Abstract: Provided is an optical filter and a display device. In the optical filter, patterns of first and second regions therein may be stably maintained, and therefore the optical filter capable of ensuring excellent light division characteristics for a long time may be provided.

Abstract: A reflective film includes interior layers that selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference, the layers extending from a first to a second zone of the film. In the first zone, the layers operate substantially as a reflective polarizer; in the second zone they operate substantially as a mirror. The layers may thus provide a first reflective characteristic in the first zone wherein normally incident light of one polarization state is substantially reflected and normally incident light of an orthogonal polarization state is substantially transmitted, and a second reflective characteristic in the second zone wherein normally incident light of any polarization state is substantially reflected. The film may have a first thickness in the first zone that is substantially the same as a second thickness in the second zone. Alternatively, the second thickness may be substantially less than the first thickness. Related methods, articles, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A leaky-mode resonant retarder is described. The retarder may include a substrate and a spatially modulated periodic layer coupled to the substrate, where the spatially modulated periodic layer is configured to shift a phase between two perpendicular electric-field components of incident light. The retarder may operate as a half-wave plate or a quarter-wave plate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display module includes a liquid crystal module and a polarizer stacked with each other. The polarizer includes a polarizing layer, a transparent conductive layer and at least two driving-sensing electrodes. The polarizing layer and the transparent conductive layer are stacked with each other. The at least two driving-sensing electrodes are spaced from each other and electrically connected with the transparent conductive layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adhesive for a polarizing plate that comprises a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin with an acetoacetyl group and an amine-based metal compound crosslinking agent, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: Provided is an illumination device that includes: light source (101); light guiding means (102) where light from light source (101) is supplied to one end surface, and light incident from the one end surface is propagated inside to exit from the other end surface; illuminating optical systems (103, 104, 106, and 107) that spatially separate a luminous flux output from the other end surface of light guiding means (102) into a plurality of luminous fluxes and that form, on display element (110), an optical image formed on the other end surface of light guiding means (102); reflective polarizing plate (109) that is located between illuminating optical systems (103, 104, 106, and 107) and display element (110) and that transmits first polarized light while reflecting second polarized light different in polarized state from the first polarized light toward illuminating optical systems (103, 104, 106, and 107); reflecting element (105) that is disposed at a position where the plurality of luminous fluxes are spatia

Abstract: According to the present invention, provided is a system for irradiating a target object selectively with specific circularly polarized light, comprising a polarization-state control member that controls the polarization state of light to thereby generate circularly polarized light; and a circularly polarized light-reflecting member, wherein the circularly polarized light-reflecting member is disposed at a position on which the circularly polarized light emitted from the polarization-state control member can be incident; the circularly polarized light-reflecting member generates reflected light that selectively comprises circularly polarized light of the same sense as the incident circularly polarized light from the polarization-state control member; and the circularly polarized light-reflecting member is disposed such that the target object can be irradiated with at least a part of the reflected light.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to color combiners, and in particular color combiners useful in small size format projectors such as pocket projectors. The disclosed color combiners include at least two tilted dichroic plates having at least two reflectors configured with light collection optics to combine at least two colors of light.

Abstract: A reflective film includes interior layers that selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference, the layers extending from a first to a second zone of the film. In the first zone, the layers operate substantially as a reflective polarizer; in the second zone they operate substantially as a mirror. The layers may thus provide a first reflective characteristic in the first zone wherein normally incident light of one polarization state is substantially reflected and normally incident light of an orthogonal polarization state is substantially transmitted, and a second reflective characteristic in the second zone wherein normally incident light of any polarization state is substantially reflected. The film may have a first thickness in the first zone that is substantially the same as a second thickness in the second zone. Alternatively, the second thickness may be substantially less than the first thickness.

Abstract: Provided is a laser projection apparatus which forms each one frame by performing two-dimensional scanning with laser light and projects images on a screen (201) with blanking periods inserted between frames, the laser light having been outputted from a laser light source (110). The laser projection apparatus is provided with a chive controlling device (132) which, in each of the blanking periods, changes the polarization state of the laser light having been outputted from the laser light source. This configuration enables speckle reduction by having the polarization state changed from one frame to another, and also enables favorable image projection since there is no change in luminance within each one of the frames. Thus, it is made possible to obtain image quality more favorable than that obtained conventionally.

Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination beam shaping system, which enables the emergent surface of a lighting system of light excitation chips to emit a light beam of uniform illumination brightness. The present invention uses a dividing device, structured from curved lenses arranged in an array, to effect a pre-dividing operation on the total quantity of light from a light excitation chip, after which post-diffusion is carried out to form a light beam with uniform illumination brightness. A plurality of conical light beams in an array are shaped and emerge from an output side, and the bottom portion of each of the conical light beams form an actual optical surface, which act on an optical diffusing component for refraction and diffusion processing, thereby enabling the emergent face of the system to obtain uniform illumination brightness.

Abstract: Optical element 10 according to the present invention comprises light guide body 11, surface plasmon excitation means 14 that is provided on the interface with light guide body 11 and that allows surface plasmon to be excited by a specific polarization component of light whose polarization direction is orthogonal to the first direction y in the surface of light guide body 11, from among light entering from light guide body 11, and a light generation means that includes metal layer 12 and cover layer 13, and that generates light having the same polarization component as the specific polarization component of light, from surface plasmon produced in the interface between metal layer 12 and cover layer 13 in response to surface plasmon excited by the specific polarization component in surface plasmon excitation means 14.

Abstract: An optical system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a reflective imaging element having a first principal face which is struck by light emitted from a display panel, a second principal face parallel to the first principal face, and two mutually-orthogonal specular elements being perpendicular to the first principal face, and causes an image displayed on a display surface of the display panel to form an image at a position of planar symmetry with respect to the reflective imaging element as a plane of symmetry. A transparent substrate which is disposed on at least either the first principal face side or the second principal face side of the reflective imaging element is further included, and first light striking the transparent substrate is linearly polarized light, with a large proportion of p-polarized light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polarizing lens molded by inserting a polarizing sheet bent into a sphere or an asphere after having an aromatic polycarbonate sheet bonded via an adhesive layer to both surfaces of a film with polarized nature into a mold, and injecting aromatic polycarbonate, wherein heat treatment at a temperature not less than a temperature of 50° C. lower than the glass transition point and less than the glass transition point for an appropriate time has been performed after injecting aromatic polycarbonate to approximate a designed value of the lens curvature.

Abstract: An axially symmetric polarization conversion element that converts incident light into an axially symmetric polarized beam includes a reflection section having a shape obtained by rotating the cross section of a Fresnel rhomb wave plate along the direction of an optical axis around an axis that is parallel to the optical axis. The axially symmetric polarization conversion element converts the incident light into an axially symmetric polarized beam by utilizing two Fresnel reflections by the reflection section.

Abstract: Example light management films including a plurality of tapered protrusions are described. In many embodiments, a film includes a reflective polarizer layer and a plurality of tapered protrusions disposed on and tapering away from the reflective polarizer layer. At least one tapered protrusion in the plurality of tapered protrusions has a first lateral cross-section at a first location along a height of the tapered protrusion and a second lateral cross-section at a second location along the height of the tapered protrusion. The first cross-section has a first shape and the second cross-section has a different second shape.

Abstract: A concealing structure to at least partially conceal a sensor, light emitter or other component by at least partially preventing reflection of external light by an underlying structure. In some examples, this function is performed by a two-component masking assembly, the masking assembly including a linear polarizer to cause linear polarization of light which passes from the exterior of the device to an underlying component, and a wave plate to shift the axis of any reflected polarized light. In many cases, a high density optical fluid will further be included within the masking assembly to minimize reflections from the other components of the assembly.

