Polarization separator/combiner

Details Polarization separator/combiner Polarization separator/combiner

1997-07-24

2000-03-21

Spyrou, Cassandra

Optical: systems and elements

Polarization without modulation

Polarizarion by dichroism

359483, G02B 530

Patent

active

060409428

ABSTRACT:
A polarization separator/combiner for separating a light beam having two orthogonally polarized components into two parallel orthogonally polarized light beams which is especially useful as a reflective substitute for conventional walk-off devices or other birefringent separator/combiners. The light beam passes through a polarizing interface which reflects one component of the light and transmits the other, which is reflected off a parallel reflective interface and passes back through the polarizing interface to emerge parallel to the reflected component. A first embodiment of the invention comprises a flat plate having a coating on the front surface which reflects substantially all of one of the components of the light beam, while transmitting substantially all of the orthogonally polarized component. The transmitted component is reflected from the rear surface of the plate (either by internal reflection or by application of a reflective coating), and emerges from the front surface of the plate parallel to the orthogonally polarized component. With proper choice of material for the plate, the dielectric coating may be omitted. In other embodiments as walk-off devices, an upper parallelogram- or trapezoid-shaped element refracts the incoming beam, either upward toward its upper surface from which it reflects downward or directly downward, toward a polarizing interface on the lower surface of the element. One component of the beam is reflected from the interface, while the other orthogonally polarized component passes through, is reflected off a reflecting surface parallel to the lower surface of the element, and passes back through the interface into the element. Both beams then emerge from the upper element, refracted to become parallel to the incoming beam.

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