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:
May. 02, 2006
Filed:
Dec. 06, 2001
Koji Takahara, Amagasaki, JP;
Kyu Takada, Otsu, JP;
Koujirou Sekine, Ibaraki, JP;
Takuji Hatano, Suita, JP;
Koji Takahara, Amagasaki, JP;
Kyu Takada, Otsu, JP;
Koujirou Sekine, Ibaraki, JP;
Takuji Hatano, Suita, JP;
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A polarization conversion optical system converts light having a nonuniform plane of polarization into light having a uniform plane of polarization. The system includes a multilayer dielectric film at the side upon which the target light is incident. The film exhibits the property that it reflects one polarized component of the light and transmits a second polarized component of the light at a first angle of incidence, but transmits the first component at a second angle of incidence. Incident target light that is transmitted through the film at the first angle of incidence passes through a quarter-wavelength plate and is reflected at the second angle, whereupon it is retransmitted through the quarter-wavelength plate to be converted from one plane of polarization to the other. It is then emitted from the dielectric film in the same plane of polarization as light reflected by the film.