Abstract: An optical element is provided with: first polarization-separation layer (13) that is laminated on first surface (12b) of light guide body (12) and that, of the light incident from light guide body (12), transmits X-polarized light and reflects Y-polarized light that is orthogonal to the X-polarized light; polarization hologram layer (14) that is laminated on first polarization-separation layer (13) and that diffracts to a prescribed diffraction angle the X-polarized light that is incident within a prescribed range of angles of incidence and converts the X-polarized light to Y-polarized light; second polarization-separation layer (15) that is laminated on polarization hologram layer (14) and that, of the light incident from polarization hologram layer (14) transmits Y-polarized light and reflects X-polarized light; reflection layer (18) provided on second surface (12c) side of light guide body (12); and phase difference layer (17) that is provided between first surface (12b) of light guide body (12) and refle

Abstract: Polarizing beam splitters and systems incorporating such beam splitters are described. More specifically, polarizing beam splitters and systems with such beam splitters that incorporate multilayer optical films and reflect imaged light towards a viewer or viewing screen with high effective resolution are described.

Abstract: A highly efficient polarization device for use in the VUV or shorter wavelength is provided. The polarization device may include a dispersive element capable of splitting an incident un-polarized beam of light into two beams of orthogonal linear polarization through introduction of an angular deviation. The polarization device may also include a focusing element capable of focusing at least a portion of one of the linearly polarized beams to a small region. Said polarization device may also incorporate a spatial aperture through which most of one of the beam passes, but through which most of the other does not.

Abstract: Thermochromic filters use combinations of absorptive, reflective, thermoabsorptive, and thermoreflective elements covering different portions of the solar spectrum, to achieve different levels of energy savings, throw, shading, visible light transmission, and comfort. Embodiments include stopband filters in the near-infrared spectrum.

Abstract: Provided is a composite optical article including (a) a polymeric base layer comprising a sulfur-containing urethane-based material having a refractive index of at least 1.57; and (b) a polymeric outer layer cast over a surface of the base layer (a) comprising (i) a poly(urea-urethane) material having a refractive index of less than 1.57, and (ii) a photochromic compound and/or a static dye. The thickness of the base layer (a) is greater than the thickness of the outer layer (b).

Abstract: Incident differently-polarized light beams are separately directed and combined by one or two corner cube structures, each having one or two walls formed as a beam splitter. One incident light beam is passed, while the other incident light beam is reflected.

Abstract: A source light beam is split into an illumination beam and a highlight beam. The highlight beam can be controllably shaped into a shaped highlight beam based on a brightness analysis of an image to output. The illumination beam and the shaped highlight beam are combined and provided to an imaging device that generates the image using the combined beam. An array of reflectors, such as a MEMS mirror device, can be used in conjunction with a stacked rod array to generate the shaped highlight beam. The illumination beam and the shaped highlight beam can be combined using offset lenses or a polarizing beam splitter.

Abstract: A photodiode includes a photosensitive area and a polarizing grating located in front of the photosensitive area. The polarizing grating is formed by a plurality of galvanically conducting filaments.

Abstract: The current invention is directed to a pair of binoculars having an eyepiece with one or more ocular lenses and a view port, a polarized lens orientated and positioned on a mounting frame, one or more prisms and an objective lens; wherein the polarized lens is fixed between the eyepiece and the one or more prisms and is shaped to provide an optically correct image and orientated in the vertical plane to substantially filter refracted horizontal light. The invention has application with hunting or sporting scopes and periscopes and other types of viewing apparatus.

Abstract: A polarization camera includes a microlement polarizer that is situated in proximity to a focal plane array. The microlement polarizer is selectively scanned with respect to an optical image direct to the focal plane array, and an image processor stores a set of images associated with the scanning. Based on the stored images, a polarization image can be produced and displayed. A periodic microelement polarizer modulates the individual images of the set, and these images can be processed by filtering in the spatial frequency domain to isolate contributions associated with one or a combination of Stokes parameters. After filtering, Stokes parameter based images can be obtained by demodulating and inverse Fourier transforming the filtered frequency domain data.

