Abstract: A polarizing element includes: a substrate; a plurality of reflection layers that is arranged in a band shape at a predetermined interval on the substrate; dielectric layers that are formed on the reflection layers; and absorption layers on the dielectric layers that have convex portions disposed toward a side of a first adjacent reflection layer and a side of a second adjacent reflection layer.

Abstract: Optical elements, color combiners using the optical elements, and image projectors using the color combiners are described. The optical element includes color selective dichroic filters and a reflective polarizer. A line passing perpendicularly through each of the color selective dichroic filters intercepts the reflective polarizer at approximately 45 degrees. The optical element can also include retarders positioned adjacent to the color selective dichroic filters. The color combiner includes partially reflective light sources coupled to the optical element. Unpolarized light having different colors can enter the color combiner through the dichroic filters, and combined light of a desired polarization state can exit the color combiner. Light having an undesired polarization state can be recycled to the desired polarization state within the color combiner, so that light utilization efficiency is increased.

Abstract: A disclosed polarization beam splitter is effective when light to undergo polarization-splitting has an incidence angle that falls in a range of 54 degrees through 66 degrees. The polarization beam splitter includes, between two transparent substrates, an adhesive layer configured to adhere to a first transparent substrate of the two transparent substrates, two or more types of dielectric multilayer films having different design basis wavelengths, and a single-layer dielectric film. The dielectric multilayer films and the single-layer dielectric film form a polarization split film, which performs a polarization split function with respect to light that is substantially in the visible wavelength region.

Abstract: Presently described are multilayer optical films comprising an optical stack comprising at least one first birefringent optical layer; at least one (e.g. isotropic) second optical layer having a birefringence of less than 0.04 at 633 nm, and optionally at least one skin layer. The second layer, skin layer, or a combination thereof comprises a blend of at least one methyl methacrylate polymer and at least one styrene-acrylonitrile polymer.

Abstract: An optical film that includes a reflective polarizer and a stretched polymer film is disclosed. The stretched polymer film is laminated to the reflective polarizer, and the stretched polymer film exhibits a refractive index symmetry point at an angle of incidence in air of at least about 60 degrees in a plane of incidence parallel to a direction of greatest stretch.

Abstract: A complex polarizer system (“cross-polarizer”) including an arrangement of at least three polarizing beam splitting layers P1,P2,P3. P1 and P2 are arranged such that a beam transmitted by P1 is reflected by P2 without further polarization rotating components; P3 is arranged such that a beam reflected by P1 transmits P3 without further polarization rotating components. The congeneric processing of the two sub-beams of a beam split at P1 (both sub-beams go through a transmission and a reflection) eliminates the intrinsic asymmetries of simple polarizers with respect to purity and folding. Coupling of cross-polarizers results in efficient arrangements of systems which operate with complementarily polarized radiation, e.g. 2-channel image display systems with reflective spatial light modulators (e.g. Liquid Crystal on Silicon displays).