Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for correcting a visible light beam using a wire-grid polarizer

US7375887B2 · kind B2 · utility

37Cited by
129References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 24, 2004
Grant dateMay 20, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B5/3058
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical system and method for providing a visible light beam with a desired characteristic includes a visible light source producing a visible light beam defining an optical train. An optical element is disposed in the optical train to create a modified beam, and that is capable of introducing an undesired characteristic that continuously transitions across at least a portion of the modified beam. A wire-grid polarizer is disposed in the optical train, and has a plurality of elongated elements with at least a portion that continuously transitions to a different characteristic. The wire-grid polarizer is positioned and oriented in the optical train with the different characteristic corresponding to the undesired characteristic of the modified beam to obtain a visible light beam with a desired characteristic substantially across the visible light beam.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.