Optical device for producing polarized light

Abstract

A near-eye display system is provided, comprising a light source configured to emit unpolarized light constituting a collimated image; a lightguide optical element configured to expand the optical aperture of a collimated image injected therein; and an optical device for receiving the collimated image prior to expansion by the lightguide optical element, and for increasing its polarity. The optical device comprises a substantially transparent substrate and a plurality of optical polarization elements, defining a polarization dependent optical multipath through the substrate between input and output interfaces thereof. The multipath comprises a rotating optical path configured to transmit and to cause a net rotation of the polarization of a first polarized component of input light, and a non-rotating optical path configured to transmit a second polarized component of the input light, having a polarization opposite that of the first polarized component, without causing a net rotation of its polarization.

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