Abstract: An array of optical resonators includes at least a first type of optical resonators each having a resonant response to an optical field at a first wavelength, and a second type of optical resonators each having a resonant response to an optical field at a second wavelength, being different from the first wavelength. The resonant responses can be selected to reduce chromatic aberrations, or to shape a profile of a light beam, or to selectively switch a near field beam.

Abstract: An optical inspection system that may include an illumination optics configured to generate an illumination light beam and to illuminate a sample with the illumination light beam; at least one collection optics configured to collect light from the sample; at least one detector configured to detect at least one detected light beam outputted from the at least one collection optics; multiple polarizers that are configured to (a) set a polarization of the illumination light beam by selectively introducing, under a control of the control unit, at least one illumination optics polarization change, and (b) set a polarization of the at least one detected light beam by selectively introducing, under a control of the control unit, at least one collection optics polarization change. The multiple polarizers may include one or more illumination half-wave plates, one or more quarter-wave plates, and one or more inhomogeneous polarizers.

Abstract: Provided is a wire grid polarization plate that has heat resistance and excellent polarization properties, and has durability even in a thin wire structure with a small pitch, and an optical apparatus and a manufacturing method of a polarization plate. A periodic lamellar structure is formed with a material forming arrangement by self-assembling performance, and then, is metallized, and thus, metal wires arranged at a small pitch are prepared, and the obtained wires are fixed by a dielectric material.

Abstract: A sensor includes a first image pixel array including first image pixels and a second image pixel array including second image pixels. A polarization layer is disposed between the first image pixels and the second image pixels. Scene light incident upon the second image pixels propagates through the first image pixels and the polarization layer to reach the second image pixels.

Abstract: A long polarizer that can achieve the multi-functionalization and high-functionalization of an electronic device, such as an image display apparatus, that shows no variation in quality when provided as a final product, and that is excellent in yield in its production. A polarizer according to an embodiment includes a long resin film containing a dichromatic substance, the polarizer having non-polarization portions arranged in a lengthwise direction and/or a widthwise direction at predetermined intervals, the non-polarization portions including decolored portions formed through partial decoloring.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a polarizer including: a first body portion, a second body portion and two third body portions. The polarizer is applied in a touch device, the polarizer is provided with a through hole, and the first body portion and the second body portion are respectively located on two sides of the through hole in a first direction. The first body portion is configured to attach to the pressing portion, and the second body portion is configured attach to the touch region of the touch substrate; and the two third body portions are respectively located on two sides of the first body portion in a second direction, each of the two third body portions connects the first body portion and the second body portion, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can be durable and have high performance. The WGP can comprise an array of wires 13 on a substrate 11. An overcoat layer 32 can be located at distal ends of the array of wires 13 and can span channels 15 between the wires 13. A conformal-coat layer 61 can coat sides 13s and distal ends 13d of the wires 13 between the wires 13 and the overcoat layer 32. The overcoat layer can comprise aluminum oxide. An antireflection layer 33 can be located over the overcoat layer 32.

Abstract: An array of optical resonators comprises at least a first type of optical resonators each having a resonant response to an optical field at a first wavelength, and a second type of optical resonators each having a resonant response to an optical field at a second wavelength, being different from the first wavelength. The resonant responses can be selected to reduce chromatic aberrations, or to shape a profile of a light beam, or to selectively switch a near field beam.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for fabricating a wavelength conversion device that is capable of suppressing unintended and random polarization reversal due to heating thereby achieving higher wavelength conversion efficiency. The method includes: forming an insulating layer on one place of a crystal substrate naturally and uniformly polarized in a thickness direction; forming an insulating layer pattern with line-and-space by photolithography; then supplying conductive fluid to both planes of the crystal substrate to apply voltage to the crystal substrate, thereby a wavelength conversion device that is periodically polarization-reversed is fabricated. When temperature of the crystal substrate decreases after heating, an ionizer supplies ions to a surface of the crystal substrate, negative ions collect on +z plane, and positive ion collect on ?z plane, thereby unintended and random polarization reversal is suppressed.

Abstract: Methods of producing a polarization-modulating element that modulates a polarization state of incident light into a predetermined polarization state, the polarization-modulating element being used with an illumination optical apparatus, include preparing an optical material having optical activity, and providing the optical material with a circumferentially varying thickness profile and a central region that is an aperture having no optical activity. The thickness profile is set so that light in a linearly polarized state having a direction of polarization substantially along a single direction, is transformed into light in an azimuthal polarization state having a direction of polarization substantially along a circumferential direction or into light in a radially polarized state having a direction of polarization substantially along the radial direction.

