Wire Grid Polarizer Insulating Layer Oxidation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wire grid polarizers with conductive materials face issues due to natural oxidation, leading to high refractive index oxide layers that reduce transmissivity and extinction ratio for visible light, limiting their optical performance.
Innovation Solution
A wire grid polarizer design featuring a substrate with parallel conductive wire patterns, including first and second conductive wire patterns electrically insulated from each other, and insulating patterns, which are fabricated using specific processes to maintain optimal optical properties and prevent hillock formation, thereby enhancing polarization performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conductive material is used to form wire grid polarizer, then electrical conductivity is improved, but oxide layer formation reduces transmissivity and extinction ratio
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating layer is introduced as an intermediary between the conductive wire patterns and the external environment. This insulating layer prevents oxidation of the conductive material while maintaining the electrical conductivity needed for polarizer function, thereby preserving both the reliability and illumination intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The wire grid polarizer employs a composite structure combining conductive materials (for electrical conductivity) with insulating materials (for oxidation protection and optical performance). This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously achieve high conductivity and high transmissivity by leveraging the complementary properties of different materials
2Reliability
If conductor wires are arranged in parallel to polarize light, then polarization function is improved, but oxidation of conductive material deteriorates optical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating layer serves as a protective intermediary that prevents direct exposure of the conductive wire patterns to oxidizing environments. This maintains the polarization function by preserving the conductive material's properties while improving the extinction ratio by preventing oxide layer formation that would scatter light
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layer creates an inert protective environment around the conductive wires, shielding them from oxygen and moisture that would cause oxidation. This protective barrier ensures the conductive material maintains its optical and electrical properties over time, preserving both polarization function and extinction ratio
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 solution provides a wire grid polarizer with excellent optical properties, including high extinction ratio and transmissivity for visible light, comparable to or exceeding current market standards, while preventing hillock generation and maintaining optical performance.
Implementation Method 1
A parallel conduction wire array in which conductor wires are arranged parallel to one another to polarize light from electromagnetic waves is generally referred to as a 'wire grid polarizer.' In response to non-polarized light being incident, a wire grid polarizer with a smaller period than the wavelength of the incident light reflects polarized light parallel to a direction of the wires thereof, and transmits therethrough polarized light perpendicular to the direction of the wires thereof.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are light source module and bachlight unit. A wire grid polarizer including a substrate, and a plurality of conductive wire patterns configured to be formed parallelto one another on the substrate, wherein each of the conductive wire patterns includes a first conductive wire pattern, an insulating layer and a second conductive wire pattern and the first and second conductive wire patterns are electrically insulated from each other and have different shapes.