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:
Apr. 17, 2007
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2003
Kohji Minami, Gose, JP;
Kohji Minami, Gose, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An optical path switching device comprises a light transmitting portion, a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, a first adhesive layer, a second adhesive layer, a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion. The light transmitting portion has a plurality of refracting regions wherein the refractive indexes of a light can be uniformly controlled by the electro-optic effect in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the light, and the thickness of the light transmitting portion changes along the traveling direction of the light. The first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are so formed as to sandwich the light transmitting portion and as to cover at least a part of the refracting regions. The first supporting portion is tightly arranged on a side of the first electrode layer, which side is out of contact with the light transmitting layer, via the first adhesive layer. The second supporting portion is tightly arranged on a side of the second electrode layer, which side is out of contact with the light transmitting layer, via the second adhesive layer.