Optical: systems and elements – Single channel simultaneously to or from plural channels
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-12
2001-03-13
Epps, Georgia (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Single channel simultaneously to or from plural channels
C359S823000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201644
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light deflection device for interconnection by light wave between arbitrary spots, and other uses. Particularly, the present invention relates to a light deflection device suitable for optical information processing such as optical interconnection or optical wiring between elements in an integrated circuit, within or between apparatuses; optical switching for switch-over of transmitted optical data; and optical information processing such as optical neutral networks.
2. Related Background Art
Holograms, liquid crystal switch arrays, and the like have been studied as the light deflection device for optical interconnection for programmable circuit connection. However, in computer generated hologram, in which the diffraction direction is fixed, the hologram should be replaced according to change of a connection route, and it is applicable only to a limited transmission type or a limited processing. A hologram capable of varying the diffraction direction can be constituted by an optical writing type of spatial light modulator, but it requires interference exposure of a liquid crystal or an optical crystal, and complicates construction of the apparatus. Besides, two-directional liquid crystal switch array are applicable therefor, but it requires multiple or repeated switching, complicating the apparatus, and its switching speed is lower owing to the liquid crystal properties.
Differently from the above optical deflection mechanism employing light diffraction or refractivity change, techniques are disclosed which control the light deflection by tilting a mirror according to micromechanics. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-230722 deflects the reflection direction of incident light by attracting electrostatically a thin metal plate; and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-333528, by turning a hemisphere having a mirror. Such techniques, which utilize light reflection, require an arrangement not to cause overlapping of the introduced light beam and the reflected light beam, resulting in a larger a size of the device construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a light deflection device capable of response at a higher speed with a smaller apparatus without the disadvantages of the prior arts.
The light deflection device of the present invention comprises a segmental sphere body having a deflection face portion for deflecting and transmitting an incident light beam and a segmental sphere face portion opposing to the deflecting face portion; a base plate for supporting the segmental sphere body in a turnable manner; and a driving means for turning the segmental sphere body, the refractive index of the segmental sphere body being different from the refractive index of a space or medium brought into contact with the deflection face portion.
In the above light deflection device, the deflection face portion of the segmental sphere body is preferably placed inside an imaginary perfect spherical body which has the above segmental sphere face as a part of the entire spherical face, and gives the segmental sphere body by cutting off a part of the perfect sphere body.
The light deflection device of the present invention is characterized in that the incident light beam is deflected in a direction of the light transmission to offset the disadvantage of the prior arts. It is also characterized in that a micromechanics is applied to the deflection control mechanism to control the deflection directions of the respective deflection elements arranged in an array, independently from each other and to make the apparatus smaller. The light deflection device of the present invention comprises a segmental sphere body having a deflection face portion for deflecting and transmitting an incident light beam and a segmental sphere face portion opposing to the deflection face portion to envelop the deflection face portion; a base plate for supporting the segmental sphere body in a turnable manner; and a driving means for turning the segmental sphere body. The segmental sphere body is comprised of a constituting material which is capable of transmitting the light beam to be deflected. The refractive index of the segmental sphere body is different from the refractive index of a space or medium brought into contact with the deflection face portion. The segmental sphere body is preferably solid.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4436260 (1984-03-01), Donelan
patent: 4883548 (1989-11-01), Onoki
patent: 4961627 (1990-10-01), Swain et al.
patent: 5600741 (1997-02-01), Hauer et al.
patent: 2530831 (1984-01-01), None
patent: 4-230722 (1992-08-01), None
patent: 7-333528 (1995-12-01), None
patent: WO87/07707 (1987-12-01), None
Sakata Hajime
Yagi Takayuki
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Epps Georgia
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Seyrafi Saeed
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