Tunable optical active elements
First Claim
1. An optical active element comprising:
- an intermediate layer made out of a deformable material and mechanically interconnected to a first and a second driving plate arranged in general opposite to each other on opposite sides of and partially covering the intermediate layer such that a local compression of the intermediate layer by the driving plates causes a local reduction of the thickness of the intermediate layer in a first direction and at least one thereto by the poisson'"'"'s ratio of the material of the intermediate layer related secondary deformation of the intermediate layer in a second direction whereby the secondary deformation causes a change in the optical behavior of the optical active area,wherein the intermediate layer is attached to a holding means in a prestretched manner such that the intermediate layer does not deform out of plane during operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to different optical active elements (1, 20, 22) such as tunable diffraction gratings and tunable phase shifters having in general a similar setup. The optical active elements (1, 20, 22) comprise an intermediate layer (4) made out of a deformable material which is mechanically interconnected to a driving means. The driving means comprises a first and a second driving plate (2, 3) arranged in general opposite to each other on opposite sides of and at least partially covering the intermediate layer (4) such that a local compression of the intermediate layer (4) by the driving plates (2, 3) causes a local reduction of the thickness in a first direction. This reduction in a first direction causes a secondary deformation of the intermediate layer in a second direction which results in a change of the optical behavior of the optical active element.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An optical active element comprising:
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an intermediate layer made out of a deformable material and mechanically interconnected to a first and a second driving plate arranged in general opposite to each other on opposite sides of and partially covering the intermediate layer such that a local compression of the intermediate layer by the driving plates causes a local reduction of the thickness of the intermediate layer in a first direction and at least one thereto by the poisson'"'"'s ratio of the material of the intermediate layer related secondary deformation of the intermediate layer in a second direction whereby the secondary deformation causes a change in the optical behavior of the optical active area, wherein the intermediate layer is attached to a holding means in a prestretched manner such that the intermediate layer does not deform out of plane during operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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15. An optical active element comprising:
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an intermediate layer made out of a deformable material and mechanically interconnected to a first and a second driving plate arranged in general opposite to each other on opposite sides of and partially covering the intermediate layer such that a local compression of the intermediate layer by the driving plates causes a local reduction of the thickness of the intermediate layer in a first direction and at least one thereto by the poisson'"'"'s ratio of the material of the intermediate layer related secondary deformation of the intermediate layer in a second direction whereby the secondary deformation causes a change in the optical behavior of the optical active area, wherein an optical active area of the intermediate layer not covered by the driving plates is transparent and has an adjustable thickness which is related to the compression of the intermediate layer in the first direction by the poisson'"'"'s ratio of the material wherein the optical active area acts as a lens having a variable focus, and wherein the lens comprises a lens-shaped chamber (16) delimited by two foil-like areas (14). - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification