Abstract: A polarized-light splitting device includes a transmissive base member having a base portion and pattern of ridges on the base portion, and a non-transmissive layer on the ridges, wherein the non-transmissive layer includes a light reflecting portion, and a light absorbing portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing fine patterns includes providing a base portion having a plurality of protruding portions with recess portions therebetween, depositing a material layer on the protruding portions, the material layer including grooves in an upper surface thereof and a plurality of material portions on respective protruding portions, the material portions being in direct contact with adjacent material portions to form contact surfaces therebetween and to overhang corresponding recess portions between the adjacent material portions, and wet etching the material portions through the grooves and contact surfaces to form pattern portions.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer includes a substrate adapted to transmit predetermined wavelengths of light, a plurality of dielectric wires extending parallel to one another along a first direction on the substrate, the dielectric wires including a dielectric material adapted to transmit the predetermined wavelengths of light, and a plurality of metal wires extending along the first direction between the dielectric wires, wherein sidewalls of the metal wires include portions in contact with sidewalls of the dielectric wires and portions not in contact with the sidewalls of the dielectric wires.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer includes a substrate adapted to transmit predetermined wavelengths of light, a plurality of dielectric wires extending parallel to one another along a first direction on the substrate, the dielectric wires including a dielectric material adapted to transmit the predetermined wavelengths of light, and a plurality of metal wires extending along the first direction between the dielectric wires, wherein sidewalls of the metal wires include portions in contact with sidewalls of the dielectric wires and portions not in contact with the sidewalls of the dielectric wires.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing fine patterns includes providing a base portion having a plurality of protruding portions with recess portions therebetween, depositing a material layer on the protruding portions, the material layer including grooves in an upper surface thereof and a plurality of material portions on respective protruding portions, the material portions being in direct contact with adjacent material portions to form contact surfaces therebetween and to overhang corresponding recess portions between the adjacent material portions, and wet etching the material portions through the grooves and contact surfaces to form pattern portions.

Abstract: A polarized-light splitting device includes a transmissive base member having a base portion and pattern of ridges on the base portion, and a non-transmissive layer on the ridges, wherein the non-transmissive layer includes a light reflecting portion, and a light absorbing portion.

Abstract: A contrast improving sheet includes a first optical functional element and a second optical functional element on the viewing side thereof. The first optical functional element has a plurality of protrusions, each having a pair of opposite total-reflection facets for totally reflecting image light rays substantially perpendicularly incident on the entrance surface and a flat facet extending between the front edges, on the side of the exit surface, of the pair of opposite total-reflection facets. Light absorbing layers are formed between the adjacent protrusions. The second optical functional element has a light path correcting layer for correcting light paths followed by the image light rays totally reflected by the total-reflection facets such that the image light rays are emitted through the exit surface substantially perpendicularly to the exit surface. The light path correcting layer has a plurality of alternately inclined planes inclined in opposite directions.

Abstract: A projection screen 111 comprises a total reflection prism lens 114 and a lenticular lens 115 provided on the viewer's side of the total reflection prism lens 114. The total reflection prism lens 114 has a plurality of unit prisms 113 on its back surface (the outermost plane of incidence) on which imaging light L is incident. Each unit prism 113 has an apical angle ? that corresponds to the angle between the plane of incidence 113a and the plane of total reflection 113b, and the apical angles ? of the unit prisms 113 vary with the position of each unit prism 113 on the screen plane. In particular, the unit prisms 113 have apical angles ? varying continuously from 30° to 45° so that the apical angles ? on the side distant from the center O of the concentric circles are greater than the apical angles ? on the side close to this center O.

Abstract: A contrast improving sheet to be disposed on the viewing side of a display, such as a rear projection display or a liquid crystal display, to display images in high contrast and in excellent directivity, and a rear projection screen provided with the contrast improving sheet are provided. A contrast improving sheet 11 includes a first optical functional element 1 and a second optical functional element 2 disposed on the viewing side of the first optical functional element 1. The first optical functional element 1 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 3 arranged in a direction or distributed in a plane. Each of the protrusions 3 has a pair of opposite total-reflection facets 5 for totally reflecting image light rays substantially perpendicularly incident on the entrance surface and a flat facet 6 extending between the front edges, on the side of the exit surface, of the pair of opposite total-reflection facets 5. Light absorbing layers 7 are formed in V-grooves between the adjacent protrusions 3.

Abstract: A Fresnel lens sheet includes: a sheet-shaped base; multiple first prisms with substantially triangular cross-sections formed on a light-source-side surface of the base; and multiple second prisms with substantially triangular cross-sections formed on a viewing-side surface of the base. Rear projection screens including such Fresnel lens sheets are also provided.

