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US 12,710,313 B2Granted
System and method for imaging with a pixelated metasurface waveplate and a uniform polarizer
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsRui Luo, Michael John Yadlowsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A polarization camera that includes a pixelated waveplate positioned to receive light. The pixelated waveplate includes an array of super-pixels comprising birefringent structures. Each super-pixel comprises a first at least one sub-pixel comprising a quarter-wave plate and a second at least one sub-pixel comprising a half-wave plate. A non-pixelated polarizer receives light from the pixelated waveplate. A detector detects light received from the polarizer.
Claims19
A polarization camera comprising:
- a microlens array;
- a pixelated waveplate positioned to receive light passing through the microlens array, the pixelated waveplate includes an array of super-pixels comprising birefringent structures, wherein each super-pixel of said pixelated waveplate comprises:
- a first at least one sub-pixel comprising a quarter-wave plate,
- and a second at least one sub-pixel comprising a half-wave plate;
- a non-pixelated polarizer positioned to receive light from the pixelated waveplate;
- and
- a detector configured to detect light received from the non-pixelated polarizer;
- and wherein the pixelated waveplate comprises a metamaterial, and the metamaterial comprises high-index sub-wavelength structures defining structural birefringence.
5 more elements
A polarization camera comprising:
- a microlens array;
- a pixelated waveplate positioned to receive light passing through the microlens array, the pixelated waveplate includes an array of super-pixels comprising birefringent structures, wherein each super-pixel comprises:
- a first at least one sub-pixel comprising a quarter-wave plate,
- and a second at least one sub-pixel comprising a half-wave plate;
- a non-pixelated polarizer to receive light from the pixelated waveplate;
- and
- a detector configured to detect light received from the non-pixelated polarizer;
- and further comprising a uniform waveplate disposed between the microlens array and the pixelated waveplate.
5 more elements
A polarization camera comprising:
- a microlens array;
- a pixelated waveplate positioned to receive light passing through the microlens array, the pixelated waveplate includes an array of super-pixels comprising birefringent structures, wherein each super-pixel comprises:
- a first at least one sub-pixel comprising a quarter-wave plate,
- and a second at least one sub-pixel comprising a half-wave plate;
- a non-pixelated polarizer to receive light from the pixelated waveplate;
- and
- a detector configured to detect light received from the non-pixelated polarizer;
- and, wherein each super-pixel further comprises a third at least one sub-pixel comprising a zero-wave plate that has no net birefringence such that incident polarization states of the received light is not altered.
5 more elements
A component stack for a polarization camera comprising:
- a pixelated waveplate positioned to receive light, the pixelated waveplate comprising an array of super-pixels comprising birefringent structures, wherein each super-pixel comprises:
- a first at least one sub-pixel comprising a quarter-wave plate,
- and a second at least one sub-pixel comprising a half-wave plate;
- a non-pixelated polarizer positioned to receive light from the pixelated waveplate;
- and
- a color filter wherein the quarter-wave plate and the half-wave plate are achromatic within a predetermined bandwidth of the color filter, further comprising a uniform waveplate positioned such that the pixelated waveplate receives light from the uniform waveplate, wherein the uniform waveplate applies a uniform birefringence to the light received by the pixelated waveplate.
3 more elements
A component stack for a polarization camera comprising:
- a pixelated waveplate positioned to receive light, the pixelated waveplate comprising an array of super-pixels comprising birefringent structures, wherein each super-pixel comprises:
- a first at least one sub-pixel comprising a quarter-wave plate,
- and a second at least one sub-pixel comprising a half-wave plate;
- a non-pixelated polarizer to receive light from the pixelated waveplate;
- and
- a color filter wherein the quarter-wave plate and the half-wave plate are achromatic within a predetermined bandwidth of the color filter, wherein the each super-pixel further comprises a third at least one sub-pixel comprising a zero-wave plate that has no net birefringence such that incident polarization states of the received light is not altered.
3 more elements
A pixelated waveplate for a component stack for a polarization camera, comprising:
- an array of super-pixels, wherein each super-pixel comprises:
- a first at least one sub-pixel comprising a quarter-wave plate, and a second at least one sub-pixel comprising a half-wave plate, wherein each super-pixel further comprises a third at least one sub-pixel comprising a zero-wave plate that has no net birefringence such that incident polarization states of the received light is not altered.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.