Optical: systems and elements – Polarization without modulation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-19
2002-05-07
Hellner, Mark (Department: 3662)
Optical: systems and elements
Polarization without modulation
C359S489040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06384971
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of polarizers and the high throughput mass manufacturing of a new class of polarizars called micropolarizers. Micropolarizers have been developed for use in spatial multiplexing and demultiplexing image elements in a 3-D stereo imaging and display system.
2. Description of Related Art
This invention is related to my co-pending application Ser. No. 07/536,190 entitled “A System For Producing 3-D Stereo Images” filed on even date herewith incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which introduces a fundamentally new optical element called a micropolarizer. The function of the micropolarizer is to spatially multiplex and spatially demultiplex image elements in the 3-D stereo imaging and displaying system of the aforementioned co-pending application. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the micropolarizer (&mgr;Pol)
1
,
2
is a regular array of cells
3
each of which comprises a set of microscopic polarizers with polarization states P
1
and P
2
. The array has a period p which is the cell size and is also the pixel size of the imaging or displaying devices.
It is possible to turn unpolarized light into linearly polarized light by one of three well known means: 1) Nicol prisms; 2) Brewster Angle (condition of total internal reflection in dielectric materials); and 3) Polaroid film. These are called linear polarizers. The Polaroids are special plastic films which are inexpensive and come in very large sheets. They are made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sheets stretched between 3 to 5 times their original length and treated with iodine/potassium iodide mixture to produce the dichroic effect. This effect is responsible for heavily attenuating (absorbing) the electric field components along the stretching direction while transmitting the perpendicular electric field components. Therefore, if P
1
is along the stretching direction of the PVA sheets, it is not transmitted, where as only P
2
is transmitted, producing polarized light. By simply rotating the PVA sheet 90 degrees, P
1
state will now be transmitted and P
2
will be absorbed.
The aforementioned three known means for producing polarized light have always been used in situations where the polarizer elements have large areas, in excess of 1 cm
2
. However, for 3-D imaging with &mgr;Pols using 35 mm film, to preserve the high resolution, the &mgr;Pol array period p may be as small as 10 micron. Therefore, there is no prior art anticipating the use of or teaching how to mass produce &mgr;Pols having such small dimensions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a means for high through put mass manufacturing of micropolarizer arrays. To use the &mgr;Pols in consumer 3-D photography, and printing applications, the economics dictate that the cost of &mgr;Pols be in the range of 1 to 5 cents per square inch. For this reason, the low cost PVA is the basis for the manufacturing process.
The present invention also provides a flexible &mgr;Pols manufacturing process which can be adapted to low and high resolution situations as well as alternative manufacturing methods, each of which may be advantageous in certain applications and adaptable to processing different polarizer materials. The present invention further provides an electronically controllable &mgr;Pol.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1435520 (1922-11-01), Hammond
patent: 2099694 (1937-11-01), Land
patent: 2301254 (1942-11-01), Carnahan
patent: 2317875 (1943-04-01), Athey et al.
patent: 2385687 (1945-09-01), Carnanan
patent: 2417446 (1947-03-01), Reynolds
patent: 2571612 (1951-10-01), Rines
patent: 2623433 (1952-12-01), Stipek
patent: 2631496 (1953-03-01), Rehorn
patent: 2647440 (1953-08-01), Rehorn
patent: 2949055 (1960-08-01), Blackstone
patent: 2983835 (1961-05-01), Frey, Jr.
patent: 3275745 (1966-09-01), Var
patent: 3371324 (1968-02-01), Sinoto
patent: 3507549 (1970-04-01), Land
patent: 3741626 (1973-06-01), Wentz
patent: 3807831 (1974-04-01), Soref
patent: 3821466 (1974-06-01), Roese
patent: 3858001 (1974-12-01), Bonne
patent: 3944351 (1976-03-01), Ito et al.
patent: 4122484 (1978-10-01), Tan
patent: 4281341 (1981-07-01), Byatt
patent: 4286286 (1981-08-01), Jurisson et al.
patent: 4406521 (1983-09-01), Mir et al.
patent: 4431265 (1984-02-01), Benton
patent: 4504856 (1985-03-01), Jackman
patent: 4523226 (1985-06-01), Lipton et al.
patent: 4562463 (1985-12-01), Lipton
patent: 4566758 (1986-01-01), Bos
patent: 4582396 (1986-04-01), Bos et al.
patent: 4583117 (1986-04-01), Lipton et al.
