JP4348806B2 - Optical device - Google Patents

Description

（ここで、Ｍ：分子量、ｄ：密度、Ｒ：分子屈折、Ｎ：アボガドロ数、α：分極率である。）
（＊）化学大辞典８、昭和３７年発行、共立出版株式会社、ｐ１８６による。
【００４１】
この式から分るように、分極率を上げることにより屈折率を大きくし、また分極率を下げることにより屈折率を小さくすることができる。有機化合物の分極率を上げるためには、新たな原子や原子団と新たに結合させる手法などが有効であり、既述したナフトピラン誘導体はそうした手法によって得られる一例である。また、分極率を下げるためには、逆に、共役部位などの結合を切断する手法が容易に考えられる。特に光エネルギーによって屈折率を変化させるには、例えば図４８に示すように、環状ケトンの開裂、オレフィンの付加反応、芳香族置換ケトンのエノール化など、多くの手法がある。
【００４２】
一方、無機化合物の場合、Δｎ＜０となるためには、光で励起された自由電子により、屈折率は文献（"Heterostructure Lasers",H.C.Casey,Jr.and M.B.Panish,Academic Press,New York,1978)にあるように、
【数２】

（ここで、ｎは自由電子濃度、ｑは電荷、ｍ_n は電子の有効質量である。）
に従って減少する。これは、ホールについても同様である。ｐ型材料の場合には、ホール濃度をｐ、ホールの有効質量をｍ_p で表す。
【００４３】
一例として、赤外光に透明なＧａＡｓを例にとると、
【数３】

【００４４】
また、Δｎ＞０となるためには、公知のように、バンドギャップＥｇに等しい光を入射することにより、屈折率を５〜１０％程度上昇させることができる。
【００４５】
（２）各種の画素形成材料について
上記材料を含めた各種の画素形成材料（光導波路の交差部に用いる材料）のうち、いくつかの例を構造式と共に図４９に示す。
【００４６】
ナフトピラン誘導体については既述した通りであるが、その他に、光強度に応じて屈折率変化を生じる三次非線形光学材料としてのポリジアセチレン系の有機高分子は、主鎖方向のπ電子共役系により導電性、非線形光学特性といった機能を発現するので、異方性が大きく、主鎖方向には大きな機能を示すが主鎖と直交する方向にはほとんど機能を示さないという特徴がある。
【００４７】
その他、光強度に応じて変色するスピロベンゾピラン（無色⇔青色）、アゾベンゼン（淡黄色⇔橙色）、フルギド（淡黄色⇔橙色）、ジアリールエテン（無色⇔赤色）などが使用可能である。また、液晶配向膜材料であるベンゾフェノン系ポリイミドは、光照射によって構造が変化し、液晶配向状態を変化させる。
【００４８】
次に、先願発明の更なる具体例について説明する。
【００４９】
例１
図５０（Ａ）に示すように、ポリシロキサン（東レ株式会社製：屈折率１．４９）を用いて、ガラス基板上に十字型の光導波路１１、１２をその交差部１３を除いて印刷法で作製する。そして、同図（Ｂ）に示すように、その交差部１３（十字の中央部分の凹所）にポリビニルアルコール（屈折率１．５１）の２０％水溶液にジアゾ系色素（図４９に示したアゾベンゼン）を１０％分散させたものを滴下し、９０℃で数時間乾燥させる。このジアゾ系色素含有層１３の膜厚が、ポリシロキサン層１１、１２と同程度となるまで積層を繰り返す。
【００５０】
こうして作製したサンプルにおいて、図５０（Ｃ）に示すように、半導体レーザ（波長５１０ｎｍ）１４、１５をプリズムを用いて光導波路１１と１２へ導き、交差部１３にてカップリングさせる。レーザは１μ秒ずつのパルスで照射する。このようにすると、中央の光スイッチ部分１３からは緑色の導波光がオン、オフされるのを観測することができる。
【００５１】
例２
図５１に示すように、光照射によってその構造を変える（液晶の配向状態を変える）図４９に示したベンゾフェノン系ポリイミドを配向膜１８としてガラス基板１９にスピンコートし、ラビングはせずに２枚合わせ、ギャップ１．７μｍのセル１３を作製し、このセルを図５０に示した光導波路１１、１２の交差部１３に配する。セル中には、チッソ社製の強誘電性液晶材料（ＣＳ−１０２５）２３を等方相で注入して、室温まで徐冷する。また、セルには、熱電対などの液晶温度検出素子２０（但し、この検出素子は必ずしも必要ではない。）を接続し、この検出温度に基づいて液晶温度を制御するヒーター素子２１も接続する。
【００５２】
このようなセルを４種用意し、１０℃、２０℃、３０℃、４０℃の各温度に設定し、それぞれに図５０と同様に光導波路を通して高圧水銀ランプ光（波長３６６ｎｍ）２２を照射する。このようにすると、光照射によって図５１に示すように配向膜１８が構造変化して液晶配向状態を変え、光２２が選択的に外部に導出されると共に、セル温度が高いほど、光の導出が十分となり、液晶の分極反転が均一に起きていることを知ることができる。
【００５３】
例３
図５２に示すように、前記例２と同様に、ベンゾフェノン系ポリイミドからなる配向膜１８をＩＴＯ（Indium tin oxide) からなる透明電極２４付きのガラス基板１９にスピンコートし、ラビングはせずに２枚合わせ、ギャップ１．７μｍのセルを２種作製する。セル中には、チッソ社製の強誘電性液晶材料（ＣＳ−１０２５）を等方相で注入して、室温まで徐冷する。
【００５４】
一方のセルには、高周波電源２５を接続し、このセルには±０．５Ｖの電圧を周波数１０ｋＨｚの矩形波として印加しながら、また他方のセルには電圧を印加せずに、それぞれのセルに光導波路からの高圧水銀ランプ光（波長３６６ｎｍ）２２を照射する。このようにすると、光励起により配向膜１８の液晶配向状態を変えて光を導出する際、高周波の電界を印加したセルの方が、電界を印加しなかったセルよりも、光の導出が十分となり、強誘電性液晶の分極反転が均一に（セルギャップムラ等に依存せず）起きていることを知ることができる。
【００５５】
なお、先願発明では、例えば無機材料の屈折率変調や、無機・有機ハイブリッド材を用いるなどして光スイッチ機能を生ぜしめることができる。また、入射光の強度以外にも、偏光や位相などを利用して光スイッチ動作を行わせることができる。
【００５６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
以上、フォトニクスの技術を利用した、実用的な先願発明の光学装置について詳細に説明してきた。しかしながら、この先願発明も含めてこれまでの光学装置（光導波型ディスプレイ）には、視野角依存性があり、まだそれを考慮した効果的な光取り出し機構は、存在しなかった。
【００５７】
次に、この光取り出し機構が光学装置にとっていかに重要であるかを、図面を参照しながら説明する。
【００５８】
たとえば光学装置に全反射角を制御するような光スイッチ素子３ａを使用した場合を例にとる。この光スイッチ素子３ａの配置の仕方は図３７に示すように２種類考えられ、同図（Ａ）は光導波路３２（又は３３）のクラッド層３５に光スイッチ素子３ａを、また同図（Ｂ）は光導波路３２のコア部分に光スイッチ素子３ａを配置したものである。
【００５９】
光取り出し機構がない場合、（Ａ）タイプにおいて光が空気層に出射するためには、下記の条件が必要となる。この条件は、クラッド層３５のさらに外側にどのような層が配されても変わらない。
【数４】

しかし、この不等式（１）が成り立つ解はない。（左辺と右辺の分母）
【００６０】
また、光取りだし機構がない場合、（Ｂ）タイプにおいて光が空気層に出射するためには、下記の条件が必要となる。
【数５】

しかし、図２からわかる通り、この不等式（２）が成り立つ解はない。つまり、光スイッチが導波方向を変化させることができても、光取り出し機構がなくては、空気側すなわち人間の視覚側には光を取り出せないことになる。
【００６１】
光導波路型ディスプレイ以外の光集積回路の研究においては、光接続（取り出し）の研究は活発に行われている。特にグレーティングカプラが有名である（M.L. Dakss, et. al.,"Grating coupler for efficient excitation of optical guided waves in thin films", Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 16, No.12, 523, 1970)(H. Kogelnik and T. P. Sosnowski, "Holographic thin film couplers", Bell. Syst. Tech. J., Vol. 49, 1602, 1970)(栖原敏明、西原浩、「グレーティング素子を用いた導波路−自由空間の機能的接続」、光学、第１９巻、第１２号、813, 1990)（J.Nayuer and H. Hatami-Hanza, "Optical intersecting-waveguide switches with widened angle of deflection", IEEE Phtonics technology letters, Vol. 4, No. 12, 1375, 1992)(P. Dansas, N. Paraire and F. Lederer," Fast modelling of light beam deffracution by multilayer strulcturesincluding a grating coupler", Pure Appl. Opt. Vol. 4, 139, 1995)。しかし、これらの技術は、すべて、光回路中の導波路から導波路へ、いかに効率よく光を移行させるかに向けられたものであり、人間の眼に出射するディスプレイ仕様ではないため、当然のことながら視野角依存性はまったく考慮されていない。
【００６２】
特に、下記の理由でもっとも重要である光取りだし部分に関する具体的な記述は、反射板を兼用するようなメカニカルなスイッチ（X. Zhou and E. Gulari, "Wavegude p@anel display using electromechanical spatial modulators", SID 98 Digest, 1022, 1998）以外ではなく、また本質的なアイディアを含む特許・文献等も、未だ提出されていない（N. A. Clark and M. A. Handschy, "Surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid-crystal electro-optic waveguide switch", Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 57, No. 18, 1852, 1990)(K. Yoshino, et. al.,"Electro-optic switching in polymer waveguide using surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal", Mol. Crys. Liq. Cryst., Vol. 202, 163, 1991)。
【００６３】
本発明は上記事情に鑑みてなされたもので、その目的は集合発光演算も行える光導波路型ディスプレイの光スイッチ部分に取込まれた光を、視野角依存性を考慮して所望の出射角で効率よく取り出せる光取出し機構を備えた光学装置を提供することにある。
【００６４】
【課題を解決するための手段】
即ち、本発明の光学装置は、第１光導波路（又は光ファイバー）と；この第１光導波路に交差した第２光導波路（又は光ファイバー）と；前記第１及び第２光導波路（又は光ファイバー）の交差部に配され、前記第１及び第２光導波路（又は光ファイバー）内でそれぞれ導かれる光によって励起される被励起素子と；を具備し、この被励起素子の外部又は／及び内部に光路変更手段を設け、前記被励起素子及び前記光路変更手段を介して、前記第１又は第２光導波路（又は光ファイバー）内の光を外部に取り出せるようにした、少なくとも光学的表示機能を有することを特徴とする。なお、以下において、光導波路（又は光ファイバー）を「光導波路」として表現することがある。
【００６６】
本発明の光学装置によれば、第１光導波路と第２光導波路の交差部分に配された前記被励起素子の外部又は／及び前記光路変更手段（具体的には反射板、微粒子、グレーティングカプラなど）を介して、前記第１又は第２光導波路内の光を外部に取り出すものであるので、視野角依存性を考慮して、光スイッチ部分に取込まれた光を、所望の出射角で効率よく外部に取り出すことができる。
【００６８】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明の光学装置においては、前記被励起素子が、光励起によって屈折率変調する素子、屈折率分布変調する素子、発光強度変調する素子、着色濃度変調する素子、誘電率変調する素子、透磁率変調する素子、液晶配向状態を変える液晶素子、及び光散乱する素子からなる群より選ばれた１種、又は２種以上の組み合わせからなり、前記光励起によって前記交差部において選択的に光が導出又は遮断され、これによって光学的表示及び／又は演算が行われるように構成することができる。
【００６９】
また、具体的には、本発明の光学装置においては、前記第１及び第２光導波路がそれぞれ複数個配列され、これら複数の光導波路に光源が直接又は間接的に光学結合しているのが好ましい。但し、直接的に光学結合している場合には、前記光導波路と前記光源とが一対一に対応して設けられ、また、間接的に光学結合している場合には、前記光源と少なくとも１つの前記光導波路（又は光ファイバー）とが光導波部材によって連結されていることが好ましい。
【００７０】
また、本発明の光学装置においては、複数の前記第１光導波路と、これらの第１光導波路に直交又は略直交した複数の前記第２光導波路とを具備し、前記第１及び第２光導波路の交差部は光学結合しておらず、前記第１及び第２光導波路内でそれぞれ導かれる光によって励起される前記被励起素子が前記交差部に配され、水平導波路としての前記第１光導波路内の光の光強度によって前記被励起素子がライン毎に選択されると共に、垂直導波路としての前記第２光導波路内の光がデータ信号に応じて強度変調され、この強度変調されたデータ信号光が、選択された前記被励起素子を介して外部に取出されるように構成するのがよい。
【００７１】
また、本発明の光学装置においては、複数の前記第１光導波路と、これらの第１光導波路に直交又は略直交して前記第１光導波路と同一面内に配された複数の前記第２光導波路とを具備し、前記第１及び第２光導波路内でそれぞれ導かれる光の光強度によって励起される前記被励起素子が前記第１及び第２光導波路の交差部に配され、水平導波路としての前記第１光導波路内の光の光強度によって前記被励起素子がライン毎に選択されると共に、垂直導波路としての前記第２光導波路内の光がデータ信号に応じて強度変調され、この強度変調されたデータ信号光が、選択された前記被励起素子を介して外部に取出されるように構成するのもよい。
【００７２】
また、前記被励起素子に、同素子温度を制御可能な素子又は高周波電界の印加可能な素子が設けられていると、特に液晶素子の場合には、温度が高いときや高周波の電界を印加する時に液晶の分極反転が均一に生じ易くなる。
【００７３】
また、本発明の光学装置には、具体的な前記光路変更手段として、前記第１光導波路（又は光ファイバー）又は前記第２光導波路上に積層されたクラッド層に、反射板、微粒子、気泡及びグレーティング（カプラ）よりなる群から選ばれた１種以上が設けられていることが望ましい。
【００８０】
次に、本発明の好ましい実施の形態を説明する。なお、以下は主に光取り出し機構を中心に説明し、それ以外の構成、作用、効果等に関しては、既述した先願発明と同じなので、その詳細な説明は適宜省くことにする。
【００８１】
本発明の光学装置は、その構成材料としてプラスチックなどの柔軟性材料を用いることによって、たとえば図３６に示す如く、迫力のある画面を有する１２０度ディスプレイ（Ａ）、半球型ディスプレイ（Ｂ）、全球型ディスプレイ（Ｃ）、コクーン型ディスプレイ（図示せず）、あるいは不使用時には巻き上げることのできるディスプレイ（Ｄ）、更には衣料、帽子、食器（コップなど）向けのディスプレイ（Ｅ）として、コンパクトなサイズとすることができる。
【００８２】
上述したディスプレイは、薄型化、大型化、高精細化が可能であるうえ、光源を効率よく使用する自発光型の非常に明るい光学装置であり、たとえば大画面で必要とされるコントラスト比５００：１も、容易に実現することができる。
【００８３】
光学装置の画素部は、たとえば、図３５に示すように構成することができる。即ち、同図（Ａ）では、光導波路３１と透明電極３０とが、また同図（Ｂ）では、光導波路３２と光導波路３３とが、互いに直交又は略直交に交差されている。
【００８４】
光導波路３１、３２、３３には導波効率のよいたとえば無機ガラスファイバーもしくはプラスチックファイバを使用し、また、３次元高分子導波路の場合は、フォトリソ法を用いてフィルム基板上に光導波路を形成することが好ましい。
【００８５】
光導波路３０と透明電極３１との交差部には、被励起素子としてたとえば電界強度によって屈折率を変える電気光学素子３４を、また光導波路３２と光導波路３３との交差部には、たとえば光強度によって屈折率を変える被励起素子３４ａをそれぞれ光スイッチ３として配置する。
【００８６】
なお、本発明の光学装置の光源としては特に制約は受けないが、実用上、半導体レーザが好ましい。
【００８７】
次に、前記電気光学素子３４あるいは被励起素子３４ａの、外部又は／及び内部に設けられる光路変更手段について考察する。ここでは、最も単純な光路変更手段として、図１に示す反射板３６をクラッド層３５に配置する例を説明する。なお、この例ではクラッド層３７は光スイッチ層３ｂを介して光導波路３２（又は３３）上に積層されている。
【００８８】
導波光を空気層側に取出すためには（３）式に示すような条件を満たすことが必要である。
【数６】

