JP5032753B2 - Optical component assembly and optical device - Google Patents

Description

At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to at least one of an optical component assembly and an optical device.

  A polarization separation element, which is one of polarization optical elements, is an optical element that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. Conventionally, as a polarization separation element, an organic polarizing plate made of an organic material such as a resin and Inorganic polarizing plates made of inorganic materials are known.

  The organic polarizing plate is a polarizing plate that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other by absorbing one of the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, as a resin as a material thereof. On the other hand, an inorganic polarizing plate is a polarizing plate that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other by reflecting one of light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other.

  As an inorganic polarizer, for example, a polarizing plate having a wire grid structure and a polarizing plate having a photonic crystal structure are known.

  1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an inorganic polarizing plate having a wire grid structure, FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an inorganic polarizing plate having a wire grid structure, and FIG. It is sectional drawing of the inorganic polarizing plate provided with the wire grid structure.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an inorganic polarizing plate 10 having a wire grid structure has a base substrate 11 and a plurality of metal wires 12 deposited on the base substrate 11. The metal wire 12 is made of aluminum, for example. The plurality of metal wires 12 are periodically arranged on the base substrate 11, and the interval between the plurality of metal wires is sufficiently smaller than the wavelength of light incident on the inorganic polarizing plate 10. Thus, the light having the vibration surface of the electric field in the direction parallel to the direction of the metal wires 10 arranged at intervals sufficiently smaller than the wavelength of the light cannot pass between the metal wires 10 and is reflected. Is done. Further, light having an electric field vibration plane in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the metal wire 10 can pass between the metal wires 10. In this way, the light having the vibration planes of the electric fields orthogonal to each other is separated by the inorganic polarizing plate 10 having the wire grid structure.

Moreover, the example of the inorganic polarizing plate provided with the photonic crystal structure and its manufacturing method is disclosed by patent 3288976 ( patent document 1 ) , for example.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an inorganic polarizing plate having a photonic crystal structure. Here, the photonic crystal is a nanostructure device having a periodic refractive index distribution by regularly arranging a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer. An inorganic polarizing plate 20 shown in FIG. 2 fills the substrate 21 having a line / space-shaped groove formed at a pitch of ¼ to ½ of the wavelength, and the groove of the substrate 21, and in the short direction of the groove. The adjustment layer 22 has a triangular wave shape and linear protrusions in the longitudinal direction of the groove, and a plurality of high refractive index layers 23 made of a transparent medium having a high refractive index and a transparent low refractive index. A plurality of low refractive index layers 24 made of a medium of refractive index are alternately stacked. The high refractive index layer 23 and the low refractive index layer 24 have a triangular wave shape in the short direction of the groove of the adjustment layer 22 and a triangular wave shape in the short direction in accordance with the shape of the linear protrusion in the long direction of the groove. It has a surface with a linear shape in the direction. In this way, light is applied to the laminate of the high refractive index layer 23 and the low refractive index layer 24 having a surface having a triangular wave shape in the short direction and a linear shape in the longitudinal direction at a pitch sufficiently smaller than the wavelength of light. However, when the light is incident, most of the light (in TE mode) having the vibration plane of the electric field in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the high refractive index layer 23 and the low refractive index layer 24 (perpendicular to the short side direction) In the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the high refractive index layer 23 and the low refractive index layer 24 (parallel to the short direction), although it cannot pass through the inorganic polarizing plate 20 having a nick crystal structure and is reflected. Most of the light (TM mode) having the vibration plane of the electric field can pass through the inorganic polarizing plate 20 having the photonic crystal structure. In this way, the light having the vibration planes of the electric fields orthogonal to each other is separated by the inorganic polarizing plate 20 having the photonic crystal structure.

  3A to 3D are views for explaining a method for manufacturing an inorganic polarizing plate having a photonic crystal structure. First, as shown in FIG. 3A, periodic grooves having a line / space shape are formed on the substrate 31 by electron beam lithography and dry etching. Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the line / space-shaped periodic grooves of the substrate 31 are filled by repeating film formation by sputtering using a target of the same material as the substrate and sputter etching by reverse sputtering. At the same time, an adjustment layer 32 having a triangular wave shape in the short direction of the groove and a linear protrusion in the long direction of the groove is formed. Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, using a transparent high refractive index medium and a transparent low refractive index medium target, similarly, film formation by sputtering and sputter etching by reverse sputtering are repeated. The high refractive index layer 33 and the low refractive index layer 34 are sequentially stacked. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3D, a plurality of high-refractive index layers 33 and a plurality of low-refractive index layers 34 are laminated to produce an inorganic polarizing plate 30 having a target photonic crystal structure. be able to.

  Such a polarization separation element is used in combination with other optical elements in various optical devices such as a liquid crystal projector. For example, the polarization separation element is used in combination with a half-wave plate and other lens systems in a liquid crystal projector. The half-wave plate may be a combination of two quarter-wave plates. The half-wave plate is a plate that gives a phase difference (180 °) corresponding to half the wavelength to one of light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and converts the inclination and rotation inorganic of elliptically polarized light. . The quarter-wave plate is a plate that gives a phase difference (90 °) corresponding to ¼ of the wavelength to one of the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and converts linearly polarized light and circularly polarized light. is there.

Such a wave plate such as a half-wave plate and a quarter-wave plate may be a wave plate having a sub-wavelength structure manufactured using nanoimprint technology. A structure of a wave plate having a sub-wavelength structure using nanoimprint technology and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed in , for example, KONICA MINOLTA TECHNOLOGY REPORT VOL. 2 (2005) pp. 97-100 ( Non-Patent Document 1 ) .

  FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining a configuration of a wavelength plate having a sub-wavelength structure and a method for manufacturing a wavelength plate having a sub-wavelength structure using a nanoimprint technique.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a wavelength plate having a sub-wavelength structure, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a wavelength plate having a sub-wavelength structure using a nanoimprint technique. As shown in FIG. 4A, for example, a wave plate 40 having a sub-wavelength structure is made of the same resin such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and a plurality of walls that are continuous to the substrate portion 41. It has a body part 42. Here, the plurality of wall portions 41 are continuous with the substrate portion 41 at equal intervals, and the pitch P (the thickness D of the wall portion and the thickness D of the plurality of wall portions 42 formed on the substrate portion 41). The sum of the distance between adjacent wall portions is equal to or less than the wavelength of light incident on the wave plate 40. For example, in the wave plate 40 having the sub-wavelength structure shown in FIG. 4A, the thickness D of the plurality of wall portions 42 is 275 nm, and the pitch P of the plurality of wall portions 42 is 400 nm. Further, the height H of the plurality of wall portions 42 is proportional to the phase difference given to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. In the wave plate 40 having the sub-wavelength structure shown in FIG. 4A, the height H of the plurality of wall portions 42 is 2400 nm.

  When light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is incident on the wavelength plate 40 having the sub-wavelength structure provided with the plurality of wall portions 41 provided at a pitch equal to or less than the wavelength of the light, the plurality of wall portions 42 are provided. Between the light having the vibration surface of the electric field in the direction parallel to the thickness D direction and the light having the vibration surface of the electric field in the direction perpendicular to the thickness D direction of the plurality of wall portions 42. A phase difference corresponding to one occurs. That is, the wave plate 40 having the sub-wavelength structure shown in FIG. 4A functions as a quarter wave plate.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining a method of manufacturing a wavelength plate having a sub-wavelength structure using nanoimprint technology. As shown in FIG. 4B, a mold 44 made of, for example, silicon and having an inverted shape of the wave plate 40 of the sub-wavelength structure is pressed against the resin bulk material 43 simultaneously with heating. Thereafter, the mold 44 is cooled, and the mold is released from the resin bulk material having the shape of the wave plate 40 having the sub-wavelength structure. In this way, the wave plate 40 having the sub-wavelength structure can be easily manufactured.

  As described above, for example, in an optical apparatus such as a liquid crystal projector, the polarization separation element is used in combination with another separate optical element. For example, the polarization separation element is used in combination with a separate half-wave plate and a separate other lens system in a liquid crystal projector.

However, in the optical apparatus, when the polarization separation element is used in combination with another separate optical element, the total number of optical elements used in the optical apparatus increases, so that the overall size and cost of the optical apparatus increase. To do.
Japanese Patent No. 3288976 KONICA MINOLTA TECHNOLOGY REPORT VOL. 2 (2005) pp. 97-100

The first object of the present invention is to provide an optical component assembly.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an optical device.

A first aspect of the present invention is an optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component, wherein both the first optical component and the second optical component are independent of each other. In addition, in the optical component assembly that is a polarizing optical element having at least a first surface for separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a second surface, the first optical component includes the first surface. And the first surface included in the second optical component independently have a photonic crystal structure, and the second surface included in the first optical component is in a direction perpendicular to each other. is a surface that gives a first phase difference polarized light, with the second surface, which is contained in the second optical component is a surface that gives a second phase difference to the light polarized in perpendicular directions The first phase difference and the second phase difference The sum of the phase difference, characterized in that it is a phase difference corresponding to half the wavelength of the light, it is an optical component assembly.

A second aspect of the present invention is an optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component, wherein both the first optical component and the second optical component are independent of each other. In addition, in the optical component assembly that is a polarizing optical element having at least a first surface for separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a second surface, the first optical component includes the first surface. The first surface included in the second optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component independently have a photonic crystal structure, and the second surface included in the first optical component refracts light. And a second surface included in the second optical component includes a second refractive surface that refracts light, and the first refractive surface is aligned with the second refractive surface. together they are, the first refractive surface and the second refractive It is characterized by a microlens array, an optical component assembly.

A third aspect of the present invention is an optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component, wherein both the first optical component and the second optical component are independent of each other. In addition, in the optical component assembly that is a polarizing optical element having at least a first surface for separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a second surface, the first optical component includes the first surface. And the first surface included in the second optical component independently have a photonic crystal structure, and the second surface included in the first optical component is in a direction perpendicular to each other. A surface that gives a first phase difference to polarized light, and a second surface included in the second optical component is a surface that gives a second phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. , Included in the first optical component First face included on one surface and said second optical component is characterized by having a polarization axis parallel to each other, it is an optical component assembly.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is an optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component, wherein both the first optical component and the second optical component are independent of each other. In addition, in the optical component assembly that is a polarizing optical element having at least a first surface for separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a second surface, the first optical component includes the first surface. The first surface included in the second optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component independently have a photonic crystal structure, and the second surface included in the first optical component refracts light. And a second surface included in the second optical component includes a second refractive surface that refracts light, and the first refractive surface is aligned with the second refractive surface. And the first optical component included in the first optical component And a first surface that is included in the second optical component is characterized by having a polarization axis parallel to each other, it is an optical component assembly.
A fifth aspect of the present invention includes the optical component assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention, the second aspect of the present invention, the third aspect of the present invention, or the fourth aspect of the present invention. This is an optical device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the second aspect of the present invention, the third aspect of the present invention, or the fourth aspect of the present invention , an optical component assembly can be provided.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, an optical device can be provided.

