US5861931A — Patterned polarization-rotating optical element a…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 113 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element comprising a layer of birefringent material having a thickness d and a birefringence Δn, wherein the layer comprises at least one first region and at least one second region, at least one of the first and second regions comprising twisted birefringent material having a fixed twist angle φ such that Δn·d>>φ·λ/π, where λ is a wavelength in vacuum of optical radiation, so that the at least one first region provides a first fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light and the at least one second region provides a second fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light, the second angle being different from the first fixed angle.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 113 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element comprising a layer of birefringent material having a thickness d and a birefringence Δn, wherein the layer comprises at least one first region and at least one second region, at least one of the first and second regions comprising twisted birefringent material having a fixed twist angle φ such that Δn·d>>φ·λ/π, where λ is a wavelength in vacuum of optical radiation, so that the at least one first region provides a first fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light and the at least one second region provides a second fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light, the second angle being different from the first fixed angle.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first fixed angle is substantially equal to 90 degrees.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fixed angle is substantially equal to +θ degrees and the second angle is substantially equal to -θ degrees.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the birefringent material is a liquid crystal polymer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liquid crystal polymer includes an anisotropic dye.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

A 3D display including a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 1.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 125 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element comprising a layer of birefringent material having a thickness d and a birefringence Δn, wherein the layer comprises at least one first region and at least one second region, at least one of the first and second regions comprising twisted birefringent material having a fixed twist angle φ such that Δn·d>>φ·λ/π, where λ is a wavelength in vacuum of optical radiation, so that the at least one first region provides a first fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light and the at least one second region provides a second fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light, the second angle being different from the first fixed angle, and wherein the second fixed angle is substantially equal to zero degrees.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 125 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element comprising a layer of birefringent material having a thickness d and a birefringence Δn, wherein the layer comprises at least one first region and at least one second region, at least one of the first and second regions comprising twisted birefringent material having a fixed twist angle φ such that Δn·d>>φ·λ/π, where λ is a wavelength in vacuum of optical radiation, so that the at least one first region provides a first fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light and the at least one second region provides a second fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light, the second angle being different from the first fixed angle, and wherein the second fixed angle is substantially equal to zero degrees.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 7, wherein the birefringent material is a liquid crystal polymer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 8, wherein the liquid crystal polymer includes an anisotropic dye.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 124 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element comprising the steps of: forming a layer of birefringent material having a thickness d and a birefringence Δn, the layer comprising at least one first region and at least one second region; and providing in the birefringent material of the at least one of the first and second regions a fixed twist angle φ such that Δn·d>>φ·λ/π, where λ is a wavelength in vacuum of optical radiation, so that the at least one first region provides a first fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light and the at least one second region provides a second fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light, the second fixed angle being different from the first fixed angle.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 124 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element comprising the steps of: forming a layer of birefringent material having a thickness d and a birefringence Δn, the layer comprising at least one first region and at least one second region; and providing in the birefringent material of the at least one of the first and second regions a fixed twist angle φ such that Δn·d>>φ·λ/π, where λ is a wavelength in vacuum of optical radiation, so that the at least one first region provides a first fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light and the at least one second region provides a second fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light, the second fixed angle being different from the first fixed angle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a step of disposing the layer between a first alignment layer and a second alignment layer, the layer including a liquid crystal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 11, in which the first alignment layer has a uniform alignment direction and the second alignment layer has a spatially varying alignment direction.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a step of fixing the alignment of the liquid crystal.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a step of removing at least one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer after the step of fixing the alignment of the liquid crystal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second alignment layers is a linearly photopolymerisable layer, and the step of fixing the alignment of the liquid crystal is performed by an exposure to light.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 15, wherein the exposure to light comprises an exposure to ultraviolet light.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of cooling the liquid crystal so as to freeze the alignment thereof before the step of fixing the alignment of the liquid crystal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 15, wherein the liquid crystal includes an anisotropic dye, and the step of fixing the alignment of the liquid crystal includes exposing the liquid crystal to light polarized substantially perpendicularly to a direction of dye molecules of the anisotropic dye.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second alignment layers is a linearly photopolymerisable layer.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 19, wherein before the step of disposing the liquid crystal between the first and second alignment layers, the linearly photopolymerisable layer is exposed to linearly polarized light.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 20, wherein the linearly polarized light is linearly polarized ultraviolet light.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element as claimed in claim 11, wherein the liquid crystal includes an anisotropic dye.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

A patterned polarization-rotating optical element made by a method as claimed in claim 10.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element comprising the steps of: forming a layer of birefringent material having a thickness d and a birefringence Δn, the layer comprising at least one first region and at least one second region; and providing in the birefringent material of the at least one of the first and second regions a fixed twist angle φ such that Δn·d>>φ·λ/π, where λ is a wavelength in vacuum of optical radiation, so that the at least one first region provides a first fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light and the at least one second region provides a second fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light, the second fixed angle being different from the first fixed angle, wherein the second fixed angle is substantially equal to zero degrees.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of making a patterned polarization-rotating optical element comprising the steps of: forming a layer of birefringent material having a thickness d and a birefringence Δn, the layer comprising at least one first region and at least one second region; and providing in the birefringent material of the at least one of the first and second regions a fixed twist angle φ such that Δn·d>>φ·λ/π, where λ is a wavelength in vacuum of optical radiation, so that the at least one first region provides a first fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light and the at least one second region provides a second fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light, the second fixed angle being different from the first fixed angle, wherein the second fixed angle is substantially equal to zero degrees.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-01-18	2002-07-20	2003-01-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-01-18	2006-07-20	2007-01-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-01-18	2010-07-20	2011-01-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Patterned polarization-rotating optical element and method of making the same, and 3D display

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