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Polarization forming optical device and polarization beam splitter

  • US 5,124,841 A
  • Filed: 10/15/1990
  • Issued: 06/23/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A polarization forming optical device comprising:

  • a polarization beam splitter for reflecting one of an s-polarization component and a p-polarization component of light to be emitted from a light source and transmitting the other;

    a prism reflecting surface for receiving one of a reflected light and a transmitted light from said polarization beam splitter and rotating a plane of polarization at 90°

    to obtain a reflected light component; and

    means for deflecting the light advancing from said polarization beam splitter to said prism reflecting surface, the reflected light component from said prism reflecting surface, and/or the other of said reflected light and said transmitted light from said polarization beam splitter, so as to make an advancing direction of an outgoing light based on said reflected light from said polarization beam splitter coincident with an advancing direction of an outgoing light based on said transmitted light from said polarization beam splitter;

    wherein said prism reflecting surface comprises a plurality of reflecting mirror surfaces, adjacent ones of which are perpendicular to each other, said reflecting mirror surfaces being arranged in rows in a direction perpendicular to a ridgeline formed between said adjacent reflecting mirror surfaces, said direction of arrangement of said rows of said reflecting mirror surfaces being inclined at 45°

    with respect to said plane of polarization of the incident light on said prism reflecting surface.

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