（３）式を満たす解が存在すれば、導波光は空気層側に出射することになる。極端な数値例として、（Ｉ）ｎ_c ：１．５２，ｎ_off ：１．５０（II) ｎ_c ：４．００，ｎ_off ：１．３８とし、解を求めた（図２参照）。
【００８９】
ｓｉｎθ_out ＜１の解は、明らかに存在する。つまり、反射板３６の空気層（人間の視覚側）に光を取り出すことができるというわけである。特に反射板３６の角度を変えることによって、出射光の角度を変えることができる。即ち、上記の例でいえば、反射板３６の角度を変えることによって、出射角度をたとえば約±７０°程度、変化させることができる（図３参照）。
【００９０】
反射板３６の配設個数は単数に限らず、複数とすることができる。とくに、図４に示すように光強度を考慮した上で一つの画素内に角度をそれぞれ変えた複数の反射板３６を配設すれば、出射光をさまざまな角度に制御することができる。たとえば図５に示すように、１００インチクラスの大画面の場合、一画素のサイズは１ｍｍ² 以上と大きいので、１つの画素内に複数個の反射板３６を組込むことは、製作上、特に問題はないと考えられる。
【００９１】
前記反射板３６は、光を反射できるものであれば、材質や形状等に制約を受けない。たとえば、アルミミラーのような金属製でよいのはもちろんのこと、反射屈折率を考慮すれば（周囲部分の屈折率より低い屈折率を持つ材料を使用する）、透明であっても不透明であってもよい。また、平板に限らず、曲板であってもよいし、プリズム状やブロック状であってもよい。
【００９２】
また、反射板３６はクラッド層３５以外の層、たとえば図７に示すように光スイッチ層３ｂやその他の層に組み込んでもよい。
【００９３】
さらに、反射板３６を出射側のクラッド層３５に設けるだけでなく、図８に示す如く、出射側対面のクラッド層３５ａに設けてもよい。
【００９４】
本発明では、反射機構として上記の反射板３６以外に、図６（Ｂ）、（Ｃ）に示すような微粒子４１や気泡４２も使用できる。これらの配設数については、特に制約をうけない。このうち、微粒子４１は中身の詰まった充填体でも中空体であってもよく、その材質は金属、無機物、有機物のいずれでもよい。反射率を高めるという点からすると、表面の粗い微粒子が好ましい。
【００９５】
また、気泡４２については、とくに気体の種類にとらわれないが、空気のバブルが好ましい。実用的で、しかも高い反射率が得られるからである。
【００９６】
もちろん、上述した２種類の反射機構は、図９に示すように光スイッチ層３ｂを兼ねた光導波路（コア層）３２に設けても差し支えない。
【００９７】
次に、こうした反射機構の形成方法について述べる。なお、以下はクラッド層に反射機構を形成する場合である。それ以外の層に反射機構を形成するときは、下記の方法又はそれに準じた形成方法が適用できる。
【００９８】
（１）反射板の形成
クラッド層を公知の形成材料で形成したのち、それが硬化しないうちに、反射板を最適化した角度でクラッド層に挿入する手法か、あるいは反射板（好ましくはプリズム状）を予め導波路の表面に貼着しておき、しかるのちクラッド層を形成する手法がよい。
【００９９】
（２）微粒子の形成
クラッド層の形成材料の中に予め最適化した濃度（微粒子の形状やサイズによる）で微粒子を分散させておき、しかるのちクラッド層を硬化させる手法が好ましい。なお、幾何光学的は光の散乱をさせるには、微粒子のサイズとして、λ／π以上の粒径を選択することが必要である。
【０１００】
（３）気泡の形成
まず、クラッド層の形成材料中にたとえばシリコーン等の揮発性油分を分散させ、攪拌しながらエマルジョンを形成する。この際、攪拌条件の如何によって気泡のサイズや濃度をコントロールすることができる。次いで、この揮発性油分を含むエマルジョンを硬化させる。すると、硬化の過程でクラッド層から油分のみ揮発するので、クラッド層に気泡が形成されるようになる。なお、気泡の形成を的確に行うために、たとえばマイクロカプセルの製作方法を利用し、油滴の周囲にポリマーの殻を形成するとよい。なお、上記のほかに異種の高分子材料（Ａ）と高分子材料（Ｂ）とを混合し、ガスを発生させるような方法によっても、クラッド層に気泡を形成することができる。
【０１０１】
ところで、前述した反射機構を使用する場合、一般に外光の入射やその２次反射を防止する対策を考えなければ、散乱光のため高品位の画質を得ることは難しい。さもないと、コントラストが得られず、全体的に白っぽい画質となることが多い。
【０１０２】
たとえば、図１０は反射板３６による外光反射と外光二次反射を示すが、反射板３６が無い場合、あるいは二次反射光が反射板３６を経ない場合でも、図１１に示すように同様の問題は起こる。
【０１０３】
したがって、導波路型ディスプレイには、通常、図１２に示すように出射側に反射防止膜４５を形成することが必要となる。また、この反射防止膜４５を設けると、導波路型ディスプレイ内部に外光が入射するので、出射側対面にその外光を閉じ込めるような対策が必要となる。これには同図に示すように、たとえばカーボン製の黒色吸収膜４６を設けるとよい。
【０１０４】
以上、反射機構（反射板、微粒子、気泡）について述べてきたが、本発明では光路変更手段としてグレーティング機構も有効である。そこで、まず、図１３に示すようなグレーティング機構４０について考察する。
【０１０５】
空気層の方へ出射する２ビーム結合（導波路側へも半分程度出射してしまう）と、導波路方向へのみ出射する１ビーム結合とどちらが高効率であるか計算する。１ビーム結合の方が光を全部導波路側へ出射できることになるわけなので、効率が良いように考えられるが、空間周波数と放射ビーム数の関係を計算すると図１４に示すように、実効屈折率Ｎが３以下の場合には、ｎ_s が空気で１．００の場合１ビーム結合は起こりえない。
【０１０６】
サファイアガラスのような特殊な無機ガラスを導波路として使用すれば、実効屈折率が３．０以上になり、効率の良い１ビーム結合のグレーティング機構が作製できる。
【０１０７】
しかしながら、導波効率やコスト面を考慮して、導波路に高分子ファイバや石英ファイバ等使用した場合、実効屈折率は１．８以下であるので、１ビーム結合のグレーティング機構を作製するための構造は、ｎ_c とｎ_s の差を大きくすることを考える。例えば図１５のように、導波路３２側に基板３７として高分子層（ＰＶＡｎ＝１．５２）を積層する対策である。ｎ_s が１．５２の場合、空間周波数と放射ビームの関係は図１６のようになり、導波路３２側への１ビーム結合の解が存在する。
【０１０８】
次に、視野角依存性を考慮して最適化した複数ビーム結合と１ビーム結合のグレーティング機構を説明する。
（Ａ）複数ビーム結合（導波路の外側は空気層）
図１４の結果をもとに求めた最適なΛ値を図１７に示す。Λは、導波光波長にも依存するが、０．３〜１．５μｍビッチが好ましい。またΛは出射角度も決定する。
【０１０９】
図１８に（２ビーム結合入射角が７０°の時の空気側への出射角とグレーティングピッチの関係を示す。視野角依存性を考慮して、いろいろな角度に出射するためには、Λは０．２〜１．２μｍピッチまでさまざまな値を取るとよい。
【０１１０】
また各色における入射角と出射角の関係を計算した。その結果を図１９〜図２１に示す。入射角度が大きいほど、同じグレーティングピッチでもさまざまな出射角がとれる。
【０１１１】
（Ｂ）１ビーム結合
図１４の結果をもとに求めた最適なΛ値を図２２に示す。視野角の依存性を考慮して、いろいろな角度に出射するためには、複数ビーム結合よりもピッチのバリエーションが多く必要となるが、Λは０．２〜数１０μｍピッチまでさまざまな値を取れば良い。なお、図２３〜図２５に、各色での入射角の違いによる出射角とグレーティングピッチとの関係を示す。グレーティングの放射は、誘電率分布の変化で起こる。そのため、グレーティング深さとグレーティング材質の屈折率の間には、次の関係がある。
【数７】

