Wire Grid Polarizing Element Oxide Layer Transmittance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wire grid polarizing elements experience decreased light transmittance, particularly in the blue band of the visible light region, due to the relationship between pitch and grid width, making it difficult to achieve reliable and efficient transmission characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A polarizing element with a wire grid structure featuring grid-shaped protrusions on a transparent substrate, where the protrusions have a metal layer and an oxide layer covering the side surfaces, and a dielectric and absorption layer, optimized to achieve a transmission axis transmittance of 93.5% or more by controlling the proportion of the oxide layer width to the grid width within a specific range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the grid width of a polarizing element is narrowed to increase light transmittance, then light transmittance is improved, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate due to high difficulty in forming narrow patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension by forming protrusions that extend in the thickness direction of the substrate. Instead of merely narrowing the grid width in the planar direction, the invention adds vertical height to the grid structures, creating a three-dimensional wire grid polarizing element. This dimensional change allows light transmittance to be improved through the protrusion height rather than through difficult planar narrowing, thereby avoiding manufacturing precision issues while achieving the desired optical performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the grid structure by forming protrusions with specific height and width ratios. The grid width is maintained at a manufacturable size while the protrusion height is optimized to achieve the desired light transmittance. This parameter transformation allows the system to achieve improved optical performance without compromising manufacturing feasibility
2Illumination intensity
If the grid width is narrowed to improve light transmittance in the blue band, then transmittance is improved, but production variations increase and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional planar grid to a three-dimensional protrusion structure. The blue band transmittance is improved by optimizing the protrusion height and aspect ratio rather than by narrowing the grid width. This approach maintains reliable manufacturing tolerances in the planar dimensions while achieving the desired optical performance through vertical dimension optimization, thereby ensuring production reliability
3Reliability
If a wire grid structure with narrow pitch is used to achieve high extinction ratio, then extinction ratio is improved, but light transmittance decreases particularly in the blue band
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the trade-off between extinction ratio and light transmittance by utilizing the thickness direction. The wire grid structure maintains its narrow pitch for high extinction ratio while the protrusions extending in the thickness direction enhance light interaction. The optimized protrusion height and shape allow the structure to achieve both high extinction ratio through the narrow pitch and improved light transmittance through the vertical dimension, particularly in the blue band
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 improves light transmission characteristics by enhancing the proportion of oxide layer width to grid width, allowing for higher transmittance and reduced production complexity, thereby addressing the challenges of conventional wire grid polarizing elements.
Implementation Method 1
an oxide layer that covers a side surface of the metal layer as viewed in the specific direction and is formed from an oxide of a constituent metal of the metal layer
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a polarizing element having a wire grid structure. The polarizing element includes a transparent substrate (11) and grid-shaped protrusions (10) that are arranged on the transparent substrate (11) at a smaller pitch than a wavelength of operating band light and that extend in a specific direction. The grid-shaped protrusions (10) include a reflection layer (12) formed on the transparent substrate (11). The reflection layer (12) includes a metal layer (15) and an oxide layer (16) that covers a side surface of the metal layer (15) as viewed in the specific direction and is formed from an oxide of a constituent metal of the metal layer (15).