Diffractive optical elements and master tools for producing the diffractive optical elements

Abstract

The present disclosure describes diffractive optical elements (DOEs) and master tools for producing the DOEs. In one aspect, the disclosure describes a method that includes modifying a first pixel layout design for diffractive optical elements to obtain a modified pixel layout design. The first pixel layout design comprises pixels, each of which has a shape of a regular polygon (e.g., a rectangular shape). Modifying the first pixel layout design includes approximating a shape contour of a cluster of pixels in the first pixel layout design by a single polygon that reduces a total number of edges relative to the shape contour of the cluster of pixels in the first pixel layout design. The method also includes using the modified pixel layout design to form a master tool for production of the diffractive optical elements.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.