Next, an embodiment (embodiment) of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a first surface for separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and at least one function selected from the group consisting of light refraction, reflection, and polarization phase control A polarizing optical element having at least a second surface comprising: According to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a polarizing optical element capable of reducing the size and cost of the optical device. That is, the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first surface that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and a group consisting of light refraction, reflection, and polarization phase control. Since it has at least a second surface having at least one selected function, it is selected from the group consisting of a polarization separation element that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and phase control of light refraction, reflection, and polarization It is not necessary to separately provide both optical components having at least one function, and the number of optical components can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the optical device including the polarizing optical element.

  In the first embodiment according to the present invention, the polarization is a general term for a wave having a regular vibration direction of an electric vector of a light wave and its state. In general, it can be divided into two linearly polarized light components that vibrate in directions perpendicular to each other in a plane perpendicular to the traveling direction of light radiation.

  The polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a single optical element and has at least a first surface and a second surface. In the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, each of the first surface and the second surface may be provided on the light incident side, or may be provided on the light emission side. . The polarizing optical element may have an additional surface or surfaces that are different from the first surface and the second surface.

  In the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the first surface separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. Here, the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other means polarized light having a vibration surface of an electric field that vibrates in directions orthogonal to each other. Therefore, separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other means that polarized light having a vibration surface of an electric field that vibrates in a certain direction and polarized light having a vibration surface of an electric field that vibrates in a direction orthogonal to that direction are partially divided. Means complete or complete separation.

  In the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the second surface has at least one function selected from the group consisting of light refraction, reflection, and polarization phase control.

  In the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for example, the second surface is a surface that refracts light. When the second surface has a light refraction function, when the light travels from the first surface to the second surface, the light polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other separated by the first surface is used. Refract at the second surface. Alternatively, when the light travels from the second surface to the first surface, the light refracted by the second surface and polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is separated by the first surface. Here, the function of light refraction includes a function of converging light, a function of diverging light, a function of making light parallel, and a function of deflecting light. The second surface may be, for example, one or more convex surfaces, concave surfaces, or prism surfaces. Here, one or a plurality of convex surfaces, concave surfaces, or prism surfaces can be designed and manufactured by a known method. In addition, a micro lens array is mentioned as a some convex surface or a concave surface. That is, since the second surface is a surface that refracts light, a polarizing optical element having both a function of separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a function of refracting light can be provided.

  When the second surface is a surface that refracts light, the second surface is, for example, a surface that converges light or a surface that diverges light. That is, the surface for converging light is, for example, one or a plurality of convex surfaces, and is a spherical surface or an aspheric surface. Since the second surface is a surface for converging light or a surface for diverging light, a polarizing optical element having both a function of separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a function of converging or diverging light Can be provided.

  In the case where the second surface is a surface that refracts light, the second surface is, for example, a surface that deflects light. That is, the surface that deflects light is, for example, a surface that bends the optical axis of light, and is, for example, one or more prism surfaces. Since the second surface is a surface for deflecting light, it is possible to provide a polarizing optical element having both a function of separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a function of deflecting light.

  In the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for example, the second surface is a surface that reflects light. When the second surface has a function of reflecting light, the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other separated by the first surface is reflected by the second surface. Here, the function of reflecting light includes a function of reflecting all or part of the light incident on the polarizing optical element. The second surface may be, for example, one or more mirror surfaces. That is, since the second surface is a surface that reflects light, a polarizing optical element having both a function of separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a function of reflecting light can be provided.

  In the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for example, the second surface is a surface that controls the phase of polarized light. When the second surface has a function of controlling the phase of polarization, when the light travels from the first surface to the second surface, the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other separated by the first surface Is controlled in the second plane. Alternatively, when the light travels from the second surface to the first surface, the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other whose phase is controlled by the second surface is separated by the first surface. Therefore, since the second surface is a surface for controlling the phase of polarized light, a polarizing optical element having both a function of separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a function of controlling the phase of polarized light is provided. be able to.

  Here, the function of phase control of deflection includes a function of giving a predetermined phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. That is, in the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the second surface is, for example, a surface that gives a phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. The second surface is, for example, that the light polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other incident on the polarizing optical element is half the wavelength of the light ((1/2) λ), and the quarter of the wavelength ((¼) ) Λ), or a surface that provides a phase difference of 1/8 wavelength ((1/8) λ). In this case, the polarizing optical element has a function as a polarizer that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a function of a wave plate that gives a predetermined phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. In particular, the second surface gives a phase difference corresponding to half the wavelength of the light ((1/2) λ) to the light polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other incident on the polarizing optical element. This means that the vibration plane of light incident on the element is rotated by 90 °. Further, giving a phase difference corresponding to a quarter of the wavelength of the light ((1/4) λ) converts linearly polarized light (or circularly polarized light) incident on the polarizing optical element into circularly polarized light (or linearly polarized light). It means to convert to. Therefore, the second surface is a surface that gives a phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. Therefore, the second surface has a function of separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a phase difference in light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. It is possible to provide a polarizing optical element having both of the functions of providing the above.

  An example of the second surface that gives a predetermined phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is a sub-wavelength structure. The sub-wavelength structure is a structure in which a plurality of wall bodies provided at equal intervals and having a constant height are provided at a constant pitch (the sum of the thickness of the wall body portion and the interval between adjacent wall body portions). It is. Here, the pitch of the plurality of wall portions is a structure that is equal to or less than the wavelength of the light incident on the polarizing optical element, and the height of the plurality of wall portions is a phase difference given to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. Is proportional to For example, it is possible to use a sub-wavelength structure having the configuration described with reference to FIG. 4A and manufactured by the manufacturing method described with reference to FIG.

  In the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the first portion including the first surface and the second portion different from the first portion and including the second surface are respectively an inorganic material and An organic material may be included. Preferably, the inorganic material and / or the organic material is a material that can transmit light incident on the polarizing optical element. Here, the first part is a part of the polarizing optical element including all of the first surface, and the second part is a part of the polarizing optical element including all of the second surface, The part and the second part are different parts of the polarizing optical element. The first portion does not include the second surface, and the second portion does not include the first surface. Preferably, the first part and the second part are made of the same material. When the first part and the second part are made of the same material, the polarizing optical element can be manufactured using only the same material. Furthermore, when the polarizing optical element is made of only the same material, durability of the polarizing optical element against environmental changes such as ambient temperature can be improved.

  In the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, preferably, at least one of the first part including the first surface and the second part different from the first part and including the second surface. One is made of an inorganic material. In general, inorganic materials have higher heat resistance than organic materials. Therefore, when at least one of the first part including the first surface and the second part different from the first part and including the second surface is made of an inorganic material, higher heat resistance is provided. It becomes possible to provide a polarizing optical element. Further preferably, both the first part including the first surface and the second part different from the first part and including the second surface are made of an inorganic material. In this case, it is possible to provide a polarizing optical element made entirely of an inorganic material. And when the whole polarizing optical element consists of inorganic materials, the polarizing optical element provided with still higher heat resistance can be provided. Examples of the inorganic material include various glass materials and metal materials.

In particular, when the first portion including the first surface that separates the light polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other is made of an inorganic material, the component of one polarization in the light polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other is transmitted. At the same time, the other polarization component orthogonal to the one polarization component is reflected. Here, “transmitting” includes both completely transmitting and substantially transmitting, and “reflecting” includes both reflecting completely and substantially reflecting. Therefore, since the first portion made of an inorganic material does not absorb light energy completely or substantially, the temperature of the first portion made of an inorganic material does not easily rise and is made of an inorganic material. The first part has high heat resistance. Therefore, when the first portion is made of an inorganic material, the temperature rise of the polarization optical element can be suppressed when separating the light polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other, and polarization with higher heat resistance can be suppressed. An optical element can be provided. (On the other hand, when the first part is made of an organic material, it transmits one polarization component of light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and transmits the other component orthogonal to the one polarization component. Absorbs the component of polarized light, so that the first part made of organic material absorbs the light energy completely or substantially, so that the temperature of the first part made of organic material easily rises. However, the heat resistance of the first portion made of an organic material is generally low.)
When the first part including the first surface is made of an inorganic material, examples of the first part made of an inorganic material include a part having a photonic crystal structure and a part having a wire grid structure. Can be mentioned. That is, the first surface has, for example, a photonic crystal structure or a wire grid structure.

  The wire grid structure has a substrate and a plurality of wires provided periodically and parallel to one direction of the surface of the substrate provided on the substrate, and the interval between the plurality of wires is shorter than the wavelength of light. . For the wire grid structure, for example, a conventional wire grid structure as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B can be used. The photonic crystal structure is a nanostructure device having a periodic refractive index distribution by regularly arranging a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer. For the photonic crystal structure, for example, a conventional photonic crystal structure as shown in FIG. 2 can be used. Here, examples of the inorganic material of the first portion include metals such as aluminum used for a wire grid structure, and various glasses used for a layer of a photonic crystal structure.

  In the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, preferably, the first surface has a photonic crystal structure. When the first part has a photonic crystal structure, the configuration of the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer of the photonic crystal structure included in the first part is known FDTD (time domain difference). By appropriately designing using the method, it is possible to adjust the performance (polarization separation performance) of separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other by the photonic crystal structure of the first portion. Therefore, for example, the polarization separation performance of the polarization optical element can be optimized by adjusting the polarization separation performance of the photonic crystal structure included in the first portion.