ここでｋ：波数、Ｎ：等価屈折率。
【０１１２】
ｈ＜ｈ_c では、散乱強度は単調増加になり、その強度はｈ² に比例する^* 。ｈ＞ｈ_c では飽和し、一定値となる。したがって、グレーティングの深さは、ｈ_c 以上にするとよい（図２６参照）。
＊「光集積回路」西原浩 他著、オーム社
例えば、導波路の屈折率とグレーティング材の屈折率がともに１．５８５であり、赤色レーザ（６３２．８ｎｍ）を光源とし、入射角が７０°、ａ＝０．５である場合、ｈ_c は０．１４８１μｍと計算される。実際の作製例としては、クラッド層にやすり等で一方向に傷をつけることなどでよい。例えば、やすりは、＃２０００、＃５０００、＃８０００、＃１００００、＃１５０００などを組み合わせる。
【０１１３】
また、前述の反射機構のうち、気泡４２がクラッド層３５内に収まっておらず、図３４（Ａ）に示すように最も表面にあってもよい。グレーティングと同様な効果が見込まれる。もちろん、同図（Ｂ）に示すようにクラッド層３５内に収まる気泡４２と併用しても良い。
【０１１４】
【実施例】
以下、本発明を種々の例によりさらに詳細に説明するが、本発明は、これらの例によって何ら限定されるものではない。
【０１１５】
例１
波長６３３ｎｍで屈折率を変化させるアゾベンゼンを、ポリメタクリル酸メチル（ＰＭＭＡ）で作製した光導波路中に２０ｗｔ％ドープすることによって光導波路を兼ねた光スイッチ層（ｎ_f：１．５１８）を形成した。次に、この光導波路上にポリビニルアルコール（ＰＶＡ、ｎ：１．５２０）（ｎ＝５００）の１０ｗｔ％水溶液をスピンコートし、この層に、１００μｍ厚のガラス基板上にアルミを２００ｎｍ蒸着した反射板を差し込み、１１０℃で焼成して固定し、反射機構を備えた層を形成した（図２７参照）。なお、反射板は、１０°と２０°と３０°と３種類の角度で固定した。そして、波長６３３ｎｍのヘリウム−ネオンレーザ光源をオンオフしたところ、アゾベンゼンをドープしたＰＭＭＡの屈折率は３×１０^-3程度変化し、出射光が３種類の角度で出射オンオフすることが確認できた。
【０１１６】
例２
波長６３３ｎｍで屈折率を変化させるアゾベンゼンを、ＰＭＭＡ製の導波路中に２０ｗｔ％ドープすることによって、光導波路を兼ねた光スイッチ層（ｎ_f：１．５１８）を形成した。次に、この導波路上にＰＶＡ（前記と同じ）の１０ｗｔ％水溶液中に、１０μｍφのアルミ微粒子を超音波分散させるとともにスピンコートし、１１０℃で焼成し、反射機構を備えた層を形成した（図２８参照）。そして、波長６３３ｎｍのヘリウム−ネオンレーザ光源をオンオフしたところ、アゾベンゼンをドープしたＰＭＭＡの屈折率は３×１０^-3程度変化し、出射光がさまざまな角度で出射オンオフすることが確認できた。
【０１１７】
例３
波長６３３ｎｍで屈折率を変化させるアゾベンゼンを、ＰＭＭＡ製の導波路中に２０ｗｔ％ドープすることによって、光導波路を兼ねた光スイッチ層（ｎ_f：１．５１８）を形成した。次に、この光導波路上にＰＶＡ（前記と同じ）の１０ｗｔ％水溶液をスピンコートし、１１０℃で焼成し、この表面をヤスリ＃２０００、＃５０００、＃８０００、＃１００００、＃１５０００などを組み合わせて、１〜３０回一方向にこすってグレーティングを作製し（図２９参照）、導波光（Ｈｅ−Ｎｅレーザ６３２．８ｎｍ）量がどの程度散乱するかを測定した。この方法で作製したグレーティングでは、サインカーブの溝ができ、前述した（４）式のａは０．５となった。また、各々のサンプルのグレーティング深さｈをαステップで測定し、それらの結果を比較した（図３０参照）。その結果、計算結果とよく一致した散乱光強度が得られたことが判明した。また、波長６３３ｎｍのヘリウム−ネオンレーザ光源のオンオフにより、アゾベンゼンをドープしたＰＭＭＡの屈折率は３×１０^-3程度変化し、出射光がさまざまな角度で出射オンオフすることが確認できた。
【０１１８】
例４
光スイッチとして、液晶〔ジャパンエナジー社製の強誘電性液晶材料Ｍ６２３４４（ｎ_o：１．４８９，ｎ_e：１．６６６）〕を、光導波路として、三菱エンプラ社製ユーピロンシリーズポリカーボネート（ｎ_f：１．５８５）を選択した。導波路と対向する基板は１００μｍ厚のポリカーボネートシートを選択した。通常の液晶パネルと比較して非常に薄くフレキシビリティが高いため、光スイッチ部分に十分なスペーサを導入する必要があると考え、スペーサを２００〜５００個／ｍｍ²となるように散布した。なお、このスペーサには１．５μｍ径の真し球を用い、これをエタノールに分散させてスピンコートした。
【０１１９】
この基板に、ポリビニルアルコール（前記と同じ）の１０ｗｔ％水溶液を配向膜として使用し、ラビング処理を行って、前記液晶を配向させた。矩形波を印加した時の、この配向膜でのチルト角は２０°、プレチルト角はゼロ度であったので、液晶層の法線方向と導波法線方向の角度は６０．１７°（導波方向からは、２９．８３°）とした。例１と同様に、導波路上にＰＶＡ（前記と同じ）の１０ｗｔ％水溶液をスピンコートし、この層に１００μｍ厚のガラス基板上にアルミを２００ｎｍ蒸着した反射板を差し込み、１１０℃で焼成して固定し、クラッド層を形成した。反射板は、１０°と２０°と３０°と３種類の角度で固定した。なお、導波路ファイバ上にスピンコートする際、図３１に示すような押さえ治具５０を使用し、図３２に示すように、光導波路３２上に透明電極２４、絶縁膜４７、液晶層２３ａ、配向膜１８、透明基板４９及び反射板３６入りクラッド層３５とこの順に重ねた。液晶スイッチをオンオフしたところ、出射光のオンオフを確認した。液晶の駆動は、２Ｈｚ矩形波を１０Ｖ印加して行った。液晶の駆動にあわせて、光源からの導波光がさまざまな角度で出射オンオフすることが確認できた。
【０１２０】
例５
光スイッチには液晶（ジャパンエナジー社製の強誘電性液晶材料Ｍ６２３４４（ｎ_o：１．４８９、ｎ_e：１．６６６）を、光導波路には三菱エンプラ社製ユーピロンシリーズポリカーボネート（ｎ_f：１．５８５）を選択した。導波路と対向する基板は１００μｍ厚のポリカーボネートシートを選択した。通常の液晶パネルと比較して非常に薄くフレキシビリティが高いため、光スイッチ部分に十分なスペーサを導入する必要があると考え、スペーサを２００〜５００個／ｍｍ2 となるように、散布した。なお、このスペーサには１．５μｍ径の真し球を用い、これをエタノールに分散させスピンコートした。この基板に、ＰＶＡ（前記と同じ）の１０ｗｔ％水溶液を配向膜として使用し、ラビング処理を行って、前記液晶を配向させた。矩形波を印加した時の、この配向膜でのチルト角は２０°、プレチルト角はゼロ度であったので、液晶層の法線方向と導波法線方向の角度は６０．１７°（導波方向からは、２９．８３°）とした。例２と同様に、ＰＶＡの１０ｗｔ％水溶液中に、１０μｍφのアルミ微粒子を超音波分散させ、これを上記基板の光出射方向にスピンコートし、クラッド層を形成した。なお、導波路上にスピンコートする際、例４と同様の押え治具５０を使用し、図３３に示すように導波路３２上に、透明電極２４、絶縁膜４７、液晶層２３ａ、配向膜１８、透明電極２４、基板４９及び微粒子４１入りクラッド層３５をこの順に重ねた。２Ｈｚ矩形波を１０Ｖ印加して液晶スイッチをオンオフしたところ、液晶の駆動にあわせて、光源からの導波光がさまざまな角度で出射することが確認できた。
【０１２１】
例６
光スイッチには液晶（ジャパンエナジー社製の強誘電性液晶材料Ｍ６２３４４（ｎ_o：１．４８９、ｎ_e：１．６６６）を、導波路には三菱エンプラ社製ユーピロンシリーズポリカーボネート（ｎ_f：１．５８５）を選択した。ＰＶＡ（前記と同じ）の１０ｗｔ％水溶液を配向膜として使用し、ラビング処理を行って、上記液晶を配向させた。矩形波を印加した時の、この配向膜でのチルト角は２０°、プレチルト角はゼロ度であったので、液晶層の法線方向と導波法線方向の角度は６０．１７°（導波方向からは、２９．８３°）とした。上記ポリカーボネートシートは、通常の液晶パネルと比較して非常に薄くフレキシビリティが高いため、スイッチ部分に十分なスペーサを導入する必要があると考え、スペーサを２００〜５００個／ｍｍ²となるように散布した。なお、このスペーサには１．５μｍ径の真し球を使用し、エタノールに分散させスピンコートした。例３と同様に、ヤスリ＃２０００、＃５０００、＃８０００、＃１００００、＃１５０００などを組み合わせて、対向基板上を１〜３０回一方向にこすることによって、光出射のためのグレーティング機構を作製した。２Ｈｚ矩形波を１０Ｖ印加してこの液晶スイッチのオンオフを行ったところ、光源からの導波光がさまざまな角度で出射オンオフすることが確認できた。
【０１２２】
【発明の作用及び効果】
以上に明らかなように、本発明の光学装置は、第１光導波路と第２光導波路の交差部分に配された被励起素子の外部又は／及び光路変更手段を介して第１又は第２光導波路内の光を外部に取り出す構成であるので、光スイッチ部分に取込まれた光を、視野角依存性を考慮しながら所望の出射角で効率よく外部に取り出すことができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の光学装置の要部を示す構成図で、クラッド層に反射機構を設けた構造を示す。
【図２】同装置の、出射光取り出し条件を示す線図である。
【図３】同装置において、反射板の角度と出射光の角度との関係を示す線図である。
【図４】同装置において、角度の異なる複数の反射板をクラッド層に配した構造を示す構成図である。
【図５】同装置において、画面サイズ一画素サイズとの関係を示す線図である。
【図６】本発明の光学装置に適用される各種反射機構を示す構成図である。
【図７】同装置において、クラッド層以外の層に設けられた反射機構を示す構成図である。
【図８】同装置において、異なるクラッド層に設けられた反射機構を示す構成図である。
【図９】同装置において、光スイッチ層が光導波路を兼ねる例を示す構成図である。
【図１０】同装置において、反射板を経る外光反射と外光二次反射の光路を示す構成図である。
【図１１】同装置において、反射板を経ない外光反射と外光二次反射の光路を示す構成図である。
【図１２】反射防止膜と黒色吸収層を備えた同装置の要部を示す構成図である。
【図１３】同装置において、光路変更手段の一つであるグレーティング機構を示す構成図である。
【図１４】同装置において、空間周波数と放射ビーム数の関係を示す線図である。
【図１５】同装置において、グレーティング機構とビーム結合との関係を示す構成図である。
【図１６】同装置において、グレーティング機構にＰＶＡ膜を積層した場合の空間周波数と放射ビーム数との関係を示す線図である。
【図１７】同装置において、放射ビーム数とΛ（ピッチ）との関係を示す線図である。
【図１８】同装置において、空気側への出射角とグレーティングピッチの関係を示す線図である。
【図１９】同装置において、色光（６３２．８ｎｍ）の入射角と出射角との関係を示す線図である。
【図２０】同装置において、色光（５１０ｎｍ）の入射角と出射角との関係を示す線図である。
【図２１】同装置において、各色での入射角の違いによる出射角とグレーティングピッチとの関係を示す線図である。
【図２２】同装置において導波路側への出射角とグレーティングピッチとの関係を示す線図である。
【図２３】同装置において、基板側への光（６３２．７ｎｍ）の出射角とグレーティングピッチとの関係を示す線図である。
【図２４】同装置において、基板側への光（５１０ｎｍ）出射角とグレーティングピッチとの関係を示す線図である。
【図２５】 同装置において、基板側への光（４６０ｎｍ）の出射角とグレーティングピッチとの関係を示す線図である。
【図２６】同装置に適用されるグレーティング機構の深さを示す構成図である。
【図２７】本発明の一実施例における光スイッチ層（光導波兼用）と反射板入りクラッド層を示す構成図である。
【図２８】本発明の異なる実施例における光スイッチ層（光導波路と兼用）と微粒子入りクラッド層を示す構成図である。
【図２９】本発明の更に異なる実施例における光スイッチ層（光導波路と兼用）とグレーティング機構を示す構成図である。
【図３０】同、グレーティング深さと散乱強度との関係を示す線図である。
【図３１】本発明の光学装置の作製に用いられる押え治具の一例を示す斜視図である。
【図３２】本発明の別の実施例に採用される各層の積層工程を示す断面図である。
【図３３】本発明の更に別の実施例に採用される各層の積層工程を示す断面図である。
【図３４】本発明の光学装置に適用される光路変更手段の１つである気泡の配置状態を示す断面図である。
【図３５】 本発明の光学装置の例を示す要部の斜視図である。
【図３６】本発明の光学装置の使用例を示す斜視図である。
【図３７】光学装置（光導波路型）における光スイッチの配置を示す構成図で、（Ａ）は光スイッチ部がクラッド層に設けられる場合、（Ｂ）は光スイッチ部が光導波路のコアを兼用する場合である。
【図３８】同（Ｂ）における光取出し条件を示す線図である。
【図３９】先願発明によるディスプレイ画素部の拡大一部破断斜視図とその駆動例を示す概略図である。
【図４０】同、光導波路（又は光ファイバー）から光が導出される原理を説明する概略断面図である。
【図４１】同、光ファイバー（Ａ）を用いたディスプレイ画素部（Ｂ）又は（Ｃ）を示す概略断面図である。
【図４２】同、ディスプレイ画素部の変調素子に使用可能な有機化合物の２段階２光子反応例を示すスキームである。
【図４３】同、変調素子の光強度に対する屈折率変化を示すグラフである。
【図４４】先願発明による他のディスプレイ画素部の拡大斜視図とその駆動例を示す概略図である。
【図４５】同、光導波路（又は光ファイバー）から光が導出される原理を説明する概略断面図である。
【図４６】同、光ファイバーを使用したディスプレイ画素部の拡大斜視図である。
【図４７】先願発明による更に別のディスプレイの概略レイアウトである。
【図４８】先願発明に使用可能な変調素子用の有機化合物の光による構造変化を示す化学式である。
【図４９】先願発明に使用可能な変調素子用の有機化合物の構造式である。
【図５０】先願発明による光導波路（又は光ファイバー）の作成例とその駆動例を示す斜視図である。
【図５１】先願発明による光導波路（又は光ファイバー）から光が導出される原理を説明する概略断面図である。
【図５２】先願発明による他の光導波路（又は光ファイバー）から光が導出される原理を説明する概略断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１、２、１１、１２…光導波路（又は光ファイバー）、３…光スイッチ、
３ａ…光スイッチ素子、３ｂ…光スイッチ層、
４、１４、１５…レーザ光、５…紫外光、１３…交差部（変調素子）、
１６、１７…光源、１８…配向膜、１９…ガラス基板、２１…ヒータ、
２３…液晶材料、２３ａ…液晶層、２４…透明電極、２５…高周波電源、
３０…透明電極、３１、３２（又は３３）…光導波路層、３４…電気光学素子、
３５、３５ａ…クラッド層、３６…反射板、３７…基板、
４０…グレーティング機構、４１…微粒子、４２…気泡、４５…反射防止膜、
４６…黒色吸収層、４７…絶縁膜、４８…スペーサ、４９…透明基板[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical apparatus, for example, an optical apparatus such as a display device having at least an optical display function of an image or a two-dimensional optical arithmetic unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the demand for display devices has increased as a man-machine interface, and is generally classified into a self-luminous type and a light-receiving type. Examples of the self-luminous type include CRT (cathode ray tube), PDP (plasma display), ELD (electroluminescence display), VFD (fluorescent display tube), LED (light emitting diode) and the like. On the other hand, the light receiving type includes LCD (liquid crystal display), ECD (electrochromic display) and the like. All of these displays have become more sophisticated with the development of electronics, and both quality and price are already in the mature stage, or are expected to enter that stage sooner or later.
[0003]
In conventional displays using electronics, it is necessary to use electrodes because electric fields and currents are used for the display screen, and when an attempt is made to enlarge the display panel, the electrical resistance due to the electrodes or wiring thereof inevitably increases. This is the biggest factor that prevents the panel from becoming large, and the screen size of the display is limited. In addition, since many of the materials used for the display are hard, it is extremely difficult to make the display a desired size and shape.
[0004]
In addition, for example, a display that uses electronics, such as a large-sized television for home use, for example, the volume and consumption electrodes are large, and the response speed is insufficient when following a high-definition signal.・ There is room for improvement in terms of high image quality.
[0005]
Therefore, the present inventor has focused on the full-scale use of photonics in developing a display device, which is fundamentally different from the conventional technology using electronics.
[0006]
However, for displays using photonics, thin displays combining optical waveguides and optical switches have been proposed in the 1970s (USPat.3,838,908 "Guided lilght structures comprising liquid crystal" DJ Channin, RCA Corporation, Oct. 1,1974). This thin display is intended to control the refractive index by liquid crystal and change the total reflection of the optical waveguide, but at that time there was no laser or LED as the light source, and the optical transmission loss of the optical waveguide was great, The alignment control of the nematic liquid crystal used in the optical switch has not been sufficiently studied. (RF Bush and PE Seiden, "Liquid crystal display device", IBM Tech. Disc. Bull. Vol. 14, No. 1, p.223, 1971) It was not practical enough and was never commercialized.
[0007]
Thus, although optical waveguide displays have a long history of research, they have never been put into practical use or commercialized, and no specific manufacturing method has been established.
[0008]
Photonics is a technology that handles an optical process without using an electric field, while electronics uses an electric field for an electronic process.
[0009]
Light, which is an electromagnetic wave, has a strong interaction between the oscillating electric field and charged particles in the molecule. Charged particles in a molecule, that is, charged particles in an atom, are electrons and protons, but a nucleus clogged with protons and neutrons has a large mass, and thus may be regarded as stationary in interaction with light. In other words, when considering the interaction between light and matter, it is not necessary to consider the interaction between light and the nucleus. On the other hand, an electron is about 1/20 of the mass of a proton, and can sufficiently follow an oscillating electric field even in a high frequency region such as light. Therefore, the interaction between light and matter can be regarded as the interaction between light and electrons in the molecule. Out of the many electrons in the molecule, the outer shell electrons that are weakly bound to the nucleus are more likely to interact with light.
[0010]
The absorption of light is due to the S in the interaction of light with electrons in the molecule._o→ S_nThis is a transition and is completed in femtosecond order. This unstable state (Frank-Condon state) does not last long, and a positively charged nucleus with a large mass undergoes relaxation by changing the coordinates to maintain balance. The time scale at which this relaxation occurs is on the order of picoseconds. In parallel with the relaxation of the nuclear configuration, S is a relatively stable excited state.₁However, since its lifetime is on the order of nanoseconds, it can be considered that almost all processes involved in the excited state caused by light absorption dominate this time.
[0011]
As a result of earnest research efforts to develop a practical display device that makes full use of this photonics for the 21st century, the present inventor has not only the desired performance but also the collective emission calculation. Was successfully developed as a new optical device (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-204037). The details will be described below.
[0012]
The optical device according to the invention of the prior application basically includes a first optical waveguide (or optical fiber, hereinafter omitted); and a second optical waveguide (or optical fiber, hereinafter omitted) intersecting the first optical waveguide. And an excited element that is arranged at the intersection and is excited by light (for example, light intensity) guided in each of the first and second optical waveguides, and has at least an optical display function and 2 An optical device having a dimension calculation function.
[0013]
According to this optical device, photonics technology is mainly used instead of electronics, and the device is excited by the respective guided light at the intersection of the first and second optical waveguides. Can be selectively derived or blocked. Therefore, aside from the semiconductor laser used for the light source, the display screen does not use any electric field or current and can be displayed only by optical excitation, so that high-contrast and high-quality display is possible. An optical calculation function can be realized simultaneously with the display function. In addition, since the electrodes, which were the biggest factor that hindered the enlargement of the conventional panel, are not used, the screen size of this optical waveguide display is not limited, and can be of any size, including an increase in screen size. Moreover, the shape of the display can be devised at will by using a flexible material.
[0014]
In the optical apparatus of the prior invention, the excited element is an element that modulates refractive index by optical excitation, an element that modulates refractive index distribution, an element that modulates light emission intensity, an element that modulates color density, an element that modulates dielectric constant, or a liquid crystal It consists of one or a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal element that changes the alignment state and a light scattering element, and light is selectively led out or blocked at the intersection by the photoexcitation. An optical display and / or computation may be performed.
[0015]
Specifically, a plurality of the first and second optical waveguides are arranged, and a light source is optically coupled (coupled) directly or indirectly to the plurality of optical waveguides (however, directly When the optical waveguide is optically coupled, the optical waveguide and the light source are provided in a one-to-one correspondence. When indirectly optically coupled, the light source and at least one optical waveguide are It is connected by an optical waveguide member).
[0016]
In an actual display, the plurality of first optical waveguides and the plurality of second optical waveguides are orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to each other, and these intersections are not optically coupled. The excited elements that are excited by the light intensity respectively guided in the first and second optical waveguides are arranged in the section, and these excited elements are arranged in the first optical waveguide as a horizontal waveguide. The light is selected for each line according to the light intensity, and the light in the second optical waveguide as a vertical waveguide is intensity-modulated according to the data signal, and the intensity-modulated data signal light is selected. It is good to comprise so that it may take out outside via an excitation element.
