Wire Grid Polarizer with Inclined Tips for Blue Band Transmittance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wire grid polarizing elements experience reduced light transmittance, particularly in the blue band of the visible light region, due to the relationship between pitch and grid width, which is challenging to improve without compromising reliability and production complexity.
Innovation Solution
A wire grid polarizing element with grid-shaped convexities arranged at a smaller pitch than the operating wavelength, featuring inclined side surfaces on the grid tips, where the angle of inclination is optimized to enhance transmission axis direction light transmission characteristics, specifically within the range of ⅔≤a/b≤8/7 and θ0≤θ<90°, ensuring high transmittance and low absorption axis reflectance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the grid width is made narrower to increase transmittance, then TM wave transmittance is improved, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the grid structure by introducing inclined side surfaces on the grid tips with a specific angle range (30° to 80°). This parameter modification allows the use of relatively wider grid widths while maintaining high TM wave transmittance, thereby avoiding the manufacturing precision issues associated with extremely narrow grid widths.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies curvature by forming inclined side surfaces on the grid tips instead of using straight vertical sides. This curved/tapered geometry modifies the optical interaction with incident light, improving transmittance characteristics without requiring the grid width to be reduced to the point where manufacturing becomes unreliable.
2Reliability
If the pitch and grid width relationship is optimized for one wavelength band, then extinction ratio is improved, but transmittance in other wavelength bands deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the geometric parameters of the grid structure by introducing inclined side surfaces on the grid tips with a specific angle range (30° to 80°). This parameter modification broadens the transmittance spectrum across different wavelength bands while maintaining the extinction ratio, resolving the trade-off between optimized performance at one wavelength versus performance across the visible spectrum.
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 optimized angle of inclination in the grid tips significantly improves TM wave transmittance, particularly in the blue band, while maintaining a high extinction ratio and reliability, addressing the limitations of conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
A polarizing element is an optical element that absorbs light polarized in one direction and transmits light polarized in a direction perpendicular to this direction
Implementation Method 2
light that is polarized parallel to the extension direction of the wires (TE waves (S-waves)) cannot pass through the polarizing element, whereas light that is polarized perpendicularly to the extension direction of the wires (TM waves (P-waves)) can pass through the polarizing element
Implementation Method 3
grid-shaped convexities that are arranged on the transparent substrate at a smaller pitch than a wavelength of operating band light
Data Source
AI summary
A polarizing element includes: a transparent substrate; and grid-shaped convexities that are arranged on the transparent substrate at a smaller pitch than a wavelength of operating band light and that extend in a specific direction. The grid-shaped convexities include a reflection layer formed on the transparent substrate and grid tips formed with side surfaces that, when viewed in the specific direction, are inclined in a direction of tip tapering.