  A second embodiment according to the present invention is an optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component, and at least one of the first optical component and the second optical component is the present invention. 1 is an optical component assembly that is a polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment. Here, the optical component assembly may include an optical component other than the first optical component and the second optical component. The first optical component and the second optical component are separate optical components. The first optical component and the second optical component may be separated from each other, or may be directly or indirectly connected to each other. Further, the first optical component and the second optical component may be the same optical component or different optical components. Since at least one of the first optical component and the second optical component is the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the optical component capable of reducing the size and cost of the optical device. An assembly can be provided. That is, at least one of the first optical component and the second optical component separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and is selected from the group consisting of light refraction, reflection, and polarization phase control. By using the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention having both at least one function, the number of optical components in the optical device can be reduced. As a result, the size and cost of the optical device can be reduced.

  In the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that both of the first optical component and the second optical component are independent of each other. It is an optical element. Since both the first optical component and the second optical component are the polarizing optical elements according to the first embodiment of the present invention, an optical component assembly capable of further reducing the size and cost of the optical device. Can be provided. That is, at least one selected from the group consisting of light refraction, reflection, and polarization phase control, as well as separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other in both the first optical component and the second optical component. By using the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention having both functions, the number of optical components in the optical device can be further reduced. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the size and cost of the optical device. In addition, since both the first optical component and the second optical component have a first surface that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, the first surface and the second optical component of the first optical component Both of the first surfaces of the optical component can separate light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. Here, the transmittance of light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other through the optical component assembly is the transmittance of the first optical component having the first surface × the second optical component having the first surface. Is the transmittance. In particular, if both the first surface of the first optical component and the first surface of the second optical component are identical and aligned with each other, they are polarized in directions orthogonal to each other through the optical component assembly. The light transmittance is the square of the transmittance of the first or second optical component having the first surface. As a result, it is possible to provide an optical component assembly with improved performance for separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. That is, the ratio of the transmittance of light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other through the optical component assembly (for example, the ratio of the transmittance of the TM mode to the transmittance of the TE mode light) (contrast) can be improved. it can.

  In the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, preferably, the second surface included in the first optical component is a surface that gives a first phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. The second surface included in the second optical component is a surface that gives a second phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. In this case, light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other can be separated by both the first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component. First, both the second surface included in the first optical component and the second surface included in the second optical component cause the first phase difference and the second phase to be polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. A phase difference corresponding to the sum of the phase differences can be given. The second surface included in the first optical component and the second surface included in the second optical component may be the same as or different from each other. Also, the first phase difference and the second phase difference may be the same or different from each other.

  In the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, for example, the sum of the first phase difference and the second phase difference is a phase difference corresponding to half the wavelength of light. In this case, light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other can be separated, and a phase difference corresponding to half the wavelength of the light can be given to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. That is, the function of a polarizer that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and the function of a (1/2) wavelength plate that gives a phase difference corresponding to half the wavelength of light to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. An optical component assembly having both can be provided.

  In the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, preferably, the second surface included in the first optical component includes a first refractive surface that refracts light, and the second optical component. The second surface included in the light source includes a second refractive surface that refracts light, and the first refractive surface is aligned with the second refractive surface. In this case, light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other can be separated by both the first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component. The sum of the refractive power of the first refractive surface and the refractive power of the second refractive surface by both the second surface included in the first optical component and the second surface included in the second optical component. The light can be refracted with a refractive power corresponding to. The second surface included in the first optical component and the second surface included in the second optical component may be the same as or different from each other. The light refraction includes light convergence, light divergence, and light collimation, light deflection, and the first refracting surface and the second refracting surface are respectively one or more convex surfaces, concave surfaces, Or a prism surface may be sufficient. In addition, a micro lens array is mentioned as a some convex surface or a concave surface. The refractive power of the refractive surface is the refractive power at the incident height of the light incident on the refractive surface, and the absolute value and sign of the refractive power of the first refractive surface and the refractive power of the second refractive surface are respectively They may be the same as each other or different from each other. The alignment of the first refractive surface and the second refractive surface means that at least the optical axis of the first refractive surface and the optical axis of the second refractive surface are completely or substantially coincident.

  In the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, for example, the first refractive surface and the second refractive surface are microlens arrays. In this case, light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other can be separated and refracted by the microlens array of the first refracting surface and the second refracting surface. Here, the micro lens arrays of the first refractive surface and the second refractive surface are usually aligned with each other. However, the micro lens arrays of the first refracting surface and the second refracting surface do not need to have the same shape. That is, it is possible to provide an optical component assembly having both a function of a polarizer that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a function of refracting light passing through the optical component assembly.

  In the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, preferably, the first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component are polarized light parallel to each other. Has an axis. Note that the polarization axes parallel to each other include both a completely parallel polarization axis and a polarization axis that can be regarded as substantially parallel. When the first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component have polarization axes parallel to each other, the first optical having the polarization axes parallel to each other The transmittance of light polarized in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the polarization axis that is transmitted through the first surface included in the component and the first surface included in the second optical component is maximized or minimized. The contrast between light polarized in a direction parallel to the axis and light polarized in a direction perpendicular to the polarization axis is maximized. In particular, the first surface included in the first optical component having parallel polarization axes and the first surface included in the second optical component have the same polarization separation characteristics or the same polarization separation unit. The first surface included in the first optical component having the polarization axis parallel to each other and the first surface included in the second optical component are transmitted parallel to or perpendicular to the polarization axis. The transmittance of light polarized in any direction is the Nth power of (the transmittance of light polarized in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the polarization axis transmitted through a single optical component). Here, N is the number of optical components having polarization axes parallel to each other.

  In the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, preferably, the first optical component and the second optical component are each independently an ineffective portion where light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other does not enter. And joined at the ineffective portion. The ineffective portions included in the first optical component and the second optical component are portions of the first optical component and the second optical component, respectively, into which light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other does not enter. The form and configuration of the ineffective portion in the first optical component and the second optical component are not particularly limited, and examples of the ineffective portion include the outer peripheral portions of the first optical component and the second optical component. It is done. And the 1st optical component and 2nd optical component which have an ineffective part are mutually joined by an ineffective part. In this case, since the first optical component and the second optical component have ineffective portions, a colored adhesive as well as colorless is added to the ineffective portions of the first optical component and the second optical component. Can be applied. Therefore, the first optical component and the second optical component having an ineffective portion can be bonded using not only colorless but also a colored adhesive.

  More specifically, the first optical component and the second optical component are formed using an adhesive including a glass material obtained by cutting a glass rod having a diameter of about 10 μm to 200 μm and a length longer than the diameter. Can be joined. Here, the glass material is used as a gap material. In addition, if necessary, a dedicated concavo-convex structure is produced at the joint location of the first optical component and the second optical component, and a dedicated joint site is set for the first optical component and the second optical component. Can do. By adopting such a concavo-convex structure, it is possible to improve the bonding strength between the first optical component and the second optical component, and thus the reliability of the first optical component and the second optical component. In addition, when an uneven structure is provided on the entire peripheral portion of one surface of each of the two optical components and the two optical components are joined, the central surface on the side where the uneven portions of the two optical components are provided is It becomes possible to seal with the joined uneven portions. Therefore, the central surface on the side where the concavo-convex portions of the two optical components are provided is protected by the concavo-convex portions, and the initial production state can be maintained. For example, when the first surface (second surface) is provided on the side where the uneven portion of the optical component is provided, the unevenness portion can be improved. Thus, the first surface (second surface) can be protected.

  If possible, the first optical component and the second optical component may be bonded not only at the ineffective portion but also at the effective portion where light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is incident. That is, the first optical component and the second optical component may be joined via both the effective portion and the ineffective portion of the first optical component and the second optical component. For example, if the first surface of the two optical components is provided on the outer surface of the two optical components, and the second surface having a shape matching each other is provided on the inner surface of the two optical components, All of the inner surfaces of the two optical components can be joined together.

  In the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, preferably, at least one of the first optical component and the second optical component is fixed to a fixing member that fixes the optical component. In this case, at least one of the first optical component and the second optical component can be mechanically easily fixed to a fixing member that fixes the optical component. In addition, when the fixing member has a function of adjusting the position of the optical component, at least one of the first optical component and the second optical component is fixed to the fixing member that fixes the optical component. In the optical component assembly, the position of the optical component fixed to the fixing member can be adjusted. The fixing member for fixing the optical component is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a jig such as a plate-like cell that can store and fix the optical component. In addition, when both the first optical component and the second optical component are fixed to the fixing member, the first optical component and the second optical component are changed by changing the thickness of the fixing member. It is possible to change or adjust the interval (distance).

  The third embodiment according to the present invention is an optical device including the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment according to the present invention or the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment according to the present invention. According to the optical device which is the third embodiment of the present invention, the optical device is the polarizing optical element which is the first embodiment according to the present invention or the optical component assembly which is the second embodiment according to the present invention. Therefore, an optical device having a reduced size and cost can be provided. The optical device is not particularly limited as long as the optical device includes a polarizing optical element or an optical component assembly. Examples of the optical device including the polarizing optical element or the optical component assembly include a (liquid crystal) projector. That is, for example, as the polarizing optical element or the optical component assembly included in a known (liquid crystal) projector, the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment or the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention is used. Thus, the optical device according to the third embodiment of the present invention can be implemented.

  In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other using the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention or the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention. And refracting the light passing through the polarizing optical element or optical component assembly, reflecting the light, or controlling the phase of the polarized light. According to the method of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention or the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention is used to be orthogonal to each other. Reduces the size and cost of optical devices by separating light polarized in the direction and refracting light passing through a polarizing optical element or optical assembly, reflecting light, or controlling the phase of polarization It becomes possible.

