Optical deflector device

Abstract

An optical deflector device including a substrate having a thermo-optic effect, a two-dimensional optical waveguide formed on a surface of the substrate, for guiding a light beam therethrough, so as to trap the light beam in a direction of thickness of the substrate, and a device for producing a temperature gradient in the two-dimensional optical waveguide in a direction which is parallel to a plane of the substrate and which intersects the direction of propagation of the light beam through the optical waveguide. Also disclosed is an optical deflector device including a solid deflector element for deflecting a light beam, and an incident-angle changing device for progressively changing an angle of incidence of the light beam upon the solid deflector element. The incident-angle changing device includes a plurality of optical waveguides which are arranged so as to guide the light beam to the solid deflector element. The angle of incidence of the light beam upon the solid deflector element differs depending upon the optical waveguides through which the light beam is selectively guided to the solid deflector element.