Moxtek, Inc.

Moxek, Inc.

R Stewart Nielson

Bradley R Williams

Shaun Patrick Ogden

Brian Bowers

Bob West

Anubhav Diwan

Mathew Free

Bin Wang

Matthew C George

Hua Li

Benjamin Downard

Eric W Gardner

Ted Wangensteen

Michael Black

Fred Lane

Daniel Bacon-Brown

Jeffrey H Rice

Matt Free

D Brent Willamson

Jim Pierce

Matthew R Linford

Rumyana Petrova

Bradley R Willliams

A metasurface optical device can include an array of pillarson a first-sideof a substratealigned with an apertureof, or proximate to, a blocking-layer. The blocking-layercan located on the first-sideof the substrate, on a second-sideof the substrateopposite of the first-side, or both. The blocking-layercan prevent light from transmitting through the device in undesirable locations. The blocking-layercan be opaque to incident light and can include an absorptive-layer. Thus, the blocking-layercan have dual functions—blocking and absorbing light.

Metasurface with an absorptive aperture border

A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of support-ribs on a substrate. Sides of the support-ribs can be inclined to one side. A wire can be applied on an upper-side and distal end of each support-rib, each wire being separate from wires on adjacent support-ribs. The WGP can be made with reduced or no etching.

Wire grid polarizer with slanted support-ribs

Each wireof a wire grid polarizer can include a capon a reflective rib. The cap, with dimensions and material as specified herein, can protect the reflective ribfrom corrosion and can improve performance of the wire grid polarizer. The capcan be located on the distal endand the pair of sidewallsof the reflective rib. Capchemistry can include CO, C═O, COO, aluminum fluoride, and aluminum oxide. Each capcan have a maximum thickness Thon the sidewallof the reflective ribin an upper 50% (above plane) of the wirefarthest from the substrate. Each capcan have a maximum thickness Thon the sidewallthat is greater than a maximum thickness Thof the capon the distal end.

Wire grid polarizer with protective cap

A method of making a polarizer can include applying a liquid with solid inorganic nanoparticles dispersed throughout a continuous phase, then forming this into a different phase including a solid, interconnecting network of the inorganic nanoparticles. This method can improve manufacturability and reducing manufacturing cost. This method can be used to provide an antireflective coating, to provide a protective coating on polarization structures, to provide thin films for optical properties, or to form the polarization structures themselves.

Polarizer nanoimprint lithography

A reflective wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of wireson a face of a substrate, with channelsbetween adjacent wires. The wirescan have certain characteristics for WGP performance, such as index of refraction, alternating high/low index continuous thin films, thickness of layer(s), duty cycle, reflective rib shape, a curved side of transparent ribsor, aspect ratio, or combinations thereof.

Reflective wire grid polarizer with shaped ribs

A method for making a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can provide WGPs with high temperature resistance, robust wires, oxidation resistance, and corrosion protection. In one embodiment, the method can comprise: (a) providing an array of wires on a bottom protection layer; (b) applying a top protection layer on the wires, spanning channels between wires; then (c) applying an upper barrier-layer on the top protection layer and into the channels through permeable junctions in the top protection layer. In a variation of this embodiment, the method can further comprise applying a lower barrier-layer before applying the top protection layer. In another variation, the bottom protection layer and the top protection layer can include aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, the method can comprise applying on the WGP an amino phosphonate then a hydrophobic chemical.

Durable, high performance wire grid polarizer having barrier layer

It would be advantageous to improve polarizer high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, optical properties, and etchability. Composite polarizer materials can be used to achieve this. A polarizer can comprise polarization structures configured for polarization of light. The polarization structures can include a reflective rib, the reflective rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarization structures can include an absorptive rib, the absorptive rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarizer can include a transparent layer, the transparent layer being a composite of two different elements.

Polarizer with composite materials

An optical device can comprise wireson a face of a substrate, with channel(s)between adjacent wires. Each wirecan include embedded organic moieties. Each wirecan include multiple ribs. Part or all of the wire, the substrate, or both can have a high refractive index n and a low extinction coefficient k. The optical device can have reduced separation of layers of different materials during flexing and temperature changes. The optical device can be manufactured by a method designed for improved manufacturability.

Optical device with wires and organic moieties

Reflective wire grid polarizer with transparent cap

Each wire of a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include the following layers moving outwards from the substrate: a high-index-layer, a low-index-layer, and a reflective-layer. Each wire can have a distal-end, farthest from the substrate, with a convex shape. These layers and the convex shape can be combined for a more stable and improved Rs.

Growing community of inventors

Pleasant Grove, UT, United States of America

R Stewart Nielson