OPTICAL ELEMENT FOR TRANSFORMATION OF LIGHT FLOW AND OPTICAL TRANSDUCER, WHICH USES SAID ELEMENT Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: optical instruments. SUBSTANCE: optical element for transformation of light flow has three-layer converting unit and light reflector. Functional layers 4, 8 of converting unit are shaped as wedges, which base vertex angles are about 45 or 90 degrees. Intermediate functional layer 6 is adjacent to side of outer functional layer 4 and has width which is comparable to wavelength of light to be transformed. Functional layer 8 is conjugated to intermediate functional layer 6 along side 9. Reflector 2 is located on side 11 of functional layer 8. Orientation of functional layers provides tetrahedral prism shape of three-layer converting unit, which consists of them. Parameters and three-dimensional orientation of structures of reflector 2 conform to condition of repeated reflection of light with respect to base 5 or 10 within generational layer 4 or 8. Other claims of invention disclose design of optical transducers, which comprise at least two optical elements, which are identical to described optical element 1. In these cases, all converting units, which carry reflectors 2 are joined in integral assembly. One claim of invention discloses device design in which said assembly is produced by means of parallel conjugation of converting units by sides, so that bases of identical functional layers 4, 8 are located in same plane and all functional layers 6 are parallel. In such cases, sides 17 of converting unit are covered by material, which refraction index is not greater than refraction index of functional layer 6. Another claim of invention discloses design of assembly, which is provided by sequence of conjugated converting units along bases of opposite functional layers 4, 8, so that functional layers 6 of adjacent converting units are oriented in space at angle, which is about 90 degrees. This results in possibility of collimation of diffused light and converging this light beam into restricted spatial angle, as well as diffusion of directed light beam, as well as units for polarization of light beam. EFFECT: increased functional capabilities. 12 cl, 10 dwg