Abstract: A stress-induced polarization converter in the form of a zero power optical window or, alternatively, a single element, positive or negative power optical lens, that is subject to a controlled amount of symmetric, peripheral stress. The stress may be provided by appropriate mechanical, thermal, hydraulic, electromagnetic/piezo, annealing/molding, or other known techniques and may be trigonal or four-fold. Axial foci can be created by applying the controlled, symmetric, peripheral stress. The separation distance between the foci can be controlled by controlling the magnitude of the applied symmetric, peripheral stress.

Abstract: A polarization-influencing optical arrangement includes a pair, which includes a first lambda/2 plate and a second lambda/2 plate. The first and second lambda/2 plates partially overlap each other forming an overlap region and at least one non-overlap region.

Abstract: A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (1) is satisfied when a slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially perpendicular to a slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, ?10 nm??Re1??Re2?10 nm??Relationship (1) wherein Relationship (2) is satisfied when the slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially parallel to the slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, and ?10 nm??Re1+?Re2?10 nm ??Relationship (2) wherein an in-plane retardation value Re of the film as a whole satisfies 30 nm?Re?500 nm, where ?Re1 denotes a value calculated from “Re1 (at an RH of 80%)—Re1 (at an RH of 50%)” concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ?Re2 denotes a value calculated from “Re2 (at an RH of 80%)—Re2 (at an RH of 50%)” concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: The disclosed polarizer comprises at least one substrate made of a birefringent material, and a polarizing plate located on the substrate. The substrate possesses anisotropic property of positive A-type and has a slow optical axis parallel to the substrate surface. The polarizing plate possesses anisotropic absorption of the electromagnetic radiation in at least one subrange of the visible spectral range, and a transmission axis of the polarizing plate and the slow optical axis of the substrate are directed substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: An optical film with super low retardation, including metal oxide nano-particles dispersed in a transparent resin having a three-dimensional crosslinking structure. The optical film has about 0-2 nm in-plane retardation (Ro) and almost zero out-of-plane retardation (Rth). The optical film can replace conventional triacetyl cellulose (TAC) as a polarizer protective film to improve black-white contrast and color shift on liquid crystal displays at wide viewing angles.

Abstract: An artificial birefringent element having a repeating unit comprising at least first and second layers alternatively stacked, the first and second layers being formed of materials having different refractive indices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diffusely reflecting polarizer comprising a layer containing: a first polymer being a substantially amorphous nano-composite material and being a major phase having a birefringence of less than about 0.02, and a second polymer being a dispersed minor phase within the first polymer major phase, the major and minor phases differing in index of refraction by more than about 0.05 along a first axis and by less than about 0.

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

Abstract: The present invention provides a small and inexpensive optical element that integrates a reflecting mirror and a wave plate function. A reflecting wave plate is configured by arranging a periodic metal comb-like structure whose pitch is equal to or below a wavelength and a mirror structure with a distance equal to or below a coherence length.