The present disclosure is directed to a method of forming a polarization grating structure (e.g., polarizer) as part of a grid structure of a back side illuminated image sensor device. For example, the method includes forming a layer stack over a semiconductor layer with radiation-sensing regions. Further, the method includes forming grating elements of one or more polarization grating structures within a grid structure, where forming the grating elements includes (i) etching the layer stack to form the grid structure and (ii) etching the layer stack to form grating elements oriented to a polarization angle.

A viewing angle control film includes, in order, a first polarizer in which an absorption axis is in a direction perpendicular to a film surface; a first phase difference plate which is a /4 plate and has a patterned optical anisotropic layer; and a second phase difference plate which is a /4 plate and has a patterned optical anisotropic layer, in which the patterned optical anisotropic layers have a constant phase difference and are divided into a plurality of belt-like regions in the same plane, directions of slow axes in one belt-like region match each other and directions of slow axes of belt-like regions adjacent to each other are different from each other in the patterned optical anisotropic layer, and the belt-like region of the first phase difference plate and the belt-like region of the second phase difference plate are disposed so as to intersect with each other in a plane direction.

A polarizing plate has a wire grid structure, and includes a transparent substrate, and a plurality of protrusions, which extend in a first direction (y-direction) on the transparent substrate and are periodically spaced apart from each other at a pitch that is shorter than a wavelength of a light in a use band, wherein each of the protrusions has a base shape portion which is formed having a width across the cross-section orthogonal to the first direction (y-direction) that narrows toward the tip, and a protruding portion which protrudes from the base shape portion and absorbs light having a wavelength in the use band.

A polarization-sensitive photonic splitter may include a lower cladding layer and a device layer formed from a first waveguide supporting TE and TM light, a second waveguide, a third waveguide, and a transition core. The first waveguide core and the second waveguide core are formed from one of a first core structure or a second core structure, and the third waveguide is formed from the other structure. The first core structure has an index of refraction n.sub.M. The second core structure is formed as alternating layers providing an effective index of refraction for TE light n.sub.TE and an effective index of refraction for TM light n.sub.TM, where n.sub.TM<n.sub.M<n.sub.TE. The transition core is formed from the first core structure adjacent to the second core structure and is coupled to the first transition core at one and the second and third transition cores at the other end.

A photonic device may include a lower cladding layer and a device layer. The device layer may include a first waveguide supporting TE and TM light, and a second waveguide, where a portion of a second waveguide core is proximate to a first waveguide core to provide evanescent coupling. The first waveguide core is formed from one of a first core structure or a second core structure, and the second waveguide core is formed from the other structure. The first core structure has an index of refraction n.sub.M. The second core structure is formed as alternating layers providing an effective index of refraction for TE polarized light n.sub.TE and an effective index of refraction for TM polarized light n.sub.TM, where n.sub.TM<n.sub.M<n.sub.TE such that one of TM or TE light is preferentially evanescently coupled between the first waveguide and the second waveguide.

Provided are a polarizing plate having excellent optical characteristics, and a method for manufacturing the polarizing plate. The present invention is provided with: a translucent substrate through which light passes in a working band; a bundle structure layer constituted of a columnar sheaf comprising one or more material from among dielectrics, metals, and semiconductors, the bundle structure layer being formed on the translucent substrate; an absorption layer formed on the bundle structure layer; a dielectric layer formed on the absorption layer; and a reflection layer formed on the dielectric layer and arranged as a one-dimensional lattice at a pitch that is smaller than the wavelength of the light in the working band. Because the bundle structure layer increases light absorption and light scattering, the result is that reflectivity can be reduced and excellent optical characteristics obtained.

A leaf inspired biomimetic light trapping scheme for ultrathin flexible graphene silicon Schottky junction solar cell. An all-dielectric approach comprising of lossless silica and titania nanoparticles is used for mimicking the two essential light trapping mechanisms of a leaf: (1) focusing and waveguiding and (2) scattering. The light trapping scheme uses two optically tuned layers and does not require any nano-structuring of the active silicon substrate, thereby ensuring that the optical gain is not offset due to recombination losses.

Provided are a polarizing plate having excellent optical properties and durability, and a method for manufacturing the polarizing plate. The polarizing plate includes: a transparent substrate transparent to light in a used wavelength band; lattice-shaped protrusions arranged on the transparent substrate at a pitch shorter than the wavelength of light in the used wavelength band, extending in a predetermined direction, and having a reflective layer, a first dielectric layer, an absorbing layer, and a second dielectric layer in this order; a dielectric portion consisting of a dielectric discontinuously formed on a surface of the lattice-shaped protrusions and a surface of a bottom floor between the lattice-shaped protrusions; and a water-repellent portion formed on a surface of the dielectric portion and having water-repellent properties.

An optical magnification system comprises two Pancharatnam lenses, and provides a first magnification for left-hand circularly polarized light and a second magnification different from the first magnification for right-hand circularly polarized light. An optical magnification system comprises two lenses, each having different focal lengths for left-handed and right-handed circularly polarized light, respectively, and configured to provide a first magnification for left-handed circularly polarized light and a second magnification different from the first magnification for right-handed circularly polarized light.

Disclosed herein are display panels, display panel stacks, and techniques to manufacture such display panel stacks where a polarizer is provided for each illumination element of the display panel stack. A polarizer can be formed onto each individual illumination element once the illumination element is transferred to the backplane. The polarizer can be arranged to polarize light emitted from the illumination element and light incident on the display from ambient.