Patent · US Expired

Birefringence measurement of polymeric films and the like

US7385696B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
3References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 19, 2006
Grant dateJun 10, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 19, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/23
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Provided are methods for determining the birefringence level of optical material such as polymeric film. In one embodiment, the method uses a setup of optical components that has known system reference angle. The sample may be a stretched polymeric film that has a fast axis angle that has a predetermined orientation in the sample. The system is operated to align the direction of the fast axis of the sample with the reference angle of the system and to measure the birefringence level at a location of the sample. As one aspect of the invention, embodiments and methods are described for accurately determining birefringence levels across a very wide range and up to tens of thousands of nanometers.

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