Optical deflector device

An optical deflector device for deflecting light rays, comprising:

• a substrate having an electro-optical effect and capable of guiding the light rays therethrough;
• a buffer layer formed on one of opposite major surfaces of said substrate;
• a pair of first deflection electrodes and a second deflection electrode, for producing an electric field within said substrate, so that the light rays passing through said substrate are deflected in response to a change in the distribution of a refractive index of said substrate according to a controlled deflection voltage applied between said pair of first electrodes, and said second electrode, said pair of first electrodes being disposed in spaced-apart relation in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of propagation of the light rays through said substrate, said second electrode being disposed on said buffer layer and having a portion which extends between said pair of first electrodes so as to intersect said direction of propagation of the light rays;
• and
• said buffer layer having a first and a second cutout formed through a thickness thereof, said pair of first electrodes being positioned within said first and second cutouts, respectively, and disposed directly on said substrate, such that there exist gaps between peripheries of said first electrodes and inner surfaces of said first and second cutouts.

An optical deflector device for deflecting light rays, comprising:

• a substrate having an electro-optical effect and capable of guiding the light rays therethrough;
• a buffer layer formed on one of opposite major surfaces of said substrate;
• a plurality of deflection electrodes formed on said buffer layer to produce an electric field within said substrate, so that the light rays passing through said substrate are deflected in response to a change in the distribution of a refractive index of said substrate according to a controlled deflection voltage applied to said deflection electrodes, said deflection electrodes comprising a pair of first electrodes having a first potential and being disposed on a first portion of said buffer layer in spaced-apart relation in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of propogation of the light rays through said substrate, and a single second electrode having a second potential different from said first potential, being disposed on a second portion of said buffer layer, and having an inclined extension which is disposed between said pair of first electrodes such that said inclined extension intersects said direction of propagation;
• and
• isolating means for isolating said first and second portions of said buffer layer from each other, said isolating means comprising first and second continuous grooves formed through a thickness of said buffer layer so as to surround and thereby define said first portion of said buffer layer.