Abstract: A bidirectional Cartesian-cylindrical converter system and method for converting the spatial distribution of polarization states include a radial polarization converter capable of receiving a linearly polarized, spatially uniform, polarization distribution beam in order to convert it into a beam having a radial or azimuthal distribution of polarization states about an axis of symmetry. An optical device compensates for the phase shift induced by the radial polarization converter and is capable of introducing a spatially uniform phase shift to compensate for the phase shift introduced by the radial polarization converter.

Abstract: Despeckle elements, laser beam homogenizers and methods for despeckling are provided. The despeckle element includes a transparent material having a first surface including a plural number of optical steps and a second surface having a plural number of microlenses. Each of the number of optical steps is in a one-to-one correspondence with at least one of the microlenses. One of the first surface and the second surface is configured to receive collimated light having a coherence length and a remaining one of the first surface and the second surface is configured to pass the collimated light separated into a plurality of beamlets corresponding to the number of microlenses. A height of each step of at least two of the optical steps is configured to produce an optical path difference of the collimated light longer than the coherence length.

Abstract: A wire grid type polarization structure is disclosed. In one aspect, the polarization structure includes a retardation layer and a plurality of nanowires formed on the retardation layer. Each of the nanowires includes a wire core and a shell enclosing the wire core. The wire cores include metal nanoparticles embedded therein. The metal nanoparticles may absorb the visible lights effectively, so that the wire grid type polarization structure may have a desired polarization characteristic.

Abstract: Provided are a laminated body which is made to extend and contract to a reduced extent due to humidity so as to reduce the number of the occurrence of crosstalk, a polarization plate having the same, a stereoscopic image display device and a stereoscopic image display system. A laminated body includes a patterned phase difference film having a supporter film and a patterned optical anisotropic layer in which a first phase difference region and a second phase difference region having mutually different in-plane slow axis directions and/or phase differences are disposed in a predetermined pattern on the supporter film, and a stiff body attached to a surface of the patterned optical anisotropic layer through a first attaching layer.

Abstract: According to the present invention, provided is a birefringent transfer foil, comprising a temporary support, an orientation layer, a birefringent layer (preferably a patterned optically anisotropic layer) formed from a composition comprising a liquid-crystal compound having at least one reactive group, said orientation layer being in contact with the temporary support or a releasing layer, wherein the releasing layer being in contact with the temporary support, and said orientation layer being a layer comprising a cellulose alkyl ether or a hydroxyalkyl derivative of cellulose alkyl ether. In the birefringent transfer foil of the present invention, the above orientation layer also functions as a protective layer and a detachment layer, enabling to reduce the manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A system and method for modulating and displaying optical effects includes a lighting device (BV) and at least one displaying object (DO) located outside the lighting device. The lighting device (BV) includes at least one input polarization unit (POE) for influencing polarization, in particular in a location-dependent manner, and at least one modulation unit (OME) for influencing polarization and/or retardance, in particular in a time-dependent and/or location-dependent manner. The displaying object (DO) includes at least one object retarder unit (POB) for influencing retardance, in particular in a location-dependent and/or time-dependent manner, the at least one object retarder unit being suitable for reversibly or irreversibly impressing a piece of image information, and an output polarization unit (PE).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of displaying, in color, information accompanying rotation in a device having a rotating member, comprising disposing a first polarizing film, a printed film, a retardation film, and a second polarizing film approximately perpendicularly to the direction of the rotational axis of the rotation; with the first polarizing film, retardation film, and second polarizing film being the sequence of disposition; and with one or two films selected from among the first polarizing film, the retardation film, and the second polarizing film being caused to rotate in a manner accompanying rotation of the rotating member. The method of the present invention affords inexpensive installation, maintenance, and use; good energy efficiency; and complex color display in a greater number of colors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a product comprising a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence, which has a latent image becoming visible through a polarizing plate, wherein an image visible through the polarizing plate including the latent image comprises a periodic structure. An additional visual effect can be attached to the latent image observed through a polarizing plate.

Abstract: A transparent optical element with dual light-polarizing effect comprises a first film forming a linear light-polarizer in a first surface portion of the element, and a second film forming a retarder plate within a second surface portion. The second surface portion is contained in the first surface portion. Such element may form an eyeglass adapted for providing stereoscopic vision by light polarization selection in the second surface portion, while providing protection against excessive light intensity in the first surface portion.

