US5002369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Nonlinear optical element having electrodes on two side surfaces of nonlinear medium through insulating layers
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-30
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Granted: 1991-03-26
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Expires: 2008-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A nonlinear optical element comprises a nonlinear medium having photoconductivity and an electrooptical effect, a pair of electrodes, arranged on two side surfaces of said nonlinear medium, for applying an electric field to the medium, for serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator, and a pair of insulating layers formed between the nonlinear medium and the electrodes. A predetermined DC voltage is supplied to the electrodes, and the nonlinear medium is irradiated with a light having a variable intensity. Thus, the reflectance and transmittance of the optical element is non-linearly varied in accordance with the intensity of the incident light. Also disclosed is a method for activating such a nonlinear optical element.
Inventors
- 👤 Hajime Sakata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F3/00; G02F3/02; G02F3/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A nonlinear optical element comprising: a nonlinear medium having photoconductivity and an electrooptical effect; a pair of electrodes, arranged on two side surfaces of said nonlinear medium, for applying an electric field to said medium, said electrodes serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator; a pair of insulating layers formed between said nonlinear medium and said electrodes; means for supplying a predetermined DC voltage to said electrodes; and means for irradiating said medium with a light having a variable intensity, wherein a reflectance and a transmittance of said optical element are non-linearly varied in accordance with the intensity of the incident light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A nonlinear optical element comprising: a nonlinear medium having photoconductivity and an electrooptical effect; a pair of electrodes, arranged on two side surfaces of said nonlinear medium, for applying an electric field to said medium, said electrodes serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator; a pair of insulating layers formed between said nonlinear medium and said electrodes; means for supplying a predetermined DC voltage to said electrodes; and means for irradiating said medium with a light having a variable intensity, wherein a reflectance and a transmittance of said optical element are non-linearly varied in accordance with the intensity of the incident light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An element according to claim 1, wherein said nonlinear medium is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of Bi 12 SiO 20 , Bi 12 TiO 20 , Bi 12 GeO 20 , BaTiO 3 , (Ba,Sr)Nb 2 O 6 , GaAs, ZnSe, CdTe, and LiNbO 3 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An element according to claim 1, wherein each of said electrodes is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of Al, Ag, Au, and Cu.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An element according to claim 1, wherein each of said insulating layers is formed of SiO 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An element according to claim 1, further comprising films for effecting an antioxidation and increase of transmission, which are formed on a side surface of said electrodes opposite to said nonlinear medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An element according to claim 5, wherein each of said electrodes is formed of Al, and each of said films for effecting an antioxidation and increase of transmission is formed of Al 2 O 3 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An element according to claim 1, further comprising a power source connected to said electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
A nonlinear optical element comprising: a nonlinear medium having photoconductivity and an electrooptical effect; a pair of electrodes, arranged on two side surfaces of said nonlinear medium, for applying an electric field to said medium, said electrodes serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator; a pair of dielectric multilayered films formed between said nonlinear medium and said electrodes, said multilayered films serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator; means for supplying a predetermined DC voltage to said electrodes; and means for irradiating said medium with a light having a variable intensity; wherein a reflectance and a transmittance of said optical element are non-linearly varied in accordance with the intensity of the incident light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
A nonlinear optical element comprising: a nonlinear medium having photoconductivity and an electrooptical effect; a pair of electrodes, arranged on two side surfaces of said nonlinear medium, for applying an electric field to said medium, said electrodes serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator; a pair of dielectric multilayered films formed between said nonlinear medium and said electrodes, said multilayered films serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator; means for supplying a predetermined DC voltage to said electrodes; and means for irradiating said medium with a light having a variable intensity; wherein a reflectance and a transmittance of said optical element are non-linearly varied in accordance with the intensity of the incident light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
An element according to claim 8, wherein said electrodes are transparent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An element according to claim 9, wherein each of said electrodes is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of SnO 3 , In 2 O 3 , and ITO.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
An element according to claim 8, wherein each of said multilayered films is formed of at least two materials selected from the group consisting of MgF 2 , SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , MgO, ThO 2 , SiO, ZrO 2 , CeO 2 , and TiO 2 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
An element according to claim 8, wherein said nonlinear medium is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of Bi 12 , SiO 20 , Bi 12 TiO 20 , Bi 12 GeO 20 , BaTiO 3 , (Ba,Sr)Nb 2 O 6 , GaAs, ZnSe, CdTe, and LiNbO 3 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An element according to claim 8, further comprising a power source connected to said electrodes.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for activating a nonlinear optical element comprising a nonlinear medium having photoconductivity and an electrooptical effect, a pair of electrodes arranged on two side surfaces of said nonlinear medium for applying an electric field to said medium, the electrodes serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator, and a pair of insulating layers formed between said nonlinear medium and said electrodes, comprising the steps of: supplying a predetermined DC voltage to said electrodes; irradiating said medium with a light having a variable intensity; and non-linearly varying a reflectance and a transmittance of said optical element in accordance with the intensity of the incident light.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for activating a nonlinear optical element comprising a nonlinear medium having photoconductivity and an electrooptical effect, a pair of electrodes arranged on two side surfaces of said nonlinear medium for applying an electric field to said medium, the electrodes serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator, and a pair of insulating layers formed between said nonlinear medium and said electrodes, comprising the steps of: supplying a predetermined DC voltage to said electrodes; irradiating said medium with a light having a variable intensity; and non-linearly varying a reflectance and a transmittance of said optical element in accordance with the intensity of the incident light.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for activating a nonlinear optical element comprising a nonlinear medium having photoconductivity and an electrooptical effect, a pair of electrodes arranged on two side surfaces of said nonlinear medium for applying an electric field to said medium, and a pair of dielectric multilayered films formed between said nonlinear medium and said electrodes, said multilayered films serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator, comprising the steps of: supplying a predetermined DC voltage to said electrodes; irradiating said medium with a light having a variable intensity; and non-linearly varying a reflectance and a transmittance of said optical element in accordance with the intensity of the incident light.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for activating a nonlinear optical element comprising a nonlinear medium having photoconductivity and an electrooptical effect, a pair of electrodes arranged on two side surfaces of said nonlinear medium for applying an electric field to said medium, and a pair of dielectric multilayered films formed between said nonlinear medium and said electrodes, said multilayered films serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator, comprising the steps of: supplying a predetermined DC voltage to said electrodes; irradiating said medium with a light having a variable intensity; and non-linearly varying a reflectance and a transmittance of said optical element in accordance with the intensity of the incident light.
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