Abstract: An optical filter including at least one of a high refractive index material and a low refractive index material; wherein the optical filter exhibits a reduced angle shift in at least one of a visible, near infrared, and an extreme ultraviolet wavelength is disclosed. A method of depositing a film is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bandpass filter may include a set of layers. The set of layers may include a first subset of layers. The first subset of layers may include hydrogenated germanium (Ge:H) with a first refractive index. The set of layers may include a second subset of layers. The second subset of layers may include a material with a second refractive index. The second refractive index may be less than the first refractive index.

Abstract: An optical filter including at least one of a high refractive index material and a low refractive index material; wherein the optical filter exhibits a reduced angle shift in at least one of a visible, near infrared, and an extreme ultraviolet wavelength is disclosed. A method of depositing a film is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a protected item including an item that needs protection and a protective coating having a hardness of at least about 8 on the Mohs scale. The protected item includes a light transmission in part or all of the visible wavelength of at least about 60% and a light reflection in the visible wavelength of about 4% or less.

Abstract: An infrared filter includes an optical filter stack disposed on a first surface of a substrate, the optical filter stack includes a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of metal layers alternating with the dielectric layers. and a transmission-enhancing coating. The infrared filter obtains an average transmission greater than or equal to 75% between 400 nm and 600 nm.

Abstract: An anti-aliasing filter includes a polymeric double-refraction plate (“DRP”). The DRP of the anti-aliasing filter has at least a first liquid photo-polymerization (“LPP”) layer disposed on the substrate, or on an intervening layer(s) disposed on the substrate, and a first liquid-crystal polymer (“LCP”) layer is disposed on the first LPP layer, the first DRP having a thickness selected so as to provide a selected separation of oridinary and extraordinary light rays.

Abstract: The invention provides a two-panel color management system for projection display applications, wherein color sequencing is accomplished using achromatic beam switching and static color separation. In a preferred embodiment, a liquid-crystal polarization switch alternates a polarization of an input light beam between two orthogonal states. A polarization beam splitter directs the beam comprising three primary color components alternately along a first and second paths, wherein first and second different secondary color filters are disposed for forming first and second secondary colored beams, each having two different primary color components. A dichroic color separator alternately receives the first and second secondary colored beams, separates their primary color components and directs them to first and second imager panels. A beam combiner combines the first polarized primary color beam from the first imager and the second polarized primary color beam from the second imager to form a projection beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for transforming white incident light into two mutually synchronized sequences of three colored light pulses over a frame interval, each light pulse having one of three primary color bands derived from the incident light, wherein only one of the three color bands is shared between the two color sequences, thereby providing all three paired combinations of the three color bands over the frame interval within the two light components. The two colored light sequences are used for illuminating two respective liquid-crystal-on-silicon imagers in a two-panel light engine to permit optimum active white balancing without reducing the duty cycle. A pure solid-state two-stage color and polarization switching apparatus is provided for generating the two colored light sequences using a combination of commercially available color/polarization filters and color/polarization switches.

Abstract: It has been discovered that optical filters can be manufactured with a low net stress by providing a tensile layer or layers that compensate for a compressive stress exhibited by a thin film filter supported by a glass or other substrate. In particular, a simple, cost-effective and readily reproducible process is used wherein a layer or layers of tensile material such as zirconia is used between the thin film filter and the substrate to offset compressive forces within the remaining structure, so as to provide a low or near zero net stress on the filter. Zirconia (ZrO2) is substantially transparent, inert, and non-interfering, thereby not affecting the output response of the multilayer thin film filter. It's presence is merely to provide a counter stress effectively neutralizing stresses that would otherwise occur from the presence of the thin film filter alone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetron sputtering device and technique for depositing materials onto a substrate at a high production rate in which the deposited films have predictive thickness distribution and in which the apparatus can operate continuously and repeatedly for very long periods. The present invention has realized increased production by reducing cycle time. Increased coating rates are achieved by coupling a planetary drive system with a large cathode. The cathode diameter is greater than the diameter of a planet and less than twice the diameter of the planet. Lower defect rates are obtained through the lower power density at the cathode which suppresses arcing, while runoff is minimized by the cathode to planet geometry without the use of a mask.

Abstract: A sputtering anode is disclosed wherein the anode is in the form of a container or vessel; and, wherein the conducting surface communicating with a cathode is the inside surface of the container or vessel. The anode can be mounted outside of a coating chamber having its opening communicating with the chamber or alternatively may be mounted within the chamber. The anode may be an inlet port for receiving inert gas for use in forming the plasma and for pressurizing the anode.

Abstract: A magnetron sputtering cathode for use in a vacuum deposition process is disclosed wherein the cathode is coated on its sides with an electrically insulating material such as alumina to prevent arcing, and wherein the first end surface of the cathode supports a material to be sputtered. The bottom of the cathode may also be coated with an electrically insulating coating or may be resting upon an insulating platform.

Abstract: An infrared filter includes an optical filter stack disposed on a first surface of a substrate, the optical filter stack includes a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of metal layers alternating with the dielectric layers. and a transmission-enhancing coating. The infrared filter obtains an average transmission greater than or equal to 75% between 400 nm and 600 nm.

Abstract: An anti-aliasing filter includes a polymeric double-refraction plate (“DRP”). The DRP of the anti-aliasing filter has at least a first liquid photo-polymerization (“LPP”) layer disposed on the substrate, or on an intervening layer(s) disposed on the substrate, and a first liquid-crystal polymer (“LCP”) layer is disposed on the first LPP layer, the first DRP having a thickness selected so as to provide a selected separation of oridinary and extraordinary light rays.

Abstract: A multilayer optical interference filter having a multiplicity of optical cavities separated by a dielectric reflector stacks to achieve either a very narrow passband region or sharp transition between the passband and reflective region is substantially free of stress to preserve the desired optical performance upon fabrication into miniature discrete filter elements. The substantial stress reduction is achieved by removing the filter from the substrate used in the deposition process in a controlled manner to preserve the structural integrity of the resulting free standing multilayer film structure. The structure can be further bonded or attached to other optical components to suppress a thermal shift in center wavelength without reintroducing stress or interposing a massive substrate in the optical path through the filter.

Abstract: A multilayer optical interference filter having a multiplicity of optical cavities separated by a dielectric reflector stacks to achieve either a very narrow passband region or sharp transition between the passband and reflective region is substantially free of stress to preserve the desired optical performance upon fabrication into miniature discrete filter elements. The substantial stress reduction is achieved by removing the filter from the substrate used in the deposition process in a controlled manner to preserve the structural integrity of the resulting free standing multilayer film structure. The structure can be further bonded or attached to other optical components to suppress a thermal shift in center wavelength without reintroducing stress or interposing a massive substrate in the optical path through the filter.

Abstract: A magnetron cathode and sputtering system in which the cathode assembly includes a diaphragm arrangement with one or more diaphragms which overlie at least the edge of the cathode at the dark side region of the gas discharge so that plasmas cannot form between the diaphragm and target. An improved sputtering is thereby obtained in a high pressure mode of operation.