Abstract: A wire grid polarizer can have a repeated pattern of groups of parallel elongated wires disposed over a substrate. Each group of wires can comprise at least three wires. At least one wire at an interior of each group can be taller than outermost wires of each group. The wires can be a byproduct of an etch reaction.

Abstract: An optical element includes: a substrate having a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions that are partitioned in plan view; a first grid one-dimensionally formed in the plurality of first regions on the substrate; a diffraction function portion including a plurality of grooves parallel to each other in the plurality of second regions on the substrate; and a second grid formed in a region excluding the plurality of grooves on the diffraction function portion. The optical element reflects a part of incident light and transmits a part of the incident light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fine structure form such as a wire-grid polarizer 1 comprising a substrate having convex stripes 50 formed at a pitch of at most a visible light wavelength on at least one surface thereof, an inorganic oxide layer 30 covering at least the top 52 of the convex stripes 50, and a fluorinated compound layer 32 formed by treating at least the surface of the inorganic oxide layer 30 with a fluorinated compound having a group reactive with the inorganic oxide, wherein the inorganic oxide layer 30 covering the top 52 of the convex stripes 50 has a thickness Ha of at least 30 nm and a ratio of the thickness Ha to the width Dat (i.e. Ha/Dat) of at most 1.0; and a liquid crystal display device comprising such a fine structure form.

Abstract: A fine pitch wire grid polarizer can have a pitch of less than 80 nanometers and a protective layer on the wires, by anisotropically etching the wire grid polarizer to form two parallel, elongated rods substantially located at corners where the wires contacted the substrate. The rods can be polarizing elements. A wire grid polarizer can have a repeated pattern of groups of parallel elongated wires disposed over a substrate. Each group of elongated wires comprises at least three wires. At least one wire at an interior of each group can be taller by more than about 10 nm than outermost wires of each group. Wires of a wire grid polarizer can be a byproduct of an etch reaction. A multi-step wire grid polarizer can comprise a base with a plurality of parallel multi-step ribs disposed on the base and a coating disposed along vertical surfaces of the steps.

Abstract: A diffraction grating comprises a substrate with a set of protruding ridges and intervening trenches characterized by a ridge spacing ?, width d, and height h. The substrate comprises a dielectric or semiconductor material with a refractive index n1; the first substrate surface faces an optical medium with a refractive index n2 that is less than n1. Each ridge has a metal layer on its top surface of thickness t; at least a portion of the bottom surface of each trench is substantially free of metal. Over an operational wavelength range, ?/2n1<?<?/(n1+n2) can be satisfied. An optical signal can be incident on the diffractive elements from within the substrate at an incidence angle that exceeds the critical angle. The parameters n1, n2, ?, d, h, and t can be selected to yield desired polarization dependence or independence of the diffraction efficiency.

Abstract: A method comprises spatially selectively irradiating in a predetermined pattern with an output beam of a laser system an interface between a polymer substrate and a metal film on the polymer substrate. The polymer substrate is substantially transparent to the output beam of the laser system; the metal film absorbs a substantial fraction of the output beam. Laser system output comprises a sequence of pulses. Beam size at the polymer/metal interface, pulse energy, and pulse duration are selected so that each pulse from the laser system that irradiates an area of the polymer/metal interface substantially completely removes by ablation the metal film from at least a portion of the irradiated area without substantially altering the surfaces or bulk of the polymer substrate and without leaving on the polymer substrate or on remaining areas of the metal film substantial residue of metal that resolidified after being melted by the laser irradiation.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer capable of improving light efficiency by applying a nano-wire grid pattern optimized to a LCD panel, a method of manufacturing thereof, and a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device provided with the wire grid polarizer are provided. The wire grid polarizer of the present invention has a plurality of areas, and a shape of a wire grid pattern of an area among the plurality of areas is different from those of the other areas.

Abstract: Provided is a wire grid polarizer including: a first grid patterns on a substrate; a second grid pattern on the first grid patterns; and a passivation layer filling between the first grid patterns and the second grid patterns.

Abstract: A grid polarizer including an array of groups of parallel elongated ribs disposed over a substrate. Each group of elongated ribs can comprise at least four ribs. Tops of two center ribs, at a center of each group, can be substantially the same elevational height and can be higher by more than 10 nm than tops of outer ribs of the groups. A region between adjacent ribs can have an index of refraction substantially equal to one. Some or all of the ribs can comprise polarizing wires disposed over substrate rods.

