The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 27, 1995
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An illumination system includes a polarization selective holographic element, which includes at least one optically anisotropic material, arranged to separate light of a first polarization type from light of a second polarization type, and converting section for converting light of at least one of the first and second polarization types to light of a common polarization type. Where the polarization selective holographic element separates two orthogonal components of plane polarized light from one another, the converting section can include a polarization rotator, for example a half wave plate, or alternatively a quarter wave plate and a reflector arranged to reflect light back through the quarter wave plate. Where the polarization selective holographic element separates opposite handed components of circularly polarized light, the converting section can include a reflector.