FIGS. 5A to 5E are diagrams for explaining a specific example of the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a first surface having a polarization separation function and FIG. It is a figure explaining the polarization optical element which has the 2nd surface provided with the light convergence function, and (b) has the 1st surface provided with the polarization separation function, and the 2nd surface provided with the light divergence function. FIG. 4C is a diagram for explaining a polarization optical element, and FIG. 4C is a diagram for explaining a polarization optical element having a first surface having a polarization separation function and a second surface having a light deflection function; ) Is a diagram for explaining a polarizing optical element having a first surface having a polarization separation function and a second surface having a light reflection function, and (e) a first surface having a polarization separation function. It is a figure explaining the polarization optical element which has the 2nd surface provided with the phase control function of polarization.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the polarizing optical element 50 has a first surface 51 and a second surface 52. The first surface 51 separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and the second surface 52 converges the light. The first surface 51 has a photonic crystal structure, and the second surface 52 is a convex surface. In FIG. 5A, only a single convex surface is shown, but a microlens array including a plurality of convex surfaces may be used. Furthermore, the first part including the first surface 51 (left side from the dotted line) and the second part including the second surface 52 (right side from the dotted line) are both made of an inorganic material. When light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is incident on the polarization optical element 50 from the first surface 51 side of the polarization optical element 50 shown in FIG. 5A, the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is the first. Are separated by a surface 51 of That is, one of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other passes through the first surface 51, and the other of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other is reflected by the first surface 51. The light transmitted through the first surface 51 is converged by the second surface 52. In this way, the polarized optical element 50 shown in FIG. 5A separates the light polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other and allows one of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other to be transmitted and converged. it can. Furthermore, the polarizing optical element 50 has both the first surface 51 that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and the second surface 52 that has a function of converging the light. The polarizing optical element 50 capable of reducing the cost can be provided. Note that both the first portion including the first surface 51 (left side from the dotted line) and the second portion including the second surface 52, that is, the entire polarization optical element 50 is made of an inorganic material. The heat resistance of the optical element 50 is high.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the polarizing optical element 50 has a first surface 51 and a second surface 52. The first surface 51 separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and the second surface 52 diverges light. The first surface 51 has a photonic crystal structure, and the second surface 52 is a concave surface. In FIG. 5B, only a single concave surface is shown, but a microlens array including a plurality of concave surfaces may be used. Further, the first part including the first surface 51 (left side from the dotted line) and the second part including the second surface 52 (right side from the dotted line) are both made of a glass material as an inorganic material. When light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is incident on the polarization optical element 50 from the first surface 51 side of the polarization optical element 50 shown in FIG. 5B, the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is the first. Are separated by a surface 51 of That is, one of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other passes through the first surface 51, and the other of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other is reflected by the first surface 51. The light transmitted through the first surface 51 is diverged by the second surface 52. In this way, the polarization optical element 50 shown in FIG. 5B separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and transmits and diverges one of light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. it can. Furthermore, since the polarization optical element 50 has both the first surface 51 that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and the second surface 52 that has a function of diverging light, the size of the optical device and The polarizing optical element 50 capable of reducing the cost can be provided. Note that both the first portion including the first surface 51 (left side from the dotted line) and the second portion including the second surface 52, that is, the entire polarization optical element 50 is made of an inorganic material. The heat resistance of the optical element 50 is high.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, the polarizing optical element 50 has a first surface 51 and a second surface 52. The first surface 51 separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and the second surface 52 deflects the light. The first surface 51 has a photonic crystal structure, and the second surface 52 is a prism surface (an oblique plane). In FIG. 5B, only a single prism surface is shown, but a prism array composed of a plurality of prism surfaces (a configuration in which a plurality of prisms are arranged) may be used. Further, the first part including the first surface 51 (left side from the dotted line) and the second part including the second surface 52 (right side from the dotted line) are both made of a glass material as an inorganic material. When light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is incident on the polarization optical element 50 from the first surface 51 side of the polarization optical element 50 shown in FIG. 5C, the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is the first. Are separated by a surface 51 of That is, one of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other passes through the first surface 51, and the other of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other is reflected by the first surface 51. The light transmitted through the first surface 51 is deflected by the second surface 52. In this way, the polarized optical element 50 shown in FIG. 5C separates the light polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other and transmits and deflects one of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other. it can. Furthermore, the polarizing optical element 50 has both the first surface 51 that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and the second surface 52 that has a function of deflecting light. The polarizing optical element 50 capable of reducing the cost can be provided. Note that both the first portion including the first surface 51 (left side from the dotted line) and the second portion including the second surface 52, that is, the entire polarization optical element 50 is made of an inorganic material. The heat resistance of the optical element 50 is high.

  As shown in FIG. 5D, the polarizing optical element 50 has a first surface 51 and a second surface 52. The first surface 51 separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and the second surface 52 reflects light. The first surface 51 has a photonic crystal structure, and the second surface 52 is a reflecting surface (mirror surface). In FIG. 5D, only a single reflecting surface is shown, but it may be composed of a plurality of reflecting surfaces. Furthermore, the first part including the first surface 51 (left side from the dotted line) and the second part including the second surface 52 (right side from the dotted line) are both made of an inorganic material. However, the first portion including the first surface 51 is formed of a plurality of types of glass materials, and the second portion including the second surface 52 is formed of a metal material. When light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is incident on the polarization optical element 50 from the first surface 51 side of the polarization optical element 50 shown in FIG. 5D, the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is Are separated by a surface 51 of That is, one of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other passes through the first surface 51, and the other of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other is reflected by the first surface 51. The light transmitted through the first surface 51 is reflected by the second surface 52. Here, when the light transmitted through the first surface 51 is reflected by the second surface 52, the phase of the light is inverted. For this reason, the light reflected by the second surface 52 is reflected by the first surface 51. Next, the light reflected by the first surface 51 enters the second surface 52 again, and is reflected again by the second surface 52. When the light reflected by the first surface 52 is reflected by the second surface 52, the phase of the light is reversed again, and the phase of the light reflected twice by the second surface 52 is Return to the base. Then, the light reflected twice by the second surface 52 passes through the first surface 51 and is emitted from the polarization optical element 50. In this way, the light polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other incident on the polarizing optical element 50 is reflected.

  For example, if the photonic crystal structure of the first surface transmits TM mode light that is one of the lights polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and reflects the TE mode light that is the other of the lights, The TM mode light incident on the polarizing optical element 50 is transmitted through the first surface 51, and the TE mode light is reflected by the first surface 51. When the TM mode light transmitted through the first surface 51 is reflected by the second surface 52, the phase of the light is inverted, and the light reflected by the second surface 52 becomes TE mode light. . The TE mode light reflected by the second surface 52 is reflected by the first surface 51 that transmits the TM mode light and reflects the TE mode light. When the TE mode light reflected by the first surface 51 is reflected again by the second surface 52, the phase of the light is inverted, and the light reflected by the second surface 52 again is TM mode. Of light. The TM mode light reflected by the second surface 52 passes through the first surface 51 and is emitted from the polarizing optical element 50. That is, TM mode light incident on the polarizing optical element 50 is emitted from the polarizing optical element 50 as TM mode light. That is, TE mode light incident on the polarizing optical element 50 is polarized optically as TE mode light. Injected from the element 50.

  The light incident on the second surface 52 is reflected by the second surface 52 so that the incident angle of the light incident on the second surface 52 and the reflection angle of the light reflected by the second surface 52 are equal. Reflected. In FIG. 5D, since the second surface 52 is inclined with respect to the first surface 51, the light incident on the second surface 52 is the light incident on the second surface 52. Reflected in a direction inclined from the direction. In this way, the polarized optical element 50 shown in FIG. 5 (d) separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and transmits and reflects one of the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. it can. Furthermore, the polarizing optical element 50 has both the first surface 51 that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and the second surface 52 that has a function of reflecting light, so that the size of the optical device and The polarizing optical element 50 capable of reducing the cost can be provided. Note that both the first portion including the first surface 51 (left side from the dotted line) and the second portion including the second surface 52, that is, the entire polarization optical element 50 is made of an inorganic material. The heat resistance of the optical element 50 is high.

  As shown in FIG. 5E, the polarizing optical element 50 has a first surface 51 and a second surface 52. The first surface 51 separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and the second surface 52 gives a phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. The first surface 51 has a photonic crystal structure, and the second surface 52 has a subwavelength structure. Furthermore, the first part including the first surface 51 (left side from the dotted line) and the second part including the second surface 52 (right side from the dotted line) are both made of an inorganic material. However, the first portion including the first surface 51 is formed of a glass material, and the second portion including the second surface 52 is formed of an organic resin such as polymethyl methacrylate. When light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is incident on the polarization optical element 50 from the first surface 51 side of the polarization optical element 50 shown in FIG. 5E, the light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is Are separated by a surface 51 of That is, one of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other passes through the first surface 51, and the other of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other is reflected by the first surface 51. The light transmitted through the first surface 51 (linearly polarized light) is given a phase difference by the second surface 52. Examples of the phase difference include a half wavelength and a quarter wavelength of light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. Further, giving a phase difference of half and a quarter of the wavelength of light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other means that the plane of vibration of linearly polarized light transmitted through the first surface 51 is rotated by 90 °. This corresponds to converting linearly polarized light transmitted through one surface 51 into circularly polarized light. In this way, the polarized optical element 50 shown in FIG. 5E separates the light polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other, transmits one of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other, and in the directions orthogonal to each other. A phase difference can be given to polarized light. Further, the polarizing optical element 50 includes both a first surface 51 that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and a second surface 52 that has a function of giving a phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. Thus, the polarizing optical element 50 capable of reducing the size and cost of the optical device can be provided. Note that both the first portion including the first surface 51 (left side from the dotted line) and the second portion including the second surface 52, that is, the entire polarization optical element 50 is made of an inorganic material. The heat resistance of the optical element 50 is high.

6 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are diagrams for explaining a specific example of the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. A combination of a polarization separation element having a polarization separation function and a polarization optical element having a first surface having a polarization separation function in a later stage and a second surface having a function of giving a half phase difference of a wavelength It is a figure explaining an optical component assembly, (b) is the polarization | polarized-light which has the 1st surface with the polarization separation function in the front | former stage, and the 2nd surface with the function to give the phase difference of 1/2 of a wavelength. It is a figure explaining the optical component assembly containing the combination of an optical element and the polarization separation element provided with the polarization separation function in the latter stage, and (c) is the 1st surface provided with the polarization separation function, and the quarter of the wavelength Second with the function of giving one phase difference FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an optical component assembly including two polarization optical elements having a surface, and FIG. 6D is a combination of the polarization separation element and the polarization optical element shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining a component assembly.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the optical component assembly 60 includes a polarization separation element 64 having a polarization separation function at the front stage and a polarization optical element 61 at the rear stage. The polarization optical element 61 has a first surface 62 having a polarization separation function and a second surface 63 having a function of giving a half phase difference of the wavelength. The polarization separation element 64 has a photonic crystal structure having a polarization separation function.
The first surface 62 in the polarization optical element 61 includes a photonic crystal structure having a polarization separation function, and the second surface 63 in the polarization optical element 61 has a function of giving a phase difference of ½ of the wavelength. Including subwavelength structures. Each of the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization separation element 64 having the first surface 62 and the second surface 63 is made of an inorganic material. The polarization axis of the photonic crystal structure included in the first surface 62 of the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization axis of the photonic crystal structure of the polarization separation element 64 are parallel to each other.

