Achromatic polarization switches
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An achromatic polarization switch that transforms linearly polarized light of an initial polarization orientation, comprising:
- a first liquid crystal (LC) cell having a first axis of orientation relative to the initial polarization orientation; and
a second LC cell having a second axis of orientation relative to the first axis of orientation;
wherein the first and second LC cells are each operable to allow the linearly polarized light to pass without retardation in a first state, and are each operable to retard the linearly polarized light by substantially a half wavelength in a second state, and wherein the first and second LC cells simultaneously operate in the same state.
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Abstract
An achromatic polarization switch (APS) acts on linear polarized light to provide orthogonal polarized output states over a range of visible wavelengths. In a first switching state, the APS is operable to pass light of a first polarization state therethrough. In a second switching state, the APS is operable to transform light passing therethrough to a substantially orthogonal second polarization state. Used in conjunction with orthogonal analyzing eyewear, left and right eye images are time-sequentially modulated in orthogonal polarization states by the APS to yield a stereoscopic 3D image sensation.
105 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An achromatic polarization switch that transforms linearly polarized light of an initial polarization orientation, comprising:
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a first liquid crystal (LC) cell having a first axis of orientation relative to the initial polarization orientation; and a second LC cell having a second axis of orientation relative to the first axis of orientation; wherein the first and second LC cells are each operable to allow the linearly polarized light to pass without retardation in a first state, and are each operable to retard the linearly polarized light by substantially a half wavelength in a second state, and wherein the first and second LC cells simultaneously operate in the same state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An achromatic polarization switch comprising:
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a linear polarizer operable to linearly polarize light along an optical path; a first retarder located on the optical path after the linear polarizer; a first liquid crystal (LC) cell located on the optical path after the first retarder; a second retarder located on the optical path after the first LC cell; a second LC cell located on the optical path after the second retarder; and a third retarder located on the optical path after the second LC cell. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An achromatic polarization switch that transforms linearly polarized light of an initial polarization orientation, comprising:
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a retarder oriented at substantially 45 degrees to the initial input polarization, wherein the retarder is located on an optical path following the linear polarizer, wherein the retarder has a retardance of a half wavelength; and a surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (SSFLC) cell having a retardance of a half wavelength, wherein the optic axis orientation of the SSFLC changes in response to an applied electric field. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A projection system that provides achromatic stereoscopic imaging, comprising:
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a projection subsystem operable to output modulated light; and an achromatic polarization subsystem operable to receive the modulated light from the projection subsystem, comprising; a first liquid crystal (LC) cell having a first axis of orientation relative to the initial polarization orientation; and a second LC cell having a second axis of orientation relative to the first axis of orientation; wherein the first and second LC cells are each operable to allow the linearly polarized light to pass without retardation in a first state, and are each operable to retard the linearly polarized light by substantially a half wavelength in a second state, and wherein the first and second LC cells simultaneously operate in the same state. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A projection system that provides achromatic stereoscopic imaging, comprising:
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a projection subsystem operable to output modulated light; and an achromatic polarization subsystem that transforms linearly polarized light of an initial polarization orientation, comprising; a retarder oriented at substantially 45 degrees to the initial input polarization, wherein the retarder is located on an optical path following the linear polarizer, wherein the retarder has a retardance of a half wavelength; and a surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (SSFLC) cell having a retardance of a half wavelength, wherein the optic axis orientation of the SSFLC alters in response to an applied electric field. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification