Polarizing optical system

Abstract

There is provided an optical system, including a light-transmitting substrate having at least two major surfaces parallel to each other edges, and an optical device for coupling light into the substrate by total internal reflection. The device includes a polarization sensitive reflecting surface.

1 . A method for fabricating an optical device, comprising:
 obtaining a first light-waves transmitting substrate having a plurality of external surfaces including at least first and second external major surfaces and a third external surface non-parallel to the first and second external major surfaces, the first light-waves transmitting substrate having a coupling-out optical arrangement for coupling light waves out of the first light-waves transmitting substrate;   obtaining a second light-waves transmitting substrate having a plurality of external surfaces including at least first and second external major surfaces and a third external surface non-parallel to the first and second external major surfaces, the second light-waves transmitting substrate having a coupling-in optical arrangement for coupling light waves into the second light-waves transmitting substrate; and   attaching the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates together at the third external surface of the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates to form the optical device such that the third external surface of the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates is a common surface to the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second external major surfaces of the first light-waves transmitting substrate are parallel to each other, and wherein the third external surface of the first light-waves transmitting substrate is normal to the first and second external major surfaces of the first light-waves transmitting substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second external major surfaces of the second light-waves transmitting substrate are parallel to each other, wherein the third external surface of the second light-waves transmitting substrate is normal to the first and second external major surfaces of the second light-waves transmitting substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second external major surfaces of the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates are mutually parallel, and wherein the third external surface of the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates are normal to the first and second external major surfaces of the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling-out optical arrangement includes at least one partially reflecting surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling-in optical arrangement includes a reflecting surface non-parallel to the first and second external major surfaces of the second light-waves transmitting substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling-in optical arrangement includes a prism. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling in optical arrangement includes a polarization sensitive beamsplitter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the attaching the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates together includes cementing the third external surfaces together. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the optical device includes at least a first external major surface formed from the first external major surface of the first and second light-waves transmitting substrate, and a second external major surface formed from the second external major surface of the first and second light-waves transmitting substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: grinding or polishing the first and second major external surfaces of the optical device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: grinding or polishing the first and second major external surfaces of the first and second light-waves transmitting substrates. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the first light-waves transmitting substrate includes:
 obtaining a plurality of substantially transparent plates, at least one surface of at least one of the transparent plates being coated with a partially reflecting coating to form at least one partially reflecting surface,   stacking the plates and attaching the stacked plates together, and   slicing the stacked plates along two parallel planes and a third plane non-parallel to the two parallel planes to form the first light-waves transmitting substrate, wherein the slicing along the two parallel planes defines the first and second external major surfaces of the first light-waves transmitting substrate, and the slicing along the third plane defines the third external surface of the first light-waves transmitting substrate, and wherein the coupling-out optical arrangement includes the at least one partially reflecting surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the second light-waves transmitting substrate includes:
 obtaining a first plate and a second plate, the second plate having a reflecting coating applied to at least one surface thereof to form at least one reflecting surface on the second plate,   stacking the first and second plates and attaching the stacked plates together, and   slicing the stacked plates along two parallel planes and a third plane non-parallel to the two parallel planes to form the second light-waves transmitting substrate, wherein the slicing along the two parallel planes defines the first and second external major surfaces of the second light-waves transmitting substrate, and the slicing along the third plane defines the third external surface of the second light-waves transmitting substrate, and wherein the coupling-in optical arrangement includes the at least one reflecting surface.   
     
     
         15 . A method for fabricating an optical device, comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of substantially transparent plates, at least one surface of at least one of the transparent plates being coated with a partially reflecting coating to form at least one partially reflecting surface that couples light waves out of the optical device;   stacking the plates and attaching the stacked plates together;   slicing the stacked plates along two parallel planes and a third plane non-parallel to the two parallel planes to form a first light-waves transmitting substrate, wherein the slicing along the two parallel planes defines parallel first and second external major surfaces of the first light-waves transmitting substrate and the slicing along the third plane defines a third external surface of the first light-waves transmitting substrate non-parallel to the first and second external major surfaces of the first light-waves transmitting substrate;   obtaining a first plate and a second plate, the second plate having a reflecting coating applied to a surface thereof to form a reflecting surface on the second plate that couples light waves into the optical device;
 stacking and attaching together the first and second plates; 
 slicing the stacked first and second plates along two parallel planes and a third plane non-parallel to the two parallel planes to form a second light-waves transmitting substrate, wherein the slicing the stacked first and second plates along the two parallel planes defines parallel first and second external major surfaces of the second light-waves transmitting substrate, and wherein the slicing the stacked first and second plates along the third plane defines a third external surface of the second light-waves transmitting substrate non-parallel to the first and second external major surfaces of the first light-waves transmitting substrate; and 
 attaching the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates together at the third external surface of the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates to form the optical device such that the third external surface of the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates is a common surface to the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the attaching the first and second light-wave transmitting substrates together includes cementing the third external surfaces together. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the optical device includes at least a first external major surface formed from the first external major surface of the first and second light-waves transmitting substrate and a second external major surface formed from the second external major surface of the first and second light-waves transmitting substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: grinding or polishing the first and second major external surfaces of the optical device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: grinding or polishing the first and second major external surfaces of the first and second light-waves transmitting substrates. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: grinding or polishing the first light-wave transmitting substrate prior to attaching the first light-waves transmitting substrate to the second light-waves transmitting substrate. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: grinding or polishing the second light-wave transmitting substrate prior to attaching the first light-waves transmitting substrate to the second light-waves transmitting substrate.