. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a material that is opaque to the light such that substantially all of the incoming light is diffusely reflected.

13. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the at least sixteen facets have at least four different sizes.

14. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the facets are a solid material surrounded by areas of the layer which have been removed.

15. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the at least sixteen facets comprise areas of the layer which have been removed, and are surrounded by areas of the layer which have not been removed.

16. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein a distance from the bottom surface of the substrate to a top surface of at least one of the at least sixteen facets is different than a distance from the bottom surface of the substrate to a top surface of another of the at least sixteen facets.

17. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein areas of the top surface of the substrate which is not covered with any of the at least sixteen facets are covered by a wire grid and the wire grid comprises a non polarizing material.

18. The light diffuser of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the at least sixteen facets is covered with wire grid and the wire grid comprises a non polarizing material.

19. A light diffuser comprising:

a. a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface;

b. at least one layer disposed over the top surface of the substrate; and

c. at least sixteen facets, with a bottom surface disposed towards the substrate and a top surface opposing the bottom surface, formed in one of the at least one layer with facet dimensions >

λ

/2 where λ

is the wavelength of light incident on the at least two facets to create a substantially diffuse light beam.

20. A light diffuser comprising:

a. a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface;

b. a layer, disposed over the top surface of the substrate, and formed of the same material as the substrate; and

c. at least sixteen facets;

i. having at least four different sizes with at least four different surface areas;

ii. having a bottom surface disposed towards the substrate and a top surface opposing the bottom surface;

iii. formed in the layer with facet dimensions >

λ

/2, where λ

is the wavelength of light incident on the at least sixteen facets;

iv. forming distinct groups arranged in a fractal pattern; and

v. substantially diffracting incident light.