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US 5,205,967 AGranted
Method of forming retardation plate utilizing deformed zinc selenide
OwnerJohn Mackeninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Zinc selenide is a transparent material which is commonly used with CO2 laser optics. This material can be converted to a birefringent form by deforming the zinc selenide at an elevated temperature. The birefringent zinc selenide can then be made into quarter wave plates.
Claims10
A method of forming a phase retardation plate, the steps, comprising:
- heat a piece of zinc selenide to a predetermined temperature in excess of 100.degree. C.;
- exert a force on said heated piece of zinc selenide such that said piece of zinc selenide will deform at said predetermined temperature and become birefringent;
- cool said piece of zinc selenide thereby permanently holding some birefringence (.DELTA.m) after said force is released;
- form said piece of birefringent zinc selenide into an optical element of predetermined thickness "t" such that when the steps are complete, the following equation is true:
- (.DELTA.m)t>0.00013 cm.
2 more elements
A method of forming a phase retardation plate comprising:
- forming a piece of zinc selenide into an optical element of predetermined thickness "t" such that when the following steps are complete, the following equation is true:
- (.DELTA.m)t>0.00013 cm;
- heating said piece of zinc selenide to a predetermined temperature in excess of 100.degree. C.;
- exerting a force on said heated piece of zinc selenide such that said piece of zinc selenide will deform at said predetermined temperature and become birefringent;
- and
- cooling said piece of zinc selenide thereby permanently holding some birefringence (.DELTA.m) after said force is released.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.