[0017]
Alternatively, the plurality of first optical waveguides and the plurality of second optical waveguides orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the first optical waveguides are arranged in the same plane, and are in the first and second optical waveguides. The excited elements that are excited by the intensity of the light respectively guided in the step are arranged at intersections of the first and second optical waveguides, and the excited elements are determined by the intensity of the light in the first optical waveguide as a horizontal waveguide. An element is selected for each line, and light in the second optical waveguide as a vertical waveguide is intensity-modulated according to a data signal, and the intensity-modulated data signal light is selected by the selected excited element. It may be configured to be taken out through the outside.
[0018]
In addition, when the excited element is provided with an element capable of controlling the element temperature or an element capable of applying a high frequency electric field, particularly in the case of a liquid crystal element, when the temperature is high or a high frequency electric field is applied. In addition, the polarization inversion of the liquid crystal tends to occur uniformly.
[0019]
The optical waveguide display uses a flexible material such as plastic as a constituent material, so that a 120-degree curved display having a powerful screen, a hemispherical display, a global display, a cocoon display, and a non-use The display can be sized from large to compact, such as a display (D) that can sometimes be rolled up.
[0020]
The pixel portion of this display may be configured as illustrated in FIG. That is, in each pixel, the two optical waveguides 1 and 2 are crossed orthogonally or substantially orthogonally. These optical waveguides 1 and 2 may be made of communication-use silica fiber or plastic fiber with good waveguide efficiency, or a three-dimensional polymer waveguide is formed on a film substrate by a photolithographic method so as to form a cross-shaped pattern. You may make it. For example, it is practical to use a semiconductor laser as the light source.
[0021]
In the illustrated example, the intersecting portions of the optical waveguides 1 and 2 are not optically coupled (coupled), but the intersecting portion 13 has a threshold value (threshold) for the light intensity of the irradiation light, An organic material, an inorganic material, or a composite material thereof excited by the intensity is disposed as the optical switch (modulation element) 3. That is, the modulation element 3 is an element that changes the refractive index, an element that changes the emission intensity, an element that changes the color density, an element that changes the dielectric constant, an element that changes the magnetic permeability, and an element that changes the refractive index distribution. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Further, specific examples of the constituent material of the optical switch 3 are preferably photochromic materials that cause refractive index modulation as described below.
[0022]
Since photochromic molecules have channels that recombine chemical bonds in the excited state, when they receive light, they are converted to other isomers with different electronic states. Since the two isomers have the same molecular weight but different chemical bonding modes, they have different molecular physical properties and differ not only in color but also in refractive index, dielectric constant, and steric structure. Crystals and amorphous films made of these molecules alone, or polymer films containing these molecules, reversibly change their optical properties and electrical properties simply by irradiating light from the outside. As described above, the photoreaction is completed with the lifetime (nanosecond) of the excited state of electrons, but a normal photochromic material reacts in proportion to the number of absorbed photons, and thus there is no threshold for the photoreaction. Therefore, special photochromic materials need to be used for the display.
[0023]
Examples of the most desirable photochromic material include materials that cause a two-step two-photon reaction. For example, the naphthopyran derivative molecule shown in FIG. 42 is such a material that undergoes a two-photon reaction (Satoshi Uchida and Masahiro Irie “Photochromic reaction of naphthopyran derivative”, “Dye and Drug”, Vol. 42, No. 6, P11. -17 (1997), M. Uchida and M. lrie; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 115, 6442 (1993)).
[0024]
In this molecular system, the pyran structure shown on the left side of the figure is colored, and when it becomes the right bicyclo structure, the color disappears. For example, when a pyran structure receives one photon of ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 405 nm, it is converted into a keto intermediate shown in the center of the figure. Although this keto intermediate is in the ground state, it is relatively unstable and immediately returns to the original pyran structure by a heat return reaction. When the light (irradiation) intensity is weak, only the photochromic reaction occurs in these two states. When the light is turned off, all molecules return to the original pyran structure. That is, when the light intensity is weak, no permanent change occurs. When the light intensity is increased, the keto intermediate further absorbs one photon and converts to the colorless bicyclo structure shown on the right side of the figure. This bicyclo structure is stable, and conversion having a threshold value with respect to light intensity occurs. The bicyclo structure returns to the keto intermediate by irradiation with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 334 nm, for example, and the keto intermediate returns thermally to the pyran structure.
[0025]
Thus, when the naphthopyran derivative is converted from the pyran structure to the bicyclo structure via the keto intermediate by the two-step two-photon reaction, the refractive index becomes n according to the light intensity as shown in FIG.₁To n₁It changes to + Δn.
[0026]
Such a modulation phenomenon can be used as an optical switch. For example, in FIG. 39, the optical waveguide 2 (refractive index n) on the opposite side as viewed from the viewer positioned above the pixel portion.₁), The visible light laser beam 4 is always guided as data signal light modulated by a data signal, for example, while the optical waveguide 1 (refractive index n) closer to the viewer is viewed.₁), The ultraviolet light 5 is guided while being turned on and off. The ultraviolet light 5 may be a pulse having a frequency of 60 Hz at an interval of 16.7 msec, for example, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, as shown in (B) in the figure, ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 405 nm (corresponding to two photons) and 334 nm (corresponding to one photon) may be alternately pulsed, and in this case, the above-described pyran structure → The change to the bicyclo structure (increased refractive index) and the reaction of returning to the bicyclo structure → keto intermediate → pyran structure are repeated.
[0027]
Thus, for example, the refractive index of the optical switch 3 at the crossing portion having absorption at the wavelength by the irradiation of the ultraviolet light 5 of the optical waveguide 1 is set to n.₁To n₁By modulating to + Δn and modulating the total reflection angle of the optical waveguide 2 of the laser light 4, visible light can be extracted to the viewer side as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 40.
[0028]
In this way, the ultraviolet light 5 of the optical waveguide 1 is line-selected as a select signal, and the laser light 4 of the optical waveguide 2 is taken out from the intersection (pixel portion) of the two optical waveguides, so that the signal light corresponding to the data signal is obtained. It can be identified as a display image. In addition, since this image display function is to selectively take out the data signal light by selecting the optical waveguide, it also has an arithmetic function for outputting an optical signal (or one of the functions). It is useful not only as a collective light-emitting display element but also as a collective light-emitting arithmetic element or a two-dimensional light arithmetic device.
[0029]
Further, in place of the above optical waveguide, a pixel portion as shown in FIG. 41B or a pixel portion as shown in FIG. 41C is constructed from two types of optical fibers 1 and 2 shown in FIG. However, the optical switch function similar to the above can be exhibited.
[0030]
As described above, the example in which the refractive index is increased by light irradiation has been described. Conversely, a modulation element in which the refractive index is decreased may be provided.
[0031]
For example, in the cross-shaped three-dimensional optical waveguide shown in FIG. 44, the laser beams 14 and 15 having the same wavelength are guided in both the waveguides 11 and 12 in which the intersections are optically coupled. Then, when the light intensity is equal to or greater than the threshold value when the respective values are added, if modulation is performed so as to decrease the refractive index, for example, as shown in FIG. Visible light can be extracted to the viewer side.
[0032]
In order to cause this refractive index modulation, for example, n_w= 1.490, n_w-Δn = 1.485, n_wWhen + Δn ′ = 1.495, θ₀= 42.155 °, θ₁= 47.845 °, θ₂= 48.058 °, θ_Three= 41.942 °, θ_Four= 82.995 °, θ ′₁= 47.845 °, θ ′₂= 47.634 °. As a result, as shown in FIG. 45B, when one laser beam 15 is not incident on the intersecting portion 13, the original refractive index (n_W+ Δn ′), the laser 14 passes as it is, but when the laser light 15 is incident, the light intensity is added to the light intensity of the laser light 14, and the refractive index of the intersection 13 is changed as shown in FIG. n_WThe incident laser beam 14 is led out to the outside by decreasing to −Δn. Here, the laser beam 15 may be used for selection, and the laser beam 14 may be used as a data signal beam.
[0033]
In the cross-shaped optical waveguide as shown in FIG. 44, if the intersection 13 is made of a material whose refractive index is increased by optical excitation, light is derived when it is not optically excited due to a phenomenon opposite to that shown in FIG. When it is done, light can be blocked by the increase in refractive index.
[0034]
Further, instead of the cross-shaped optical waveguide, the cross-shaped switch element may be constituted by optical fibers 11 and 12, as shown in FIG. This also shows the same optical switch function as described above.
[0035]
Next, a display using the display element as a pixel portion will be described with reference to FIG.
[0036]
For example, the cross-shaped optical waveguides shown in FIGS. 44, 45 and 46 are arranged as one pixel of the display in the same plane, and 1600 optical waveguides 12 in the vertical direction and 1200 optical waveguides 11 in the horizontal direction. When arranged, the number of intersections becomes 1.92 million, that is, a display with 1.92 million pixels can be manufactured. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 47, as a signal for controlling the light intensity, for example, the data signal light 14 having the light intensity suitable for the display of each pixel from each light source 16 to each optical waveguide 12 from the vertical direction. From the horizontal direction, the entire optical waveguide is simply selected by the select signal light 15 from each light source 17 to each optical waveguide 11 (this select signal light is turned on / off at the same value as the light intensity threshold or zero intensity). To do). Each of the light sources 16 and 17 is connected to the optical waveguide via an optical waveguide member such as an optical fiber, in addition to being directly optically coupled to each optical waveguide in a one-to-one correspondence as shown in the figure. (Indirect optical coupling) may be used. Further, a common light source may be connected to each optical waveguide via an optical waveguide member, and a direct or indirect optical coupling method may be used in combination.
[0037]
Specifically, when a total of 4800 optical waveguides 12 in the vertical direction are arranged in the order of red, green, and blue, which are visible light, a full-color display having 1.92 million pixels is obtained. Since the optical waveguide 11 in the horizontal direction selects the entire line, as an optical switch, for example, in the case of the current UXGA progressive display system, a driving time of about 14 μs (1/60/1200 seconds) is given. In this case, since photonics that switches in nanoseconds is used, switching is sufficiently possible, and it is clear that this is a driving method unique to photonics. In addition, even when a non-memory material that modulates the electron density distribution unlike the above materials, such as polydiacetylene, is used for an optical switch, if light can be extracted for about 14 μs, it is mainly nanoseconds. Considering the current CRT display that does not emit light, the display time is sufficient for human eyes. Further, there is no moving image blur that occurs in a liquid crystal display, which is a problem because the lighting continues for one frame time (1/60 seconds).
[0038]
In short, the display of the invention of the prior application is novel as a high-quality display device having a high contrast ratio, and a collective light emission calculation device), which can control light itself only by light intensity without using an electric field and current. And useful. The layout as shown in FIG. 47 may be similarly applied to the pixel portion having the configuration shown in FIG.
[0039]
Here, as a modulation element usable at the intersection, an element that modulates the refractive index by optical excitation, an element that modulates the refractive index distribution, an element that modulates the emission intensity, an element that modulates the color density, an element that modulates the dielectric constant, and a magnetic permeability modulation There are an element that performs liquid crystal alignment, a liquid crystal element that changes a liquid crystal alignment state, an element that scatters light, and the like, and these can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Some of these modulations will be described in more detail.
[0040]
(1) Refractive index modulation
The refractive index (n) of the organic compound is represented by the following formula.
[Expression 1]