Abstract: A polarization element includes a plurality of metallic thin lines that extend in one direction on one surface of a substrate, a protecting layer that is provided on the plurality of metallic thin lines, and a cavity portion that is surrounded by two metallic thin lines which are adjacent to each other, the substrate, and the protecting layer. Each end portion of the plurality of metallic thin layers has a forward tapered shape in a cross-section parallel to the one direction, and the protecting layer extends from the upper portion of the plurality of metallic thin lines to the one surface of the substrate through each end portion.

Abstract: An eyepiece for a HMD includes a waveguide, an ambient light polarizer, and a wire grid polarizer with a diffraction lens having a lens function patterned into the wire grid polarizer. Polarized image light is guided between eye-ward and ambient sides of the waveguide from a display source to a viewing region of the waveguide where the polarized image light is directed out of the waveguide through the eye-ward side. The viewing region passes ambient light incident on the ambient side through to the eye-ward side. The ambient light polarizer is disposed adjacent to the ambient side to polarize the ambient light into polarized ambient light having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization. The wire grid polarizer is disposed adjacent to the eye-ward side along the viewing region. The wire grid polarizer is oriented to applying the lens function to the polarized image light via diffraction.

Abstract: To provide an inorganic polarizing plate which, when used in structures having different used wavelength bands, can reduce reflectance by using a common structure, making it possible to achieve a predetermined light extinction ratio. The inorganic polarizing plate has a substrate that is transparent to light in a used bandwidth, a reflective layer that is composed of grids that are formed on one surface of the substrate with a pitch that is smaller than a wavelength of light in the used bandwidth, a dielectric layer that is stacked on the reflective layer, and an absorbing layer containing FeSi fine particles.

Abstract: A polarizer in which parallel transmittance TP is increased and crossed transmittance TC is provided. Instead of arranging a plurality of all metal wires on one plane, a plurality of metal wires is separately formed on at least two different parallel planes, and adjacent meal wires among the plurality of metal wires are staggered in the polarizer. The heights of a first group of metal wires formed on a first plane and a second group of metal wires formed on a second plane, from a surface of the light-transmitting substrate are different. Further, a metal wire of the second group is provided to be more distant from the light-transmitting substrate than the first group of metal wires by distance D, and the distance D is smaller than the thickness of the first group of metal wires.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes first and second substrates bonded to each other, a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, a plurality of first polarization wire grids formed on the first substrate, and a plurality of second polarization wire grids formed on the second substrate.

Abstract: A polarizing cube includes a pair of identical and symmetric triangular prisms which sandwich a thin optical composite plate containing a planner array of reflective straight wires spaced apart in parallel as a built-in wire grid polarizer. All of its subcomponents and the polarizing cube itself are physically and optically symmetrical to one of its diagonal planes so as to provide improved integration and robustness for projection display application. The cubic configuration of the disclosed polarizer can be readily produced through common means and sequences typically used in semiconductor wafer fabrication processes, including photolithographic patterning, gap dielectric filling and planarization, and wafer thinning, bonding and cutting among others.

Abstract: Provided is a polarizer that includes wire grid structure (11) having a plurality of thin metal wires arranged to extend in one direction. Thin metal wire (13) is formed by stacking aluminum layer (5) and silver layer (6). Silver layer 6 is disposed on a side wherein incoming light enters wire grid structure (11).

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide an integrated planar polarizing device and methods of fabrication. The device, in the order of incidence along an optical path of an incident light beam from back position to front position, comprises a planar array of micro mirrors, a quarter wave retarder film and a reflective polarization plate. The micro mirrors are regularly spaced-apart in an identical tilted angle ? relative to a base plane. The quarter wave retarder film is positioned between the micro mirrors and the reflective polarization plate.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer with multiple functionality sections. Separate and discrete sections can include a difference in pitch p, a difference in wire width w, a difference in wire height h, a difference in wire material, a difference in coating on top of the wires, a difference in thin film between the wires and the substrate, a difference in substrate between the wires, a difference in number of layers of separate wires, and/or a difference in wire cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: An eyepiece includes an eyepiece frame, an in-coupling polarization beam splitter (“PBS”), an end reflector, and an out-coupling PBS. The eyepiece frame defines an air cavity and includes an illumination region for receiving computer generated image (“CGI”) light into the eyepiece frame and a viewing region to be aligned with an eye of a user. The in-coupling PBS is supported within the eyepiece frame at the illumination region to re-direct the CGI light to a forward propagation path extending along the air cavity towards the viewing region. The end reflector is disposed to reflect the CGI light back along a reverse propagation path within the eyepiece frame. The out-coupling PBS is supported at the viewing region to pass the CGI light traveling along the forward propagation path and to redirect the CGI light traveling along the reverse propagation path out of an eye-ward side of the eyepiece frame.

