Refractive index variable element and method of varying refractive index
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorsKenji Todori, Reiko Yoshimura, Fumihiko Aiga, Tsukasa Tada
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Abstract
A refractive index variable element includes a structure including quantum dots having discrete energy levels and a dielectric matrix surrounding the quantum dots, and an electron injector injecting an electron into the quantum dots through the dielectric matrix.
Claims23
A refractive index variable element, comprising:
- a structure including quantum dots having discrete energy levels and a dielectric matrix surrounding the quantum dots;
- and
- an electron injector injecting an electron into the quantum dots through the dielectric matrix.
A refractive index variable element, comprising:
- a structure including quantum dots having discrete energy levels and a dielectric matrix surrounding the quantum dots;
- and
- an electron discharger discharging an electron from the quantum dots through the dielectric matrix.
A refractive index variable element, comprising a structure including quantum dots having discrete energy levels and a dielectric matrix surrounding the quantum dots, wherein quantum dots converted into anions by injection of an electron or quantum dots converted into cations by discharge of an electron are present nonuniformly so as to make refractive index distribution of the structure nonuniform.
A method of varying a refractive index, comprising:
- preparing a structure including quantum dots having discrete energy levels and a dielectric matrix surrounding the quantum dots, and
- injecting an electron into or discharging an electron from the quantum dots to vary a refractive index of the structure.
A refractive index variable element, comprising:
- a structure capable of exhibiting a Coulomb blockade phenomenon;
- and
- an electron injector injecting an electron into the structure,
- wherein the element varies the refractive index thereof based on a variation in an energy level of the structure due to the Coulomb blockade phenomenon caused by electron injection from the electron injector to the structure.
A method of varying a refractive index, comprising:
- preparing a structure capable of exhibiting a Coulomb blockade phenomenon;
- and
- injecting an electron from an electron injector into the structure so as to vary an energy level of the structure due to the Coulomb blockade phenomenon thereby varying the refractive index of the structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.