Polarizing beam splitters providing high resolution images and systems utilizing such beam splitters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10345610-B2
Application number	US-201615359653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2016
Priority date	Nov 28, 2011
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

Polarizing beam splitters and systems incorporating such beam splitters are described. More specifically, polarizing beam splitters and systems with such beam splitters that incorporate multilayer optical films and reflect imaged light towards a viewer or viewing screen with high effective resolution are described.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multilayer reflective polarizer substantially transmitting a first polarization state and substantially reflecting an orthogonal second polarization state, the multilayer reflective polarizer capable of reflecting an imaged light toward a viewer or screen, the effective pixel resolution of the imaged light being less than 12 microns after reflection from the reflective polarizer.

2. The multilayer reflective polarizer of claim 1 , wherein the effective pixel resolution of the imaged light is less than 9 microns after reflection from the multilayer reflective polarizer.

3. The multilayer reflective polarizer of claim 1 , wherein the effective pixel resolution of the imaged light is less than 6 microns after reflection from the multilayer reflective polarizer.

4. The multilayer reflective polarizer of claim 1 having a surface roughness Ra of less than 45 nm or a surface roughness Rq of less than 80 nm.

5. The multilayer reflective polarizer of claim 1 having a surface roughness Ra of less than 40 nm or a surface roughness Rq of less than 70 nm.

6. The multilayer reflective polarizer of claim 1 having a surface roughness Ra of less than 35 nm or a surface roughness Rq of less than 55 nm.

7. A polarizing beam splitter, comprising the multilayer reflective polarizer of claim 1 disposed between a first cover and a second cover.

8. The polarizing beam splitter of claim 7 , wherein the first and second cover comprise glass or plastic.

9. The polarizing beam splitter of claim 7 , wherein the first and second covers are attached to the multilayer reflective polarizer with a pressure sensitive adhesive, UV cured adhesive or an optical epoxy.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Carls Joseph C
• Lee Seong Taek
• Teo Yeow Leng
• Chan Kin Sheng
• Cheng Xiaohui

Classifications

• G02B30/25

  using polarisation techniques · CPC title

• G02B5/3041

  comprising multiple thin layers, e.g. multilayer stacks · CPC title

• G02B27/286

  for controlling or changing the state of polarisation, e.g. transforming one polarisation state into another (G02B5/3083 takes precedence; light guide coupling means utilising polarising elements G02B6/34) · CPC title

• G03B21/14

  Details · CPC title

• G02B27/283 Primary

  used for beam splitting or combining · CPC title