Wire grid polarizer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
- a substrate having a surface;
an array of parallel, elongated, composite wires disposed on said surface, wherein each of said composite wires are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
wherein each of said composite wires comprises an intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers; and
wherein said intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers comprises at least two of said elongated metal wires.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wire grid polarizer (300) for polarizing an incident light beam (130) comprises a substrate having a first surface. A grid or array of parallel, elongated, composite wires (310) is disposed on the first surface (307), and each of the adjacent wires are spaced apart on a grid period less than a wavelength of incident light. Each of the wires comprises an intra-wire substructure (315) of alternating elongated metal (330a-i) wires and elongated dielectric layers (350a-i).
135 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
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a substrate having a surface;
an array of parallel, elongated, composite wires disposed on said surface, wherein each of said composite wires are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
wherein each of said composite wires comprises an intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers; and
wherein said intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers comprises at least two of said elongated metal wires. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 34)
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11. A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
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a substrate having a surface;
an array of parallel, elongated, composite wires disposed on said surface, wherein each of said composite wires are spaced apart from adjacent wires at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light; and
wherein each of said composite wires comprises an intra-wire substructure of multiple alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers, such that each intra-wire substructure creates a metallo-dielectric photonic band gap structure which enables resonance enhanced tunneling through said elongated metal wires. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
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a substrate having a surface;
an array of parallel, elongated, composite wires disposed on said surface, wherein each of said composite wires are spaced apart from adjacent wires at a grid period less than a wavelength of incident light;
wherein each of said composite wires comprises an intra-wire substructure of periodically spaced alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers; and
wherein said intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers comprises at least two of said elongated metal wires. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 35)
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19. A broadband wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, wherein said light beam is part of the visible spectrum, comprising:
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a substrate having a surface;
an array of parallel, elongated, composite wires disposed on said surface, wherein each of said composite wires are spaced apart from said adjacent wires at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident visible light;
wherein each of said composite wires comprises an intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers; and
wherein said intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers comprises at least two of said elongated metal wires. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 36)
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23. A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
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a substrate having a surface;
an array of parallel, elongated, composite wires disposed on said surface, wherein each of said composite wires are spaced apart from adjacent wires at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
wherein each of said composite wires comprises an intra-wire substructure of quasi-periodically spaced alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers; and
wherein said intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers comprises at least two of said elongated metal wires. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A wire grid polarizer for polarizing incident light comprising:
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a substrate;
an array of parallel elongated composite wires formed on said substrate;
wherein said elongated composite wires are formed with a structure of alternating layers of metal and dielectric;
wherein each of said metal layers are comprised of an elongated metal wire;
wherein said dielectric layers are each comprised of an elongated strip of dielectric material;
wherein said elongated strips of dielectric material in each layer overlay said elongated metal wires;
wherein a thickness of at least one said dielectric layers is greater than a thickness of at least a second dielectric layer; and
wherein said elongated composite wires formed with said structure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers comprises at least two of said elongated metal wires. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 37)
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30. A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
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a substrate;
an array of parallel, elongated, composite wires disposed on said substrate, wherein each of said composite wires are spaced apart from adjacent composite wires at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
wherein each of said composite wires comprises alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers;
wherein a width of each of said composite wires is in a range of 40%-60% of said grid period; and
wherein said intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers comprises at least two of said elongated metal wires.
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31. A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
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a substrate;
an array of parallel, elongated, composite wires disposed on said substrate, wherein each of said composite wires are spaced apart from adjacent composite wires at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
wherein each of said composite wires comprises alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers;
wherein a width of each of said composite wires is in a range of 40%-60% of said grid period;
wherein each of said composite wires has a total thickness between approximately 0.2 and 3.0 μ
m; and
wherein said intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers comprises at least two of said elongated metal wires.
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32. A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
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a substrate;
an array of parallel, elongated, composite wires disposed on said substrate, wherein each of said composite wires are spaced apart from adjacent composite wires at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
wherein each of said composite wires comprises alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers;
wherein a width of each of said composite wires is in a range of 40%-60% of said grid period;
wherein each of said metal wires has a total thickness between approximately 1-4 skin depths; and
wherein said intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers comprises at least two of said elongated metal wires.
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33. A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
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a substrate;
an array of parallel, elongated, composite wires disposed on said substrate, wherein each of said composite wires are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
wherein each of said composite wires comprises alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers;
wherein each of said metal wires has a total thickness of between approximately 1-4 skin depths; and
wherein said intra-wire substructure of alternating elongated metal wires and elongated dielectric layers comprises at least two of said elongated metal wires.
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Specification