Patent ID: 9557462
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: G02B,G02F

Claim:
1. An optical element that functions as a polarizing filter, the optical element comprising: (a) a substrate transparent to an electromagnetic wave incident thereon; and (b) a plurality of metal wires formed on a principal surface of the substrate, arranged at first period intervals in a first direction, and extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein among the plurality of metal wires, at least part of the metal wires has a plurality of gaps formed at second period intervals in the second direction and extending to the substrate, and the second period interval between the plurality of gaps is greater than or equal to λ/n, where λ, represents the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave and n represents the refractive index of the substrate; wherein each of the metal wires that have the plurality of gaps formed therein is called a split wire, each of the metal wires that do not have the plurality of gaps formed therein is called a straight wire, and the straight wire is disposed between a first split wire and a second split wire adjacent to the first split wire, the straight wire being formed of a single straight wire having a substantially similar length as the first split wire and the second split wire.