Optical device and method of controlling direction of light from optical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10012824-B2
Application number	US-201515112303-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2015
Priority date	Jan 17, 2014
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

Provided are an optical device and a method of controlling the direction of light from an optical device. The optical device includes: a substrate; a metal layer on the substrate; a first slot which is provided in the metal layer; and at least one light source provided in the first slot, wherein light is emitted from the at least one light source in the direction of the top part of the first slot or the bottom part of the first slot.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical device comprising:
a substrate;
a metal layer on the substrate;
a first nano-size slot which is provided in the metal layer; and
at least one light source provided in the first nano-size slot, wherein light is emitted from the at least one light source in a direction of a top part of the first nano-size slot or a bottom part of the first nano-size slot, and
wherein the at least one light source comprises a first light source and a second light source, and the first light source and the second light source emit respective lights of which wavelengths differ.

2. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the first slot has a hexahedron shape having a thickness, length, and width and by changing at least one of the thickness, length, and width, a resonance wavelength of light from the at least one light source is adjusted.

3. The optical device of claim 2 , wherein the light emitting direction of light from the at least one light source is adjusted by changing at least one of the thickness, length, and width of the first slot.

4. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the first slot has a hexahedron shape having a thickness with a range of 100 to 500 nm, a length with a range of 100 to 500 nm, and a width with a range of 10 to 80 nm.

5. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a quantum dot, a dye molecule, or a fluorescent material.

6. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein surface plasmons are generated on the metal layer.

7. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed of a transparent dielectric material.

8. The optical device of claim 7 , wherein the substrate is formed of glass.

9. The optical device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one second slot which is formed separate from the first slot.

10. The optical device of claim 9 , wherein the second slot is formed to be in parallel to the first slot or to slope with respect to the first slot.

11. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein light from any one of the first and second light sources is emitted in the direction of the top part of the first slot, and light from another one of the first and second light sources is emitted in the direction of the bottom part of the first slot.

12. A method of controlling a direction of light from an optical device, the method comprising:
forming a nano-size slot in a metal layer on a substrate; providing at least one light source in the slot; and
by adjusting a size of the nano-size slot, emitting light from the at least one light source in a direction of a top part of the first slot or in a direction of a bottom part of the slot,
wherein the at least one light source comprises a first light source and a second light source, and the first light source and the second light source emit respective lights of which wavelengths differ.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the slot has a hexahedron shape having a thickness, length, and width and by changing at least one of the thickness, length, and width, a resonance wavelength of light from the at least one of light source is adjusted.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein light emitting direction of light from the at least one light source is adjusted by changing at least one of the thickness, length, and width of the nano-size slot.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the nano-size slot has a hexahedron shape having a thickness with a range of 100 to 500 nm, a length with a range of 100 to 500 nm, and a width with a range of 10 to 80 nm.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein light source comprises a quantum dot, a dye molecule, or a fluorescent material.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein surface plasmons are generated on the metal layer.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the substrate is formed of a transparent dielectric material.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cheon Sangmo
• Lee Changwon
• Kim Unjeong
• Kim Jineun
• Roh Younggeun
• Park Yeonsang
• Baik Chanwook
• Lee Jaesoong

Classifications

• G02B5/008

  Surface plasmon devices (diffractive gratings with a pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength G02B5/1809; surface plasmons in integrated optics G02B6/1226; optical analysis of materials by means of surface plasmons G01N21/553) · CPC title

• G02B26/00 Primary

  Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements (control of light by modification of the optical properties of the media of the elements involved therein G02F1/00) · CPC title

• F21K9/64

  using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer · CPC title

• G02B17/004 Primary

  Systems comprising a plurality of reflections between two or more surfaces, e.g. cells, resonators (multipass arrangements for optical cuvettes G01N21/031; laser resonators H01S3/05) · CPC title