The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 17, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 03, 2000
Takashi Hiraga, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8568, JP;
Tetsuo Moriya, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8568, JP;
Norio Tanaka, Tokyo, JP;
Hiromitsu Yanagimoto, Tokyo, JP;
Ichiro Ueno, Yokohama, JP;
Koji Tsujita, Yokohama, JP;
Other;
Abstract
An optical element, optical control device and optical control method are provided which demonstrate a large, rapid optical response using a laser light of low output as a control light. A signal light is emitted from an optical source . A signal light emitted from an optical source A control light and the signal light are converged by a condenser lens and irradiate an optical element Only the signal light is detected by a photodetector through a light receiving lens and a wavelength selection filter A thermal lens is formed reversibly in the optical element and switching the control light ON and OFF modulates the intensity of the signal light. The optical element has a laminar structure comprising a heat transfer film/heat insulation film/light absorption film/heat insulation film/heat transfer film, for example, and a sufficiently large and rapid optical response is obtained using low output laser light as the control light by adjusting the thickness of the light absorption film so that it does not exceed twice the confocal length of the converged control light.