US5929946A — Retarder stack for preconditioning light for a mo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 154 words

A retarder stack for preconditioning at least partially polarized light for input to a modulator which modulates one polarization more than another, comprising: a first retarder having a first retardance and a first orientation with respect to said at least partially polarized light for receiving said at least partially polarized light and outputting initially transformed light; and a second retarder having a second retardance and a second, orientation with respect to said at least partially polarized light for receiving said initially transformed light and outputting output light comprising a first portion of output light having a predetermined first spectrum and a second portion of output light having a predetermined second spectrum, wherein said first and second orientations and said first and second retardances are selected such that said first portion of output light has a polarization that would be modulated by the modulator more than a polarization of said second portion of output light.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 154 words

A retarder stack for preconditioning at least partially polarized light for input to a modulator which modulates one polarization more than another, comprising: a first retarder having a first retardance and a first orientation with respect to said at least partially polarized light for receiving said at least partially polarized light and outputting initially transformed light; and a second retarder having a second retardance and a second, orientation with respect to said at least partially polarized light for receiving said initially transformed light and outputting output light comprising a first portion of output light having a predetermined first spectrum and a second portion of output light having a predetermined second spectrum, wherein said first and second orientations and said first and second retardances are selected such that said first portion of output light has a polarization that would be modulated by the modulator more than a polarization of said second portion of output light.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first retarder and said second retarder are arranged such that the first portion of output light has a first polarization and said second portion of output light has a second polarization and said first and second polarizations are not equal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 50 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first retarder and said second retarder are arranged such that the first portion of output light has a first polarization and said second portion of output light has a second polarization and said first and second polarizations are not orthogonal.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 49 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first retarder and said second retarder are arranged such that the first portion of output light has a first polarization and said second portion of output light has a second polarization and said first and second polarizations are orthogonal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first retarder and said second retarder are arranged such that said first portion of output light has a first polarization and said second portion of output light has a second polarization and said first and second polarizations are separable with an analyzer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least partially polarized light comprises visible light.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least partially polarized light comprises non-visible light.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least partially polarized light is partially linearly polarized and the polarization direction of the first portion of output light is not perpendicular to the polarization direction of the second portion of output light.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the partially polarized light is partially elliptically polarized and the polarization of the first portion of output light is not equal to the polarization of the second portion of output light.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a birefringent material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises liquid crystal polymer.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises one of a polymer birefringent material and a form birefringent material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a birefringent crystal such as calcite, quartz, LiNbO 3 .

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a liquid crystal.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first retardance and said second retardance are approximately equal.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first retardance and said second retardance are not equal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 172 words

A retarder stack for preconditioning at least partially polarized light for input to a modulator which modulates one polarization more than another, comprising a polarizer for receiving input light and outputting the at least partially polarized light; a first retarder having a first retardance and a first orientation with respect to said at least partially polarized light, for receiving said as least partially polarized light and outputting initially transformed light; and a second retarder having a second retardance and a second orientation with respect to said at least partially polarized lights for receiving said initially transformed light and outputting light comprising a first portion of output light having a predetermined first spectrum and a second portion of output light having a predetermined seconded spectrum, wherein said polarizer, said first retarder, and said second retarder are selected such that said first portion of output light has a polarization that would not be modulated by the modulator and said second portion of output light has a polarization that would be modulated by the modulator.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 172 words

A retarder stack for preconditioning at least partially polarized light for input to a modulator which modulates one polarization more than another, comprising a polarizer for receiving input light and outputting the at least partially polarized light; a first retarder having a first retardance and a first orientation with respect to said at least partially polarized light, for receiving said as least partially polarized light and outputting initially transformed light; and a second retarder having a second retardance and a second orientation with respect to said at least partially polarized lights for receiving said initially transformed light and outputting light comprising a first portion of output light having a predetermined first spectrum and a second portion of output light having a predetermined seconded spectrum, wherein said polarizer, said first retarder, and said second retarder are selected such that said first portion of output light has a polarization that would not be modulated by the modulator and said second portion of output light has a polarization that would be modulated by the modulator.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 50 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first retarder and said second retarder are arranged such that the first portion of output light has a first polarization and said second portion of output light has a second polarization and said first and second polarizations are not equal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 50 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first retarder and said second retarder are arranged such that the first portion of output light has a first polarization and said second portion of output light has a second polarization and said first and second polarizations are not orthogonal.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 49 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first retarder and said second retarder are arranged such that said first portion of output light has a first polarization and said second portion of output light has a second polarization and said first and second polarizations are orthogonal.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 52 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 19, wherein said first retarder and said second retarder are arranged such that said first portion of output light has a first polarization and said second portion of output light has a second polarization and said first and second polarizations are separable with an analyzer.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 18 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said at least partially polarized light comprises visible light.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said at least partially polarized light comprises non-visible light.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 44 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least partially polarized light is partially linearly polarized and the polarization direction of the first portion of output light is not perpendicular to the polarization direction of the second portion of output light.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 42 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least partially polarized light is partially elliptically polarized and the polarization of the first portion of output light is not equal to the polarization of the second portion of output light.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 23 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises polymer retarders.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 25 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises liquid crystal polymer retarders.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 31 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises one of a polymer birefringent material and a liquid crystal.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 31 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a birefringent crystal such as calcite, quartz, LiNbO 3 .

