Functional optical element having a non-flat planar interface with variable-index medium

US4729641A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Canon Kabushiki Kaisha · JP

Inventors

• Kazuhiko Matsuoka · Yokohama, JP
• Kazuo Minoura
• Masayuki Usui · Yokohama, JP
• Yukuo Nishimura · Sagamihara, JP
• Takeshi Baba · Yokohama, JP
• Atsushi Someya · Machida, JP
• Yuko Suga · Tokyo, JP
• Kazuyo Matsumoto · Yokkaichi, JP

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 1987
• Grant date: Mar 8, 1988
• Expiry date: Apr 30, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F2201/305
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A functional optical element comprises a first optical member, a second optical member provided in contact with said first optical member, the interface between said first optical member and said second optical member being non-flat planar, a means for changing the refractive index of said second optical member, said means for changing refractive index being capable of creating selectively a first state in which said first optical member and said second optical member have an equal refractive index and a second state in which said first optical member and said second optical member have different refractive indices by changing the refractive index of said second optical member.