Optical system

• US 7,133,218 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shinmaywa Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Shinmaywa Industries Limited
• Inventors: Hirota, Shoichi, Kondo, Katsumi, Sugita, Tatsuya, Onisawa, Kenichi, Kajiyama, Hiroshi, Abe, Makoto, Adachi, Masaya, Kato, Akira, Hori, Takanobu, Tokomoto, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, TIMOTHY J
• Application Number:
  US10/251,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 359/227, 359/228, 359/634, 359/738, 359/296
• US Class Current: 359/738
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0694 Halides
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/32 by explosion; by evaporation and subsequent ionisation of the vapours , e.g. ion-platingC23C14/34 - C23C14/48 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/113 using inorganic layer materials only

Abstract

Disclosed is an optical system that has superior optical characteristic and wear resistance and can be formed at low temperatures. An optical system 101 for adjusting visible light transmittance to have a desired value comprises fluoride 103, and at least part of the optical system has a crystal grain diameter of 3 nm to 10 nm. The fluoride 103 has a specific surface area of 1 m²/g to 5 m²/g.

Claims

1. An optical system at least partially comprising fluoride having a crystal grain diameter of 3 nm to 10 nm, wherein the fluoride is deposited on a substrate, the fluoride having a specific surface area of 1 m²/g to 5 m²/g.

2. The optical system according to claim 1, further comprising a coating including the fluoride, and a substrate, the coating being disposed on the substrate.

3. The optical system according to claim 2, wherein the fluoride is magnesium fluoride.

4. The optical system according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is formed of a silica.

5. The optical system according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is formed of a resin.

6. The optical system according to claim 2, wherein the coating is an antireflection coating.

7. The optical system according to claim 2, wherein the coating forms a dielectric multilayered film reflector.

8. The optical system according to claim 7, wherein the dielectric multilayered film reflector further comprises at least one layer formed of alumina and at least one layer formed of SiN.

9. The optical system according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is an optical fiber and where the coating is disposed at an end of the optical fiber.

10. The optical system according to claim 9, wherein the optical fiber is formed of a plastic.

11. The optical system according to claim 9, wherein the optical fiber is formed of a resin.

12. The optical system according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is an objective.

13. The optical system according to claim 12, wherein the objective further comprises a hologram and the objective is a focusing lens.

14. The optical system according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is formed of a periodic array of diffusing surfaces, where the period of the diffusing surfaces is less than an optical wavelength.

15. The optical system according to claim 14, wherein the coating is formed over each diffusing surface.

16. An optical waveguide comprising:

a core; and

a coating disposed on at least a portion of the core, the coating comprising fluoride having a crystal grain diameter of 3 nm to 10 nm and having a specific surface area of 1 m²/g to 5 m²/g,

wherein the coating is deposited on the core.

17. The optical waveguide according to claim 16, wherein the fluoride is magnesium fluoride.

18. The optical waveguide according to claim 16, further comprising a substrate, wherein the coating is disposed between the substrate and the core.

19. The optical waveguide according to claim 16, wherein the core has a higher index of refraction than the coating.

20. A polarizer comprising:

a polarizing film; and

a coating disposed on the polarizing film, the coating comprising a fluoride having a crystal grain diameter of 3 nm to 10 nm and having a specific surface area of 1 m²/g to 5 m²/g,

wherein the coating is deposited on the polarizing film.

21. The polarizer according to claim 20, wherein the fluoride is magnesium fluoride.

22. The polarizer according to claim 20, further comprising a protective layer disposed between the polarizing film and the coating.

23. The polarizer according to claim 20, wherein the coating comprises an alumina layer, a zirconia layer, and a magnesium fluoride layer.

24. The polarizer according to claim 20, further comprising a protective film, the polarizing film being disposed on the protective film.

25. A touch panel comprising a coating including fluoride having a crystal grain diameter of 3 nm to 10 nm and having a specific surface area of 1 m²/g to 5 m²/g, wherein the coating is deposited on a substrate.

26. The touch panel according to claim 25, wherein the fluoride is a magnesium fluoride.

27. The touch panel according to claim 25, further comprising;

a touch sensitive structure disposed on the coating; and

a transparent substrate disposed on the touch sensitive structure.

28. The touch panel according to claim 27, wherein the touch sensitive structure comprises, a first transparent conductive film, a second transparent conductive film, and a spacer layer between the first transparent conductive film and the second transparent conductive film.

29. The touch panel according to claim 27, further comprising a transparent resin substrate disposed between the coating and the touch sensitive structure.

30. The touch panel according to claim 25, further comprising a first ¼

wavelength plate.

31. The touch panel according to claim 30, wherein the first ¼

wavelength plate is disposed between the coating and the touch sensitive structure.

32. The touch panel according to claim 31, further comprising a second ¼

wavelength plate disposed adjacent the touch sensitive structure and opposite the first ¼

wavelength plate.

33. An optical system at least partially comprising fluoride having a specific surface area of 1 m²/g to 5 m²/g and a crystal grain diameter of 3 nm to 10 nm, wherein the fluoride is deposited on a substrate.

34. The optical system according to claim 33, further comprising a layer including the fluoride.

35. The optical system according to claim 34, wherein the fluoride is magnesium fluoride.

36. The optical system according to claim 34, wherein the layer is a surface layer portion.

37. The optical system according to claim 34, wherein the layer forms an antireflection coating.