  The optical component assembly 60 is irradiated with light containing both of the polarized light having the vibration planes of the electric field in the directions orthogonal to each other at the same ratio. Polarized light having electric field vibration planes in directions orthogonal to each other are referred to as TE mode light and TM mode light, respectively. Note that the vibration planes of the electric fields of light in the TE mode and TM mode are also orthogonal to the traveling direction of the light. The TE mode light and TM mode light incident on the polarization separation element 64 of the optical component assembly 60 are separated by the photonic crystal structure of the polarization separation element 64. That is, TM mode light is transmitted through the polarization separation element 64, but most of the TE mode light is reflected by the polarization separation element 64, and part of the TE mode light is transmitted through the polarization separation element 64. . Next, the TE mode light and TM mode light transmitted through the polarization separation element 64 are separated by the photonic crystal structure of the first surface 62 of the polarization optical element 61. That is, the TM mode light is transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61, while the TE mode light is reflected by the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61. Next, the TM mode light transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61 corresponds to a half of the wavelength of the light due to the sub-wavelength structure of the second surface 63 of the polarizing optical element 61. A phase difference is given. Thereby, the TM mode light transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61 is converted into TE mode light, and the TE mode light is emitted from the second surface 63 of the polarizing optical element 61. .

  In this way, the optical component assembly 60 is used to separate the TE mode light and the TM mode light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and the separated light corresponds to one half of the wavelength of the light. Phase difference can be given. Here, since the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization separation element 64 having the first surface 62 and the second surface 63 are made of an inorganic material such as glass, the heat resistance of the optical component assembly 60 is improved. . In addition, since the first surface 62 of the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization separation element 64 include a photonic crystal structure, the contrast of the optical component assembly 60 can be improved. The contrast of the optical component assembly 60 is the ratio of the TM mode light transmittance to the TE mode light transmittance (contrast = TM mode light transmittance / TE mode light transmittance). Further, since the polarization optical element 61 includes both the first surface 62 having a polarization separation function and the second surface 63 having a function of giving a half phase difference of the wavelength, the optical component assembly 60 is provided. The number of optical components included in the optical component assembly 60 can be reduced, and as a result, the size and cost of the optical component assembly 60 can be reduced.

  An optical component assembly 60 as shown in FIG. 6A can be used for a liquid crystal projector or the like. Specifically, the optical component assembly 60 is provided between the light source of the liquid crystal projector and the liquid crystal device. Here, the polarization separation element 64 of the optical component assembly 60 is disposed on the light source side of the liquid crystal projector, and the polarization optical element 61 of the optical component assembly 60 is provided on the liquid crystal device side. Note that both the polarization optical element 61 of the optical component assembly 60 and the photonic crystal structure of the polarization separation element 64 are configured to transmit P-polarized light and reflect S-polarized light. Then, when light including both S-polarized light and P-polarized light emitted from the light source is incident on the optical component assembly 60, it is incident on the optical component assembly 60 in the same manner as shown in FIG. The P-polarized light is converted to S-polarized light and emitted from the optical component assembly 60, and the S-polarized light incident on the optical component assembly 60 is reflected to the light source side. S-polarized light emitted from the optical component assembly 60 enters the liquid crystal device and is modulated by the liquid crystal device.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the optical component assembly 60 includes a polarization optical element 61 in the front stage and a polarization separation element 64 having a polarization separation function in the rear stage. The polarization optical element 61 has a first surface 62 having a polarization separation function and a second surface 63 having a function of giving a half phase difference of the wavelength. The polarization separation element 64 has a photonic crystal structure having a polarization separation function.
The first surface 62 in the polarization optical element 61 includes a photonic crystal structure having a polarization separation function, and the second surface 63 in the polarization optical element 61 has a function of giving a phase difference of ½ of the wavelength. Including subwavelength structures. Each of the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization separation element 64 having the first surface 62 and the second surface 63 is made of an inorganic material. The polarization axis of the photonic crystal structure included in the first surface 62 of the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization axis of the photonic crystal structure of the polarization separation element 64 are parallel to each other.

  The optical component assembly 60 is irradiated with light containing both of the polarized light having the vibration planes of the electric field in the directions orthogonal to each other at the same ratio. Polarized light having electric field vibration planes in directions orthogonal to each other are referred to as TE mode light and TM mode light, respectively. Note that the vibration planes of the electric fields of light in the TE mode and TM mode are also orthogonal to the traveling direction of the light. The TE mode light and the TM mode light incident on the polarizing optical element 61 of the optical component assembly 60 correspond to half the wavelength of the light by the sub-wavelength structure of the second surface 63 of the polarizing optical element 61. Phase difference is given. As a result, the TE mode light and the TM mode light transmitted through the second surface 63 of the polarizing optical element 61 are converted into TM mode light and TE mode light, respectively. Incident on the surface 62. Next, the light incident on the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61 is separated by the photonic crystal structure of the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61. That is, the TM mode light obtained by converting the TE mode light through the second surface 63 of the polarizing optical element 61 is transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61, but the polarizing optical element 61. Most of the TE mode light obtained by converting the TM mode light through the second surface 63 is reflected by the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61 toward the second surface 63. Part of the TE mode light is transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61. Here, most of the TE mode light reflected by the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61 is half the wavelength of the light due to the sub-wavelength structure of the second surface 63 of the polarizing optical element 61. Most of the TE mode light reflected by the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61 is converted into TM mode light and emitted from the polarizing optical element 61. On the other hand, part of the TE mode light and TM mode light transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarization optical element 61 enter the polarization separation element 64 and are separated by the photonic crystal structure of the polarization separation element 64. . That is, TM mode light is transmitted through the photonic crystal structure of the polarization separation element 64, but part of the TE mode light is reflected by the photonic crystal structure of the polarization separation element 64.

  In this way, the optical component assembly 60 is used to separate the TE mode light and the TM mode light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and the separated light corresponds to one half of the wavelength of the light. Phase difference can be given. Here, since the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization separation element 64 having the first surface 62 and the second surface 63 are made of an inorganic material such as glass, the heat resistance of the optical component assembly 60 is improved. Since the first surface 62 of the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization separation element 64 include the photonic crystal structure, the contrast of the optical component assembly 60 can be improved. The contrast of the optical component assembly 60 is the ratio of the TM mode light transmittance to the TE mode light transmittance (contrast = TM mode light transmittance / TE mode light transmittance). In addition, since the polarization optical element 61 includes both the first surface 62 having a polarization separation function and the second surface 63 having a function of giving a half phase difference of the wavelength, the optical component assembly 60 is provided. The number of optical components included in the optical component assembly 60 can be reduced, and as a result, the size and cost of the optical component assembly 60 can be reduced.

  An optical component assembly 60 as shown in FIG. 6B can be used for a liquid crystal projector or the like. Specifically, a liquid crystal device is provided between the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization separation element 64 in the optical component assembly 60. However, the first surface of the polarization optical element 61 has a photonic crystal structure configured to transmit P-polarized light, and the photonic crystal structure of the polarization separation element 64 is configured to transmit S-polarized light. Suppose that Then, the light emitted from the light source is converted into S-polarized light using a polarization beam splitter. S-polarized light is converted into P-polarized light by the second surface 63 of the polarizing optical element 61 in the optical component assembly 60. The light converted into P-polarized light is transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61 in the optical component assembly 60, and the remaining S-polarized component is the first of the polarizing optical element 61 in the optical component assembly 60. Reflected by surface 62. Next, the P-polarized light transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61 enters the liquid crystal device and is converted to S-polarized light in the liquid crystal device. The S-polarized light converted by the liquid crystal device is transmitted through the polarization separation element 64 in the optical component assembly 60, and the remaining P-polarized component is reflected by the polarization separation element 64. The S-polarized light transmitted through the polarization separation element 64 in the optical component assembly 60 is projected onto the screen via the synthesis prism and the projection lens.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, the optical component assembly 60 includes two polarizing optical elements 61. The two polarization optical elements 61 have a first surface 62 having a polarization separation function and a second surface 63 having a function of giving a phase difference of a quarter of the wavelength. The first surface 62 in the polarization optical element 61 includes a photonic crystal structure having a polarization separation function, and the second surface 63 in the polarization optical element 61 has a function of giving a phase difference of ½ of the wavelength. Including subwavelength structures. The polarizing optical element 61 having the first surface 62 and the second surface 63 is made of an inorganic material. Note that the polarization axes of the photonic crystal structures included in the first surfaces 62 of the two polarizing optical elements 61 are parallel to each other. Further, the second surface 63 of one polarizing optical element 61 is disposed on the side facing the other polarizing optical element 61.

  The optical component assembly 60 is irradiated with light containing both the polarized light having the vibration surface of the electric field and the magnetic field at the same ratio in directions orthogonal to each other. Polarized light having electric field vibration planes in directions orthogonal to each other are referred to as TE mode light and TM mode light, respectively. Note that the vibration planes of the electric fields of light in the TE mode and TM mode are also orthogonal to the traveling direction of the light. The TE mode and TM mode light incident on the first polarizing optical element 61 (on the light incident side) of the optical component assembly 60 is separated by the first surface 62 of the first polarizing optical element 61. That is, the TM mode light is transmitted through the first surface 62 of the first polarizing optical element 61, while the TE mode light is reflected by the first surface 62 of the first polarizing optical element 61. The TM mode light transmitted through the first surface 62 of the first polarizing optical element 61 is reduced to a quarter of the wavelength of the light by the sub-wavelength structure of the second surface 63 of the first polarizing optical element 61. A corresponding phase difference is given. Next, the light having a phase difference corresponding to a quarter of the wavelength of the light is incident on the second surface 63 of the second polarizing optical element 61 (on the light exit side). Here, the phase difference corresponding to a quarter of the wavelength of the light is further given to the light given the phase difference corresponding to the quarter of the wavelength of the light. Therefore, the TM mode light transmitted through the first surface 62 of the first polarizing optical element 61 is given a phase difference corresponding to a half of the wavelength of the light in total. Thereby, the TM mode light transmitted through the first surface 62 of the first polarizing optical element 61 is converted into TE mode light. Next, the TE mode light converted by the second surface 63 of the first polarizing optical element 61 and the second surface 63 of the second polarizing optical element 61 is the first light of the second polarizing optical element 61. The incident light enters the surface 62. The TE mode light incident on the first surface 62 of the second polarizing optical element 61 is reflected by the first surface 62 of the second polarizing optical element 61. The TE mode light reflected by the first surface 62 of the second polarizing optical element 61 includes the second surface 63 of the second polarizing optical element 61 and the first surface 62 of the first polarizing optical element. Gives a phase difference corresponding to a quarter of the wavelength of the light, respectively. That is, the TE mode light reflected by the first surface 62 of the second polarizing optical element 61 is reflected by the second surface 63 of the second polarizing optical element 61 and the first surface of the first polarizing optical element. Through 62, the light is converted into TM mode light. The light converted into the TM mode passes through the first surface 62 of the first polarizing optical element 61 and is emitted from the first polarizing optical element 61.

