Optical scanning element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023314899-A1
Application number	US-202318331270-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 8, 2023
Priority date	Feb 1, 2021
Publication date	Oct 5, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

There is provided an optical scanning element, which has a large scan angle, is quickly responsive, and can be downsized. An optical scanning element according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first light-deflecting unit for emitting light to a first area; and a second light-deflecting unit for emitting the light that has been emitted to the first area to a second area wider than the first area. The first light-deflecting unit is configured to be changed in refractive index by a change in applied voltage, and to adjust the first area through the change in refractive index, and the second light-deflecting unit is configured to adjust the second area through diffraction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An optical scanning element, comprising:
first light-deflecting means for emitting light to a first area; and second light-deflecting means for emitting the light that has been emitted to the first area to a second area wider than the first area, wherein the first light-deflecting means is configured to be changed in refractive index by a change in applied voltage, and to adjust the first area through the change in refractive index, and wherein the second light-deflecting means is configured to adjust the second area through diffraction.

2 . The optical scanning element according to claim 1 , wherein the first light-deflecting means is one selected from the group consisting of: a combination of a photonic crystal and a diffraction grating; an optical phased array; and a variable optical metasurface.

3 . The optical scanning element according to claim 2 , wherein the second light-deflecting means is a diffraction grating.

4 . The optical scanning element according to claim 1 , wherein the first light-deflecting means includes:
a photonic crystal layer obtained by periodically forming holes in an electro-optical crystal substrate; a line-defect optical waveguide formed in the photonic crystal layer; a diffraction grating arranged in at least one portion selected from an upper portion, a left side surface portion, and a right side surface portion of the optical waveguide; and electrodes arranged on a left side and a right side of the optical waveguide, and is configured so that an emission angle of light emitted from an upper surface of the optical waveguide changes.

5 . The optical scanning element according to claim 4 , wherein the diffraction grating has a plurality of grating grooves extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a waveguide direction of the optical waveguide.

6 . The optical scanning element according to claim 5 ,
wherein the second light-deflecting means is a diffraction grating having grating grooves, and wherein the direction in which the grating grooves extend in the first light-deflecting means and a direction in which the grating grooves extend in the second light-deflecting means are substantially perpendicular to each other.

7 . The optical scanning element according to claim 5 ,
wherein the second light-deflecting means is a diffraction grating having grating grooves, and wherein the direction in which the grating grooves extend in the first light-deflecting means and a direction in which the grating grooves extend in the second light-deflecting means are substantially parallel to each other.

8 . The optical scanning element according to claim 4 , wherein the first light-deflecting means further includes:
a support substrate arranged below the electro-optical crystal substrate, the support substrate being configured to support the electro-optical crystal substrate; a joining portion configured to integrate the electro-optical crystal substrate and the support substrate with each other; and a cavity defined by a lower surface of the electro-optical crystal substrate, an upper surface of the support substrate, and the joining portion.

9 . The optical scanning element according to claim 4 , wherein the electro-optical crystal substrate includes one selected from the group consisting of: lithium niobate; lithium tantalate; potassium titanate phosphate; potassium lithium niobate; potassium niobate; potassium tantalate niobate; and a solid solution of lithium niobate and lithium tantalate.

Assignees

• Ngk Insulators Ltd

Inventors

• Tani Kentaro
• Kondo Jungo

Classifications

• G02F1/2955 Primary

  by controlled diffraction or phased-array beam steering (controlled diffraction for optical waveguide switching G02F1/313) · CPC title

• G02F2202/32

  Photonic crystals · CPC title

• G02F1/295

  {Analog deflection from or} in an optical waveguide structure] · CPC title

• G02B6/124

  Geodesic lenses or integrated gratings · CPC title

• G02B6/122

  Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths · CPC title