Abstract: A fluorescent screen includes phosphor regions 1-R, 1-G, diffusion region 1-B and reflecting means 10 formed on a region that includes phosphor regions 1-R and 1-G and diffusion region 1-B. Reflecting means 10 includes fluorescent light reflecting layer 11, phase difference layer 12, and polarizing layer 13 deposited in that order. Fluorescent light reflecting layer 11 transmits excited light 4 and reflects fluorescent light from phosphor regions 1-R and 1-G. Polarizing layer 13 both transmits excited light 4 and, of diffused light of the excited light (4) that was entered from diffusion region 1_B through Phase difference layer 12, transmits TM polarized light and reflects TE polarized light.

Abstract: A polarization-modulating optical element consisting of an optically active crystal material has a thickness profile where the thickness, as measured in the direction of the optical axis, varies over the area of the optical element. The polarization-modulating optical element has the effect that the plane of oscillation of a first linearly polarized light ray and the plane of oscillation of a second linearly polarized light ray are rotated, respectively, by a first angle of rotation and a second angle of rotation, with the first angle of rotation and the second angle of rotation being different from each other.

Abstract: A phase mask includes a phase modulation layer that modulates a phase of different portions of incident light, differently, such that a different optical phase delay, in a range between 0 and 2? is imparted to different portions of the incident light. A hologram recording apparatus includes a light source; a signal beam optical system that divides a beam emitted from the light source into a reference beam and a signal beam, modulates the signal beam according to hologram pixel information, and radiates the signal beam onto a hologram recording medium. The signal beam optical system includes the phase mask. The hologram recording apparatus also includes a reference beam optical system that radiates the reference beam onto the hologram recording medium.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus is arranged to illuminate a surface to be illuminated, with light in a desired polarization state, without substantive influence of manufacturing error of an optical member functioning as a wave plate. The illumination optical apparatus illuminates the surface to be illuminated on the basis of light from a light source. The illumination optical apparatus is provided with a polarization converting element disposed on or near an illumination pupil plane and adapted for converting a polarization state of incident light into a predetermined polarization state. The polarization converting element has a plurality of variable optical rotating members for variably yielding an angle of rotation to incident linearly polarized light. Each variable optical rotating member has two deviation prisms which are made of an optical material with an optical rotatory power and which are movable relative to each other along a direction intersecting with the optical axis.

Abstract: There is provided an optical film having a small size change with a temperature change of a support of a pattern retardation film. An optical film includes: a support comprising a polymer having a moisture absorptivity of 0.5% or more; a first retardation region and a second retardation region, in which birefringence thereof is mutually different; and an optically anisotropic layer in which the first retardation region and the second retardation region are alternately patterned for every one line.

Abstract: To provide a low-cost wave plate that does not cause any diffracted light and wavefront aberrations. The challenge is met by providing a wave plate characterized by including a first region, a second region, and a third region which are placed on a glass substrate. The first region and the second region exhibit each uniaxial birefringence at least in their portions. The third region exhibits uniaxial birefringence and is interposed between the first region and the second region. Phase advance axes of birefringence of the first region and the second region are substantially parallel to each other. A phase advance axis of birefringence of the third region is substantially orthogonal to the phase advance axes of birefringence of the first and second regions.

Abstract: Provided herein is an optical turbulence device configured for insertion between the target collimator and the sensor unit being tested, which simulates a turbulence effect. The turbulence device for imparting wavefront aberrations to a projected radiation beam includes an optical phase element for altering the optical phase of a radiation beam. The optical phase element includes a plurality of active areas disposed on a surface of the phase element. The plurality of active areas includes a plurality of variations for imparting wavefront aberrations to a radiation beam, thereby altering optical phase of the beam. The device further includes a driving mechanism coupled to the optical phase element for transitioning the optical phase element between a plurality of positions, thereby exposing a different active area of the optical phase element to the radiation beam. The optical phase element is configured to be positioned at an intermediate focal plane of an inverting a focal optical assembly.

Abstract: In a projection display device, a polarization converting element is provided between an imager and a refracting optical system for converting a polarization direction of light after modulation into a direction radially extending from the center of the optical axis of the refracting optical system. Light transmitted through the polarization converting element is incident onto the refracting optical system in a state of P-polarized light or a state close to the state of P-polarized light. Thereby, the transmittance of light through the refracting optical system is made substantially uniform and increased.