(Here, M: molecular weight, d: density, R: molecular refraction, N: Avogadro number, α: polarizability.)
(*) According to Chemistry Dictionary 8, published in 1957, Kyoritsu Publishing Co., p186.
[0041]
As can be seen from this equation, the refractive index can be increased by increasing the polarizability, and the refractive index can be decreased by decreasing the polarizability. In order to increase the polarizability of an organic compound, a method of newly bonding to a new atom or atomic group is effective, and the naphthopyran derivative described above is an example obtained by such a method. On the other hand, in order to reduce the polarizability, conversely, a method of cutting bonds such as conjugate sites can be easily considered. In particular, for changing the refractive index by light energy, there are many methods such as cleavage of cyclic ketone, addition reaction of olefin, enolization of aromatic substituted ketone, as shown in FIG.
[0042]
On the other hand, in the case of an inorganic compound, in order to satisfy Δn <0, the refractive index can be obtained from literature (“Heterostructure Lasers”, HCCasey, Jr. and MBPanish, Academic Press, New York, (1978)
[Expression 2]

(Where n is the free electron concentration, q is the charge, m_nIs the effective mass of electrons. )
Decrease according to The same applies to holes. In the case of a p-type material, the hole concentration is p and the effective mass of the hole is m._pRepresented by
[0043]
As an example, taking GaAs transparent to infrared light as an example,
[Equation 3]

