Karen Denise Hendrix

64.2: Design and Characterization of a Compensator for High Contrast LCoS Projection Systems

We describe the design and contrast measurement results of a high performance contrast enhancer for an LCoS-based projection display that has these attributes: complete a/c-plate compensation, accurate retardance targeting, excellent retardance magnitude and axis uniformity and environmentally durable. An overall system contrast of more than 4500:1 under f/2.4 cone illumination has been obtained.

Optical Interference Coatings Design Contest 2007: triple bandpass filter and nonpolarizing beam splitter

A triple bandpass filter (28 solutions received) and a nonpolarizing beam splitter (23 solutions received) were the subjects of the design contest held in conjunction with the 2007 Optical Interference Coatings topical meeting of the Optical Society of America. Fifteen designers participated using a wide spectrum of design approaches and optimization strategies to create the submissions. The results differ significantly, but all meet the contest requirements. Fabien Lemarchand wins both contests by submitting the thinnest (6254 nm) triple bandpass design and the widest (61.7 nm) nonpolarizing beam-splitter design. Michael Trubetskov is in second place, followed by Vladimir Pervak in both contests. The submitted designs are described and evaluated.

Optical interference coatings design contest 2004.

A manufacturable, broadband, broad-angle antireflection (AR) coating for the visible (13 designs submitted) and a minimum-shift immersed short-pass filter (12 designs submitted) were the subjects of the design contest held in conjunction with the 2004 Optical Interference Coatings topical meeting of the Optical Society of America. Under the specified constraints, the broadband, broad-angle AR coating could be made more than 65 nm wide. The statistical stability of manufacturing simulations is discussed. The short-pass filter could operate up to a +/- 5.5 degree angular range. The submitted designs are described and evaluated.

P‐155: High Performance Contrast Enhancing Films for VAN‐Mode LCoS Panels

Vertically aligned nematic mode liquid crystal on silicon micro displays exhibit a residual birefringence in the dark or off-state. This retardance has to be compensated in order to achieve high contrast projection systems. A birefringent film compensator with individually controllable on- and off-axis retardance and high uniformity is presented. Sequential contrast of 4500:1 has been demonstrated in a wire grid polarizer based light engine for a rear projection television.

Optical interference coatings design contest 2010: solar absorber and Fabry–Perot etalon

Two design problems were posed: a high-temperature solar-selective coating, and a near to mid-infrared Fabry-Perot etalon. A total of 50 submissions were received, 42 for problem A and eight for problem B. The submissions were created through a wide spectrum of design approaches and optimization strategies. Michael Trubetskov and Fabien Lemarchand won the first contest by submitting the design with the highest overall merit function, and the fewest layer/thinnest solar-selective design, respectively. Michael Trubetskov also won the second contest by submitting the thinnest Fabry-Perot etalon design, with a free spectral range standard deviation of 0. Vladimir Pervak and Bill Southwell received second-place finishes. The submitted designs are described and evaluated.

Birefringent films for contrast enhancement of liquid crystal on silicon projection systems

High-performance projection displays based on liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) panel technology have the potential to deliver very high contrast and performance at an attractive price. These systems use polarization-based light engines that utilize wire grid polarizers (WGP) and vertical-aligned nematic LCoS panels. To achieve high contrast, the linear polarization state created by the WGP must be maintained in the dark state to prevent light leakage to the screen. However, the LCoS panel has a residual retardance, and without compensation, this leakage degrades the system contrast. We describe the design and contrast measurement results of a birefringent contrast enhancing component that compensates this residual retardance and improves the overall system contrast ratio to 6000:1. The component is comprised of birefringent films with individually controllable A-plate and C-plate compensation, accurate retardance targeting, and excellent uniformity for both retardance magnitude and orientation. The compon...

Optical Interference Coatings Design Contest 2013: angle-independent color mirror and shortwave infrared/midwave infrared dichroic beam splitter

An angle-independent color mirror and an infrared dichroic beam splitter were the subjects of a design contest held in conjunction with the 2013 Optical Interference Coatings topical meeting of the Optical Society of America. A total of 17 designers submitted 63 designs, 22 for Problem A and 41 for Problem B. The submissions were created through a wide spectrum of design approaches and optimization strategies. Michael Trubetskov and Weidong Shen won the first contest by submitting color mirror designs with a zero color difference (ΔE00) between normal incidence and all other incidence angles up to 60° as well as the thinnest design. Michael Trubetskov also won the second contest by submitting beam-splitter designs that met the required transmission while having the lowest mechanical coating stress and thinnest design. Fabien Lemarchand received the second-place finish for the beam-splitter design. The submitted designs are described and evaluated.

Linear variable filters for NASA’s OVIRS instrument: pushing the envelope of blocking

The NASA OVIRS spectrometer provides high resolving power spectra over a broad wavelength region: 0.4-4.3 μm, in a compact assembly. Thick, complex blocker designs (up to 153 μm, 1839 layers) and precision manufacturing enable this performance.

Path of a beam of light through an optical coating

A simple model for the path of a light beam through an optical coating is the path of a ray predicted by Snells law. By determining the exit point of a beam for various types of coating, one finds that the simple model is a good approximation in the case of antireflection coatings, but not for coatings of other designs. An approximate method for determining the correct path of a beam through the coating is derived and the path is illustrated using a Gaussian incident beam and tracing the position of the peak field of the beam as it traverses the coating.

Hybrid optical retarders fabricated from liquid crystal polymer and form birefringent thin films

JDSU has developed a new family of optical retarders based on liquid crystal polymer (LCP) and form birefringent dielectric thin film technologies. The manufacturing processes are wafer-based, allowing components up to 200mm diameter to be produced. The component designs allow customization over a wide range of retardance values with excellent accuracy, uniformity and low transmitted wavefront distortion. Form birefringent components are integrated monolithically with an LCP-based retarder to create flat retardance response of ±2nm over an incident cone angle of ±30degrees. This paper will present an overview of the technology, measured performance attributes and provide examples of product applications.