Patent ID: 7295371
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: G02B,G03B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A system for producing a beam of light having substantially similar polarization across the beam, comprising: (a) a beam splitter configured to separate a first beam of light into a first separated beam having a first polarization and a second separated beam having a second polarization, wherein said first and second polarizations are different from each other; (b) a polarization converter, attached to said beam splitting element, configured to: (c) a reflector configured to redirect at least one of said converted first separated beam and said second separated beam to be substantially aligned with another of said converted first separated beam and said second separated beam, thereby forming a second beam of light having substantially similar polarization across the beam of light; (d) means for producing, from at least said second beam of light, a plurality of substantially collimated beams of light; (e) means for absorbing a portion of electromagnetic energy, prior to means for altering in (f), of at least one of the plurality of substantially collimated beams of light, wherein the portion being absorbed is dependent upon the wavelength of the at least one beam; (f) means for altering the polarization of a plurality of portions of each of the separate substantially collimated beams of light; and (g) means for combining and resolving the altered beams into a single collinear beam of light.