Apparatus for production of an inhomogeneously polarized optical beam for use in illumination and a method thereof

US7151632B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Rochester · US

Inventors

• David P. Biss · Watertown, US
• Thomas Brown · Berkeley, US
• Kathleen S. Youngworth · Rochester, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 12, 2001
• Grant date: Dec 19, 2006
• Expiry date: Jan 19, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S359/90
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus for producing an inhomogeneously polarized optical beam from a homogeneously polarized input optical beam includes a first phase shifter, a second phase shifter, and one or more polarization beam splitters. The first phase shifter shifts at least one portion of a first part of the input optical beam by a first phase. The second phase shifter shifts at least one portion of a second part of the input optical beam by substantially the first phase. The one or more polarization beam splitters split the input optical beam into the first part and the second part and combine the phase shifted portion and substantially all other portions of the first part of the input optical beam with the phase shifted portion and substantially all other portions of the second part of the input optical beam to produce the inhomogeneously polarized optical beam.