Light polarization converter for converting linearly polarized light into radially polarized light and related methods

A method for producing nearly radial polarized light, comprising:

• passing a linear-polarized light through a first polarization converter to produce a first stage polarized light, wherein the first layer of polarized material includes a first polarizing film coupled to a second polarizing film, the first polarizing film having a transmission axis at 45-degrees with respect to a vertical axis, and the second polarizing film having a transmission axis at negative 45-degrees with respect to the vertical axis;
• passing the first stage polarized light through a second polarization converter to produce a second stage polarized light, wherein the second polarization converter includes a third polarizing film having a transmission axis generally aligned with a horizontal axis;
• and
• passing the second stage polarized light through a third polarization converter to produce a nearly radial polarized light, the third polarization converter includes four polarizing films, wherein each of the four polarizing film has a transmission axis at 45 degrees with respect to the vertical axis and an angle of about 90 degrees between the transmission axis of adjacent polarizing films.

A converter for modifying the polarization of light, comprising:

• a first polarization converter containing a first polarizing film having a transmission axis at about +45 degrees with respect to a first direction and a second polarizing film having a transmission axis at about −45 degrees with respect to the first direction;
• a second polarization converter containing a third polarizing film having a transmission axis at about 90 degrees relative to the first direction;
• and
• a third polarization converter containing four polarizing films each having a transmission axis of about 45 degrees with respect to the first direction and at an angle of about 90 degrees between the transmission axis of any adjacent polarizing film.

A system for modifying the polarization of light, the system comprising:

• a light source for transmitting light having a first direction;
• and
• a converter for modifying the polarization of the light, the converter containing:
• a first polarization converter containing a first polarizing film having a transmission axis at about +45 degrees with respect to the first direction and a second polarizing film having a transmission axis at about −45 degrees with respect to the first direction;
• a second polarization converter containing a third polarizing film having a transmission axis at about 90 degrees relative to the first direction;
• and
• a third polarization converter containing four polarizing films, wherein each of the polarizing films has a transmission axis of about 45 degrees with respect to the first direction and at an angle of about 90 degrees between the transmission axis of any adjacent polarizing film.