  In this way, the optical component assembly 60 is used to separate the TE mode light and the TM mode light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and to the separated light, a half of the wavelength of the light (light A phase difference corresponding to a quarter of the wavelength x 2) can be given. Here, since the polarizing optical element 61 provided with the first surface 62 and the second surface 63 is made of an inorganic material such as glass, the heat resistance of the optical component assembly 60 is improved. In addition, since the polarization optical element 61 includes both the first surface 62 having a polarization separation function and the second surface 63 having a function of giving a half phase difference of the wavelength, the optical component assembly 60 is provided. The number of optical components included in the optical component assembly 60 can be reduced, and as a result, the size and cost of the optical component assembly 60 can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 6D, the optical component assembly 60 includes a half mirror 65, a polarization separation element 64 having a polarization separation function, a polarization optical element 61, and a mirror 66 in order from the light incident side. The polarization optical element 61 has a first surface 62 having a polarization separation function and a second surface 63 having a function of giving a half phase difference of the wavelength. The polarization separation element 64 has a photonic crystal structure having a polarization separation function. The first surface 62 in the polarization optical element 61 includes a photonic crystal structure having a polarization separation function, and the second surface 63 in the polarization optical element 61 has a function of giving a phase difference of ½ of the wavelength. Including subwavelength structures. Each of the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization separation element 64 having the first surface 62 and the second surface 63 is made of an inorganic material. The polarization axis of the photonic crystal structure included in the first surface 62 of the polarization optical element 61 and the polarization axis of the photonic crystal structure of the polarization separation element 64 are parallel to each other. The half mirror 65 transmits half the light amount incident on the half mirror 65 and reflects half the light amount incident on the half mirror 65. The mirror 66 is a mirror that reflects all of the amount of light incident on the half mirror 65.

  The optical component assembly 60 is irradiated with light containing both of the polarized light having the vibration planes of the electric field in the directions orthogonal to each other at the same ratio. Polarized light having electric field vibration planes in directions orthogonal to each other are referred to as TE mode light and TM mode light, respectively. Note that the vibration planes of the electric fields of light in the TE mode and TM mode are also orthogonal to the traveling direction of the light. Half of the light amount of the TE mode light and TM mode light incident on the half mirror 65 of the optical component assembly 60 is transmitted through the half mirror 65, and the remaining half is reflected by the half mirror 65. Next, the TE mode light and the TM mode light transmitted through the half mirror 65 are separated by the photonic crystal structure of the polarization separation element 64. That is, TM mode light is transmitted through the polarization separation element 64, but most of the TE mode light is reflected by the polarization separation element 64, and part of the TE mode light is transmitted through the polarization separation element 64. . Then, most of the TE mode light reflected by the polarization separation element 64 enters the half mirror 65 and is reflected by the half mirror 65. Here, when the light incident on the half mirror 65 is reflected by the half mirror 65, the phase of the light is reversed, and the light reflected by the half mirror 65 becomes TM mode light. On the other hand, the TE mode light and TM mode light transmitted through the polarization separation element 64 are separated by the photonic crystal structure of the first surface 62 of the polarization optical element 61. That is, the TM mode light is transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61, while the TE mode light is reflected by the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61. The TM mode light transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61 has a phase difference corresponding to one half of the wavelength of the light due to the sub-wavelength structure of the second surface 63 of the polarizing optical element 61. Is given. Thereby, the TM mode light transmitted through the first surface 62 of the polarizing optical element 61 is converted into TE mode light, and the TE mode light is emitted from the second surface 63 of the polarizing optical element 61. . Next, the light emitted from the second surface 63 of the polarizing optical element 61 enters the mirror 66 and is reflected by the mirror 66. Here, when the light incident on the mirror 66 is reflected by the mirror 66, the phase of the light is inverted, and the light reflected by the mirror 66 becomes TM mode light. That is, the light reflected by the half mirror 65 and the mirror 66 is TM mode light.

  In this way, using the optical component assembly 60 shown in FIG. 6D, one of the lights polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other from the light including both the TE mode and the TM mode polarized in the directions orthogonal to each other. It is possible to efficiently obtain TM mode light.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another specific example of the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which a first surface having a polarization separation function and a function of refracting light are provided. It is a figure explaining the optical component assembly containing the combination of two polarizing optical elements which have two surfaces.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the optical component assembly 70 includes two polarizing optical elements 71 and 72. Of the two polarizing optical elements 71 and 72, the polarizing optical element 71 on the light incident side and the polarizing optical element 72 on the light exit side are respectively referred to as a first polarizing optical element 71 and a second polarizing optical element 72, respectively. I will call it. The first polarization optical element 71 has a first surface 73 having a polarization separation function and a second surface 74 having a function of converging light. The second polarization optical element 72 has a first surface 73 having a polarization separation function and a second surface 75 having a function of diverging light. The first surface 73 of the first polarizing optical element 71 and the second polarizing optical element 72 includes a photonic crystal structure having a polarization separation function. The second surface 74 of the first polarizing optical element 71 includes a convex surface having a function of converging light, and the second surface 75 of the second polarizing optical element 72 has a function of diverging light. Concave surface included. The convex surface in the first polarizing optical element 71 and the concave surface in the second polarizing optical element 72 may be singular or plural (microlens array or the like). Both the first polarizing optical element 71 and the second polarizing optical element 72 are made of an inorganic material. The polarization axes of the photonic crystal structure included in the first surfaces 73 of the two polarizing optical elements 71 are parallel to each other, and the convex surface in the first polarizing optical element 71 and the concave surface in the second polarizing optical element 72 Are aligned. The second surface 74 of one polarizing optical element 71 is disposed on the side facing the other polarizing optical element 72.

  The optical component assembly 70 is irradiated with light containing both of the polarized light having the vibration surface of the electric field in the same direction in the direction orthogonal to each other. Polarized light having electric field vibration planes in directions orthogonal to each other are referred to as TE mode light and TM mode light, respectively. Note that the vibration planes of the electric fields of light in the TE mode and TM mode are also orthogonal to the traveling direction of the light. The TE mode and TM mode light incident on the first polarizing optical element 71 of the optical component assembly 70 is separated by the first surface 73 of the first polarizing optical element 71. That is, TM mode light is transmitted through the first surface 73 of the first polarizing optical element 71, but most of the TE mode light is reflected by the first surface 73 of the first polarizing optical element 71. A part of the TE mode light is transmitted through the first surface 73 of the first polarizing optical element 71. Part of the TM mode light and the TE mode light transmitted through the first surface 73 of the first polarizing optical element 71 is converged by the convex surface of the second surface 74 of the first polarizing optical element 71. . Next, the light converged by the convex surface of the second surface 74 of the first polarizing optical element 71 enters the second surface 74 of the second polarizing optical element 72 as parallel light. Here, the light converged by the convex surface of the second surface 74 of the first polarizing optical element 71 is diverged by the concave surface of the second surface 75 of the second polarizing optical element 72, and is approximately parallel light. As a result, the light is incident on the first surface 73 of the second polarizing optical element 72. Then, the TM mode light incident on the first surface 73 of the second polarizing optical element 72 is transmitted through the first surface 73 of the second polarizing optical element 72, and the second light of the second polarizing optical element 72. The TE mode light incident on one surface 73 is reflected by the first surface 73 of the second polarizing optical element 72.