Abstract: Disclosed are a wire grid polarizer, which exhibits high polarization, p-polarized light transmittance, and s-polarized light reflectance in the visible light region, and the optical characteristics of which have low angular dependence and wavelength dependence, and a manufacturing method for the same.

Abstract: A polarizer includes a base and a plurality of grids arranged on a surface of the base parallel to one another. Each of the grids comprises an intermediate layer and a semi-transmissive metal layer that reflects a part of external light incident thereon and transmits a part of the external light incident thereon. The semi-transmissive metal layer and the intermediate layer are alternately deposited to include at least two semi-transmissive metal layers. The thicknesses of the semi-transmissive metal layers increases in a direction in which the semi-transmissive metal layer is disposed away from the external light. An organic light emitting display apparatus includes the polarizer and has improved contrast and brightness.

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 inorganic micro-particle layers that are formed on the dielectric layers by inorganic micro-particles having shape anisotropy in which a length of a diameter of the micro-particles in an arrangement direction of the reflection layers is longer than a length of a diameter of the micro-particles in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the reflection layers and has convex portions toward a side of a first adjacent reflection layer and a side of a second adjacent reflection layer.

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: A polarization splitting device includes a polarization beam splitter having a polarization splitting surface and allows P-polarized light to transmit therethrough and reflects S-polarized light. A subwavelength structure grating is formed on the polarization splitting surface with a grating pitch smaller than wavelength of incident light. The polarization splitting device also includes a polarizer that is arranged on an optical path of light reflected from the polarization beam splitter and has a transmission axis that is parallel to a polarization direction of the S-polarized light.

Abstract: A textile made by weaving while crossing stainless wires as warp yarn and silk yarns as weft yarn one by one alternately, and this textile is attached to a frame body to configure a wire grid. The pitch for the stainless wires is determined depending on a wavelength to be polarized and analyzed. Furthermore, the silk yarns are removed if necessary. This configuration avoids problems with cutting of metal wire or irregular intervals between metal wires because of long fine metal wires tightened parallel to each other in the frame body, and problems such as multiple reflection or interference on a substrate or a base material because of fine wire patterns made by etching or the like with the use of the substrate or base material, thereby obtaining an easily-manufactured, low-cost and high-precision wire grid for polarization and analysis of electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical element having a three-dimensional structural part that can resolve problems associated with deterioration of optical characteristics that is caused by variations in the element shape in the conventional process and poor endurance caused by insufficient joining strength and the optical element produced by the method are provided. A method for producing an optical element configured by joining at least a first optical member and a second optical member formed from an oxide material includes the processes of forming a refractive index periodic structural part with a period equal to or less than a visible light wavelength on at least one of the first optical member and the second optical member, forming a joining layer composed of an oxygen-deficient oxide on the first optical member and the second optical member, tightly joining the first optical member and the second optical member by the joining layer, and oxidizing the joining layer after the tight joining.

Abstract: A polarizer of the present invention having a higher level of polarization performance for a light in the deep ultraviolet wavelength range includes: a substrate transparent to deep ultraviolet light; and a periodic structure including a plurality of structural elements at predetermined intervals on the substrate, the polarizer being configured so that the deep ultraviolet light incident thereon is split into a light component reflected by the periodic structure and a light component passing between the structural elements adjacent to each other, and the periodic structure being composed of chromium oxide or tungsten.

Abstract: A method comprises spatially selectively irradiating in a predetermined pattern with an output beam of a laser system an interface between a polymer substrate and a metal film on the polymer substrate. The polymer substrate is substantially transparent to the output beam of the laser system; the metal film absorbs a substantial fraction of the output beam. Laser system output comprises a sequence of pulses. Beam size at the polymer/metal interface, pulse energy, and pulse duration are selected so that each pulse from the laser system that irradiates an area of the polymer/metal interface substantially completely removes by ablation the metal film from at least a portion of the irradiated area without substantially altering the surfaces or bulk of the polymer substrate and without leaving on the polymer substrate or on remaining areas of the metal film substantial residue of metal that resolidified after being melted by the laser irradiation.

Abstract: A fine pitch wire grid polarizer can have a pitch of less than 80 nanometers and a protective layer on the wires, by anisotropically etching the wire grid polarizer to form two parallel, elongated rods substantially located at corners where the wires contacted the substrate. The rods can be polarizing elements. A wire grid polarizer can have a repeated pattern of groups of parallel elongated wires disposed over a substrate. Each group of elongated wires comprises at least three wires. At least one wire at an interior of each group can be taller by more than about 10 nm than outermost wires of each group. Wires of a wire grid polarizer can be a byproduct of an etch reaction. A multi-step wire grid polarizer can comprise a base with a plurality of parallel multi-step ribs disposed on the base and a coating disposed along vertical surfaces of the steps.

