Polarization sensitive scattering element
First Claim
1. A polarizer, comprising:
- a polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE), wherein said PSSE is a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence and having a first scattering distribution for light rays of a first polarization and a second scattering distribution for light rays of a second polarization, wherein the first scattering distribution is such that the majority of the light rays of the first polarization are randomly backscattered.
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Abstract
A polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE) that acts to effectively separate light of different polarizations. The PSSE is a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence. The PSSE has a first scattering distribution for light rays of a first polarization and a second scattering distribution for light rays of a second polarization. The first scattering distribution is such that the majority of the light rays of the first polarization are randomly backscattered. The second scattering distribution is such that the majority of the light rays of the second polarization are substantially transmitted. The PSSE provides a means for recapturing light energy which would otherwise be lost in display devices, while reducing degradation and heat build-up due to light absorption.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A polarizer, comprising:
a polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE), wherein said PSSE is a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence and having a first scattering distribution for light rays of a first polarization and a second scattering distribution for light rays of a second polarization, wherein the first scattering distribution is such that the majority of the light rays of the first polarization are randomly backscattered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE), comprising a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence and having a first scattering distribution for light rays of a first polarization and a second scattering distribution for light rays of a second polarization, wherein the first scattering distribution is such that the light rays of the first polarization are randomly backscattered, and wherein the PSSE is comprised of fibers aligned and embedded in a matrix, wherein the scattering profile of the backscattered light is dependent upon the material refractive indexes, fiber diameter, and number of fibers.
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16. A polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE), comprising a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence and having a first scattering distribution for light rays of a first polarization and a second scattering distribution for light rays of a second polarization, wherein the first scattering distribution is such that the light rays of the first polarization are randomly diffuse, and wherein the PSSE is comprised of liquid crystal with alternating domains contained within, formed by locally polymerizing separate regions with a transverse aligning field selectively applied.
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17. A backscattering diffuse polarizer, comprising a polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE), wherein said PSSE is a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence, wherein the PSSE has a thickness and a difference in birefringence that are sufficient to randomly backscatter a majority of the light of a first polarization.
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18. A polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE), comprising domains of a first polymer type and a second polymer type having birefringence, wherein a first refractive index of said domains of the first polymer type matches a second refractive index of said domains of the second polymer type, the birefringence of said domains of the first polymer type is different from the birefringence of said domains of the second polymer type such that a majority of light of a first polarization is backscattered and such that a majority of light of a second polarization is transmitted.
Specification