[0044]
Further, in order to satisfy Δn> 0, as is well known, the refractive index can be increased by about 5 to 10% by entering light equal to the band gap Eg.
[0045]
(2) Various pixel forming materials
FIG. 49 shows some examples of various pixel forming materials (materials used for intersections of optical waveguides) including the above materials together with the structural formula.
[0046]
The naphthopyran derivative is as described above. In addition, a polydiacetylene organic polymer as a third-order nonlinear optical material that changes the refractive index according to the light intensity is conductive by a π-electron conjugated system in the main chain direction. Since the function such as the optical properties and the non-linear optical characteristics is expressed, the anisotropy is large and the main chain direction has a large function, but the direction orthogonal to the main chain has almost no function.
[0047]
In addition, spirobenzopyran (colorless ⇔ blue), azobenzene (light yellow ⇔ orange), fulgide (light yellow ⇔ orange), diarylethene (colorless ⇔ red), etc. that change color according to light intensity can be used. Moreover, the structure of the benzophenone-based polyimide, which is a liquid crystal alignment film material, changes due to light irradiation and changes the liquid crystal alignment state.
[0048]
Next, further specific examples of the prior invention will be described.
[0049]
Example 1
As shown in FIG. 50 (A), a polysiloxane (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc .: refractive index 1.49) is used to print the cross-shaped optical waveguides 11 and 12 on a glass substrate except for the intersection 13 thereof. To make. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, a diazo dye (azobenzene shown in FIG. 49) is added to a 20% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (refractive index 1.51) at the intersection 13 (a recess in the center of the cross). ) Is dispersed dropwise and dried at 90 ° C. for several hours. The lamination is repeated until the film thickness of the diazo dye-containing layer 13 is approximately the same as that of the polysiloxane layers 11 and 12.
[0050]
In the sample thus prepared, as shown in FIG. 50C, the semiconductor lasers (wavelength 510 nm) 14 and 15 are guided to the optical waveguides 11 and 12 using a prism and coupled at the intersection 13. The laser is irradiated with pulses of 1 μsec. In this way, it can be observed that the green guided light is turned on and off from the central optical switch portion 13.
[0051]
Example 2
As shown in FIG. 51, the structure is changed by light irradiation (the alignment state of the liquid crystal is changed). The benzophenone-based polyimide shown in FIG. 49 is spin-coated on the glass substrate 19 as the alignment film 18, and two sheets without rubbing. In addition, a cell 13 having a gap of 1.7 μm is manufactured, and this cell is arranged at the intersection 13 of the optical waveguides 11 and 12 shown in FIG. Into the cell, a ferroelectric liquid crystal material (CS-1025) 23 manufactured by Chisso Corporation is injected in an isotropic phase and slowly cooled to room temperature. In addition, a liquid crystal temperature detection element 20 (however, this detection element is not always necessary) such as a thermocouple is connected to the cell, and a heater element 21 that controls the liquid crystal temperature based on this detection temperature is also connected.
[0052]
Four types of such cells are prepared, set to temperatures of 10 ° C., 20 ° C., 30 ° C., and 40 ° C., and each is irradiated with high-pressure mercury lamp light (wavelength 366 nm) 22 through an optical waveguide in the same manner as in FIG. . In this way, as shown in FIG. 51, the alignment film 18 undergoes a structural change by light irradiation to change the alignment state of the liquid crystal, and the light 22 is selectively led out to the outside. It can be seen that the polarization inversion of the liquid crystal occurs uniformly.
[0053]
Example 3
As shown in FIG. 52, the alignment film 18 made of benzophenone-based polyimide is spin-coated on the glass substrate 19 with the transparent electrode 24 made of ITO (Indium tin oxide) as in Example 2, and the rubbing is not performed. Two types of cells having a gap of 1.7 μm are produced by stacking the sheets. Into the cell, a ferroelectric liquid crystal material (CS-1025) manufactured by Chisso Corporation is injected in an isotropic phase and gradually cooled to room temperature.
[0054]
A high frequency power supply 25 is connected to one cell, and a voltage of ± 0.5 V is applied to this cell as a rectangular wave with a frequency of 10 kHz, and no voltage is applied to the other cell. Are irradiated with high-pressure mercury lamp light (wavelength 366 nm) 22 from the optical waveguide. In this way, when light is derived by changing the liquid crystal alignment state of the alignment film 18 by photoexcitation, the cell to which a high-frequency electric field is applied is more sufficient to derive light than the cell to which no electric field is applied. It can be seen that the polarization inversion of the ferroelectric liquid crystal occurs uniformly (without depending on the cell gap unevenness or the like).
[0055]
In the invention of the prior application, the optical switch function can be produced by using, for example, refractive index modulation of an inorganic material or using an inorganic / organic hybrid material. In addition to the intensity of incident light, the optical switch operation can be performed using polarized light, phase, or the like.
[0056]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The practical optical device of the prior invention using photonics technology has been described above in detail. However, conventional optical devices (optical waveguide displays) including the prior invention have a viewing angle dependency, and there has not yet been an effective light extraction mechanism that takes this into consideration.
[0057]
Next, how important this light extraction mechanism is for the optical apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0058]
For example, the case where the optical switch element 3a which controls a total reflection angle is used for an optical apparatus is taken as an example. As shown in FIG. 37, there are two types of arrangement of the optical switch element 3a. FIG. 37A shows the optical switch element 3a on the cladding layer 35 of the optical waveguide 32 (or 33), and FIG. ) Is one in which the optical switch element 3 a is arranged in the core portion of the optical waveguide 32.
[0059]
In the case where there is no light extraction mechanism, the following conditions are necessary for the light to be emitted to the air layer in the (A) type. This condition does not change no matter what layer is disposed further outside the cladding layer 35.
[Expression 4]

However, there is no solution that satisfies this inequality (1). (Left and right denominators)
[0060]
Further, in the case where there is no light extraction mechanism, the following conditions are necessary in order to emit light to the air layer in the (B) type.
[Equation 5]

However, as can be seen from FIG. 2, there is no solution for this inequality (2). That is, even if the optical switch can change the waveguide direction, light cannot be extracted to the air side, that is, the human visual side without a light extraction mechanism.
[0061]
In research on optical integrated circuits other than optical waveguide displays, research on optical connection (extraction) has been actively conducted. Especially, the grating coupler is famous (ML Dakss, et. Al., “Grating coupler for efficient excitation of optical guided waves in thin films”, Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 16, No. 12, 523, 1970). (H. Kogelnik and TP Sosnowski, "Holographic thin film couplers", Bell. Syst. Tech. J., Vol. 49, 1602, 1970) (Toshiaki Sugawara, Hiroshi Nishihara, "Waveguides using grating elements-free space , Functional Connections of "Optics, Vol. 19, No. 12, 813, 1990" (J. Nayuer and H. Hatami-Hanza, "Optical intersecting-waveguide switches with widened angle of deflection", IEEE Phtonics technology letters, Vol. 4, No. 12, 1375, 1992) (P. Dansas, N. Paraire and F. Lederer, "Fast modeling of light beam deffracution by multilayer strulctures including a grating coupler", Pure Appl. Opt. Vol. 4, 139, 1995). However, all of these technologies are aimed at how efficiently light is transferred from the waveguide to the waveguide in the optical circuit and are not of the display specification that emits light to the human eye. In particular, the viewing angle dependency is not considered at all.
[0062]
In particular, the specific description of the light extraction part, which is most important for the following reasons, is a mechanical switch that also serves as a reflector (X. Zhou and E. Gulari, "Wavegude p @ anel display using electromechanical spatial modulators" , SID 98 Digest, 1022, 1998), and patents and documents containing essential ideas have not yet been submitted (NA Clark and MA Handschy, "Surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid-crystal electro-optic waveguide") switch ", Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 57, No. 18, 1852, 1990) (K. Yoshino, et. al.," Electro-optic switching in polymer waveguide using surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal ", Mol. Crys. Liq. Cryst., Vol. 202, 163, 1991).
[0063]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to allow light taken into an optical switch portion of an optical waveguide display capable of performing collective light emission calculation at a desired emission angle in consideration of viewing angle dependency. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical device having a light extraction mechanism that can be efficiently extracted.
[0064]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  That is, the optical device of the present invention includes a first optical waveguide (or optical fiber); a second optical waveguide (or optical fiber) intersecting the first optical waveguide; and the first and second optical waveguides (or optical fibers). And an excited element that is excited by light guided in each of the first and second optical waveguides (or optical fibers). The optical path is changed outside or / and inside the excited element. And at least an optical display function that allows the light in the first or second optical waveguide (or optical fiber) to be extracted to the outside via the excited element and the optical path changing means. And In the following, an optical waveguide (or optical fiber) may be expressed as an “optical waveguide”.
[0066]
  According to the optical device of the present invention, the outside of the excited element arranged at the intersection of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide and / or the optical path changing means (specifically, reflector, fine particles, grating coupler) Etc.), the light in the first or second optical waveguide is taken out to the outside, and the light taken into the optical switch portion is converted into a desired emission angle in consideration of the viewing angle dependency. Can be taken out efficiently.
[0068]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  In the optical apparatus of the present invention, the excited element is an element that modulates the refractive index by optical excitation, an element that modulates the refractive index distribution, an element that modulates the light emission intensity, an element that modulates the color density, an element that modulates the dielectric constant, or a magnetic permeability modulation 1 element selected from the group consisting of a light emitting element, a liquid crystal element that changes liquid crystal alignment, and a light scattering element, or a combination of two or more, and light is selectively led out or blocked at the intersection by the photoexcitation. Thus, the optical display and / or calculation can be performed.
[0069]
  Specifically, in the optical device of the present invention, a plurality of the first and second optical waveguides are arranged, and a light source is optically coupled directly or indirectly to the plurality of optical waveguides. preferable. However, when directly optically coupled, the optical waveguide and the light source are provided in a one-to-one correspondence, and when indirectly optically coupled, at least one of the light source and the light source is provided. The two optical waveguides (or optical fibers) are preferably connected by an optical waveguide member.
[0070]
  The optical device according to the present invention includes a plurality of the first optical waveguides and a plurality of the second optical waveguides orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the first optical waveguides, and the first and second optical waveguides. The intersecting portion of the waveguide is not optically coupled, and the excited elements that are excited by the light guided in the first and second optical waveguides are arranged in the intersecting portion, and the first waveguide as the horizontal waveguide is provided. The excited element is selected for each line according to the light intensity of the light in the optical waveguide, and the light in the second optical waveguide as a vertical waveguide is intensity-modulated according to the data signal. It is preferable that the data signal light is extracted outside through the selected excited element.
[0071]
  In the optical device of the present invention, the plurality of first optical waveguides, and the plurality of second optical waveguides arranged in the same plane as the first optical waveguide, orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the first optical waveguides. The pumped element that is excited by the light intensity of the light guided in each of the first and second optical waveguides is disposed at the intersection of the first and second optical waveguides, and is guided horizontally. The excited element is selected for each line according to the light intensity of the light in the first optical waveguide as a waveguide, and the light in the second optical waveguide as a vertical waveguide is intensity-modulated according to a data signal. This intensity modulated data signal light,It may be configured to be taken out through the selected excited element.
[0072]
In addition, when the excited element is provided with an element capable of controlling the element temperature or an element capable of applying a high-frequency electric field, particularly in the case of a liquid crystal element, a high-frequency electric field is applied when the temperature is high. Sometimes the polarization inversion of the liquid crystal tends to occur uniformly.
[0073]
  Further, in the optical device of the present invention, as the specific optical path changing means, the first optical waveguide (or optical fiber) or the clad layer laminated on the second optical waveguide is provided with a reflector, fine particles, bubbles and It is desirable to provide at least one selected from the group consisting of gratings (couplers).
[0080]
Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. The following description is mainly focused on the light extraction mechanism, and the other configurations, functions, effects, and the like are the same as those of the prior invention described above, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.
[0081]
The optical device of the present invention uses a flexible material such as plastic as a constituent material thereof, so that, for example, as shown in FIG. 36, a 120-degree display (A) having a powerful screen, a hemispherical display (B), a global Compact size as a type display (C), a cocoon type display (not shown), or a display (D) that can be rolled up when not in use, and a display (E) for clothing, hats, tableware (cups, etc.) It can be.
[0082]
The above-described display can be made thin, large, and high-definition, and is a self-luminous very bright optical device that efficiently uses a light source. For example, a contrast ratio of 500 required for a large screen: 1 can also be realized easily.
[0083]
  The pixel portion of the optical device can be configured as shown in FIG. 35, for example. That is, in FIG. 6A, the optical waveguide 31 and the transparent electrode 30 intersect each other, and in FIG. 5B, the optical waveguide 32 and the optical waveguide 33 intersect each other at right angles or substantially at right angles.
[0084]
For the optical waveguides 31, 32 and 33, for example, inorganic glass fiber or plastic fiber having good waveguide efficiency is used. In the case of a three-dimensional polymer waveguide, an optical waveguide is formed on a film substrate by using a photolithography method. It is preferable to do.
[0085]
For example, an electro-optic element 34 that changes the refractive index according to the electric field strength is used as an excited element at an intersection between the optical waveguide 30 and the transparent electrode 31, and an optical intensity is provided at the intersection between the optical waveguide 32 and the optical waveguide 33. Each of the excited elements 34a whose refractive index is changed by the optical switch 3 is arranged.
[0086]
The light source of the optical device of the present invention is not particularly limited, but a semiconductor laser is preferable for practical use.
[0087]
Next, optical path changing means provided outside or / and inside the electro-optic element 34 or the excited element 34a will be considered. Here, an example will be described in which the reflector 36 shown in FIG. In this example, the clad layer 37 is laminated on the optical waveguide 32 (or 33) via the optical switch layer 3b.
[0088]
In order to extract the guided light to the air layer side, it is necessary to satisfy the conditions as shown in the equation (3).
[Formula 6]

