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

An optical apparatus comprising:

• a functional optical element having a first optical member, a second optical member in contact with said first optical member, said first and second optical members having configurations that provide an interface comprising a blased-type diffraction grating, and refractive index varying means for changing a refractive index of at least one of said first and second optical members, said refractive index varying means being capable of selectively creating a first state in which the refractive indices of said first and second optical members are equal and a second state in which the refractive indices of said first and second optical members are different;
• means for directing a light beam to said functional optical element;
• and
• optical means for selectively passing light beams emitted from said functional optical element in accordance with the state thereof.

A functional optical element comprising:

• a first optical member;
• a second optical member in contact with said first optical member, said first and second optical members having configurations that provide a non-planar interface therebetween;
• refractive index varying means for changing the refractive index of at least one of said first and second optical members;
• and
• lens means formed in the vicinity of a light transmitting surface, different from said interface, of at least one of said first and second optical members.

An optical apparatus comprising:

• a functional optical element having a first optical member and a second optical member in contact with said first optical member at an interface comprising a diffraction grating;
• refractive index varying means for changing a refractive index of at least one of said first and second optical members, said refractive index varying means being capable of selectively creating a first state in which the refractive indices of said first and second optical members are equal and a second state in which the refractive indices of said first and second optical members are different;
• directive means for directing a light beam to said functional optical element;
• first guiding means for guiding a light beam emitted from said functional optical element when said functional optical element is in said first state;
• and
• second guiding means for guiding a light beam emitted from said functional optical element when said functional optical element is in said second state.