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first retardance and said second retardance are approximately equal.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 19 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first retardance and said second retardance are not equal.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 15 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said polarizer comprises a linear polarizer.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 15 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said polarizer comprises an elliptical polarizer.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 15 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said polarizer comprises a circular polarizer.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 16 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said polarizer comprises a polarization beam splitter.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 16 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said polarizer comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 17 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said polarizer comprises a cholesteric polymer liquid crystal.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 15 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 17, wherein said polarizer comprises a dichroic polarizer.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 195 words

A retarder stack for selectively outputting light for input to a modulator which modulates one polarization more than another, comprising: a first retarder having a first retardance and a first orientation with respect to an at least partially polarized light, for receiving said at least partially polarized light and outputting initially transformed light; a second retarder having a second retardance and a second orientation with respect to said at least partially polarized light for receiving said initially transformed light and outputting light comprising a first portion of output light having a predetermined first spectrum and a second portion of output light having a predetermined second spectrum, wherein said polarizer, said first retarder and said second retarder, are selected such that a polarization of said first portion of output light and a polarization of said second portion of output light are orthogonal and such that the polarization of said first portion of output light would be modulated by the modulator more than the polarization of said second portion of output light; and an analyzer for receiving said output light and outputting one of said first portion of output light and said second portion of output light.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 195 words

A retarder stack for selectively outputting light for input to a modulator which modulates one polarization more than another, comprising: a first retarder having a first retardance and a first orientation with respect to an at least partially polarized light, for receiving said at least partially polarized light and outputting initially transformed light; a second retarder having a second retardance and a second orientation with respect to said at least partially polarized light for receiving said initially transformed light and outputting light comprising a first portion of output light having a predetermined first spectrum and a second portion of output light having a predetermined second spectrum, wherein said polarizer, said first retarder and said second retarder, are selected such that a polarization of said first portion of output light and a polarization of said second portion of output light are orthogonal and such that the polarization of said first portion of output light would be modulated by the modulator more than the polarization of said second portion of output light; and an analyzer for receiving said output light and outputting one of said first portion of output light and said second portion of output light.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 15 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 39, wherein said analyzer comprises a linear polarizer.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 15 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 39, wherein said analyzer comprises an elliptical polarizer.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 15 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 41, wherein said analyzer comprises a circular polarizer.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 16 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 39, wherein said analyzer comprises an absorptive type polarizer.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 22 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 43, wherein said absorptive type polarizer comprises one of a dichroic and dye based material.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 16 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 39, wherein said polarizer comprises a non-absorptive type polarizer.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 36 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 45, wherein said non-absorptive type polarizer comprises one of a polarizing dielectric film, calcite material, quartz material, scattering polarizer, prismatic polarizer, cholesteric type polarizer, and stacked cholesterics type polarizer.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 24 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 39, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a polymer retarder.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 26 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 39, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a liquid crystal polymer retarder.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 19 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 39, wherein said first retardance and said second retardance are approximately equal.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 19 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 39, wherein said first retardance and said second retardance are not equal.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 29 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a liquid crystal polymer aligned using LPP films.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 30 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a liquid crystal polymer aligned using azo-doped liquid crystals.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 30 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a liquid crystal polymer aligned using azo-doped polyimide layers.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 24 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a holographic analyzer.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 24 words

The retarder stack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first retarder and said second retarder comprises a double-notched filter.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 22 words

The retarder stack of claim 1, wherein at least one of said predetermined first and second spectrums comprises a range of frequencies.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 16 words

The retarder stack of claim 56, wherein said range of frequencies correspond to a predetermined color.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 17 words

The retarder stack of claim 57, wherein said predetermined color comprises one of red, blue and green.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 22 words

The retarder stack of claim 1, wherein at least one of said predetermined first and second spectrums comprises multiple ranges of frequencies.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 16 words

The retarder stack of claim 59, wherein said multiple ranges of frequencies comprise multiple predetermined colors.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 22 words

The retarder stack of claim 2, wherein at least one of said predetermined first and second spectrums comprises a range of frequencies.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 16 words

The retarder stack of claim 61, wherein said range of frequencies correspond to a predetermined color.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 17 words

The retarder stack of claim 62, wherein said predetermined color comprises once of red, blue and green.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 22 words

The retarder stack of claim 2, wherein at least one of said predetermined first and second spectrums comprises multiple ranges of frequencies.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 16 words

The retarder stack of claim 64, wherein said multiple ranges of frequencies comprise multiple predetermined colors.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-07-26	2003-01-25	2003-07-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-07-26	2007-01-25	2007-07-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-07-26	2011-01-25	2011-07-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Retarder stack for preconditioning light for a modulator having modulation and isotropic states of polarization

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