patent: 4588259 (1986-05-01), Sheiman
patent: 4641178 (1987-02-01), Street
patent: 4670744 (1987-06-01), Buzak
patent: 4692792 (1987-09-01), Street
patent: 4707081 (1987-11-01), Mir
patent: 4709263 (1987-11-01), Brumage
patent: 4719507 (1988-01-01), Bos
patent: 4723159 (1988-02-01), Imsand
patent: 4781440 (1988-11-01), Toda
patent: 4792850 (1988-12-01), Lipton et al.
patent: 4872750 (1989-10-01), Morishita
patent: 4873572 (1989-10-01), Miyazaki et al.
patent: 4877307 (1989-10-01), Kalmanash
patent: 4902111 (1990-02-01), Matsubara et al.
patent: 4943852 (1990-07-01), Femano et al.
patent: 4984179 (1991-01-01), Walders
patent: 4995718 (1991-02-01), Jachimowicz et al.
patent: 5007715 (1991-04-01), Verhulst
patent: 5113285 (1992-05-01), Franklin et al.
patent: 5327285 (1994-07-01), Faris
patent: 5402191 (1995-03-01), Dean et al.
patent: 5537144 (1996-07-01), Faris
patent: 5699133 (1997-12-01), Furuta
patent: 5844717 (1998-12-01), Faris
patent: 5886816 (1999-05-01), Faris
patent: 489888 (1938-08-01), None
patent: 1 523 436 (1978-08-01), None
patent: 2 111 798 (1983-07-01), None
patent: 2 231 754 (1990-11-01), None
patent: 55-26802 (1980-03-01), None
patent: S61-142642 (1986-06-01), None
patent: 62-217790 (1987-09-01), None
Low Cost Universal Stereoscopic Virtual Reality Interfaces, Professional Product by Michael Starks, 3-D TV Corporation, San Rafael, CA, 1995.
Stereoscopic Real-Time and Multiplexed Video System by Lenny Lipton, SPIE, vol. 1915, 1993, pp. 6-11.
SGS 310 410 610 Stereoscopic 3-D Display Kits by , Tektronix Display Products, Beaverton OR, 1992.
Article in NASA Tech Briefs by, NASA Tech Briefs, 1991, pp. 12-13.
Large Screen Electro-Stereoscopic Displays by Lenny Lipton, SPIE, vol. 1255, 1990, pp. 108-113.
Optics, Ch. 10 by Miles V. Klein, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1990.
3-D Flat Panel Color Display PRDA 89-9 Technical/Management and Cost by Phoenix Technology Center, Honeywell Inc., Systems & Research Center Phoenix , 1989.
Compatibility of Stereoscipic Video Systems with Broadcast Television Standards by Lenny Lipton, SPIE, vol. 1083, 1989, pp. 95-101.
Waves, Berkeley Physics Course—vol. 3 (published circa 1989) by Frank S. Crawford, et. al., unknown, 1989, pp. 394-450.
Field-Sequential Stereoscopic Viewing Systems Using Passive Glasses by Philip Bos and Thomas Haven, Proceedings of the SID, vol. 30, No. 1, 1989, pp. 39-43.
Experience with Stereoscopic Display Devices and Output Algorithms by James S. Lipscomb, SPIE vol. 1083, 1989, pp. 28-34.
3-D Comes Home by Tom Waters, Personal Tech, 1988, pp. 30-32.
High-Performance 3D Viewing Systems Using Passive Glasses by Philip Bos et. al., SID 88 Digest, 1988, pp. 450-453.
A Real-Time Autostereoscopic Multiplanar 3D Display System by Rodney Don Williams and Felix Garcia, et. al., SID 88 Digest, 1988, pp. 91-94.
Three-Dimensional TV with Cordless FLC Spectacles by W.J.A.M. Hartmann and H.M.J. Hikspoors, Information Display, vol. 3, No. 9, 1987, pp. 15-17.
Holographic Display of Three-Dimensional Images by Larry F. Hodges, et. al., Information Display, vol. 3, No. 9, 1987, pp. 8-11.
True Three-Dimensional CRT-Based Displays by Larry F. Hodges and David F. McAllister, Information Display, vol. 3, No. 9, 1987, pp. 18-22.
Hard Copy for True Three-Dimensional Images by Larry F. Hodges, et. al., Information Display, vol. 3, No. 8, 1987, pp. 12-15, 25.
Circular Polarization Image Selection for Timeplex Stereoscopic Video Display by Lenny Lipton, SPIE vol. 779, Display System Optics, vol. 778, 1987, pp. 41-44.
Holographic Micropatterns and the Ordering of Photo
Brill Gerow D.
Hellner Mark
Perkowski Thomas J.
Reveo Inc.
LandOfFree
Methods for manufacturing micropolarizers does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Methods for manufacturing micropolarizers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Methods for manufacturing micropolarizers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2837518