Polarization-modulating optical element

US8259393B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Damian Fiolka · Oberkochen, DE
• Markus Deguenther · Aalen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 28, 2009
• Grant date: Sep 4, 2012
• Expiry date: Oct 28, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B7/008
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical element includes a support plate composed of optically active material having an optic axis and at least two planar-parallel portions supported by the support plate, each of the at least two planar-parallel portions composed of optically active material having an optic axis. When a first linearly polarized light ray passes through a first section of the optical element along a direction parallel to the optic axes, a plane of oscillation of the first linearly polarized light ray is rotated by a first angle and when a second linearly polarized light ray passes through a second section of the optical element along a direction parallel to the optic axes, a plane of oscillation of the second linearly polarized light ray is rotated by a second angle different from the first angle.