Abstract: A Fresnel lens sheet has a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface. The light-receiving surface is provided with a plurality of prism groups, each including a plurality of straight or circular prisms. Each of the prisms of the prism groups has a total reflection surface that reflects incident light totally toward a viewing side. The height of the prisms formed in a predetermined specific region in the light-receiving surface of the Fresnel lens sheet is bigger than that of the prisms in another region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a readily producible Fresnel lens sheet capable of effectively eliminating such problems as the production of double images (ghosts) due to stray light to display a high-quality image. A Fresnel lens sheet 1 includes: a sheet-shaped base 1a; multiple first prisms 23 with nearly triangular cross-sections, formed on the light-source-side surface 4 of the base 1a on which imaging light 10 is projected; and multiple second prisms 26 with nearly triangular cross-sections, formed on the viewing-side surface 5 of the base 1a from which the imaging light 10 emerges.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a lens sheet comprises an application device, a substrate supply device, a pressing device and an irradiation device. The application device applies ionizing radiation curing type resin in the form of liquid on the upper surface of a forming die for a lens sheet to form an uncured resin body on the upper surface of the forming die. The substrate supply device places a substrate on the uncured resin body. The pressing device presses the substrate against the uncured resin body to flatten the uncured resin body, so as to form a uncured resin layer, while spreading the uncured resin body to an outside periphery of the forming die. The irradiation device irradiates ionizing radiation on the uncured resin layer through the substrate to cure the uncured resin layer.

Abstract: A projection screen 111 comprises a total reflection prism lens 114 and a lenticular lens 115 provided on the viewer's side of the total reflection prism lens 114. The total reflection prism lens 114 has a plurality of unit prisms 113 on its back surface (the outermost plane of incidence) on which imaging light L is incident. Each unit prism 113 has an apical angle ? that corresponds to the angle between the plane of incidence 113a and the plane of total reflection 113b, and the apical angles ? of the unit prisms 113 vary with the position of each unit prism 113 on the screen plane. In particular, the unit prisms 113 have apical angles ? varying continuously from 30° to 45° so that the apical angles ? on the side distant from the center O of the concentric circles are greater than the apical angles ? on the side close to this center O.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a lens sheet comprises an application device, a substrate supply device, a pressing device and an irradiation device. The application device applies ionizing radiation curing type resin in the form of liquid on the upper surface of a forming die for a lens sheet to form an uncured resin body on the upper surface of the forming die. The substrate supply device places a substrate on the uncured resin body. The pressing device presses the substrate against the uncured resin body to flatten the uncured resin body, so as to form a uncured resin layer, while spreading the uncured resin body to an outside periphery of the forming die. The irradiation device irradiates ionizing radiation on the uncured resin layer through the substrate to cure the uncured resin layer.

Abstract: A Fresnel lens sheet has a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface. The light-receiving surface is provided with a plurality of prism groups, each including a plurality of straight or circular prisms. Each of the prisms of the prism groups has a total reflection surface that reflects incident light totally toward a viewing side. The height of the prisms formed in a predetermined specific region in the light-receiving surface of the Fresnel lens sheet is bigger than that of the prisms in another region.

Abstract: A lenticular lens sheet having an entrance surface and an exit surface comprises a base part, an entrance lens part forming the entrance surface and having an array of a plurality of convex lens elements capable of gathering light rays. A tinted layer is formed at least in a portion of the entrance lens part near the entrance surface. A light absorbing layer is formed in light-nongathering regions in the exit surface in which light rays refracted by the convex lens elements do not gather.

Abstract: Disclosed are a lens sheet wherein when molding a resin no damage is caused to a mold to there by enable the optical function of light diffusion agent particles to be enhanced, a projection screen, and a method of manufacturing the lens sheet. In a lens sheet having a base material sheet that has a lens formed on at least one surface thereof using an ionizing radiation curable resin, light diffusion agent particles are mixed into the base material sheet and have a mass average particle diameter of 3 to 25 &mgr;m and, when d represents the mass average particle diameter of the light diffusion agent particle and h represents the interval between the trough of the lens configuration of the lens and the surface on the lens-formation surface side of the base sheet material, there hold true the inequality: h>d/3.

Abstract: Disclosed are a base plate for use for a lens sheet that can realize the unlikeliness to be cracked while the self-sustenance of the lens sheet is being maintained, the lens sheet, and a projection screen comprising that lens sheet. In a base plate, the base plate constructing a lens sheet as a base sheet for a UV-curable resin layer by being bonded to the UV-curable resin layer and being made of ductile materials, the breaking flexure by bending of the ductile material is 0.08 or more; and the Izod impact value thereof is 5 KJ/m2 or more. Also, in a base plate consisting of fragile material, there is used a material that has respective physical properties wherein when it is assumed that F (MPa) represents the shearing force of the UV-curable resin; h (m) represents the thickness of the base plate; E (MPa) represents the bending modulus of elasticity of the fragile material; and &ohgr; (dimensionless quantity) represents the breaking flexure by bending, the relationship of F/hE&ohgr;<1.5 holds true.

Abstract: A rear projection screen including a Fresnel lens sheet arranged on the projection side, and a lenticular lens sheet arranged on the observation side. The Fresnel lens sheet has a lenticular lens for vertical diffusion on its light-entering side. The lenticular lens for vertical diffusion contains a plurality of convex lenses that extend horizontally, and these plural convex lenses are arranged with a constant pitch. Further, the diffusion angle of the lenticular lens for vertical diffusion continuously increases, and, at the same time, the direction of diffusion is gradually inclined to the central part side as the distance from the central part toward each of the edges on the screen surface increases. The diffusion properties (the angle and direction of diffusion) of the lenticular lens thus continuously vary between the central part and edges of the screen surface.