AI Content Index › Visible Polarizers › BVO Wire Grid
BVO Wire Grid Linear Polarizer
Active Range: 400 nm – 1,100 nm | Reflective Wire Grid | 0° and 45° AOI | Beamsplitter Capable
400–1100 nm
Reflective
0° and 45° AOI
Beamsplitter Capable
VIS + NIR
Important: BVO Wire Grid is a reflective polarizer — the rejected polarization state is reflected, not absorbed. This is fundamentally different from absorptive (dichroic) polarizers. If your system requires no back-reflection, use an absorptive product such as BVO NIR Ultra or BVO UHC. Wire Grid is the right choice when you need beamsplitter functionality or when reflecting the rejected state is acceptable or useful.
BVO Wire Grid is a reflective, non-absorptive linear polarizer film covering 400–1100 nm. Unlike dichroic film polarizers that absorb the rejected polarization state, the wire grid reflects it — enabling use as a polarizing beamsplitter. Performance data is provided at both 0° and 45° angle of incidence (AOI). At 45° AOI, NIR Tp is significantly higher (92%+ above 900 nm) than at normal incidence, making it particularly useful for NIR camera beamsplitter applications.
1,085–4,542:1
CR Range at 0° AOI
954–5,445:1
CR Range at 45° AOI
BVO Wire Grid — Tp Performance at 0° and 45° AOI
Input Light: Plane Polarized | Active Range: 400–1100 nm | Reflective polarizer — rejects by reflection not absorption
Key Features
- Reflective wire grid — rejected polarization state reflected, not absorbed
- Beamsplitter capable — use at 45° AOI to separate polarization states spatially
- Broadband 400–1100 nm — covers full visible and NIR in one element
- Performance data at both 0° and 45° angle of incidence
- 45° AOI: higher NIR Tp (92%+ above 900 nm) — ideal for NIR camera beamsplitter
- 0° AOI: 1,085–4,542:1 contrast, 61–87% Tp across 400–1100 nm
- 45° AOI: 954–5,445:1 contrast, 56–93% Tp across 400–1100 nm
- PSA conversion available for direct lamination to glass surfaces
- Custom geometry — .dxf routing or laser cutting to 10–25 micron tolerances
- Large tolerances possible — contact BVO for high-volume format options
Performance at Key Wavelengths
| Wavelength | Tp 0° AOI | CR 0° AOI | Tp 45° AOI | CR 45° AOI |
|---|
| 400 nm | 61.6% | 1,085:1 | 56.1% | 954:1 |
| 500 nm | 85.4% | 2,352:1 | 84.6% | 2,287:1 |
| 600 nm | 84.0% | 3,266:1 | 86.0% | 3,075:1 |
| 700 nm | 82.5% | 4,475:1 | 86.4% | 4,932:1 |
| 800 nm | 81.9% | 3,548:1 | 85.3% | 4,228:1 |
| 900 nm | 84.0% | 1,762:1 | 88.6% | 2,181:1 |
| 1000 nm | 85.4% | 1,889:1 | 92.1% | 2,107:1 |
| 1100 nm | 86.7% | ~1,200:1 | 92.9% | ~1,400:1 |
Standard Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|
| Performance Range | 400 nm – 1,100 nm |
| Polarizer Type | Reflective wire grid — NOT absorptive |
| CR at 0° AOI | 1,085:1 to 4,542:1 across 400–1100 nm |
| CR at 45° AOI | 954:1 to 5,445:1 across 400–1100 nm |
| Tp at 0° AOI | 61% to 87% across 400–1100 nm |
| Tp at 45° AOI | 56% to 93% across 400–1100 nm |
| Beamsplitter Capable | Yes — at 45° AOI separates polarization states spatially |
| Film Cut Tolerances | ±50 microns standard; 10–25 microns precision |
| PSA Conversion | Available |
| Custom Geometry | .dxf routing or laser cutting available |
Applications
Polarizing Beamsplitter45° AOI configuration separates orthogonal polarization states spatially. Recovers both polarization components — unlike absorptive polarizers which discard one state.
NIR Camera BeamsplitterAt 45° AOI, Tp rises to 92%+ in the NIR (900–1100 nm) — high efficiency NIR polarizing beamsplitter for camera and sensing systems.
VIS + NIR Broadband PolarizationSingle element covering full visible and NIR to 1100 nm. Useful when both visible and NIR polarization are needed in one component.
Polarimetry InstrumentationBroadband polarimetry 400–1100 nm. Wire grid enables simultaneous access to both polarization states when used as a beamsplitter.
Surveillance & SecurityVIS+NIR polarization for day/night surveillance systems operating across the full 400–1100 nm visible and NIR band.
Multispectral ImagingBroadband VIS+NIR polarized imaging for multispectral cameras spanning the 400–1100 nm band.
Wire Grid vs Absorptive — When to Choose
| Requirement | Choose Wire Grid | Choose Absorptive (NIR Ultra, UHC etc.) |
|---|
| Back-reflection allowed | ✓ Yes | Not applicable |
| No back-reflection required | Not suitable | ✓ Yes — fully absorptive |
| Beamsplitter function needed | ✓ Yes — reflects rejected state | Not possible |
| Recover both polarization states | ✓ Yes — both transmitted and reflected | Not possible — rejects one state |
| Simple attenuation / filtering | Possible but overkill | ✓ Simpler and lower cost |
Contact Bolder Vision Optik