Abstract: An optical device includes a projection group in which electrically conductive projections are arranged along a direction parallel to a virtual plane. The arrangement period of the projections in the projection group includes at least a first period and a second period different from the first period. The first period and the second period are shorter than a wavelength of an incident light.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a birefringence pattern transfer foil, comprising at least one patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of differing birefringence and at least one adhesive layer on a temporary support, characterized in that a blocking prevention means is provided to the adhesive layer and/or characterized in that the retardation of the adhesive layer is 40 nm or less is provided. The birefringence pattern transfer foil of the present invention has excellent applicability and handling, and can be used on a variety of subjects.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer comprising a transparent substrate having a first surface. Multiple separate and discrete sections of wire grids can be disposed over the first surface and attached to the substrate, with a border between the sections including an opaque mask material. The mask material can be disposed over the first surface of the substrate. The mask material can be a material different than the wire grid material. The mask material can extend over or under a portion of an edge of the wire grid.

Abstract: A retarder film provides a first light retardation and can be heat processed in one or more selected areas to provide a second light retardation in the selected area(s). The retarder film may have an absorption characteristic such that the heat processing can be carried out by selectively exposing the film to a suitable radiant beam. The retarder film is composed of a stack of contiguous ultrathin layers configured to provide an effective optical medium for visible light. Visible light propagates through the stack as an effective medium having effective refractive indices along principal x-, y-, and z-axes. At least some of the ultrathin layers possess intrinsic birefringence, and the effective indices of the stack are functions of the intrinsic refractive indices of the constituent ultrathin layers. The heat processing is carried out so that the ultrathin layer stack structural integrity is not substantially altered in the processed area(s).

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing continuous light-transmissivity tuning through a mechanical smart window. In one aspect, a mechanical smart window including multiple layers is provided, each layer featuring light-blocking and light-transmitting areas. The layers may be moved relative to each other, changing the amount by which each light-blocking area occludes light-transmitting areas on other layers.

Abstract: A system, method of configuring, and application a system for introducing a relative phase retardation into orthogonally polarized components of an electromagnetic beam entered thereinto, wherein the system involves a substantially achromatic multiple element retarder system for use in wide spectral range (for example, 190-1700 nm) rotating compensator spectroscopic ellipsometer and/or polarimeter systems.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a light receiving device array having light receiving devices two-dimensionally arranged in both a row direction and a column direction, and a light transmissive filter disposed in front of the light receiving device array, wherein the light transmissive filter includes plural types of band-shaped light transmissive sections having respective, different light transmissive characteristics, and the plural types of band-shaped light transmissive sections are arranged in sequence in a width direction thereof.

Abstract: A phase difference film stacked body having a lengthy shape, including a first phase difference film that has a uniform phase difference within a plane, and a second phase difference film that includes a plurality of regions that are patterned within a plane, the plurality of regions having different phase differences; as well as a polarizing plate complex having the same, a display device, and polarization glasses corresponding thereto.

Abstract: An optical system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus and a microlithographic exposure method are disclosed. In an embodiment an optical system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes at least one mirror arrangement having a plurality of mirror elements which are displaceable independently of each other for altering an angular distribution of the light reflected by the mirror arrangement. The optical system also includes at least one manipulator downstream of the mirror arrangement in the light propagation direction. The manipulator has a raster arrangement of manipulator elements so that light incident on the manipulator during operation of the optical system is influenced differently in its polarization state and/or in its intensity in dependence on the incidence location.

Abstract: Element for homogenizing the illumination with simultaneous setting of the polarization degree, wherein the element consists of at least two components. The first component is a microlens array, and the second component is a filter for setting the desired polarization.

Abstract: System and method of photoaltering a material. The system includes a laser source operable to produce a primary pulsed beam, a holographic optical element configured to receive the primary pulsed beam and transmit a plurality of secondary beams, and a scanner operable to direct the secondary beams to the material. The secondary beams are based on the primary pulsed beam. The method includes phase shifting a pulsed laser beam to produce an input beam, holographically altering the input beam to produce a plurality of transmission beams, and scanning a portion of the material with the transmission beams.

Abstract: An optical system is able to achieve a substantially azimuthal polarization state in a lens aperture while suppressing loss of light quantity, based on a simple configuration. The optical system of the present invention is provided with a birefringent element for achieving a substantially circumferential distribution or a substantially radial distribution as a fast axis distribution in a lens aperture, and an optical rotator located behind the birefringent element and adapted to rotate a polarization state in the lens aperture. The birefringent element has an optically transparent member which is made of a uniaxial crystal material and a crystallographic axis of which is arranged substantially in parallel with an optical axis of the optical system. A light beam of substantially spherical waves in a substantially circular polarization state is incident to the optically transparent member.