Abstract: A light source unit is provided which includes a first light source which shines excitation light of a predetermined wavelength band; an optical path switching device which switches in a time-sharing fashion the light shone from the first light source into first light which is shone in a first direction and second light which is shone in a second direction; a light emitting plate on which a luminescent material layer is formed which emits luminescent light of a wavelength band which is different from that of the excitation light when receiving the second light; and a light guiding optical system which guides the first light and the luminescent light to the same optical path.

Abstract: Provided is a wavelength plate that can increase incident angle tolerance. The wavelength plate in which a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer are alternately stacked, each layer having a concave-convex structure the period of which is equal to or shorter that a wavelength in one direction within a plane, includes, as periods in the thickness direction of the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer: a first period defined so that a used wavelength can belong to the first band of a photonic band structure; and a second period defined so that the used wavelength can belong to a wavelength side longer than the center wavelength of the second band of the photonic band structure.

Abstract: A polarization plate is provided for use between a light source and a display panel, where the light source is configured to emit light having a plurality of planes of polarization and the display panel is configured to have a predetermined polarization axis. The plate includes a repolarization region and a prepolarization region. The repolarization region is configured to diffuse and to depolarize or rotate at least one plane of polarization of the light passing therethrough. The prepolarization region is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the repolarization region. The prepolarization region is configured to be substantially nonabsorbent, to allow passage of light having a plane of polarization that is substantially aligned with the predetermined polarization axis, and to prevent passage of light having a plane of polarization that is not substantially aligned with the predetermined polarization axis. In another embodiment, an interface is provided between the regions.

Abstract: The polarization beam splitting element splits an entering beam according to polarization directions. The element includes, in order from a beam entrance side, an entrance side multi-layered film layer constituted by laminated multiple dielectric films, and a one-dimensional grating structure having a grating period smaller than a wavelength of the entering beam and formed of a metal. When a medium existing on the beam entrance side further than the entrance side multi-layered film layer is referred to as an entrance medium, the multiple dielectric films constituting the entrance side multi-layered film layer include at least one dielectric film having a higher refractive index than that of the entrance medium and at least one dielectric film having a lower refractive index than that of the entrance medium.

Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a light directing film having an average effective transmission of at least 1.3, a light diffusing film having an optical haze of at least 5% and a plurality of spaced apart posts disposed and defining an air gap between the light directing and diffusing films. The posts are attached to a first major surface of the substrate and an opposing second end of each post is attached to the light diffusing film via a first adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer forms a meniscus at each post having an outer surface radius of at least 0.5 micrometers.

Abstract: A polarizing plate, a method of preparing the same and a liquid crystal display apparatus including the same are disclosed. The polarizing plate includes a polarizer and a polyester film formed on a surface of the polarizer, wherein the polyester film has a ratio of an elongation ratio in a machine direction to an elongation ratio in a transverse direction of about 1:0.8 to about 1:1.2, an in-plane retardation (Re) of about 500 nm or less at a wavelength of 550 nm, and an out-of-plane retardation (Rth) of about 10,000 nm or less at a wavelength of 550 nm.

Abstract: The polarization beam splitting element includes a one-dimensional grating structure having a grating period smaller than a wavelength of an entering beam and including a metal grating portion, and two light-transmissive members each having a refractive index higher than that of air. The one-dimensional grating structure is disposed between the two light-transmissive members. The grating period of the one-dimensional grating structure is 120 nm or less, a thickness of the one-dimensional grating structure is 100 nm or less and an inter-grating portion of the one-dimensional grating structure is formed as a vacuum space or formed of air or a dielectric material. The grating period ? [nm], a filling factor FF that is a ratio w/? of a width w [nm] of the grating portion to the grating period, a refractive index na of the inter-grating portion and a wavelength ?g of 550 [nm] satisfy (1.4na?2.9)?/?g?0.57na+1.32?FF?(1.4na?2.9)?/?g?0.57na+1.39 and 0.152np?1.375(?/?g)+0.5?FF?0.152np?1.375(?/?g)+0.6.

