Optical device and apparatus using the optical device

• US 5,311,350 A
• Filed: 01/16/1992
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Original Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Inventors: Fujinami, Tatsuo, Hiramatsu, Mitsuo, Hirano, Isuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US07/822,017
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 359/247, 359/252, 359/253, 359/254, 359/261, 359/263, 359/265, 359/270, 359/271, 359/321, 359/318
• US Class Current: 359/263
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/19 based on variable-reflection or variable-refraction elements not provided for in groups G02F1/015 - G02F1/169

Abstract

The present invention provides an optical device according to this invention comprising a light transmitting optical member of a high molecular material containing mobile ions, and a pair of electrodes formed on surfaces of the optical member, a required potential difference being provided between the electrodes so as to cause ion conduction in the optical member and to reversibly vary a refractive index of the optical member. According to this invention, a refractive index is reversibly varied due to ion conduction, whereby the modulation of a transmitted beam or a reflected beam by the optical device can be reversibly controlled.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising:

an ion conductor consisting essentially of one of;

a solid consisting essentially of at least one of the following;

polybutylmethacrylate;

polyacrylonitrile;

tetrabutylammonium chloride;

tetrabutylphosphorium bromide;

tributylstannane bromide;

tributylstannane iodide; and

polymethacrylate (2-bromotrimethylammonium) ethyl; and

a solution consisting essentially of the following;

a solvent consisting essentially of at least one of the following;

dimethyl formanide;

dimethyl sulfoxide;

propylene carbonate;

ethylene carbonate; and

acetonitrile; and

a compound in said solvent consisting essentially of at least one of the following;

tetrabutylammonium bromide;

tetraphenylammonium;

tetrabutylphosphonium;

tetraphenylphosphonium; and

tributyl, triphenyl, diphenyl, monobutyl and monophenyl derivatives thereof,

said ion conductor comprising mobile ions and having a refractive index reversibly varying according to an electric field applied thereto; and

at least one pair of electrodes facing each other through said ion conductor and directly contacting said ion conductor;

wherein when said electric field is applied to said ion conductor through said electrodes, the refractive index in at least one area of said ion conductor changes according to said applied electric field.

2. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein at least one portion of said electrodes is made of a transparent conductive material.

3. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein said ion conductor is formed in a thin film.

4. An optical device according to claim 3, further comprising a pair of glass sheets, disposed at the both sides of said electrodes and sandwiching said optical device.

5. An optical device according to claim 1, further comprising a second pair of electrodes facing each other and contacting said ion conductor.

6. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein:

said ion conductor essentially consists of said solution, and said device further comprises;

a container accommodating said ion conductor, at least one portion of said container comprising a transparent material,

said electrodes being located on inside surfaces of said container.

7. An optical device according to claim 6, wherein said container comprises a pair of parallel glass plates facing each other.

8. An optical device according to claim 1, wherein:

said ion conductor consists essentially of said solid;

one of said electrodes comprises;

a plurality of strips in parallel arranged along a first direction and disposed on one side of said ion conductor in contact with said ion conductor; and

another of said electrodes comprises a plurality of strips in parallel arranged along a second direction different from the first direction and disposed on another side of said ion conductor in contact with said ion conductor to cause recording of a two dimensional image by selectively applying electrical potential to each strips of said electrodes.

9. An optical switch comprising:

a transparent substrate having a first refractive index;

ion conductor films made of a transparent material containing mobile ions and provided on both sides of said transparent substrate, said ion conductor film having a second refractive index lower than said first refractive index;

a pair of electrodes provided on both sides of each of said ion conductor films, one of said pair electrodes contacting with said transparent substrate; and

potential applying means for applying electrical potential to the electrodes respectively, whereby to reversible change the refractive index of the ion conductor film to cause the full reflection in an interface between the ion conductor film and the transparent substrate to perform the change of the optical path.

10. An optical device according to claim 9, wherein at least one portion of said electrodes is made of a transparent conductive material.