Patent ID: 7907280
Filing Date: 2011-03-15
Classification: G01J,G02B

Abstract:
1. A method of constructing a multiple element retarder system for introducing a relative phase retardation between orthogonal components of a polarized beam of electromagnetic radiation entered thereinto, said multiple element retarder system comprising at least two similar elements which are sequentially secured with respect to one another such that a beam of electromagnetic radiation entered to the first thereof undergoes internal reflection at least once in each of the at least two elements, and exits the second thereof along a locus which is not angularly deviated or laterally offset from that of said entered beam by more than acceptable amounts; said method comprising the steps of: practicing steps a and b in either order, said steps a and b being: said method further comprising: until said lateral offset entered to said beam of electromagnetic radiation is determined to be acceptable under the criteria defined in step b; accepting said sequential system only if both the angular deviation and lateral offset entered to said beam of electromagnetic radiation are then acceptable under the criteria of step b.