Abstract: The planar polarization transformer for a normally incident optical wave or beam having a given vacuum wavelength ? comprises an optical planar grating between a cover medium of refractive index nc and an optical substrate of refractive index ns, this planar grating defining a binary index modulation or corrugation of substantially rectangular profile with periodic ridges. This polarization transformer is characterized in that the ridge refractive index nr is larger than the substrate refractive index ns, the grating period ? is larger than 0.4·?/nc, the substrate refractive index ns is smaller than 2.7·nc, and the index modulation or corrugation is designed such that, according to the grating mode dispersion equation, the effective index of the mode TE0 is larger than the substrate index ns and the effective index of the mode TM0 is larger than the cover refractive index and smaller than the substrate index.

Abstract: A thin and lightweight polarized lens is disclosed. The polarized lens has a laminated structure having a polarized film provided in a sandwiched manner, a glass lens is provided on a front side and a resin lens is provided on a back side, and the resin lens on the back side has a thickness of a range from 0.05 mm to 0.50 mm.

Abstract: An image projection apparatus guides light from a light source to a first and a second image modulation elements and projects light modulated by the first and second image modulation elements towards an image plane. A first color separation element reflects first linearly polarized light of a first color light so as to guide the first linearly polarized light to the first image modulation element side, transmits second linearly polarized light of the first color light so as to guide the second linearly polarized light to the second image modulation element side, and reflects or transmits both of the first and second linearly polarized light of a second color light so as to guide both of the first and second linearly polarized light of the second color light to the second image modulation element side.

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: There is provided a light-guide, compact collimating optical device, including a light-guide having a light-waves entrance surface, a light-waves exit surface and a plurality of external surfaces, a light-waves reflecting surface carried by the light-guide at one of the external surfaces, two retardation plates carried by light-guides on a portion of the external surfaces, a light-waves polarizing beamsplitter disposed at an angle to one of the light-waves entrance or exit surfaces, and a light-waves collimating component covering a portion of one of the retardation plates. A system including the optical device and a substrate, is also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to an apparatus mounted with a heat-insulation light-guide film. The apparatus is a support with carriers capable of adjusting the received light quantity. The carrier is such as the slat of a shutter device and whose angle is adjustable. The heat-insulation light-guide film is exemplarily mounted on the slat, and which is made of a multilayer membrane and a surface textural layer in combination. The multilayer membrane includes multiple films and the adjacent layers are with different indexes of refraction. The materials and thicknesses of the membrane are configured to specify an optical band of light to be reflected. The surface textural layer is for guiding an incident light directed to the structure. The apparatus is as required to adjust the angle of the light hitting the film, and is applicable to a window for uses of heat-insulation, anti-glare, and illumination.

Abstract: A multi-layer stretched film has 251 or more alternating layers which consist of first layers and second layers, wherein the first layers are made of a polyester which contains (i) 5 to 50 mol % of a naphthoic acid component as a dicarboxylic acid component and (ii) a diol having an alkylene group with 2 to 10 carbon atoms as a diol component; and the second layers are made of a thermoplastic resin having an average refractive index of 1.50 to 1.60 and differences in refractive index among a uniaxial stretching direction, a direction orthogonal to the uniaxial stretching direction and a film thickness direction of 0.05 or less before and after stretching, and the film has specific reflectance characteristics for a P polarization component and an S polarization component.

Abstract: While gold wire grids have been used to polarize infrared wavelengths for over a hundred years, they are not appropriate for shorter wavelengths due to their large period. With embodiments of the present invention, grids with periods a few tens of nanometers can be fabricated. Among other things, such grids can be used to polarize visible and even ultraviolet light. As a result, such wire grid polarizers have a wide variety of applications and uses, such as, e.g., in the fabrication of semiconductors, nanolithography, and more.

