Patent ID: 6710921
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: F21V,G02B

Abstract:
A polarizer device adapted for physically decoupling two orthogonal polarizations of a source light beam into two generally polarized beams and further treating at least one of the two beams, the device comprising:a substrate comprising a single element configured for disposition in the source light beam and having a first generally planar surface and a second generally curved surface opposite the first surface; a generally parallel arrangement of thin, elongated elements configured for disposition on the first generally planar surface of the substrate, the elements having a pitch less than approximately 0.4 micrometers, and a width and length sized to interact with the electromagnetic waves of the source light beam to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization oriented perpendicular to the length of the elements and defining a transmitted beam, and (ii) reflect light having a polarization oriented parallel with the length of the elements and defining a reflected beam, thereby providing two generally polarized beams; a light recapture means physically positioned in a different location from a light source and configured for disposition in the reflected beam for intercepting and redirecting the reflected beam so that the reflected beam is not directed back into the light source; and a polarization reorientation means configured for disposition in the reflected beam for changing the polarization orientation of substantially all the reflected beam so that both the reflected and transmitted beams have generally the same polarization, thereby substantially converting all the source light beam to a single polarization.