Optical retarder segments

US11726249B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Zhisheng Yun · Woodbury, US
• Michael L. Steiner · New Richmond, US
• Jo A. Etter · Stillwater, US
• Timothy L. Wong · Windom, US
• Gilles J. Benoit · Minneapolis, US
• John D. Le · Woodbury, US
• Erin A. McDowell · Afton, US
• Susan L. Kent · Shorewood, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 26, 2022
• Grant date: Aug 15, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 26, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B2027/0178
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical element includes an optical surface configured to receive light at a predetermined wavelength in a range from about 400 nm to about 1000 nm. The optical surface is defined by a vertical axis and a horizontal axis defining four Cartesian quadrants sequentially numbered in a counter-clockwise direction. A first longitudinal section of the optical surface is centered on the vertical axis and a second longitudinal section of the optical surface is centered on the horizontal axis. The first and second longitudinal section each extend across opposite edges of the optical surface and have a same substantially uniform retardance for substantially normally incident light. The optical element includes four discrete retarder sections. Each retarder section is disposed on a respective Cartesian quadrant of the optical surface and has a retardance difference from the substantially uniform retardance of the optical surface that is greater than zero.