Optical element and optical device using the same

An optical element made of transparent material with high refractive index comprising:

• a light incoming surface, a light outgoing surface that is not parallel with the light incoming surface, a pair of planes that are facing each other, and a bent light path converting surface, wherein
• the pair of planes is formed nearly perpendicular to the light incoming surface and the light outgoing surface,
• the bent light path converting surface is formed nearly perpendicular to the pair of planes, and the shape thereof is defined so as to reflect and converge light coming from the light incoming surface,
• the light coming in from the light incoming surface goes toward the light path converting surface, and via a light path for the light to be reflected and converged on the light path converting surface and go out from the light outgoing surface, and
• when the light path is projected onto a plane parallel to the planes, the light is reflected substantially only on the light path converting surface.

An optical device comprising:

• a light projecting element, a light receiving element, a first optical element made of transparent material with a high refractive index, and a second optical element made of transparent material with a high refractive index, wherein
• the first optical element comprises a light incoming surface, a light outgoing surface that is not parallel with the light incoming surface, a pair of planes that are facing each other, and a curved light path converting surface,
• the pair of planes is formed nearly perpendicular to the light incoming surface and the light outgoing surface,
• the curved light path converting surface is formed nearly perpendicular to the pair of planes, and the shape thereof is defined so as to reflect and converge light coming from the light incoming surface,
• the light coming in from the light incoming surface goes toward the light path converting surface, and via a light path for the light to be reflected and converged on the light path converting surface and go out from the light outgoing surface,
• when the light path is projected onto a plane parallel to the planes, the light is reflected substantially only on the light path converting surface,
• the second optical element comprises
• a triangular prism made of transparent material with a high refractive index that reflects light coming in from a second light incoming surface and transmit the light to a second light outgoing surface,
• a light focusing lens arranged on the second light incoming surface,
• the first optical element and the second optical element are arranged so that the first light incoming surface and the second light outgoing surface are connected with an optical fiber,
• the light projecting element is arranged so that light goes into the lens of the second light incoming surface, the light receiving element is arranged on the first light outgoing surface to which the light coming in from the first light incoming surface reflects on the light path converting surface and is converged.

An optical device comprising:

• a light projecting element, a light receiving element, a first optical element made of a transparent material with a high refractive index, and a second optical element, wherein
• the first optical element comprises a light incoming surface, a light outgoing surface that is not parallel with the light incoming surface, a pair of planes that are facing each other, and a curved light path converting surface,
• the pair of planes is formed nearly perpendicular to the light incoming surface and the light outgoing surface,
• the curved light path converting surface is formed nearly perpendicular to the pair of planes, and the shape thereof is defined so as to reflect and converge light coming from the light incoming surface,
• the light coming in from the light incoming surface goes toward the light path converting surface, and via a light path for the light to be reflected and converged on the light path converting surface and go out from the light outgoing surface,
• when the light path is projected onto a plane parallel to the planes, the light is reflected substantially only on the light path converting surface,
• the second optical element comprises
• a core made of a transparent material with a high refractive index that transmits light coming in from a second light incoming surface to a second light outgoing surface,
• a cladding substrate made of a material that surrounds the core and whose refractive index is lower than that of the core, wherein
• the core cross sectional area of the surface parallel to the second light incoming surface is characterized by becoming smaller gradually from the second light incoming surface toward the second light outgoing surface,
• the first optical element and the second optical element are laminated via a separating layer so that the first light incoming surface and the second light outgoing surface are on a same single plane,
• the light projecting element is arranged near the second light incoming surface,
• the light receiving element is arranged near the first light outgoing surface to which the light coming in from the first light incoming surface reflects on the light path converting surface and is converged.

An optical device comprising:

• a light projecting element, a light receiving element, and a high refractive index translucent material, a first optical element made of transparent material with a high refractive index, and a second optical element, wherein
• the first optical element comprises
• a light outgoing surface that is not parallel with the light incoming surface, a pair of planes that are facing each other, and a curved light path converting surface,
• the pair of planes is formed nearly perpendicular to the light incoming surface and the light outgoing surface,
• the curved light path converting surface is formed nearly perpendicular to the pair of planes, and the shape thereof is defined so as to reflect and converge light coming from the light incoming surface,
• the light coming in from the light incoming surface goes toward the light path converting surface, and via a light path for the light to be reflected and converged on the light path converting surface and go out from the light outgoing surface,
• when the light path is projected onto a plane parallel to the planes, the light is reflected substantially only on the light path converting surface,
• the second optical element comprises
• a core made of a high refractive index transparent material with a high refractive index that transmits light coming in from a second light incoming surface to a second light outgoing surface,
• a cladding substrate made of a material that surrounds the core and whose refractive index is lower than that of the core, wherein
• the core cross sectional area of the surface parallel to the second light incoming surface is characterized by becoming smaller gradually from the second light incoming surface toward the second light outgoing surface,
• the first optical element and the second optical element are laminated via a separating layer so that the first light outgoing surface and the second light incoming surface are on a same single plane,
• the light projecting element is arranged near the first light incoming surface,
• the light receiving element is arranged near the second light outgoing surface.

An optical device comprising an optical element made of a transparent material with a high refractive index, and an input/output terminal, wherein

• the optical element comprises a light incoming surface, a light outgoing surface that is not parallel with the light incoming surface, a pair of planes that are facing each other, and a curved light path converting surface,
• the pair of planes is formed nearly perpendicular to the light incoming surface and the light outgoing surface,
• the curved light path converting surface is formed nearly perpendicular to the pair of planes, and the shape thereof is defined so as to reflect and converge light coming from the light incoming surface,
• the light coming in from the light incoming surface goes toward the light path converting surface, and via a light path for the light to be reflected and converged on the light path converting surface and go out from the light outgoing surface,
• when the light path is projected onto a plane parallel to the planes, the light is reflected substantially only on the light path converting surface,
• the input/output terminal is connected so as to be combined with light going out from the light outgoing surface of the optical element, and the optical element and the input/output terminal are made into one body.