Curved Optical Element with Segmented Metal Layers for Polarization Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical elements with polarization selective transmissive reflective functions on curved surfaces face challenges in achieving optimal optical performance and design flexibility while minimizing unnecessary diffracted light and maintaining surface accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The optical element comprises a substrate with a curved surface, a plurality of convex portions arranged in a specific direction, and a metal layer covering the side surfaces of these convex portions. This configuration allows for polarization-dependent light transmission and reflection, with specific geometric constraints to optimize performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a film having a polarization selective transmissive reflective function is joined with an optical surface having a curved surface, then the size of the optical system is reduced and design freedom is improved, but unnecessary diffracted light increases and surface accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is segmented into a curved surface substrate and multiple convex portions with metal layers. The convex portions are arranged in arrays with specific pitch relationships (P1 and P2 both 300nm or less, and P1/P2 between 0.5-2.0) to create polarization-selective regions that maintain optical precision while enabling curved surface integration
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the optical element have different structures: the curved surface substrate provides the overall shape and size reduction, while localized convex portions with metal layers provide the polarization-selective transmissive reflective function. This local differentiation allows the curved surface to be maintained without compromising surface accuracy in critical optical regions
2Volume of moving object
If a film having a polarization selective transmissive reflective function is joined with an optical surface having a curved surface, then the size of the optical system is reduced, but unnecessary diffracted light increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pitch parameters P1 and P2 of the convex portion arrays are controlled to be both 300nm or less, with their ratio P1/P2 between 0.5 and 2.0. These parameter constraints ensure that diffraction orders are suppressed while maintaining the polarization-selective function, thereby reducing unnecessary diffracted light even in the compact curved surface configuration
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed optical element achieves high polarization degrees of 99.9% or more, both centrally and at the edges, while suppressing unnecessary diffracted light and maintaining low cost and surface accuracy, thus enhancing optical performance and design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
an optical element having a polarization selective transmissive reflective function
Implementation Method 2
reflects light vibrating in a direction parallel to the thin metal wires
Implementation Method 3
transmits light vibrating in a direction perpendicular to the thin metal wires
Data Source
AI summary
An optical element includes a substrate having a curved surface, a plurality of convex portions arranged on the curved surface in a first direction, and a metal layer provided on each side surface of the plurality of convex portions. Each of the plurality of convex portions extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A predetermined inequality is satisfied.