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:
Feb. 25, 2014
Filed:
Mar. 29, 2011
Ichiro Ueno, Isehara, JP;
Takashi Hiraga, Ikeda, JP;
Noritaka Yamamoto, Ikeda, JP;
Hirobumi Watanabe, Yokohama, JP;
Shiro Futaki, Yokohama, JP;
Noriyasu Shiga, Ichikawa, JP;
Norio Tanaka, Tokyo, JP;
Shigeru Takarada, Tokyo, JP;
Ichiro Ueno, Isehara, JP;
Takashi Hiraga, Ikeda, JP;
Noritaka Yamamoto, Ikeda, JP;
Hirobumi Watanabe, Yokohama, JP;
Shiro Futaki, Yokohama, JP;
Noriyasu Shiga, Ichikawa, JP;
Norio Tanaka, Tokyo, JP;
Shigeru Takarada, Tokyo, JP;
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, JP;
Inter Energy Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, JP;
Dainichiseika Color & Chemical, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An optical-path-switching apparatus according to the present invention includes a reducing optical system capable of guiding signal light and control light along the direction of gravity into a thermal-lens-forming optical element having an incidence plane positioned to be perpendicular to the direction of gravity in such a way as to differentiate respective convergence points in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The apparatus further includes a light-receiving unit configured to converge or condense straight-traveling signal light in the absence of irradiation with the control light and signal light whose optical path has been switched due to irradiation with the control light using the same optical element. Further, the apparatus includes a wedge-type prism provided at a passing position of the optical-path-switched signal light to increase the distance between the optical axis of the optical-path-changed signal light and the optical axis of the straight-traveling signal light.