Polarizer apparatus for producing a generally polarized beam of light
DCFirst Claim
1. A polarizer apparatus for efficiently producing a generally polarized light beam from a generally unpolarized source light beam within the visible spectrum having orthogonal first and second polarizations produced by a light source, the apparatus comprising:
- a generally parallel arrangement of thin, elongated elements configured for disposition in the source light beam, the elements being sized and configured for the visible spectrum and for interacting with electromagnetic waves of the source light beam to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization oriented perpendicular to the elements and defining a transmitted beam of the first polarization, and (ii) specularly reflect light having a polarization oriented parallel with the elements and defining a reflected beam of the second polarization, wherein the extinction ratio is greater than 100, a light recapture means physically positioned in a different location from the light source and configured for disposition in the reflected beam for intercepting and redirecting the reflected beam so that the reflected beam is not directed back into the light source, the light recapture means being oriented to direct the reflected beam back into the arrangement of elements; and
a polarization reorientation means configured for disposition in the reflected beam for changing the polarization orientation of substantially all the reflected beam so that both the reflected and transmitted beams have generally the same polarization, thereby substantially converting all the source light beam to a single polarization.
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Abstract
A polarizing device has an arrangement of generally parallel elements disposed in an unpolarized source light beam for transmitting polarizations perpendicular to the elements and reflecting polarizations parallel to the elements. The elements may be disposed at substantially any incidence angle and may reflect the reflected beam at substantially any angle. The elements may be disposed on a substrate or embedded in a substrate. The elements may be disposed in a curved layer. The substrate may also have a curved surface. A polarizer apparatus may also have a mirror or the like for redirecting or recapturing the transmitted or reflected beam so they have similar directions or are directed to a common area. The apparatus may also have a wave plate or the like for changing the polarization of the transmitted or reflected beams so they have the same polarization.
266 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A polarizer apparatus for efficiently producing a generally polarized light beam from a generally unpolarized source light beam within the visible spectrum having orthogonal first and second polarizations produced by a light source, the apparatus comprising:
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a generally parallel arrangement of thin, elongated elements configured for disposition in the source light beam, the elements being sized and configured for the visible spectrum and for interacting with electromagnetic waves of the source light beam to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization oriented perpendicular to the elements and defining a transmitted beam of the first polarization, and (ii) specularly reflect light having a polarization oriented parallel with the elements and defining a reflected beam of the second polarization, wherein the extinction ratio is greater than 100, a light recapture means physically positioned in a different location from the light source and configured for disposition in the reflected beam for intercepting and redirecting the reflected beam so that the reflected beam is not directed back into the light source, the light recapture means being oriented to direct the reflected beam back into the arrangement of elements; and
a polarization reorientation means configured for disposition in the reflected beam for changing the polarization orientation of substantially all the reflected beam so that both the reflected and transmitted beams have generally the same polarization, thereby substantially converting all the source light beam to a single polarization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A polarizer apparatus for efficiently physically decoupling two orthogonal polarizations of a source light beam within a visible and/or near-visible spectrum into two generally polarized beams and reorienting the polarization of the reflected beam, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source for emitting a source light beam within the visible and/or near-visible spectrum having a wavelength between approximately 0.4 and 1.0 microns;
a generally parallel arrangement of thin, elongated elements disposed in the source light beam, the elements being sized and configured for the visible and/or near-visible spectrum and for interacting with electromagnetic waves of the source light beam to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization oriented perpendicular to the elements and defining a transmitted beam of the first polarization, and (ii) specularly reflect light having a polarization oriented parallel with the elements and defining a reflected beam of the second polarization, wherein the extinction ratio is greater than 100, the arrangement of elements being disposed in the source light beam at an orientation so that the reflected beam is not directed back into the light source; and
a polarization reorientation means disposed in the reflected beam for changing the polarization orientation of the reflected beam so that both the reflected and transmitted beams have generally the same polarization, thereby substantially converting all the source light beam to a single polarization. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A polarizer apparatus for efficiently physically decoupling two orthogonal polarizations of a source light beam within a visible and/or near-visible spectrum into two generally polarized beams and recapturing at least one of the two beams, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source for emitting a source light beam within the visible and/or near-visible spectrum and having a wavelength between approximately 0.4 and 1.0 microns;
a generally parallel arrangement of thin, elongated elements disposed in the source light beam, the elements being sized and configured for the visible and/or near-visible spectrum and for interacting with electromagnetic waves of the source light beam to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization oriented perpendicular to the elements and defining a transmitted beam of the first polarization, and (ii) specularly reflect light having a polarization oriented parallel with the elements and defining a reflected beam of the second polarization, wherein the extinction ratio is greater than 100; and
a light recapture means separate from the light source and disposed in the reflected beam for intercepting and redirecting the reflected beam so that both the reflected and transmitted beams are generally directed to a common area, the light recapture means being oriented to direct the reflected beam back towards the arrangement of elements. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A polarizer device adapted for physically decoupling two orthogonal polarizations of a source light beam within a visible and/or near visible spectrum into two generally polarized beams and further treating at least one of the two beams, the device comprising:
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a generally parallel arrangement of thin, elongated elements disposed in the source light beam, the elements having a width, length and thickness sized for the visible and/or near-visible spectrum and to interact with the electromagnetic waves of the source light beam to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization oriented perpendicular to the length of the elements and defining a transmitted beam, and (ii) reflect light having a polarization oriented parallel with the length of the elements and defining a reflected beam, wherein the extinction ratio is greater than 100, the arrangement of elements being disposed in a generally curved layer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A polarizer apparatus, comprising:
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a generally parallel arrangement of thin, elongated elements, configured to be disposed in a source light beam at an angle of incidence greater than approximately 15 degrees, the elements being sized and configured for the visible spectrum to generally (i) transmit a transmitted beam of a first polarization, and (ii) reflect a reflected beam of a second polarization, wherein the extinction ratio is greater than 100. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
a light recapture means physically positioned in a different location from the light source and configured for disposition in the reflected beam for intercepting and redirecting the reflected beam so that the reflected beam is not directed back into the light source, the light recapture means being oriented to direct the reflected beam back into the arrangement of elements.
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30. The polarizer apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:
a polarization reorientation means configured for disposition in the reflected beam for changing the polarization orientation of substantially all the reflected beam so that both the reflected and transmitted beams have generally the same polarization, thereby substantially converting all the source light beam to a single polarization.
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31. The polarizer apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:
a substrate having a curved surface, and an opposite, different surface configured to provide optical power; and
wherein the elements are disposed on the curved surface of the substrate in a curved layer.
Specification