3m Innovative Properties Company

Roger J Strharsky

Michael F Weber

Timothy J Nevitt

Gary Timothy Boyd

Charles L Bruzzone

David J W Aastuen

Stephen K Eckhardt

Andrew John Ouderkirk

A hybrid polarizer includes an absorbing element having a first major surface and a second major surface. The hybrid polarizer also includes a first birefringent reflective polarizer disposed on the first major surface of the absorbing element, the first birefringent reflective polarizer having a first pass axis and a first block axis. The hybrid polarizer further includes a second birefringent reflective polarizer disposed on the second major surface of the absorbing element, the second reflective polarizer having a second pass axis and a second block axis.

Hybrid polarizer

A display device includes a display panel and a biaxial reflective polarizer having a plurality of layers characterized by a varying optical thickness. A majority of the layers of the biaxial reflective polarizer having a smaller optical thickness are disposed closer to the display panel than the layers having a larger optical thickness.

Display including reflective polarizer

An optical imaging system including a wide-angle Cartesian polarizing beam splitter, light valve illumination optics having an f/&num;&lE;2.5, and at least one reflective light valve. The Cartesian polarizing beam splitter (PBS) has a structural orientation defining fixed polarization axes. The use of a Cartesian PBS allows the development of systems using curved PBS that provide higher light output and/or replace or augment other optical components. By recognizing and advantageously applying properties of wide-angle Cartesian polarizers, the present invention discloses a high-efficiency optical imaging system capable of functioning at f/&num;'s equal to or below f/2.5 while maintaining a contrast ratio of at least 100 to 1, or, more preferably, 150 to 1 in a projection system configuration.

Polarizing beam splitter

Optical filters and their manufacture, as well as the use of the optical filters in optical devices, such as polarizers and mirrors are described. The optical filters typically include a first reflective multilayer film, a second reflective multilayer film, and a lossy element disposed between the first and second reflective multilayer films.

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Roger J Strharsky