Patent ID: 6462873
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A polarizing beam splitter comprising a coating sandwiched between two glass prisms, said coating consisting of alternating layers of a first dielectric material having a first relatively high refractive index and a second dielectric material having a second relatively low refractive index, wherein the refractive indices of the first and second layers, the optical thickness of each layer of the coating, and the refractive index of the glass prisms are chosen such that the coating is capable of transmitting p-polarized light with at least 80% efficiency over a wavelength range of about 440 nm to 680 nm and reflecting s-polarized light with at least 80% efficiency over a wavelength range of about 440 nm to 680 nm, wherein the transmission and reflectance efficiencies are maintained when the incident light at said coating is at an angle that encompasses a range of at least Â±5Â° from an optimum incident angle.