Abstract: A wire-grid polarizer comprising a light-transmitting substrate 14 having a surface on which a plurality of ridges 12 are formed in parallel with one another at a predetermined pitch with flat portions 13 formed between the ridges 12, each of the ridges 12 having a width narrowing from the bottom toward the top; and a metal layer 20 covering at least one side surface of each ridge 12, the maximum covering thickness of the metal layer on a lower half of the ridge being smaller than the maximum covering thickness of the metal layer on an upper half of the ridge; and a process for producing the first metal layer 20 by vapor-depositing a metal from a direction satisfying tan(?R1±10)=(Pp?Dpb/2)/Hp on the first side surface 16 side, and subsequently vapor-depositing the metal from a direction at an angle satisfying ?R1+5??R2??R1+25.

Abstract: A color filter having a bi-layer metal grating is formed by nanoimprint lithography. Nanoimprint lithography, a low cost technology, includes two alternatives, i.e., hot-embossing nanoimprint lithography and UV-curable nanoimprint lithography. Manufacture steps includes providing a substrate with a polymer material layer disposed thereon. A plurality of lands and grooves are formed in the polymer material layer, and a first metal layer and a second metal layer are disposed on the surfaces of the lands and grooves, respectively. Finally, a color filter having a bi-layer metal grating is obtained.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical element that has a function to polarize and split incident light includes: a) forming a grid portion on a face of a substrate in a plural number with a predetermined pitch; b) forming a diffractive structure resist pattern on the face of the substrate; c) forming the diffractive structure by etching the substrate anisotropically in a thickness direction with the diffractive structure resist pattern; and d) forming a fine line on the grid portion by depositing a reflective material from an oblique direction onto the face of the substrate where the diffractive structure is provided.

Abstract: A diffusive device has an array of discrete facets which may be of a size and pattern similar to a fractal. The facet dimensions can be greater than half the wavelength of incident light such that the facets substantially diffract light. A polarizing wire-grid layer comprised of an array of elongated parallel conductive wires with a period less than half the wavelength of incident light may be disposed between, beneath, or above the facets. The wire-grid polarizes the light by substantially reflecting light having an s-polarization orientation and substantially transmitting a portion of light having a p-polarization orientation.

Abstract: A polarizing plate, a fabrication method thereof, and a display device using the same are provided. The polarizing plate includes a polarizing element, a first adhesive layer formed on one surface of the polarizing element, a second adhesive layer formed on the other surface of the polarizing element, a protective film attached to an upper portion of the first adhesive layer, a bonding layer attached to a lower portion of the second adhesive layer, and a luminance enhancement film attached to the bonding layer.

Abstract: A distributed polarizer includes first, second, and third regions. The first region has a first transmission axis extending in a first direction. The second region has a second transmission axis extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The third region has a third transmission axis extending in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A line-and-space structure having a line portion and a space portion is formed by applying a sol-gel coating on a substrate and transferring a structure of a mold to the coating, and an embedded metal portion is formed by filling the space portion with a molten metal. As the metal to be molten, a metal material having a melting point of not higher than 650° C. and showing, after the solidification, an average extinction coefficient of higher than 5.0 or an average extinction coefficient of higher than 4.5 and an average refractive index of less than 1, at a wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm, is selected to improve optical characteristics.

Abstract: A polarization element includes: a substrate; a plurality of convex line sections on one surface of the substrate and forming stripes in a plan view; and a multilayer thin line provided to each convex line section and extending along the convex line sections, wherein the multilayer thin line has a lower layer on the convex line section, and an upper layer stacked on the lower layer, the lower layer and the upper layer each have a first thin line on one side surface in a direction along a shorter dimension of the convex line section, and a second thin line on the other side surface, the materials of the lower layer first thin line and the upper layer first thin line are different from each other, and the materials of the lower layer second thin line and the upper layer second thin line are different from each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wire grid polarizer capable of securing a high brightness and reducing the number of processes, a liquid crystal device including the wire grid polarizer, and a method of manufacturing the wire grid polarizer. According to the present invention, the wire grid polarizer, including first grids arranged in parallel at certain intervals over a substrate and second grids formed on the first grids, can be formed using only an imprint process, a deposition process, and a wet etch process. Accordingly, the number of processes and the process costs and time can be reduced, and high reliability can be guaranteed.