  In this manner, the optical component assembly 70 can be used to separate TE mode light and TM mode light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and to refract the separated light. Here, since the two polarizing optical elements 71 and 72 having the first surface 73 and the second surfaces 74 and 75 are made of an inorganic material such as glass, the heat resistance of the optical component assembly 70 is improved. Since the first surfaces 73 of the two polarizing optical elements 71 and 72 include a photonic crystal structure, the contrast of the optical component assembly 70 can be improved. The contrast of the optical component assembly 70 is the ratio of the TM mode light transmittance to the TE mode light transmittance (contrast = TM mode light transmittance / TE mode light transmittance). Further, since the polarization optical elements 71 and 72 include both the first surface 73 having the polarization separation function and the second surfaces 74 and 75 having the function of refracting light, they are included in the optical component assembly 70. As a result, the size and cost of the optical component assembly 70 can be reduced.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a liquid crystal projector including an optical component assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The liquid crystal projector as shown in FIG. 8 includes a polarization separation element 84 on the light incident side and a polarization optical element 81 on the light emission side. The polarization separation element 84 has a photonic crystal structure configured to transmit S-polarized light and reflect P-polarized light. In addition, the polarization optical element 81 has a first wavelength 82 having a photonic crystal structure configured to transmit S-polarized light and reflect P-polarized light, and the light incident on the polarization optical element 81 has a wavelength of light. It has the 2nd surface 83 which gives the phase difference corresponding to a half. The first surface 82 of the polarizing optical element 81 faces the light exit side, and the second surface 83 faces the light incident side. The liquid crystal device 85 of the liquid crystal projector is provided between the polarization separation element 84 and the polarization optical element 81 of the optical component assembly. The other components of the liquid crystal projector, such as a polarizing beam splitter, are the same as known components, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  In the liquid crystal projector shown in FIG. 8, first, light emitted from a light source is converted into S-polarized light using a polarization beam splitter. S-polarized light is transmitted through the polarization separation element 84 in the optical component assembly, and the remaining P-polarized light component is reflected by the polarization separation element 84. Next, the S-polarized light transmitted through the polarization separation element 84 enters the liquid crystal device 85 and is converted into P-polarized light in the liquid crystal device 85. The P-polarized light converted by the liquid crystal device 85 is converted again to S-polarized light by the second surface 83 of the polarizing optical element 81 in the optical component assembly. Then, the S-polarized light converted by the second surface 83 of the polarizing optical element 81 is transmitted through the first surface 82 of the polarizing optical element 81 and projected onto the screen via the combining prism and the projection lens.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical component assembly in which the first optical component and the second optical component have an ineffective portion and are joined at the ineffective portion.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the optical component assembly includes first and second optical components 91. The first and second optical components 91 each have a first surface having a polarization separation function and a second surface having a polarization phase control function. And the 1st and 2nd optical components 91 have the ineffective part 92 into which the light polarized in the mutually orthogonal direction does not enter into the outer periphery of a 1st surface and a 2nd surface, respectively. And the 1st and 2nd optical components 91 are joined by the adhesive agent 93 apply | coated to the ineffective part 92. FIG. Since the adhesive 93 is applied to the ineffective portion 92 where light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other is not incident, not only colorless but also a colored adhesive can be used. As described above, by using the optical component assembly as shown in FIG. 9 in the same manner as the optical component assembly shown in FIG. 6C, the TE mode light and the TM mode polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. The light can be separated and a phase difference corresponding to one half of the wavelength of the light can be given to the separated light. Note that a wire grid structure can be used instead of one or both of the photonic crystal structures in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical component assembly in which at least one of the first optical component and the second optical component is fixed to a fixing member that fixes the optical component.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the optical component assembly is selected from the group consisting of a first surface that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and phase control of light refraction, reflection, and polarization. An optical component having a second surface having at least one function is fixed to a fixing member that fixes the optical component. The fixing member includes a cell 102 having four glass plates (only two glass plates are shown) surrounding the optical component 101 (four surfaces), and the four glass plates of the cell 102. Of these, mechanical means 103 for adjusting the distance between the two glass plates is provided. More specifically, the optical component 101 is positioned in a space surrounded by the four glass plates of the cell 102, and the optical component 101 is sandwiched between the two glass plates of the cell 102. Then, the distance between the two glass plates of the cell 102 is reduced using the mechanical means 103. In this way, the optical component 101 is firmly sandwiched between the two glass plates of the cell 102 and fixed in the cell 102. Further, other optical components included in the optical assembly are also fixed at predetermined positions by the same fixing member. Therefore, the optical component 101 can be easily fixed. Although not shown, if a plurality of mechanical means are provided to adjust the position of the plurality of glass plates in the cell 102, the position of the optical component 101 in the polarization separation element can be adjusted.

  A polarizing optical element having a photonic crystal structure and a sub-wavelength structure made of a glass material as shown in FIG. 5E is designed using the FDTD (time domain difference) method, and the method as shown in FIG. Thus, a photonic crystal structure of a polarizing optical element was manufactured.

  The photonic crystal structure of the polarizing optical element includes a substrate made of quartz and an adjustment layer made of the same material as that of the low refractive index layer, and a first thin film layer group to a thirteenth thin film layer sequentially laminated on the adjustment layer. Including groups. The first thin film layer group is formed by alternately laminating 10 layers each of a high refractive index layer having a thickness λ / 2 and a low refractive index layer having a thickness λ / 2 from the substrate side. The second thin film layer group is formed by alternately laminating 10 layers each of a high refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 and a low refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.90 from the substrate side. . The third thin film layer group is formed by alternately laminating 10 layers each of a high refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.95 and a low refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.90 from the substrate side. It is a thing. In the fourth thin film layer group, eight layers of high refractive index layers having a thickness λ / 2 × 0.95 and low refractive index layers having a thickness λ / 2 × 0.85 are alternately stacked from the substrate side. It is a thing. In the fifth thin film layer group, eight layers of high refractive index layers having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.90 and low refractive index layers having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.85 are alternately stacked from the substrate side. It is a thing. In the sixth thin film layer group, six layers of high refractive index layers having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.90 and low refractive index layers having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.80 are alternately laminated from the substrate side. It is a thing. In the seventh thin film layer group, six layers of high refractive index layers having a thickness λ / 2 × 0.85 and low refractive index layers having a thickness λ / 2 × 0.80 are alternately laminated from the substrate side. It is a thing. In the eighth thin film layer group, four layers of high refractive index layers of thickness λ / 2 × 0.80 and low refractive index layers of thickness λ / 2 × 0.70 are alternately laminated from the substrate side. It is a thing. The ninth thin film layer group is formed by stacking four layers of a high refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.75 and a low refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.60 from the substrate side. is there. The tenth thin film layer group is formed by laminating a high refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.70 and a low refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.55 from the substrate side. It is. In the eleventh thin film layer group, a high refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.60 and a low refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.50 were laminated one by one from the substrate side. Is. In the twelfth thin film layer group, a high refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.50 and a low refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.40 were laminated one by one from the substrate side. Is. In the thirteenth thin film layer group, a high refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.50 and a low refractive index layer having a thickness of λ / 2 × 0.30 were laminated one by one from the substrate side. Is.

  Note that λ is the wavelength of light incident on the polarization separation element, and is 470 nm here. The refractive indexes of quartz, the high refractive index layer, and the low refractive index layer at the wavelength λ (470 nm) are 1.45, 2.333, and 1.435, respectively.

Next, a sub-wavelength structure as shown in FIG. 4A was formed on the side of the polarizing optical element opposite to the photonic crystal structure according to the method shown in FIG. The plurality of wall portions of the sub-wavelength structure were thin films made of a sputtering thin film surface having a refractive index of 1.54 and a refractive index adjusted by slightly mixing TiO ₂ with SiO ₂ . The height of the wall portion was 2.4 μm, the thickness of the wall portion was 120 nm, and the pitch of the wall portion was 400 nm (filling factor = (pitch−thickness) / pitch = 0.7).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a simulation result of light transmittance for a polarizing optical element having a first surface having a polarization separation function and a second surface having a polarization phase control function. The vertical axis in FIG. 11 represents the light transmittance with respect to the polarizing optical element, and the horizontal axis in FIG. 11 represents the angle (degree) of the polarization plane of incident light with respect to the direction of the surface fine pattern. More specifically, with respect to the horizontal axis, the angle of the polarization plane of the incident light with respect to the direction of the surface fine pattern is the angle between the polarization plane of the incident light and the longitudinal direction of the wall portion of the sub-wavelength structure in the polarizing optical element. The angles 0 ° and ± 180 ° mean that the polarization plane of the incident light is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the wall portion of the sub-wavelength structure in the polarizing optical element, and the angle ± 90 ° is the polarization of the incident light. It means that the wavefront and the longitudinal direction of the wall portion of the sub-wavelength structure in the polarizing optical element are perpendicular. The wavelengths of light incident on the polarizing optical element were 400 nm, 500 nm, 600 nm, 700 nm, and 800 nm. The transmittance of the obtained polarizing optical element is the same as that of the conventional KONICA MINOLTA TECHNOLOGY REPORT VOL. 2 (2005) pp. It showed higher uniformity than the transmission of the subwavelength structure reported in 97-100.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an optical component assembly including two polarizing optical elements was formed. The first polarizing optical element has a first surface with a photonic crystal structure and a second surface with a spherical convex surface, and the second polarizing optical element has a first surface with a photonic crystal structure. And having a second surface with one surface and a spherical concave surface. The configuration of the photonic crystal structure is the same as that of Example 1 described above. Further, with respect to the spherical convex surface and the spherical concave surface, a plurality of spherical convex surfaces and a spherical concave surface are provided to form a microlens array. The refractive power of the convex surface and the refractive power of the concave surface at the incident height of the light beam had opposite signs and substantially equal absolute values. The radius of curvature of the convex surface of the spherical surface was 700 μm, the diameter of the spherical surface was 12.0 μm, the radius of curvature of the concave surface of the spherical surface was 500 μm, and the diameter of the concave surface of the spherical surface was 11.0 μm. The pitch of the microlenses was 12.0 μm, and the distance between the spherical convex surface and the spherical concave surface was 500 μm.

  In addition, in the optical component assembly described above, the combination of the spherical convex surface and the spherical concave surface was changed to 600 μm and 400 μm, 800 μm and 600 μm, 900 μm and 700 μm, and 1000 μm and 800 μm, respectively, as shown in Table 1. An optical assembly was manufactured.

  Table 1 Curvature radius of manufactured microlenses and their optical characteristics

本実施例で得られた光学部品組み立て体を、それぞれ、０．７インチ液晶プロジェクター用パネルに取り付けた液晶デバイスの光学特性を測定した。また、光学部品組み立て体に入射する光の入射角は、約±４°の範囲にあった。

The optical characteristics of the liquid crystal devices in which the optical component assemblies obtained in this example were each attached to a 0.7-inch liquid crystal projector panel were measured. Further, the incident angle of light incident on the optical component assembly was in the range of about ± 4 °.

  The transmission efficiency of the liquid crystal device including the optical component assembly obtained in this example was compared with the transmission efficiency of the liquid crystal device including the optical component assembly of the comparative example. The optical component assembly of the comparative example is an optical component assembly including two polarization optical elements having a photonic crystal structure in which a spherical convex surface and a spherical concave surface are not formed.

  As shown in Table 1, assuming that the transmission efficiency of the liquid crystal device including the optical component assembly of the comparative example is 1, the transmission efficiency of the liquid crystal device including the optical component assembly obtained in this example is 1. The transmission efficiency of the liquid crystal device including the optical component assembly obtained in this example was significantly higher than the transmission efficiency of the liquid crystal device including the optical component assembly of the comparative example. Moreover, as shown in Table 1, when light is incident on the optical component assembly obtained in this example at an incident angle in the range of about ± 4 °, the optical component assembly obtained in this example The average value of the emission angles of the light emitted from the light source was sufficiently smaller than 0.1 °, which is an emission angle that can be regarded as substantially parallel light. For this reason, the optical component assembly which improves the transmission efficiency of an optical component assembly and reduces the mixing of the light which permeate | transmits an adjacent microlens was able to be obtained. That is, when a liquid crystal projector using a liquid crystal device including the optical component assembly of the present embodiment is used, the deterioration of the liquid crystal molecules is reduced, and the durability of the liquid crystal device with respect to light is improved and projected onto the screen. There was no reduction in contrast or color mixing in the image.