If there is a solution satisfying the expression (3), the guided light is emitted to the air layer side. As an extreme numerical example, (I) n_c: 1.52, n_off: 1.50 (II) n_c: 4.00, n_off: 1.38 and a solution was obtained (see FIG. 2).
[0089]
sinθ_outThe solution of <1 clearly exists. That is, light can be extracted to the air layer (human visual side) of the reflecting plate 36. In particular, the angle of the outgoing light can be changed by changing the angle of the reflecting plate 36. That is, in the above example, by changing the angle of the reflecting plate 36, the emission angle can be changed by, for example, about ± 70 ° (see FIG. 3).
[0090]
The number of the reflection plates 36 is not limited to a single number but may be a plurality. In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, when a plurality of reflecting plates 36 having different angles are arranged in one pixel in consideration of the light intensity, the emitted light can be controlled to various angles. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case of a large screen of 100 inch class, the size of one pixel is 1 mm.²Since it is large as described above, it is considered that there is no particular problem in the production of a plurality of reflectors 36 in one pixel.
[0091]
The reflection plate 36 is not limited by the material, shape, or the like as long as it can reflect light. For example, it may be made of a metal such as an aluminum mirror, but it is opaque even if it is transparent, considering the reflective refractive index (using a material having a refractive index lower than that of the surrounding portion). May be. Moreover, not only a flat plate but a curved plate, a prism shape, or a block shape may be sufficient.
[0092]
Further, the reflecting plate 36 may be incorporated in a layer other than the cladding layer 35, for example, the optical switch layer 3b or other layers as shown in FIG.
[0093]
Furthermore, the reflection plate 36 may be provided not only on the clad layer 35 on the output side but also on the clad layer 35a facing the output side as shown in FIG.
[0094]
In the present invention, fine particles 41 and bubbles 42 as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C can be used as a reflection mechanism in addition to the reflection plate 36 described above. There are no particular restrictions on the number of these arrangements. Among these, the fine particles 41 may be a filled body or a hollow body, and the material thereof may be any of metal, inorganic material, and organic material. From the viewpoint of increasing the reflectance, fine particles having a rough surface are preferable.
[0095]
The air bubbles 42 are not particularly limited by the type of gas, but air bubbles are preferable. This is because it is practical and high reflectance can be obtained.
[0096]
Of course, the two types of reflection mechanisms described above may be provided in the optical waveguide (core layer) 32 that also serves as the optical switch layer 3b as shown in FIG.
[0097]
Next, a method for forming such a reflection mechanism will be described. In the following, a reflection mechanism is formed in the cladding layer. When the reflection mechanism is formed in other layers, the following method or a forming method according to it can be applied.
[0098]
(1) Formation of reflector
After the clad layer is formed of a known forming material and before it is cured, the reflector is inserted into the clad layer at an optimized angle, or the reflector (preferably prism-shaped) is previously placed on the surface of the waveguide. It is preferable to apply the method to form a clad layer.
[0099]
(2) Formation of fine particles
It is preferable to disperse the fine particles in the clad layer forming material at a previously optimized concentration (depending on the shape and size of the fine particles) and then cure the clad layer. Note that, in terms of geometrical optical scattering, it is necessary to select a particle size of λ / π or more as the size of the fine particles.
[0100]
(3) Bubble formation
First, a volatile oil such as silicone is dispersed in the cladding layer forming material, and an emulsion is formed while stirring. At this time, the bubble size and concentration can be controlled depending on the stirring conditions. The emulsion containing the volatile oil is then cured. Then, only the oil component is volatilized from the clad layer during the curing process, so that bubbles are formed in the clad layer. In order to accurately form bubbles, for example, a microcapsule manufacturing method may be used to form a polymer shell around oil droplets. In addition to the above, bubbles can also be formed in the cladding layer by a method in which different types of polymer materials (A) and polymer materials (B) are mixed to generate gas.
[0101]
By the way, when the reflection mechanism described above is used, it is difficult to obtain high-quality image quality due to scattered light unless measures for preventing the incidence of external light and its secondary reflection are generally considered. Otherwise, contrast is not obtained and the overall image quality is often whitish.
[0102]
For example, FIG. 10 shows external light reflection and external light secondary reflection by the reflecting plate 36, but the same applies to the case where there is no reflecting plate 36 or the case where the secondary reflected light does not pass through the reflecting plate 36 as shown in FIG. Problems arise.
[0103]
Therefore, in the waveguide display, it is usually necessary to form an antireflection film 45 on the emission side as shown in FIG. In addition, when the antireflection film 45 is provided, external light enters the waveguide display, so that it is necessary to take measures to confine the external light on the exit side. For this, as shown in the figure, for example, a black absorption film 46 made of carbon may be provided.
[0104]
As described above, the reflection mechanism (reflection plate, fine particles, bubbles) has been described. However, in the present invention, the grating mechanism is also effective as the optical path changing means. First, a grating mechanism 40 as shown in FIG. 13 will be considered.
[0105]
It is calculated which is more efficient, ie, two-beam coupling that emits toward the air layer (about half of the radiation is also emitted to the waveguide side) and one-beam coupling that emits only in the waveguide direction. Since one beam combination can emit all the light to the waveguide side, it can be considered to be efficient. However, when the relationship between the spatial frequency and the number of radiation beams is calculated, as shown in FIG. When N is 3 or less, n_s1 is 1.00 with air, one beam combining cannot occur.
[0106]
If a special inorganic glass such as sapphire glass is used as the waveguide, the effective refractive index becomes 3.0 or more, and an efficient one-beam coupled grating mechanism can be produced.
[0107]
However, in consideration of waveguide efficiency and cost, when a polymer fiber or quartz fiber is used for the waveguide, the effective refractive index is 1.8 or less. The structure is n_cAnd n_sConsider increasing the difference. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, a countermeasure is to stack a polymer layer (PVAn = 1.52) as the substrate 37 on the waveguide 32 side. n_sIs 1.52, the relationship between the spatial frequency and the radiation beam is as shown in FIG. 16, and there is a solution of one beam coupling to the waveguide 32 side.
[0108]
Next, a description will be given of a multi-beam combining and one-beam combining grating mechanism optimized in consideration of viewing angle dependency.
(A) Multiple beam coupling (the outside of the waveguide is an air layer)
FIG. 17 shows the optimum Λ value obtained based on the result of FIG. Λ depends on the wavelength of the guided light, but is preferably 0.3 to 1.5 μm bitch. Λ also determines the exit angle.
[0109]
FIG. 18 shows the relationship between the emission angle to the air side and the grating pitch when the two-beam combined incident angle is 70 °. In consideration of the viewing angle dependence, Λ is It is good to take various values from 0.2 to 1.2 μm pitch.
[0110]
In addition, the relationship between the incident angle and the outgoing angle in each color was calculated. The results are shown in FIGS. The larger the incident angle, the more the various exit angles can be obtained with the same grating pitch.
[0111]
(B) 1 beam combination
FIG. 22 shows the optimum Λ value obtained based on the result of FIG. Considering the viewing angle dependency, in order to emit light at various angles, more pitch variations are required than multiple beam combination, but Λ can take various values from 0.2 to several tens of μm pitch. It ’s fine. 23 to 25 show the relationship between the emission angle and the grating pitch depending on the difference in the incident angle for each color. Grating radiation occurs due to changes in the dielectric constant distribution. Therefore, the following relationship exists between the grating depth and the refractive index of the grating material.
[Expression 7]

