Optical element with periodic structure
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTakeaki Itsuji, Junichi Seki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical element comprising a periodic structure in which a refractive index is distributed periodically and a deforming portion, which mechanically deforms by an external action, wherein the deforming portion is integrally arranged with the periodic structure along the periodic direction of the periodic structure, and is constructed so as to change the periodicity of the periodic structure by deforming in the periodic direction of the periodic structure. A periodicity of the periodic structure (photonic band structure) in which the refractive index changes periodically can be controlled with a simple configuration.
Claims19
An optical element for reflecting or transmitting an incident light, said optical element comprising:
- a periodic structure in which refractive index is distributed periodically, said periodic structure comprising a plurality of rods and a support film for supporting the plurality of the rods;
- and
- a deforming portion, which deforms by external action,
- wherein said deforming portion is integrally arranged with said periodic structure along the periodic direction of said periodic structure, and is so constructed as to change the periodicity of said periodic structure by deforming in the periodic direction of said periodic structure.
A control method for an optical element having a periodic structure in which refractive index is distributed periodically, said periodic structure comprising a plurality of rods and a support film for supporting the plurality of the rods, the method comprising the steps of:
- arranging a deforming portion which deforms by external action integrally with said periodic structure along the periodic direction of said periodic structure;
- and
- changing the periodicity of said periodic structure by causing deformation in the periodic direction of said periodic structure.
A periodically structured material comprising:
- a periodic structure portion comprising a plurality of rods and a support film for supporting the plurality of the rods;
- and
- a substrate for deforming the periodic structure portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.