Optical filter and optical module provided with same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9459387-B2
Application number	US-201414557723-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2014
Priority date	Mar 4, 2009
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

An optical filter includes first and second substrates, first and second mirrors, and first and second electrodes. The first substrate has a flat surface. The second substrate includes a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, the second surface surrounding the first surface in a plan view, the third surface surrounding the second surface in a plan view, a height of the first surface above the second surface being lower than a height of the third surface above the second surface, the first surface and the second surface facing the flat surface of the first substrate. The first mirror is disposed on the flat surface of the first substrate. The second mirror is disposed on the first surface of the second substrate, the second mirror facing the first mirror. The first electrode is disposed on the flat surface of the first substrate. The second electrode is disposed on the second surface of the second substrate, the second electrode facing the first electrode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical filter comprising:
a first substrate having a flat surface;
a second substrate including a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, the second surface surrounding the first surface in a plan view, the third surface surrounding the second surface in a plan view, a height of the first surface above the second surface being lower than a height of the third surface above the second surface, the first surface and the second surface facing the flat surface of the first substrate;
a first mirror disposed on the flat surface of the first substrate;
a second mirror disposed on the first surface of the second substrate, the second mirror facing the first mirror;
a first electrode disposed on the flat surface of the first substrate; and
a second electrode disposed on the second surface of the second substrate, the second electrode facing the first electrode.

2. The optical filter according to claim 1 , wherein
the first substrate includes a first portion and a second portion surrounding the first portion in the plan view, a first thickness of the first portion is thicker than a second thickness of the second portion; and
the first mirror is disposed on the flat surface in the first portion of the first substrate.

3. The optical filter according to claim 1 , wherein
the first substrate includes a first portion and a groove portion surrounding the first portion in the plan view as viewed from an opposite side to the flat surface, and
the first mirror is disposed on the flat surface in the first portion of the first substrate.

4. The optical filter according to claim 1 , wherein
the first substrate and the second substrate are made of light transmissive material.

5. The optical filter according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is made of glass.

6. The optical filter according to claim 1 , wherein
a surface area of the flat surface of the first substrate is larger than a surface area of the first surface of the second substrate.

7. An optical module comprising the optical filter according to claim 1 .

8. An optical filter comprising:
a first substrate having a surface;
a second substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface, the second surface surrounding the first surface, the third surface surrounding the second surface, the first surface and the second surface facing the surface;
a first mirror disposed on the surface;
a second mirror disposed on the first surface, the second mirror facing the first mirror;
a first electrode disposed on the surface; and
a second electrode disposed on the second surface, the second electrode facing the first electrode,
a first distance between the surface and the first surface being smaller than a second distance between the surface and the second surface,
a third distance between the first surface and the second surface being smaller than a fourth distance between the second surface and the third surface.

9. An optical module comprising the optical filter according to claim 8 .

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Funasaka Tsukasa

Classifications

• G02B1/10 Primary

  Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements (G02B1/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B5/28 Primary

  Interference filters · CPC title

• G02B5/20

  Filters (polarising elements G02B5/30) · CPC title

• G02B27/0006

  with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title