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US 6,714,350 B2Granted
Double sided wire grid polarizer
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsBarry D. Silverstein, Andrew F. Kurtz, Xiang-Dong Mi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wire grid polarizer (100) for polarizing an incident light beam (130), comprising a substrate (505) having a first surface (410) and a second surface (510); and a first array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on the first surface (410). Each of the wires are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of the incident light; and a second array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said second surface (420) where the second array of wires are oriented parallel to the first array of wires.
Claims22
A wire grid polarization beamsplitter for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
- a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
- a first array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said first surface, wherein each of said wires are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
- a second array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said second surface, and wherein said second array of wires are oriented parallel to said first array of wires;
- wherein each of said wires of said second array are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
- wherein said wires of both said first and second arrays have high electrical conductivity;
- wherein said first array maximizes transmission while providing moderate contrast;
- and
- wherein said second array maximizes a reflected contrast while providing high transmission.
5 more elements
A modulation optical system for providing high contrast modulation of an incident pre-polarized light beam, comprising:
- (a) a double sided wire grid polarization beam splitter with a substrate having both a first surface and a second surface;
- (i) a first array of parallel, elongated wires are disposed on said first surface;
- and
- (ii) a second array of parallel, elongated wires are disposed on said second surface where said second array of wires are oriented parallel to said first array of wires;
- (1) wherein each of said wires of said arrays have a high electrical conductivity are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
- (2) wherein said first array maximizes transmission while providing moderate contrast;
- and
- (3) wherein said second array maximizes a reflected contrast while providing high transmission;
- wherein said double sided wire grid polarization beam splitter transmits a first polarization state of said pre-polarized light beam and reflects a second polarization state of said pre-polarized light beam, wherein said second polarization state is orthogonal to said first polarization state;
- (b) a reflective spatial light modulator having a plurality of individual elements which alter said first polarization state of said transmitted pre-polarized light beam to provide an image bearing beam that then reflects back to said double sided wire grid polarization beamsplitter, said image bearing beam then reflecting off of said double sided wire grid polarization beamsplitter;
- and
- (c) a wire grid polarization analyzer which transmits said image bearing light beam and attenuates unwanted polarization components accompanying said image bearing light beam.
9 more elements
A modulation optical system for providing high contrast modulation of an incident pre-polarized light beam, comprising:
- (a) a double sided wire grid polarization beam splitter with a substrate having both a first surface and a second surface;
- (i) a first array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said first surface;
- and
- (ii) a second array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said second surface, wherein each of said wires are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light, wherein said second array of wires are oriented parallel to said first array of wires;
- (1) wherein each of said wires of said arrays have a high electrical conductivity and are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
- (2) wherein said first array maximizes transmission while providing moderate contrast;
- and
- (3) wherein said second array maximizes a reflected contrast while providing high transmission;
- wherein said double sided wire grid polarization beam splitter transmits a first polarization state of said pre-polarized light beam and reflects a second polarization state of said pre-polarized light beam, wherein said second polarization state is orthogonal to said first polarization state;
- (b) a reflective spatial light modulator having a plurality of individual elements which alter said first polarization state of said transmitted pre-polarized light beam to provide an image bearing beam that then reflects back to said double sided wire grid polarization beamsplitter, said image bearing beam then reflecting off of said double sided wire grid polarization beamsplitter;
- and
- (c) a polarization analyzer which transmits said image bearing light beam and attenuates unwanted polarization components accompanying said image bearing light beam.
9 more elements
A modulation optical system for providing high contrast modulation of an incident light beam, comprising:
- (a) a pre-polarizer for pre-polarizing said beam of light
- (b) a double sided wire grid polarization beam splitter with a substrate having both a first surface and a second surface;
- (i) a first array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said first surface;
- and
- (ii) a second array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said second surface, wherein said second array of wires are oriented parallel to said first array of wires;
- (1) wherein each of said wires of said arrays have a high electrical conductivity and are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
- (2) wherein said first array maximizes transmission while providing moderate contrast;
- and
- (3) wherein said second array maximizes a reflected contrast while providing high transmission;
- wherein said double sided wire grid polarization beam splitter transmits a first polarization state of said pre-polarized light beam and reflects a second polarization state of said pre-polarized light beam wherein said second polarization state is orthogonal to said first polarization state;
- and
- (c) a reflective spatial light modulator having a plurality of individual elements which alter said predetermined polarization state of said transmitted pre-polarized light beam to provide said image bearing beam that then reflects back to said double sided wire grid polarization beamsplitter, said image bearing beam then reflecting off of said double sided wire grid polarization beamsplitter.
9 more elements
A modulation optical system for providing high contrast modulation of an incident light beam, comprising:
- (a) a pre-polarizer for pre-polarizing said beam of light
- (b) a double sided wire grid polarization beam splitter with a substrate having both a first surface and a second surface;
- (i) a first array of parallel, elongated wires are disposed on said first surface;
- and
- (ii) a second array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said second surface wherein said second array of wires are oriented parallel to said first array of wires;
- (1) wherein each of said wires of said arrays have a high electrical conductivity and are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
- (2) wherein said first array maximizes transmission while providing moderate contrast;
- and
- (3) wherein said second array maximizes reflected contrast while providing high transmission;
- wherein said double sided wire grid polarization beam splitter transmits a first polarization state of said pre-polarized light beam and reflects a second polarization state of said pre-polarized light beam wherein said second polarization state is orthogonal to said first polarization state;
- (c) a reflective spatial light modulator having a plurality of individual elements which alter said predetermined polarization state of said transmitted pre-polarized light beam to provide said image bearing beam that then reflects back to said double sided wire grid polarization beamsplitter, said image bearing beam then reflecting off of said double sided wire grid polarization beamsplitter;
- and
- (d) a polarization analyzer which transmits said image bearing light beam and attenuates unwanted polarization components accompanying said image bearing light beam.
10 more elements
A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam comprising:
- a first array of wires on a first surface of a substrate;
- a second array of wires on a second surface of said substrate;
- wherein said first array maximizes transmission while providing moderate contrast;
- and
- wherein said second array maximizes a reflected contrast while providing high transmission.
2 more elements
A wire grid polarization beamsplitter for polarizing one or more incident light beams, comprising:
- a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
- a first array of parallel, elongated electrically conductive wires disposed on said first surface, wherein each of said wires are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
- a second array of parallel, elongated electrically conductive wires disposed on said second surface, and wherein said second array of wires are oriented parallel to said first array of wires;
- wherein each of said wires of said arrays are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
- wherein a portion of a first incident light beam is transmitted through said first array and said second array to provide a first polarized light beam;
- and
- wherein a portion of a second incident light beam is reflected from said second array to provide a second polarized light beam.
4 more elements
A wire grid polarizer for polarizing an incident light beam, comprising:
- a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
- a first array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said first surface, wherein each of said wires are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
- a second array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said second surface, and wherein said second array of wires are oriented parallel to said first array of wires;
- wherein each of said wires are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of said incident light;
- wherein said first array maximizes transmission while providing moderate contrast;
- and
- wherein said second array maximizes a reflected contrast while providing high transmission.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.