CPC G02B 5/1842 (2013.01) [G02B 6/0026 (2013.01); G02B 27/0172 (2013.01); G02B 6/0076 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0178 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A waveguide comprising:
a substrate configured to propagate light within the waveguide by total internal reflection; and
at least one diffraction grating on the substrate, each diffraction grating comprising:
a grating pattern on a side of the substrate, the grating pattern comprising material different than the substrate;
a first layer disposed over at least a portion of the grating pattern on the side of the substrate, the first layer comprising an optically transmissive material; and
a second layer comprising metal disposed on the side of the substrate over both the grating pattern and the first layer, such that the first layer is between the grating pattern and the second layer, and such that the diffraction grating has a first diffraction efficiency for light having a first state over a range of angles of light incident thereon and a second diffraction efficiency for light having a second state over the range of angles of light incident thereon,
wherein the grating pattern, the first layer, and the second layer are on the side of the substrate configured as an incident side,
wherein at least one of the first state or the second state is a polarization state, and
wherein the first diffraction efficiency is 1 to 2 times the second diffraction efficiency.
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