Wire grid polarizer with multiple functionality sections

• US 8,873,144 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Moxtek Inc (Nippon Kayaku Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Moxtek Inc (Nippon Kayaku Company Limited)
• Inventors: Davis, Mark Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Front, Frank
• Application Number:
  US13/430,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20130077164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 359/485.05, 359/487.03
• US Class Current: 359/485.05
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3058 comprising electrically conductive elements, e.g. wire grids, conductive particles

Abstract

A wire grid polarizer with multiple functionality sections. Separate and discrete sections can include a difference in pitch p, a difference in wire width w, a difference in wire height h, a difference in wire material, a difference in coating on top of the wires, a difference in thin film between the wires and the substrate, a difference in substrate between the wires, a difference in number of layers of separate wires, and/or a difference in wire cross-sectional shape.

Claims

1. A wire grid polarizer, comprising:

a substrate;

at least two separate and discrete sections of different wire grids disposed laterally with respect to one another over and attached to the substrate;

the wire grids of each section comprising a plurality of substantially parallel elongated wires disposed over the substrate; and

the at least two separate and discrete sections of different wire grids having a different wire grid structure with respect to one another, wherein the different structure comprises at least one of;

a difference in wire material;

a difference in coating on top of the wires;

a difference in thin film between the wires and the substrate;

a difference in substrate between the wires;

a difference in number of layers of separate wires;

or

a combinations thereof.

2. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the different structure also includes at least one of:

a difference in angular orientation of the wire grids between the at least two sections;

or

a difference in wire cross-sectional shape wherein at least one shape is non-rectangular;

or

a difference in pitch of at least 10 nanometers;

or

a difference in wire width of at least 10 nanometers;

or

a difference in wire height of at least 10 nanometers.

3. The polarizer of claim 2, wherein the different structure includes the difference in coating on top of the wires and difference in pitch of at least 10 nanometers.

4. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the different structure includes a difference in wire material.

5. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the different structure includes a difference in coating on top of the wires.

6. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the different structure includes a difference in thin film between the wires and the substrate.

7. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the different structure includes a difference in substrate between the wires.

8. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the different structure includes a difference in number of layers of separate wires.

9. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein the different structure includes at least two of:

the difference in wire material;

or

the difference in coating on top of the wires;

or

the difference in thin film between the wires and the substrate;

or

the difference in substrate between the wires;

or

the difference in number of layers of separate wires.

10. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the wire grid sections has wires with a pitch that is less than 150 nanometers.

11. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the wire grid sections has wires with a pitch that is less than 90 nanometers.

12. The polarizer of claim 1, wherein a boundary region exists between the at least two separate and discrete sections wherein no wire grid is present.

13. A wire grid polarizer, comprising:

a substrate;

at least two separate and discrete sections of different wire grids disposed laterally with respect to one another over and attached to the substrate;

a boundary region exists between the at least two separate and discrete sections wherein no wire grid is present;

the wire grids of each section comprising a plurality of substantially parallel elongated wires disposed over the substrate; and

a different wire grid structure between the at least two sections, wherein the different structure comprises at least one of;

a difference in pitch of at least 10 nanometers;

a difference in wire width of at least 10 nanometers;

a difference in wire height of at least 10 nanometers;

a difference in wire material;

a difference in coating on top of the wires;

a difference in thin film between the wires and the substrate;

a difference in substrate between the wires;

a difference in number of layers of separate wires;

or

a combinations thereof.

14. The polarizer of claim 13, further comprising a difference in angular orientation between the at least two different sections such that the wires of one of the sections extend longitudinally in a different direction than wires of the other section.

15. The polarizer of claim 13, wherein the different structure includes at least one of:

a difference in pitch of at least 50 nanometers;

or

a difference in wire width of at least 50 nanometers;

or

a difference in wire height of at least 50 nanometers;

or

a combinations thereof.

16. The polarizer of claim 13, wherein the different structure includes at least one of:

a difference in pitch of at least 200 nanometers;

or

a difference in wire width of at least 200 nanometers;

or

a difference in wire height of at least 200 nanometers;

or

a combinations thereof.

17. The polarizer of claim 13, wherein the different structure includes at least three differences selected from the group consisting of:

the difference in pitch of at least 10 nanometers;

the difference in wire width of at least 10 nanometers;

the difference in wire height of at least 10 nanometers;

the difference in wire material;

the difference in coating on top of the wires;

the difference in thin film between the wires and the substrate;

the difference in substrate between the wires;

the difference in number of layers of separate wires;

a difference in wire cross-sectional shape wherein at least one shape is non-rectangular; and

a difference in angular orientation.

18. The polarizer of claim 13, wherein at least one of the wire grid sections has wires with a pitch that is less than 150 nanometers.

19. The polarizer of claim 13, wherein at least one of the wire grid sections has wires with a pitch that is less than 90 nanometers.

20. A wire grid polarizer, comprising:

a substrate;

at least two separate sections of different wire grids disposed laterally with respect to one another over and attached to the substrate;

the wire grids of each section comprising a plurality of substantially parallel elongated wires disposed over the substrate; and

a different wire grid structure between the at least two separate sections, wherein the different structure comprises at least one of;

a difference in wire material;

a difference in coating on top of the wires;

a difference in thin film between the wires and the substrate;

a difference in substrate between the wires;

a difference in wire cross-sectional shape wherein at least one shape is non-rectangular;

a difference in number of layers of separate wires;

or

a combinations thereof.