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US3876285A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multilayer brewster angle polarization device
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-24
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A polarization device for the headlights of motor vehicles comprising a multilayer Brewster angle polarizer for decomposing the incident light into a pair of linearly polarized pencils of light rays extending perpendicularly to one another, a phase shifter for shifting the phase of the pencil of light rays reflected by the polarizer by half a wavelength and for rotating its polarization plane through 90.degree., and a plane mirror for directing the phase-shifted pencil of rays parallel to the pencil of rays transmitted by the angle polarizer which is connected to the phase shifter and the mirror so that the reflected phaseshifted pencil of rays is again transmitted by the angle polarizer to avoid subsequent polarization with a dichroitic polarization foil which is disadvantageous because of excessive heat generation.
Inventors
- 👤 Johann Schwarzmuller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/28; G02B27/283; F; F21; F21S; F21S41/00; F21S41/10; F21S41/12; F21S41/135; G02B5/00; G02B5/30; G02B5/3025; G02B5/3066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
A polarization device for polarizing incident light provided in an incidence plane to provide a polarized light output comprising at least one multilayer Brewster angle polarizer means comprising first and second multilayer polarizing legs arranged at substantially 90.degree. to each other with said first leg being disposed at an incidence angle of 45.degree. to the incident light to be polarized, said first multilayer leg decomposing said light incident thereon at said incidence angle into two linearly polarized pencils of light rays (X,Y), one of said pencils of rays (Y) being transmitted through said first leg and the other of said pencils of rays (X) being reflected from said first leg at an angle normal to said transmitted pencil of light rays (Y), said polarizer means first leg linearly polarizing said transmitted light rays (Y) in a direction parallel to the incidence plane of said incident light while initially linearly polarizing said reflected light rays (X) in a direction perpendicular to said incidence plane; at least one phase shifter means disposed between said polarizer means first and second legs for intercepting said initially linearly polarized rays (X) reflected from said first leg in a perpendicular direction for shifting the phase of said intercepted rays by half a wavelength and rotating the polarization plane of said intercepted light rays through 90.degree. to provide said intercepted rays (X) to said second leg, said second polarizer means leg transmitting said phase shifted light rays therethrough, said transmitted phase shifted light rays being secondarily linearly polarized (X.sub.2) by said second leg in said incidence plane; and mirror means comprising at least one plane mirror disposed outside said second leg and perpendicular thereto for intercepting said second leg transmitted secondarily linearly polarized light rays (X.sub.2) and reflecting said intercepted second leg transmitted rays (X.sub.2) in a direction parallel to the direction of said first leg linearly polarized transmitted rays (Y) for providing two linearly polarized light ray outputs (X.sub.3,Y) in said
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
325 words
A polarization device for polarizing incident light provided in an incidence plane to provide a polarized light output comprising at least one multilayer Brewster angle polarizer means comprising first and second multilayer polarizing legs arranged at substantially 90.degree. to each other with said first leg being disposed at an incidence angle of 45.degree. to the incident light to be polarized, said first multilayer leg decomposing said light incident thereon at said incidence angle into two linearly polarized pencils of light rays (X,Y), one of said pencils of rays (Y) being transmitted through said first leg and the other of said pencils of rays (X) being reflected from said first leg at an angle normal to said transmitted pencil of light rays (Y), said polarizer means first leg linearly polarizing said transmitted light rays (Y) in a direction parallel to the incidence plane of said incident light while initially linearly polarizing said reflected light rays (X) in a direction perpendicular to said incidence plane; at least one phase shifter means disposed between said polarizer means first and second legs for intercepting said initially linearly polarized rays (X) reflected from said first leg in a perpendicular direction for shifting the phase of said intercepted rays by half a wavelength and rotating the polarization plane of said intercepted light rays through 90.degree. to provide said intercepted rays (X) to said second leg, said second polarizer means leg transmitting said phase shifted light rays therethrough, said transmitted phase shifted light rays being secondarily linearly polarized (X.sub.2) by said second leg in said incidence plane; and mirror means comprising at least one plane mirror disposed outside said second leg and perpendicular thereto for intercepting said second leg transmitted secondarily linearly polarized light rays (X.sub.2) and reflecting said intercepted second leg transmitted rays (X.sub.2) in a direction parallel to the direction of said first leg linearly polarized transmitted rays (Y) for providing two linearly polarized light ray outputs (X.sub.3,Y) in said
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A polarization device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said two light ray outputs (X.sub.3,Y) are polarized linearly in the same way in the incidence plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A polarization device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second phase shifter means disposed outside said multilayer Brewster polarizer means first and second legs for intercepting said linearly polarized parallel light outputs (X.sub.3,Y) therefrom, said second phase shifter means being normal to said incidence plane and phase shifting said intercepted light outputs (X.sub.3,Y) by a quarter wavelength for providing circularly polarized light outputs (Z) therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A polarization device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pencil of light rays reflected by each of said polarizing legs passes through said phase shifted means and is subsequently transmitted by the other one of said polarizing legs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
A polarization device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said device comprises a polaization headlight, said headlight further comprising a parabolic reflector means and a lamp disposed adjacent said parabolic reflector means for providing said incident light as a reflected beam of parallel light rays from said reflector means, said polarizer means being of the Banning type, said polarizer legs being arranged at said 45.degree. incidence angle in symmetric relation to the central plane of said reflector and meeting in said central plane on the side of said polarizer means remote from said reflector, and said phase shifter means being arranged in said central plane in symmetric relation between said two legs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2810324A
Cited
US3743380A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |