Optical path element, optical switching element, spatial light modulator and image display apparatus
First Claim
1. An optical switching element, comprising:
- a first light transmitting element, having a first light incident surface, a second light incident surface that is not parallel to the first light incident surface, and a light outgoing surface;
a reflection substrate, arranged opposite to the second light incident surface of the first light transmitting element and having a first reflection surface with a predetermined angle that is not parallel to the second light incident surface, wherein a reflected light passes through the first light transmitting element and the reflection substrate and then is reflected by the first reflection surface of the reflection substrate; and
an index variable material, sandwiched between the first light transmitting element and the reflection substrate and having an index of refraction that is variable according to an external signal applied, wherein by varying the index of refraction of the index variable material, an angle formed by the reflected light and a normal line of the light outgoing surface is changed such that an emitting direction of the reflected light is changed.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical switching element, comprising a light transmitting element, a reflection substrate, and index variable material. The light transmitting element has a first light incident surface, a second light incident surface not parallel to the first light incident surface, and a light outgoing surface. The reflection substrate is arranged opposite to the second light incident surface and has a reflection surface with an angle that is not parallel to the second light incident surface, wherein a reflected light passes through the light transmitting element and the reflection substrate and then is reflected by the reflection surface. The index variable material is sandwiched between the light transmitting element and the reflection substrate and has an index of refraction varied according to an external signal. By varying the index of refraction of the index variable material, an angle formed by the reflected light and a normal line of the light outgoing surface is changed such that the emitting direction of the reflected light is changed.
14 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An optical switching element, comprising:
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a first light transmitting element, having a first light incident surface, a second light incident surface that is not parallel to the first light incident surface, and a light outgoing surface;
a reflection substrate, arranged opposite to the second light incident surface of the first light transmitting element and having a first reflection surface with a predetermined angle that is not parallel to the second light incident surface, wherein a reflected light passes through the first light transmitting element and the reflection substrate and then is reflected by the first reflection surface of the reflection substrate; and
an index variable material, sandwiched between the first light transmitting element and the reflection substrate and having an index of refraction that is variable according to an external signal applied, wherein by varying the index of refraction of the index variable material, an angle formed by the reflected light and a normal line of the light outgoing surface is changed such that an emitting direction of the reflected light is changed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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16. An optical path element, comprising:
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a light incident unit such that an incident light is incident through a light transmitting element;
a light reflection unit for reflecting the incident light from the light incident unit;
a light emitting unit for emitting a reflection light reflected by the light reflection unit out of the light transmitting element;
an index variable material filled into an optical path in the light reflection unit; and
a signal input device for providing a signal to the index variable material according to information to alter an index of refraction of the index variable material;
wherein the index of refraction of the index variable material is varied to a range such that the incident light is not totally reflected at an interface between the light transmitting element and the index variable material. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification