Optical multilayer structure, optical switching device, and image display
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical multilayer structure has a substrate, a light-absorbing first layer in contact with the substrate, a gap portion having a changeable size capable of causing an optical interference phenomenon, and a second layer. By changing the size of the gap portion, an amount of reflection, transmission, or absorption of incident light can be changed. For example, the substrate is made of carbon (C), the first layer is made of tantalum (Ta), and the second layer is made of silicon nitride (Si3N4). Also in a visible light area, high response is realized. Consequently, the optical multilayer structure can be suitably used for an image display. The optical multilayer structure may be obtained by stacking, on a substrate made of a metal such as chromium (Cr), a first transparent layer made of a material having a high refractive index such as TiO2 (n=2.40), a second transparent layer made of a material having a low refractive index such as MgF2 (n=1.38), a gap portion having a changeable size capable of causing an optical interference phenomenon, and a third transparent layer made of a material having a high refractive index such as TiO2.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1-26. -26. (canceled)
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27. An optical multilayer structure comprising:
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a light-absorbing layer, portion, or substrate which does not transmit incident light or a transparent substrate;
a first transparent layer made of a material having a low refractive index;
and a second transparent layer made of a material having a high refractive index;
the first and the second transparent layers being stacked in accordance with this order on the layer, portion, or substrate or the transparent substrate; and
a gap portion having a changeable size capable of causing an optical interference phenomenon, provided between the light-absorbing layer, portion, or substrate and the first transparent layer, or between the first and second transparent layers. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40-52. -52. (canceled)
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53. An optical switching device comprising:
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an optical multilayer structure havng a light-absorbing layer, portion, or substrate which does not transmit incident light or a transparent substrate, a first transparent layer made of a material having a low refractive index, a second transparent layer made of a material having a high refractive index, the first and second transparent layers being stacked in accordance with this order on the layer, portion, or substrate or the transparent substrate, and a gap portion having a changeable size capable of causing an optical interference phenomenon, provided between the light-absorbing layer, portion or substrate and the first transparent layer, or between the first and second transparent layers and driving means for changing an optical size of the gap portion. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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55-56. -56. (canceled)
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57. An image display for displaying a two-dimensional image by irradiating a plurality of optical switching devices arranged one-dimensionally or two dimensionally with light,
the optical switching device comprising: -
an optical multilayer structure having a light-absorbing layer, portion, or substrate which does not transmit incident light or a transparent substrate, a first transparent layer made of a material having a low refractive index, a second transparent layer made of a material having a high refractive index, the first and second transparent layers being stacked in accordance with this order on the layer, portion, or substrate or the transparent substrate, and a gap portion having a changeable size capable of causing an optical interference phenomenon, provided between the light-absorbing layer, portion, or substrate and the first transparent layer, or between the first and second transparent layers and driving means for changing an optical size of the gap portion.
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58-82. -82. (canceled)
Specification