Patent ID: 6351296
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
A beam polarizer device for splitting an unpolarized beam of incident radiation into first and second spatially separated beams of different polarizations, said beam polarizer comprising:a birefringent cell interposed between a pair of parallel sides of first and second prisms made of an optically transparent material; wherein the birefringent cell is formed of an oriented organic material having a desired orientation of its optical axis relative to said sides of the prisms; wherein the organic material has substantially different refraction indices n1 and n2 for light components of, respectively, two different orientations of electric fields relative to the direction of propagation of a beam impinging onto the birefringent cell while propagating inside the first prism; wherein the optically transparent material has a refraction index n3 which is substantially equal to the greatest one between the refraction indices n1 and n2; and wherein at least one of ribs of the device defining said parallel sides of the first and second prisms is in the form of an elongated pit having beveling edges and being filled with gluing and sealing materials.