Patent ID: 6243199
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
A broad band wire grid polarizing beam splitter for efficiently reflecting one polarization of visible light and transmitting another polarization, the beam splitter comprising:a generally parallel arrangement of thin, elongated elements disposed in the visible light, the arrangement being configured and the elements being sized to interact with electromagnetic waves of the visible light to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization oriented perpendicular to a plane that includes at least one of the elements and the direction of the incident light beam, and (ii) reflect light having a polarization oriented in the plane that includes at least one of the elements and the direction of the incident light beam; andwherein the arrangement of elements has a throughput greater than approximately 50% over substantially the entire visible spectrum, the throughput being defined by the product of the fractional amount of one polarization of reflected light with respect to the total reflected light and the fractional amount of another polarization of transmitted light with respect to the total transmitted light; andwherein the arrangement of elements has an extinction greater than approximately 50 in either reflection or transmission.