Light polarizer

Abstract

A polarizer comprising at least one subwavelength optical microstructure that includes linear prisms, and wherein said microstructure is partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface.

1 . A polarizer, comprising: 
 at least one subwavelength optical microstructure, said microstructure being partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface; and    a coating disposed over at least part of the optical microstructure and the inhibiting surface.    
     
     
         2 . The polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is collimating.  
     
     
         3 . The polarizer of  claim 2 , wherein the coating is formed into at least one linear prism.  
     
     
         4 . The polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is formed into a cube-corner prism to form a transparent polarizing cube-corner film.  
     
     
         5 . The polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is formed into a lens.  
     
     
         6 . The polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is formed into a surface relief diffuser.  
     
     
         7 . The polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the optical microstructure include moth-eye structures, linear prisms, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The polarizer of  claim 1  wherein the light-transmissive inhibiting surface includes reflective surface.  
     
     
         9 . The polarizer of  claim 1  wherein the light-transmissive inhibiting surface is a metalized coating.  
     
     
         10 . The polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the optical microstructure includes a flat surface upon which the light-transmissive inhibiting surface is disposed.  
     
     
         11 . The polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the optical microstructure includes peaks and valleys, wherein the light-transmissive inhibiting surface is primarily disposed on the peaks.  
     
     
         12 . The polarizer of  claim 11 , wherein the light-transmissive inhibiting surface is disposed on one side of substantially all of the peaks.  
     
     
         13 . A filter, comprising: 
 at least one subwavelength optical microstructure having at least a part of a surface covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface; and    a resonance structure adjacent to the microstructure for reflecting light of a predetermined wavelength that has passed through the microstructure.    
     
     
         14 . A method of forming a polarizer, comprising: 
 partially covering a subwavelength optical microstructure with light-transmissive inhibiting surface, wherein optical microstructure includes linear prisms; and    disposing a coating over at least part of the optical microstructure and the metalized surface.