Here, k: wave number, N: equivalent refractive index.
[0112]
h <h_cThen, the scattering intensity increases monotonously and the intensity is h²Proportional to^*. h> h_cIs saturated and becomes a constant value. Therefore, the depth of the grating is h_cThis should be done (see FIG. 26).
* "Optical integrated circuit" Hiroshi Nishihara et al., Ohmsha
For example, when the refractive index of the waveguide and the refractive index of the grating material are both 1.585, a red laser (632.8 nm) is used as the light source, the incident angle is 70 °, and a = 0.5, h_cIs calculated to be 0.1481 μm. As an actual manufacturing example, the clad layer may be scratched in one direction with a file or the like. For example, the file includes a combination of # 2000, # 5000, # 8000, # 10000, # 15000, and the like.
[0113]
Further, in the above-described reflection mechanism, the bubble 42 is not contained in the clad layer 35 and may be on the most surface as shown in FIG. The same effect as the grating is expected. Of course, as shown in FIG. 5B, it may be used in combination with the bubbles 42 that fit in the clad layer 35.
[0114]
【Example】
  Less than,The present inventionVariousThe present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
[0115]
  Example 1
  An optical switch layer (n) also serving as an optical waveguide by doping 20 wt% of azobenzene, which changes the refractive index at a wavelength of 633 nm, into an optical waveguide made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)_f: 1.518). Next, a 10 wt% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, n: 1.520) (n = 500) was spin-coated on the optical waveguide, and a reflection of 200 nm of aluminum deposited on a 100 μm thick glass substrate was applied to this layer. A plate was inserted, fired at 110 ° C. and fixed, and a layer provided with a reflection mechanism was formed (see FIG. 27). The reflector was fixed at three angles of 10 °, 20 °, and 30 °. When the helium-neon laser light source having a wavelength of 633 nm was turned on and off, the refractive index of PMMA doped with azobenzene was 3 × 10.^-3It was confirmed that the emitted light was turned on and off at three different angles.
[0116]
  Example 2
  An optical switch layer (n) that also serves as an optical waveguide by doping 20 wt% of azobenzene that changes the refractive index at a wavelength of 633 nm into a waveguide made of PMMA_f: 1.518). next,On this waveguide, 10 μmφ aluminum fine particles were ultrasonically dispersed and spin-coated in a 10 wt% aqueous solution of PVA (same as above), and baked at 110 ° C. to form a layer having a reflection mechanism (FIG. 28). reference). When the helium-neon laser light source having a wavelength of 633 nm was turned on and off, the refractive index of PMMA doped with azobenzene was 3 × 10.^-3It was confirmed that the emitted light turned on and off at various angles.
[0117]
  Example 3
  An optical switch layer (n) that also serves as an optical waveguide by doping 20 wt% of azobenzene that changes the refractive index at a wavelength of 633 nm into a waveguide made of PMMA_f: 1.518). Next, a 10 wt% aqueous solution of PVA (same as above) is spin-coated on this optical waveguide, fired at 110 ° C., and this surface is combined with files # 2000, # 5000, # 8000, # 10000, # 15000, etc. Then, the grating was fabricated by rubbing in one direction 1 to 30 times (see FIG. 29), and how much the amount of guided light (He—Ne laser 632.8 nm) was scattered was measured. In the grating produced by this method, a sine curve groove was formed, and a in equation (4) described above was 0.5. Further, the grating depth h of each sample was measured in α steps, and the results were compared (see FIG. 30). As a result, the scattered light intensity is in good agreement with the calculation result.ButIt was found that it was obtained. In addition, when the helium-neon laser light source having a wavelength of 633 nm is turned on and off, the refractive index of PMMA doped with azobenzene is 3 × 10 6.^-3It was confirmed that the emitted light turned on and off at various angles.
[0118]
  Example 4
  As an optical switch, a liquid crystal [ferroelectric liquid crystal material M62344 (n_o: 1.490, n_e: 1.666)] as an optical waveguide, Iupilon series polycarbonate (n_f: 1.585) was selected. As the substrate facing the waveguide, a polycarbonate sheet having a thickness of 100 μm was selected. Since it is very thin and highly flexible compared to a normal liquid crystal panel, it is considered necessary to introduce sufficient spacers in the optical switch part, and 200 to 500 spacers /mm²It sprayed so that it might become. A 1.5 μm diameter sphere was used as the spacer, and this was dispersed in ethanol and spin coated.
[0119]
  A 10 wt% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (same as above) was used as an alignment film on this substrate, and a rubbing treatment was performed to align the liquid crystal. When a rectangular wave was applied, the tilt angle in this alignment film was 20 ° and the pretilt angle was zero degrees, so the angle between the normal direction of the liquid crystal layer and the waveguide normal direction was 60.17 ° From the wave direction, the angle was 29.83 °. As in Example 1, a 10 wt% aqueous solution of PVA (same as above) was spin-coated on the waveguide, and a reflector having 200 nm of aluminum deposited on a 100 μm thick glass substrate was inserted into this layer and baked at 110 ° C. The clad layer was formed. The reflector was fixed at three angles of 10 °, 20 ° and 30 °. When spin-coating on the waveguide fiber, a holding jig 50 as shown in FIG. 31 is used. As shown in FIG. 32, the transparent electrode 24, the insulating film 47, the liquid crystal layer 23a, The alignment layer 18, the transparent substrate 49, and the clad layer 35 including the reflection plate 36 were stacked in this order. When the liquid crystal switch was turned on and off, it was confirmed that the emitted light was on and off. The liquid crystal was driven by applying 10 V of a 2 Hz rectangular wave. It was confirmed that the guided light from the light source was turned on and off at various angles as the liquid crystal was driven.
[0120]
  Example 5
  The optical switch includes a liquid crystal (a ferroelectric liquid crystal material M62344 (n_o: 1.489, n_e: 1.666), and the optical waveguide Iupilon series polycarbonate (n_f: 1.585) was selected. As the substrate facing the waveguide, a polycarbonate sheet having a thickness of 100 μm was selected. Since it is very thin and highly flexible as compared with a normal liquid crystal panel, it is considered that it is necessary to introduce sufficient spacers to the optical switch portion, and the spacers were dispersed so as to be 200 to 500 pieces / mm @ 2. A 1.5 μm diameter sphere was used as the spacer, and this was dispersed in ethanol and spin coated. A 10 wt% aqueous solution of PVA (same as above) was used as an alignment film on this substrate, and a rubbing treatment was performed to align the liquid crystal. When a rectangular wave was applied, the tilt angle in this alignment film was 20 ° and the pretilt angle was zero degrees, so the angle between the normal direction of the liquid crystal layer and the waveguide normal direction was 60.17 ° From the wave direction, the angle was 29.83 °. As in Example 2, 10 μmφ aluminum fine particles were ultrasonically dispersed in a 10 wt% aqueous solution of PVA, and this was spin-coated in the light emitting direction of the substrate to form a clad layer. When spin-coating on the waveguide, the same holding jig 50 as in Example 4 is used, and the transparent electrode 24, the insulating film 47, the liquid crystal layer 23a, the alignment film are formed on the waveguide 32 as shown in FIG. 18, transparent electrode 24, substrate 49, and clad layer 35 containing fine particles 41 were stacked in this order. When the liquid crystal switch was turned on and off by applying 10 V of 2 Hz rectangular wave, it was confirmed that the guided light from the light source was emitted at various angles according to the driving of the liquid crystal.
[0121]
  Example 6
  The optical switch includes a liquid crystal (a ferroelectric liquid crystal material M62344 (n_o: 1.489, n_e: 1.666) for the waveguide, Iupilon series polycarbonate (n_f: 1.585) was selected. A 10 wt% aqueous solution of PVA (same as above) was used as an alignment film, and a rubbing treatment was performed to align the liquid crystal. The tilt angle in this alignment film when a rectangular wave is applied is 20 °.,Since the pretilt angle was zero degrees, the angle between the normal direction of the liquid crystal layer and the waveguide normal direction was set to 60.17 ° (29.83 ° from the waveguide direction). The polycarbonate sheet is very thin and highly flexible compared to a normal liquid crystal panel, so it is considered necessary to introduce sufficient spacers to the switch part, and the spacers are 200 to 500 pieces / mm.²It sprayed so that it might become. A 1.5 μm diameter sphere was used for this spacer, and it was dispersed in ethanol and spin coated. Similar to Example 3, filed # 2000, # 5000, # 8000, # 10000, # 15000, etc. are combined and rubbed on the counter substrate 1 to 30 times in one direction to provide a grating mechanism for light emission. Produced. When the liquid crystal switch was turned on and off by applying 10 V of a 2 Hz rectangular wave, it was confirmed that the guided light from the light source was emitted on and off at various angles.
[0122]
[Action and effect of the invention]
  As is apparent from the above, the optical device of the present invention is configured so that the first or second optical waveguide is provided outside the excited element disposed at the intersection of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide and / or via the optical path changing means. Since the light in the waveguide is taken out to the outside, the light taken into the optical switch portion can be efficiently taken out at a desired emission angle while taking into consideration the viewing angle dependency.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of an optical device according to the present invention, showing a structure in which a reflection mechanism is provided in a cladding layer.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing emission light extraction conditions of the apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the angle of the reflecting plate and the angle of emitted light in the same apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a structure in which a plurality of reflecting plates having different angles are arranged in a clad layer in the apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a screen size and a pixel size in the apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing various reflection mechanisms applied to the optical device of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a reflection mechanism provided in a layer other than a clad layer in the apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a reflection mechanism provided in different clad layers in the apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing an example in which the optical switch layer also serves as an optical waveguide in the apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing an optical path of external light reflection and external light secondary reflection passing through a reflecting plate in the same apparatus.
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing an optical path of external light reflection and external light secondary reflection that does not pass through a reflection plate in the apparatus.
FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of the same device provided with an antireflection film and a black absorption layer.
FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing a grating mechanism which is one of the optical path changing means in the apparatus.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between the spatial frequency and the number of radiation beams in the same apparatus.
FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing a relationship between a grating mechanism and beam coupling in the apparatus.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the relationship between the spatial frequency and the number of radiation beams when a PVA film is laminated on the grating mechanism in the apparatus.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of radiation beams and Λ (pitch) in the same apparatus.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a relationship between an emission angle toward the air side and a grating pitch in the same device.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a relationship between an incident angle and an outgoing angle of colored light (632.8 nm) in the apparatus.
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a relationship between an incident angle and an emission angle of colored light (510 nm) in the apparatus.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a relationship between an emission angle and a grating pitch depending on a difference in incident angle for each color in the apparatus.
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a relationship between an emission angle toward a waveguide side and a grating pitch in the same device.
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the relationship between the emission angle of light (632.7 nm) to the substrate side and the grating pitch in the same apparatus.
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the relationship between the light (510 nm) emission angle to the substrate side and the grating pitch in the same apparatus.
FIG. 25 shows the emission angle and grating of light (460 nm) toward the substrate side in the same apparatus.pitchFIG.
FIG. 26 is a configuration diagram showing the depth of a grating mechanism applied to the apparatus.
FIG. 27 is a configuration diagram showing an optical switch layer (also used as an optical waveguide) and a clad layer with a reflector in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 28 is a configuration diagram showing an optical switch layer (also used as an optical waveguide) and a clad layer containing fine particles in different embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 29 is a configuration diagram showing an optical switch layer (also used as an optical waveguide) and a grating mechanism in still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 30 is a diagram showing the relationship between the grating depth and the scattering intensity.
FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing an example of a holding jig used for manufacturing the optical device of the present invention.
FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view showing a lamination process of each layer employed in another example of the present invention.
FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view showing a stacking process of each layer employed in still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement state of bubbles, which is one of optical path changing means applied to the optical device of the present invention.
FIG. 35 is a perspective view of a main part showing an example of an optical device of the present invention.
FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing an example of use of the optical device of the present invention.
FIGS. 37A and 37B are configuration diagrams showing the arrangement of optical switches in an optical device (optical waveguide type), in which FIG. 37A shows a case where the optical switch unit is provided on the cladding layer, and FIG. This is the case of sharing.
FIG. 38 is a diagram showing light extraction conditions in (B).
FIG. 39 is an enlarged partially cutaway perspective view of a display pixel unit according to the invention of the prior application and a schematic diagram showing a driving example thereof.
FIG. 40 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the principle in which light is derived from an optical waveguide (or optical fiber).
41 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a display pixel portion (B) or (C) using the optical fiber (A). FIG.
FIG. 42 is a scheme showing an example of a two-stage two-photon reaction of an organic compound that can be used for the modulation element of the display pixel portion.
FIG. 43 is a graph showing a change in refractive index with respect to the light intensity of the modulation element.
FIG. 44 is an enlarged perspective view of another display pixel unit according to the invention of the prior application and a schematic diagram showing a driving example thereof.
45 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the principle in which light is derived from an optical waveguide (or optical fiber). FIG.
FIG. 46 is an enlarged perspective view of a display pixel unit using an optical fiber.
FIG. 47 is a schematic layout of still another display according to the invention of the previous application.
FIG. 48 is a chemical formula showing a structural change by light of an organic compound for a modulation element that can be used in the invention of the prior application.
FIG. 49 is a structural formula of an organic compound for a modulation element that can be used in the invention of the prior application.
FIG. 50 is a perspective view showing a production example of an optical waveguide (or optical fiber) according to the invention of the prior application and a drive example thereof.
FIG. 51 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the principle by which light is derived from an optical waveguide (or optical fiber) according to the invention of the prior application.
FIG. 52 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the principle by which light is derived from another optical waveguide (or optical fiber) according to the invention of the prior application.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 2, 11, 12 ... optical waveguide (or optical fiber), 3 ... optical switch,
3a: optical switch element, 3b: optical switch layer,
4, 14, 15 ... laser light, 5 ... ultraviolet light, 13 ... intersection (modulation element),
16, 17 ... light source, 18 ... alignment film, 19 ... glass substrate, 21 ... heater,
23 ... Liquid crystal material, 23a ... Liquid crystal layer, 24 ... Transparent electrode, 25 ... High frequency power supply,
30 ... Transparent electrode, 31, 32 (or 33) ... Optical waveguide layer, 34 ... Electro-optical element,
35, 35a ... cladding layer, 36 ... reflector, 37 ... substrate,
40 ... Grating mechanism, 41 ... Fine particles, 42 ... Bubbles, 45 ... Antireflection film,
46 ... black absorption layer, 47 ... insulating film, 48 ... spacer, 49 ... transparent substrate

Claims (7)

  A first optical waveguide (or optical fiber); a second optical waveguide (or optical fiber) intersecting the first optical waveguide (or optical fiber); and an intersection of the first and second optical waveguides (or optical fibers). An excited element excited by light guided in each of the first and second optical waveguides (or optical fibers), and provided with an optical path changing means outside or / and inside the excited element, An optical device having at least an optical display function capable of taking out light in the first or second optical waveguide (or optical fiber) to the outside via an excited element and the optical path changing means.   The excited element is an element that modulates the refractive index by optical excitation, an element that modulates the refractive index distribution, an element that modulates the light emission intensity, an element that modulates the color density, an element that modulates the dielectric constant, an element that modulates the permeability, or a liquid crystal alignment state change 1 type selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal element and a light scattering element, or a combination of two or more types, and light is selectively led out or blocked at the intersection by the photoexcitation, whereby an optical display and The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is configured to perform an operation.   A plurality of the first and second optical waveguides (or optical fibers) are arranged, and a light source is optically coupled directly or indirectly to the plurality of optical waveguides (or optical fibers) (however, the optical coupling is performed directly. If the optical waveguide (or optical fiber) and the light source are provided in a one-to-one correspondence, and if they are indirectly optically coupled, the light source and at least one of the optical waveguides The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is connected to an optical waveguide member.   A plurality of the first optical waveguides (or optical fibers), and a plurality of the second optical waveguides (or optical fibers) orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the first optical waveguides (or optical fibers). The intersecting portion of the two optical waveguides (or optical fibers) is not optically coupled, and the excited elements that are excited by the light respectively guided in the first and second optical waveguides (or optical fibers) are arranged at the intersecting portions. The excited element is selected for each line according to the light intensity of light in the first optical waveguide (or optical fiber) as a horizontal waveguide (or optical fiber), and the vertical waveguide (or optical fiber) is used as the vertical waveguide (or optical fiber). The light in the second optical waveguide (or optical fiber) is intensity-modulated according to the data signal, and the data signal light subjected to the intensity modulation is selected by the selected excited element. It is taken to the outside through an optical device as claimed in claim 1.   The plurality of first optical waveguides (or optical fibers) and the plurality of the first optical waveguides (or optical fibers) arranged in the same plane as the first optical waveguides (or optical fibers) orthogonally or substantially orthogonally to the first optical waveguides (or optical fibers) A second optical waveguide (or optical fiber), and the excited elements that are excited by the light intensity of the light guided in the first and second optical waveguides (or optical fibers), respectively. The excited element is selected for each line according to the light intensity of light in the first optical waveguide (or optical fiber) as a horizontal waveguide (or optical fiber), which is arranged at the intersection of the waveguide (or optical fiber), Light in the second optical waveguide (or optical fiber) as a vertical waveguide (or optical fiber) is intensity-modulated according to a data signal, and the intensity-modulated data signal is The light is selected are taken to the outside through the target excitation element, the optical device according to claim 1.   The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the excited element is provided with an element capable of controlling an element temperature or an element capable of applying a high-frequency electric field.   The clad layer laminated on the first optical waveguide (or optical fiber) or the second optical waveguide (or optical fiber) has at least one selected from the group consisting of a reflector, fine particles, bubbles and a grating. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, which is provided as a means.

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