Optical functional device and optical integrated device

• US 6,853,760 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Maruyama, Shinji, Sekine, Koujirou, Teramoto, Miyuki, Takada, Kyu, Yokoyama, Mitsuru, Iwamoto, Tsuyoshi, Hatano, Takuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): STAHL, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US09/765,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20010026659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 385/14, 385/39, 385/40, 385/37, 385/7, 359/573, 349/202
• US Class Current: 385/14
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12145 Switch
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12164 Multiplexing; Demultiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1225 comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/42 Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/125 in an optical waveguide structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/295 Analog deflection from or in an optical waveguide structure]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/313 in an optical waveguide structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/32 Photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/055 wavelength filtering

Abstract

On a waveguide 34 formed on a substrate 33, a plurality of comblike shaped electrodes 37, 38 that generate surface acoustic waves 37a, 38a from different directions are provided. And a periodic refractive indices portion 40 is formed, where the refractive indices are periodically distributed in accordance with the wavelengths of the surface acoustic waves 37a, 38a generated by applying a voltage to the comblike shaped electrodes 37, 38. And by changing a frequency of the applying voltage for sequentially changing the wavelengths of the surface acoustic waves 37a, 38a, the exiting direction of the light exiting from the periodic refractive indices portion 40 is scanned. This makes it possible to provide an optical functional device and an optical scanning apparatus that perform light scanning less costly but at a high speed, and that can secure a wide scanning angle.

Claims

1. An optical functional device comprising:

a periodic structure with a first refractive index portion and a plurality of second refractive index portions,

wherein the second refractive index portions recur in a periodic pattern relative to the first refractive index portion, and

wherein each recurrence of the second refractive index portion has a variable refractive index, and wherein, when the second refractive index portions are in a first refractive state, the optical functional device passes light having a first characteristic and blocks light having a second characteristic, and, when the second refractive index portions are in a second refractive state, the optical functional device passes light having the first characteristic and redirects light having the second characteristic.

2. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the second refractive index portions include a medium having an electro-optical effect, and by electrically controlling the medium from outside, it is possible to vary the periodic structure.

3. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the medium is liquid crystal.

4. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the refractive index of each recurrence of the second refractive index portion is varied by acoustic waves propagating in one or more media, and the refractive index of each recurrence of the second refractive index portion is controlled by electrically controlling the frequency of the acoustic waves from outside.

5. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the periodical structure is two-dimensional.

21. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first characteristic is a first polarity state and the second characteristic is a second polarity state.

22. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first characteristic is a first wavelength and the second characteristic is a second wavelength.

6. An optical integrated device comprising:

a waveguide portion for guiding light; and

a periodic structure portion to which light is directed by the waveguide portion, and which has a periodic structure with a first refractive index portion and a plurality of second refractive index portions,

wherein the second refractive index portions recur in a periodic pattern relative to the first refractive index portion, and

wherein each recurrence of the second refractive index portion has a variable refractive index, and wherein, when the second refractive index portions are in a first refractive state, the optical functional device passes light having a first characteristic and blocks light having a second characteristic, and, when the second refractive index portions are in a second refractive state, the optical functional device passes light having the first characteristic and redirects light having the second characteristic.

7. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

another waveguide portion for guiding light emitted from the periodic structure portion.

8. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a voltage applying portion for applying a voltage to the periodic structure portion for varying the variable refractive index.

23. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first characteristic is a first polarity state and the second characteristic is a second polarity state.

24. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first characteristic is a first wavelength and the second characteristic is a second wavelength.

9. An optical integrated device comprising:

a periodic structure portion which has a periodic structure with a first refractive index portion and a plurality of second refractive index portions,

wherein the second refractive index portions recur in a periodic pattern relative to the first refractive index portion, and

wherein each recurrence of the second refractive index portion has a variable refractive index, and wherein, when the second refractive index portions are in a first refractive state, the optical functional device passes light having a first characteristic and blocks light having a second characteristic, and, when the second refractive index portions are in a second refractive state, the optical functional device passes light having the first characteristic and redirects light having the second characteristic; and

a waveguide portion for guiding light.

10. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a voltage applying portion which applies a voltage to the periodic structure portion for varying the variable refractive index.

25. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first characteristic is a first polarity state and the second characteristic is a second polarity state.

26. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first characteristic is a first wavelength and the second characteristic is a second wavelength.

11. An optical integrated device comprising:

a light source portion that can vary wavelengths of emitted light; and

a periodic structure portion which has a periodic structure with a first refractive index portion and a plurality of second refractive index portions,

wherein the second refractive index portions recur in a periodic pattern relative to the first refractive index portion, and

wherein each recurrence of the second refractive index portion has a variable refractive index, and wherein, when the second refractive index portions are in a first refractive state, the optical functional device passes light having a first characteristic and blocks light having a second characteristic, and, when the second refractive index portions are in a second refractive state, the optical functional device passes light having the first characteristic and redirects light having the second characteristic.

12. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a waveguide portion for directing light to the periodic structure portion.

13. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a second waveguide portion for guiding light exiting from the periodic structure portion.

14. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a third waveguide portion for guiding light exiting from the periodic structure portion.

15. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a voltage applying portion that applies a voltage to the periodic structure portion for varying the variable refractive index.

27. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first characteristic is a first polarity state and the second characteristic is a second polarity state.

28. An optical integrated device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first characteristic is a first wavelength and the second characteristic is a second wavelength.

16. An optical functional device comprising:

a periodic structure having a first refractive index portion and a plurality of second refractive index portions, the second refractive index portions recurring in a periodic pattern with respect to the first refractive index portion; and

a controller for varying the refractive index of the plurality of second refractive index portions, and wherein, when the second refractive index portions are in a first refractive state, the optical functional device passes light having a first characteristic and blocks light having a second characteristic, and, when the second refractive index portions are in a second refractive state, the optical functional device passes light having the first characteristic and redirects light having the second characteristic.

17. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 16,

wherein the plurality of second refractive index portions include a medium having an electro-optical effect, and wherein the controller electrically controls the medium to vary the refractive index of the plurality of second refractive index portions.

18. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the medium is liquid crystal.

19. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 16,

wherein the controller varies the refractive index of the plurality of second refractive index portions by propagating waves in one or more media, and wherein the controller controls a frequency of the waves.

20. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 16,

wherein the periodic structure is two-dimensional.

29. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the first characteristic is a first polarity state and the second characteristic is a second polarity state.

30. An optical functional device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the first characteristic is a first wavelength and the second characteristic is a second wavelength.