Abstract: A stereoscopic projection system includes an optical engine, a relay lens group, a polarization conversion system and two identical projection lenses. The optical engine is used for outputting a non-polarized image light. The non-polarized image light is imaged into the polarization conversion system through the relay lens group to produce an intermediate image. The polarization conversion system includes a polarization beam splitter, a polarization rotating element and a polarization switch. The polarization beam splitter is used for splitting the non-polarized image light into a first-state first polarized beam and a second-state second polarized beam, which have the same total optical length. By the polarization switch, the first output polarized beam and the second output polarized beam are alternately switched between the first state and the second state. The projection lenses are located in the first optical path and the second optical path for projecting the intermediate image.

Abstract: A polarization element has a polarizer with an aggregate of metal pieces: Plasmon resonance frequency of a metal piece varies according to the polarization direction of a irradiated on it. In the polarization element, the plasmon resonance frequency in a predetermined direction of a metal piece is substantially equal to the frequency of light irradiated on the polarization element. The real part and the imaginary part of permittivity at the plasmon resonance frequency of a metal piece's constituent material and the refractive index (na) of a dielectric layer satisfy a particular relation.

Abstract: A polarized light converting system is disclosed in the present invention. The converting system includes a polarizing splitting unit, for splitting an unpolarized incident light beam into a first polarized light beam and a second polarized light beam, passing the second polarized light beam, and reflecting the first polarized light beam; a reflector for reflecting the second polarized light beam back through the polarizing splitting unit; a condensing unit, for guiding the condensed first polarized light beam through a first area and the condensed second polarized light beam through a second area which does not overlap the first area; and a retarder unit placed at either the first area or the second area for converting the unpolarized incident light beam into polarized light beams having the same polarization state such that illumination efficiency can be increased.

Abstract: A waveplate including a dielectric substrate and a periodic structure formed on the dielectric substrate, said periodic structure having a period which is equal to or smaller than a wavelength of an incident light, wherein the periodic structure is constructed of a deposited film, and a refractive index of the deposited film gradually changes in a thicknesswise direction of the deposited film.

Abstract: Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes a reflective polarizer layer, and an optical film that is disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. The optical construction has an axial luminance gain that is not less than about 1.2.

Abstract: A polarizing lamp includes a polarization beam splitter, a metallic grating reflector having metallic gratings with a trapezoidal profile, and an unpolarized light source positioned between the polarization beam splitter and the metallic grating reflector.

Abstract: An optical element has a substrate material having a pattern of cavities formed on a surface and a substantially transparent seal layer disposed against the surface. A photochromic or electrochromic material is sealed by the substantially transparent seal layer within the cavities formed in the surface.

Abstract: A wire-grid polarizer includes a stack of thin film layers disposed over a substrate including a wire grid layer and a plurality of thin film layers disposed between the wire grid layer and the substrate. The wire-grid layer includes an array of elongated metal elements, comprising lengths longer than a wavelength of visible light, a period less than 200 nanometers, a height less than 400 nanometers; and a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, gold, copper, or combinations thereof. The plurality of thin film layers disposed between the wire grid layer and the substrate include at least one dielectric grid layer and at least one thin film layer comprising silicon. The dielectric grid layer and the wire-grid are substantially parallel with one another, have substantially equal periods, and have substantially equal widths.

Abstract: A polarization element including a plurality of protection films, one of the plurality of protection films being provided on one of the plurality of metal thin wires. The plurality of metal thin wires includes a first metal thin wire, and a second metal thin wire adjacent to the first metal thin wire. The plurality of protection films includes a protection first film and a second protection film. A first mask is provided between the upper end of the first metal thin wire and the first protection film, and a second mask is provided between the upper end of the second metal thin wire and the second protection film. The first and second protection films form an air gap below the first mask.

Abstract: Provided are a wire-grid polarizer, which has not only a high degree of polarization, a high p-polarized light transmittance and a high s-polarized light reflectance but also a low angle dependency and a low wavelength dependency in terms of optical properties in a visible light region, and a process for producing the same.

Abstract: Provided is a polarizing element, which is made into an assembly of metal elements by utilizing the fact that the plasmon resonance wavelengths of metal elements are different for the polarization direction of a light to irradiate the metal elements. The sum of the geometrically sectional areas of the metal elements in a plane substantially normal to the propagation direction of the irradiating light is smaller than the area of the irradiated region of the light, and the sum of the absorbing sectional areas of the metal elements in the plasmon resonance wavelengths is five times or more as large as the area of the irradiated region.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer includes fine metal wires arranged parallel to one another and thus transmitting TM-polarized light. A light absorbing layer for absorbing TE-polarized light is provided on at least one of the surfaces of the wire grid polarizer.