Liquid crystal beam polarizer and method for manufacturing thereof
US6351296B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 27, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 27, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/07
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A beam polarizer device for splitting an unpolarized beam of incident radiation into first and second beams of different polarizations. The beam polarizer comprises a birefringent cell interposed between a pair of parallel sides of first and second prisms made of an optically transparent material. The birefringent cell is formed of an oriented organic material having a desired orientation of its optical axis relative to the sides of the prisms enclosing the birefringent cell therebetween. The organic material has substantially different refraction indices n1 and n2 for light components of, respectively, two different orientations of electric fields relative to the direction of propagation of a beam impinging onto the birefringent cell while propagating inside the first prism. The optically transparent material has a refraction index n3 which is substantially equal to the greatest one between the refraction indices n1 and n2.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.