EP0219069A2
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EP
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Light modulator and wave guide device
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1986-10-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A light modulator comprises a stack of a wave guide layer (11) and an adjacent layer (12) normally exhibiting a refractive index smaller than that of the wave guide layer, at least one of these layers being formed of a material whose refractive index changes by application of energy. An energy applicator is provided at least in one of these layers, and a dielectric grating (G) is positioned at the surface of the adjacent layer (12) over a section where energy is applied by the energy applicator. A drive circuit is provided for energizing the energy applicator and causing a change in refractive index to arise in the wave guide layer (11) and/or the adjacent layer (12) so that wave guided inside of the wave guide layer (11) is radiated out of the stack by interaction with the dielectric grating (G). In a wave guide device, the wave guide layer (11) is formed of a thermo-optic material in which the thermal coefficient of refractive index is zero or negative, and the adjacent layer (12) is formed of a thermo-optic material exhibiting a positive thermal coefficient of refractive index.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoji C/O Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. Okazaki
- 👤 Hiroshi C/O Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. Sunagawa
- 👤 Kozi C/O Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. Kamiyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/12; H04N1/126; H04N1/1275; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0147; G02F1/29; G02F1/295; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; G06K15/1285; G02F2201/00; G02F2201/30; G02F2201/302
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A light modulator comprising: i) a stack of a wave guide layer and an adjacent layer normally exhibiting an optical refractive index smaller than the optical refractive index of said wave guide layer and closely contacted with said wave guide layer, at least either one of said wave guide layer and said adjacent layer being formed of a material whose optical refractive index changes through the application of energy, ii) an energy application means positioned at said wave guide layer and/or said adjacent layer along an optical path of guided wave advancing inside of said wave guide layer, iii) a dielectric grating positioned at the surface of said adjacent layer at least over a portion thereof corresponding to the section where energy is applied by said energy application means, and iv) a drive circuit for energizing said energy application means to a predetermined energy application condition, and changing the optical refractive index of said wave guide layer and/or the optical refractive index of said adjacent layer so that said guided wave is radiated out of said stack by interaction with said dielectric grating at said section where energy is applied by said energy application means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A light modulator comprising: i) a stack of a wave guide layer and an adjacent layer normally exhibiting an optical refractive index smaller than the optical refractive index of said wave guide layer and closely contacted with said wave guide layer, at least either one of said wave guide layer and said adjacent layer being formed of a material whose optical refractive index changes through the application of energy, ii) an energy application means positioned at said wave guide layer and/or said adjacent layer along an optical path of guided wave advancing inside of said wave guide layer, iii) a dielectric grating positioned at the surface of said adjacent layer at least over a portion thereof corresponding to the section where energy is applied by said energy application means, and iv) a drive circuit for energizing said energy application means to a predetermined energy application condition, and changing the optical refractive index of said wave guide layer and/or the optical refractive index of said adjacent layer so that said guided wave is radiated out of said stack by interaction with said dielectric grating at said section where energy is applied by said energy application means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A light modulator as defined in Claim l wherein said material is an thermo-optic material whose optical refractive index changes with the application of an electric field, said energy application means is an electrode pair, said section where energy is applied is an electrode space between electrodes of said electrode pair, and said drive circuit is constituted to apply an electric field between the electrodes of said electrode pair.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light modulator as defined in Claim l or 2 wherein the guided mode of said guided wave is adjusted to a high-order mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light modulator as defined in Claim l or 2 wherein said dielectric grating is a focusing grating coupler.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
A wave guide device comprising: i) a stack of a wave guide layer formed of a thermo-optic material in which the thermal coefficient of the optical refractive index is zero or negative, and an adjacent layer formed of a thermo-optic material in which the thermal coefficient of the optical refractive index is positive and which exhibits an optical refractive index smaller than the optical refractive index of said wave guide layer when heating is not effected, ii) a heating means positioned at a surface of said adjacent layer so as to heat a predetermined section along an optical path of guided wave advancing inside of said wave guide layer, and iii) a dielectric grating provided at the surface of said adjacent layer at said heated section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
A wave guide device comprising: i) a stack of a wave guide layer formed of a thermo-optic material in which the thermal coefficient of the optical refractive index is zero or negative, and an adjacent layer formed of a thermo-optic material in which the thermal coefficient of the optical refractive index is positive and which exhibits an optical refractive index smaller than the optical refractive index of said wave guide layer when heating is not effected, ii) a heating means positioned at a surface of said adjacent layer so as to heat a predetermined section along an optical path of guided wave advancing inside of said wave guide layer, and iii) a dielectric grating provided at the surface of said adjacent layer at said heated section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A wave guide device as defined in Claim 5 wherein a plurality of said heating means are provided for respectively heating a plurality of said heating sections arrayed in a line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A wave guide device as defined in Claim 5 or 6 wherein said dielectric grating is formed of a transparent thermo-optic material, and said heating means is constituted by said dielectric grating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A wave guide device as defined in Claim 5 or 6 wherein said dielectric grating is a focusing grating coupler.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A wave guide device as defined in Claim 5 or 6 wherein a lens layer is provided on said adjacent layer at a position corresponding to said dielectric grating.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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