Optical path element, optical switching element, spatial light modulator and image display apparatus
US6707514B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 16, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/1334
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical switching element, comprising a light transmitting element, a reflection substrate, and index variable material. The light transmitting element has a first light incident surface, a second light incident surface not parallel to the first light incident surface, and a light outgoing surface. The reflection substrate is arranged opposite to the second light incident surface and has a reflection surface with an angle that is not parallel to the second light incident surface, wherein a reflected light passes through the light transmitting element and the reflection substrate and then is reflected by the reflection surface. The index variable material is sandwiched between the light transmitting element and the reflection substrate and has an index of refraction varied according to an external signal. By varying the index of refraction of the index variable material, an angle formed by the reflected light and a normal line of the light outgoing surface is changed such that the emitting direction of the reflected light is changed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.