Although the embodiments and examples of the present invention have been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and examples, and these embodiments and examples of the present invention are not limited thereto. Can be changed or modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[Appendix]
Appendix (1):
A first surface for separating light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and at least a second surface having at least one function selected from the group consisting of light refraction, reflection, and polarization phase control A polarizing optical element.
Appendix (2):
(1) At least one of the first part including the first surface and the second part different from the first part and including the second surface is made of an inorganic material. The polarizing optical element according to 1.
Appendix (3):
The polarizing optical element according to appendix (1) or (2), wherein the first surface has a photonic crystal structure.
Appendix (4):
The polarizing optical element according to any one of appendices (1) to (3), wherein the second surface is a surface that gives a phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other.
Appendix (5):
The polarizing optical element according to any one of appendices (1) to (3), wherein the second surface is a surface that refracts light.
Appendix (6):
The polarizing optical element according to appendix (5), wherein the second surface is a surface for converging light or a surface for diverging.
Appendix (7):
The polarizing optical element according to appendix (5), wherein the second surface is a surface for deflecting light.
Appendix (8):
The polarizing optical element according to any one of appendices (1) to (3), wherein the second surface is a surface that reflects light.
Appendix (9):
An optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component,
At least one of the first optical component and the second optical component is the polarizing optical element according to any one of appendices (1) to (8), an optical component assembly.
Appendix (10):
Note that both the first optical component and the second optical component are each independently the polarizing optical element according to any one of appendices (1) to (8). The optical component assembly according to 9).
Appendix (11):
The second surface included in the first optical component is a surface that gives a first phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other,
The optical component assembly according to appendix (10), wherein the second surface included in the second optical component is a surface that gives a second phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other. body.
Appendix (12):
The optical component assembly according to appendix (11), wherein the sum of the first phase difference and the second phase difference is a phase difference corresponding to half the wavelength of the light.
Appendix (13):
The second surface included in the first optical component includes a first refractive surface that refracts light,
The second surface included in the second optical component includes a second refractive surface that refracts light,
The optical component assembly according to appendix (10), wherein the first refractive surface is aligned with the second refractive surface.
Appendix (14):
The optical component assembly according to appendix (13), wherein the first refractive surface and the second refractive surface are microlens arrays.
Appendix (15):
Additional notes (10) to (14), wherein the first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component have polarization axes parallel to each other. An optical component assembly according to any one of the above.
Appendix (16):
The first optical component and the second optical component each independently have a non-effective portion where light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other does not enter and are joined by the non-effective portion. The optical component assembly according to any one of (6) to (12).
Appendix (17):
At least one of the first optical component and the second optical component is fixed to a fixing member that fixes the optical component, according to any one of appendices (9) to (15), The optical component assembly as described.
Appendix (18):
An optical apparatus comprising the polarization separation element according to any one of appendices (1) to (8) or the optical component assembly according to any one of appendices (9) to (17).
(Polarizing optical element, optical component assembly, and optical device)
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a polarizing optical element, an optical component assembly, and an optical device.
An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a polarizing optical element and an optical component assembly that can reduce the size and cost of an optical device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical apparatus having a reduced size and cost.
The first embodiment of the present invention is a first surface that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other, and at least one function selected from the group consisting of light refraction, reflection, and polarization phase control. A polarizing optical element having at least a second surface provided with:
The second embodiment of the present invention is an optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component, wherein at least one of the first optical component and the second optical component is 1 is an optical component assembly that is a polarizing optical element according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The third embodiment of the present invention is an optical apparatus characterized by including the polarization beam splitting element according to the first embodiment of the present invention or the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a polarizing optical element and an optical component assembly that can reduce the size and cost of an optical device.
In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, an optical device having a reduced size and cost can be provided.
Embodiments of the present invention may be applicable to polarizing optical elements, optical component assemblies, and optical devices.

1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an inorganic polarizing plate having a wire grid structure, and FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the inorganic polarizing plate having a wire grid structure . (B) is sectional drawing of the inorganic polarizing plate provided with the wire grid structure. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an inorganic polarizing plate having a photonic crystal structure. FIGS. 3A to 3D are views for explaining a method for producing an inorganic polarizing plate having a photonic crystal structure. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams for explaining a structure of a sub-wavelength structure wave plate and a method of manufacturing a sub-wavelength structure wave plate using nanoimprint technology, and FIG. 4 (a) shows a sub-wavelength structure. It is a figure explaining the structure of the wave plate of a structure, FIG.4 (b) is a figure explaining the manufacturing method of the wave plate of a subwavelength structure using nanoimprint technology. FIGS. 5A to 5E are diagrams for explaining a specific example of the polarizing optical element according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a first example having a polarization separation function. FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining a polarization optical element having a surface and a second surface having a light convergence function, and FIG. 5B shows a first surface having a polarization separation function and a second surface having a light divergence function. is a diagram for explaining a polarizing optical element having a surface, FIG. 5 (c), illustrating the polarizing optical element having a second surface having a first surface and a light deflecting function having the polarization separating function a diagram, FIG. 5 (d) are diagrams for explaining a polarizing optical element having a second surface having a first surface and reflecting light having a polarization separating function, FIG. 5 (e) is It is a figure explaining the polarization optical element which has the 1st surface provided with the polarization separation function, and the 2nd surface provided with the phase control function of polarized light. 6 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are diagrams for explaining a specific example of the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A combination of a polarization separation element having a polarization separation function in the preceding stage and a polarization optical element having a first surface having a polarization separation function in the subsequent stage and a second surface having a function of giving a half phase difference of the wavelength FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a first surface having a polarization separation function in the previous stage and a second function having a function of giving a half phase difference in wavelength. FIG. 6C is a diagram for explaining an optical component assembly including a combination of a polarization optical element having a surface and a polarization separation element having a polarization separation function at a later stage, and FIG. 6C is a first surface having a polarization separation function. Giving a phase difference of a quarter of the wavelength Is a view for explaining the optical component assembly comprising two polarizing optical element having a second surface provided with a, FIG. 6 (d) is a combination of the polarization separation element and the polarization optical element shown in FIG. 6 (a) It is a figure explaining the optical component assembly containing a mirror and a half mirror. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another specific example of the optical component assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which a first surface having a polarization separation function and a function of refracting light are provided. It is a figure explaining the optical component assembly containing the combination of two polarizing optical elements which have two surfaces. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a liquid crystal projector including an optical component assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical component assembly in which the first optical component and the second optical component have an ineffective portion and are joined at the ineffective portion. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical component assembly in which at least one of the first optical component and the second optical component is fixed to a fixing member that fixes the optical component. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a simulation result of light transmittance for a polarizing optical element having a first surface having a polarization separation function and a second surface having a polarization phase control function.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inorganic polarizing plate provided with wire grid structure 11 Base substrate 12 Metal wire 20, 30 Inorganic polarizing plate provided with photonic crystal structure 21, 31 Substrate 22, 32 Adjustment layer 23, 33 High refractive index layer 24, 34 Low refraction Index layer 40 Wave plate with sub-wavelength structure 41 Substrate portion 42 Wall portion 43 Resin bulk material 44 Mold 50, 61, 81 Polarizing optical element 51, 62, 82 First surface 52, 63, 83 Second surface 60 Optical Component assembly 64, 84 Polarization separation element 65 Half mirror 66 Mirror 70 Optical component assembly 71 First polarization optical element 72 Second polarization optical element 73 First surface of first and second polarization optical elements 74 First Second surface of one polarizing optical element 75 Second surface of second polarizing optical element 85 Liquid crystal device 91, 101 Optical component 92 Ineffective portion 9 3 Adhesive 102 Cell 103 Mechanical means

Claims (12)

An optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component,
Each of the first optical component and the second optical component is a polarizing optical element having at least a first surface that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and at least a second surface. In an optical component assembly,
The first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component each independently have a photonic crystal structure,
The second surface included in the first optical component is a surface that gives a first phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other,
The second surface included in the second optical component is a surface that gives a second phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other.
The optical component assembly characterized in that the sum of the first phase difference and the second phase difference is a phase difference corresponding to half of the wavelength of the light. The optical assembly according to claim 1 ,
An optical component assembly, wherein at least one of the first part including the first surface and the second part different from the first part and including the second surface is made of an inorganic material. . An optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component,
Each of the first optical component and the second optical component is a polarizing optical element having at least a first surface that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and at least a second surface. In an optical component assembly,
The first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component each independently have a photonic crystal structure,
The second surface included in the first optical component includes a first refractive surface that refracts light,
The second surface included in the second optical component includes a second refractive surface that refracts light,
The first refractive surface is aligned with the second refractive surface;
The optical component assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first refractive surface and the second refractive surface are microlens arrays. The optical assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
An optical component assembly, wherein at least one of the first part including the first surface and the second part different from the first part and including the second surface is made of an inorganic material. . In the optical assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
An optical component assembly, wherein the first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component have polarization axes parallel to each other. An optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component,
Each of the first optical component and the second optical component is a polarizing optical element having at least a first surface that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and at least a second surface. In an optical component assembly,
The first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component each independently have a photonic crystal structure,
The second surface included in the first optical component is a surface that gives a first phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other,
The second surface included in the second optical component is a surface that gives a second phase difference to light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other.
An optical component assembly, wherein the first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component have polarization axes parallel to each other. The optical assembly according to claim 6,
An optical component assembly, wherein at least one of the first part including the first surface and the second part different from the first part and including the second surface is made of an inorganic material. . An optical component assembly including at least a first optical component and a second optical component,
Each of the first optical component and the second optical component is a polarizing optical element having at least a first surface that separates light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other and at least a second surface. In an optical component assembly,
The first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component each independently have a photonic crystal structure,
The second surface included in the first optical component includes a first refractive surface that refracts light,
The second surface included in the second optical component includes a second refractive surface that refracts light,
The first refractive surface is aligned with the second refractive surface;
An optical component assembly, wherein the first surface included in the first optical component and the first surface included in the second optical component have polarization axes parallel to each other. The optical assembly according to claim 8, wherein
An optical component assembly, wherein at least one of the first part including the first surface and the second part different from the first part and including the second surface is made of an inorganic material. . In the optical assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ,
The first optical component and the second optical component each independently have an ineffective portion where light polarized in directions orthogonal to each other does not enter and are joined at the ineffective portion. Parts assembly. In the optical assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ,
At least one of the first optical component and the second optical component is fixed to a fixing member that fixes the optical component. An optical device comprising the optical component assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11 .

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