Abstract: A polarizing element includes a plurality of polarizing sections, wherein a first polarizing section included in the plurality of polarizing sections has a first base material and a plurality of first acicular particles dispersed in the first base material such that long axes of the first acicular particles are aligned in substantially the same direction, a second polarizing section included in the plurality of polarizing sections has a second base material and a plurality of second acicular particles dispersed in the second base material such that long axes of the second acicular particles are aligned in substantially the same direction, and the specification of the first acicular particles is different from that of the second acicular particles.

Abstract: An optical phase controller includes an optical phase control element so that a phase of incident light applied to the optical phase control element is controlled. The optical phase control element includes a metal structure having anisotropy in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction within an electric-field vibration plane of the incident light, the wavelength of the incident light includes a plasmon resonance wavelength possessed by the metal structure, and the incident light is linearly polarized light or elliptically polarized light simultaneously having polarized components in the first direction and the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: There is provided an optical film having a small size change with a temperature change of a support of a pattern retardation film. An optical film includes: a support comprising a polymer having a moisture permeability of 0.5% or more; a first retardation region and a second retardation region, in which birefringence thereof is mutually different; and an optically anisotropic layer in which the first retardation region and the second retardation region are alternately patterned for every one line.

Abstract: Reduction of crosstalk of a stereoscopic display device equipped with an optically anisotropic element having a finely patterned optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic element has a patterned optically anisotropic layer which contains a first retardation area and a second retardation area differing from each other in at least either the direction of in-plane slow axes or the in-plane retardation, and the first and second retardation area being alternately arranged in plane, the patterned optically anisotropic layer being disposed on a surface of a laminate having a first film and a second film, while an in-plane slow axes of the first and an in-plane slow axis the second film being orthogonal to each other.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to a polarizing lens comprising a polarizing layer on a substrate, wherein the polarizing layer comprises polarization axes that are at least partly in the form of a closed curve.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to a polarizing lens comprising a polarizing layer on a substrate, wherein the polarizing layer comprises polarization axes that are at least partly curved.

Abstract: A 3D image display apparatus has an image display panel; and a patterned polarization plate disposed on an observation side of the image display panel, in which the patterned polarization plate has at least a surface layer, a patterned optically anisotropic layer, and a linear polarization layer arranged sequentially from a surface on the observation side, the patterned polarization plate has at most one film between the surface layer and the patterned optically anisotropic layer and between the patterned optically anisotropic layer and the linear polarization layer respectively, the patterned polarization plate includes at most one adhesive layer, and the adhesive layer is provided between the image display panel and the patterned polarization plate.

Abstract: A depolarization element includes high depolarization for light beams having coherence and plural wavelengths and also provides a projection type display device capable of reducing speckle noise. Unit regions, each formed of m regions (m?4) having different phase differences generated for incident light, are disposed, and two regions extracted from the m regions have at least one combination of regions being different in area. When plural light beams having different wavelengths are incident, the composition of the Stokes vectors of the light beams emitted from the respective m regions is made nearly zero by setting the areas of the respective m regions and the generated phase differences, whereby the light beams having coherence and plural wavelengths can be converted so as to have the polarization state of natural light.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to at least partially transparent compositions intended for human or animal consumption and to the packaging of such compositions. One embodiment of the present invention relates to an at least partially transparent container containing an at least partially transparent aqueous non-alcoholic composition. The container comprises at least one polarizer that makes liquid crystals present in the composition visible.

Abstract: The various embodiments include variable optical transmission devices with uniform or patterned polarizers or wave retarders configured to provide continuous or nearly continuous variations in light transmission based on linear translation. For example, embodiments include a variable transmission window including a first uniform polarizer with a first polarization axis, a second uniform polarizer with a second polarization axis, a first patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and including a first plurality of domains configured to vary in at least one of optic axis, thickness, or birefringence, and a second patterned wave retarder positioned between the first and second polarizers and including a second plurality of domains configured to vary in at least one of optic axis, thickness, or birefringence. The first or second wave retarder is configured to be linearly translatable relative to the other wave retarder.

Abstract: A polarizer is provided comprising: a transparent substrate, on a main surface of which a plurality of grooves in parallel with each other are provided at an interval; a birefringence crystal layer with a single orientation formed on the main surface of the transparent substrate where the grooves are provided, wherein the birefringence crystal layer is at least filled in the grooves so that linearly polarized light incident on a location corresponding to the grooves and passing through the polarizer is converted into first polarized light, and linearly polarized light incident on a location between the grooves and passing through the polarizer is converted into second polarized light, the polarization directions of the first and the second polarized light are different from each other.