# US 2026/0063833 A1 · Optical element

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- Number: US 2026/0063833 A1
- Document ID: US20260063833A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 19/309,307
- Filed: 2025-08-25
- Published: 2026-03-05
- Earliest claimed: 2024-08-28
- Assignees: Hayashi Telempu Corporation
- Applicants: Hayashi Telempu Corporation
- Inventors: Takeya SAKAI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260063833A1

## CPC

- G02B 5/3083: {Birefringent or phase retarding elements (G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

Provided is an optical element which has a retarder layer that achieves uniform retardation despite a non-planar optical surface of the optical element and which does not require complicated steps for fabrication. The optical element 10 includes a substrate 11 having a non-planar optical surface 11a, and a retarder layer 12 on the optical surface 11a. The retarder layer 12 has a uniform retardation value throughout the layer and is composed of a single layer. The optical element 10 may lack a molecule alignment mechanism to promote retardation in the retarder layer 12.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical element comprising:
a substrate having a non-planar optical surface; and
a retarder layer on the optical surface, the retarder layer having a uniform retardation value throughout the layer and being composed of a single layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical element lacks a molecule alignment mechanism to promote retardation in the retarder layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retarder layer has a thickness of 100 nm to 20,000 nm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retardation value of the retarder layer is between 100 nm and 400 nm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The optical element as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a second retarder layer layered on the retarder layer and composed of a single layer having a uniform retardation value throughout the layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The optical element as claimed in claim 5, wherein the retarder layer and the second retarder layer have respective non-parallel optical axes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a resinous lens or a glass lens.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical surface is convex or concave.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a polymer lacking optical anisotropy.