Abstract: A birefringent reflectarray having a planar metasurface containing metallic patches of subwavelength dimension is provided. The reflectarray is capable of simultaneously reflecting, concentrating, and splitting incident infrared light into two orthogonal linearly polarized reflections, and transforms the phase front of an incoming polarized light to a desired phase for the two reflections. Also provided is an optical modulator having a metasurface containing layers of nanoantennas of subwavelength dimension, and capable of modulating the phase and amplitude of light scattered from the modulator. The optical modulator has ability to perform computation through processing of light.

Abstract: A polarization film, including a polymer resin, and a dichroic dye dispersed in the polymer resin and represented by the following Chemical Formula 1: wherein, in Chemical Formula 1, Ar, R1 to R4 are the same as those defined in the detailed description.

Abstract: A pulse width controller for a thermal processing system is disclosed. Pulsed electromagnetic radiation is directed through a rotatable wave plate to a polarizing beam splitter, which reflects and transmits according to the phase angle of the wave plate. Radiation transmitted by the polarizing beam splitter is directed into an optical circuit that returns the radiation to the polarizing beam splitter after a transit time. A second rotatable wave plate is positioned in the optical circuit. The polarizing beam splitter reflects and transmits the returned radiation according to the phase angle of the second rotatable wave plate. A second pulse width controller may be nested in the optical circuit, and any number of pulse width controllers may be nested.

Abstract: A reflective polarizer of the invention has excellent optical properties even though a very small number of polymer components per unit area is disposed inside a matrix thereof compared to reflective polarizers of the related art, which include birefringent polymer, since the polymer inside the matrix has a plate-like shape. This is advantageous for covering the entire range of visible light, since a plate-like polymer having a variety of optical thicknesses can be used. The additional processing of bonding the skin layer is not performed, since the skin layer is formed on at least one surface of the core layer in the state in which it is molten. This can greatly reduce manufacturing costs, and is advantageous in that it maximizes optical properties in a limited thickness.

Abstract: A collimating image-forming apparatus comprising a first linear polarizer is disclosed. A first quarterwave plate is disposed adjacent the first polarizer and has its fast and slow axes at substantially 45° to the plane of polarization of the first polarizer. The apparatus further comprises a beam-splitting curved mirror having a convex surface adjacent the first polarizer and facing towards the first quarter-wave plate, a second quarter-wave plate adjacent the concave side of the curved mirror, the second quarterwave plate having its having its fast and slow axes oriented with respect to the corresponding axes of the first quarter-wave plate at angles substantially equal to a first integral multiple of 90°, and a reflective-transmissive polarizing member adjacent the second quarter-wave plate.

Abstract: Anisotropic film laminates for use in image-preserving reflectors such as rearview automotive mirror assemblies, and related methods of fabrication. A film may comprise an anisotropic layer such as a light-polarizing layer and other functional layers. The film having controlled water content is heated under omnidirectional pressure and vacuum to a temperature substantially equal to or above a lower limit of a glass-transition temperature range of the film so as to be laminated to a substrate. The laminated film is configured as part of a mirror structure so as to increase contrast of light produced by a light source positioned behind the mirror structure and transmitted through the mirror structure towards a viewer. The mirror structure is devoid of any extended distortion and is characterized by SW and LW values less than 3, more preferably less than 2, and most preferably less than 1.

Abstract: The reflectivity and transmissivity of building and vehicle surfaces is maintained while employing partial, variable, selective, or asymmetric diffusers between a surface and an external light source such that the reflected light is diffused to produce a reduction in glare, while minimally effecting the specular or collimated transmission (if any) of light through the surface. Glare is also reduced by utilizing diffuser devices that reflect light in a temperature dependent manner.