JPH05172633A - Light connection device and optical system for it - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a light connection device which has less problems of cooling and wiring, is compact, and has an optical system with a short light path. CONSTITUTION:A light which is modulated by an output signal of a processor 200 is cast from a light source 100. The light is polarized and then is cast so that it propagates inside of a transparent substrate 201 where a grating 101 is formed, is diffracted, and then impinges on a transparent substrate 202. A lens 102 which is formed on the transparent substrate 202 focuses a cast light. Light which is focused by the lens 102 is polarized in a direction which is vertical to the substrate by the grating 103. Light which is polarized by the grating 103 is focused at a light-reception element 104. An output signal of the light-reception element 104 is input to a processor 203, thus enabling problems for cooling and wiring to be reduced, a device to be compact, and a light length to be shortened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connecting device required for transmitting information in parallel and at high speed using light, and an optical system used in the optical connecting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Researches on computers that execute operations at high speed in order to process a large amount of information are progressing, but the performance limit is already approaching in the method of sequential processing using an electric circuit. Therefore, research is progressing on parallel processing architectures such as supercomputers and array processors that execute multiple operations simultaneously. On the other hand, light has a spatial expanse and its physical properties do not interfere with each other, so that operations using light are excellent in parallelism.
Optical connection between data arranged in parallel is important for such parallel operation. As such an optical connection method, conventionally, a method of deflecting light using a hologram or a prism has been generally used.

[0003]

However, such an optical deflection element is difficult to design and manufacture, and the optical system when combined with other optical functional elements is complicated. In order to solve such a drawback, a method has been proposed in which planar optical elements are stacked in multiple layers to make the optical system compact. For details of this method, refer to "Applied Optics (Ap
plied Optics) ", Vol. 21, No. 19, 3
It is described in the article "Multilayer flat plate optical system: application of flat plate microlens" described on pages 456 to 3460. Also, an optical connection method has been proposed in which a surface-type optical element is mounted on an optical waveguide substrate. Details of this method can be found in, for example, the magazine “Optics Communications”.
"Munications", Vol. 76, No. 5, pp. 313 to 317, "Imaging with planar opti".
cal systems) ". Although the method using a multilayer flat plate optical system is compact and has a short optical path length, it is difficult to realize with the current technology in consideration of heat radiation and wiring for an active element that emits light. On the other hand, in the method using the flat optical system, there are few problems of heat dissipation and wiring, but it is difficult to form the optical element on both sides of the substrate, and if it is formed on only one side, the optical path length becomes long and the optical system becomes compact. Was difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact optical system which has few problems of heat radiation and wiring and an optical connection device equipped with the optical system.

[0005]

A first optical connection device of the present invention is an optical system in which at least two transparent substrates having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface are superposed, and first and second processors. A drive circuit that amplifies the electric power output from the first processor, and emits light according to the output of the drive circuit,
A light source that causes the emitted light to enter the first-layer transparent substrate in the optical system, and a light-receiving element that receives the light emitted from the light source and emitted from the first-layer transparent substrate through the optical system. And an amplifying element for amplifying the output signal of the light receiving element and inputting the output signal to the second processor.

The first optical system of the present invention uses a transparent substrate with
(N is a positive integer of 2 or more) are stacked, and at least one of the transparent substrates has a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof. A surface of the second layer which is not in contact with the transparent substrate is covered with a reflective film except a portion for entering and emitting light, and the transparent substrate of the (n-1) th layer of the transparent substrate of the nth layer. It is characterized in that the surface not in contact with is covered with a reflective film.

The second optical system of the present invention is an optical system in which at least two transparent substrates having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof are superposed, and any or all of the transparent substrates except the first layer. A first grating that diffracts light incident on the surface of the transparent substrate perpendicularly to the surface, and diffracts light diffracted by the first grating and propagating inside the transparent substrate to diffract the first layer transparent substrate. Is characterized in that a second grating that emits light perpendicularly to is formed.

A third optical system of the present invention is an optical system in which at least two transparent substrates having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof are superposed, and all the transparent substrates or a part of the transparent substrates have a surface. Is characterized in that a plurality of lenses are formed.

A fourth optical system of the present invention is an optical system in which at least two transparent substrates each having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof are superposed, and all the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer, or At least a part of the remaining transparent substrate except the first layer is covered with a semitransparent film that transmits a part of the incident light and reflects the other part. Is characterized by.

A fifth optical system of the present invention is an optical system in which at least two transparent substrates each having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof are superposed, and all the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer, or A polarizing film is formed on at least a part of the surface of some of the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer.

A sixth optical system of the present invention is an optical system in which at least two transparent substrates each having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof are superposed, and all the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer, or A phase plate is formed on at least a part of the surface of some of the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer.

A seventh optical system of the present invention is an optical system in which at least two transparent substrates having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof are superposed, and a part of the transparent substrate except the first layer is used. It is characterized in that the material is a birefringent material.

[0013]

The principle of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 15. FIG. 9 shows a cross section of a multilayer flat plate optical system in which two transparent substrates 201 and 202 are laminated. Optical systems having different functions are formed on the surfaces of the transparent substrates 201 and 202. In the example of FIG. 9, a grating is formed on the transparent substrate 201 of the first layer, and a lens is formed on the transparent substrate 202 of the second layer. The light source 100 emits light modulated by the output signal of the processor 200. The light emitted from the light source 100 is vertically incident on the multilayer flat plate optical system, and the transparent substrate 20
The light is deflected so as to propagate through the inside of 1, and is incident, diffracted by the grating 101, branched into two, and condensed by the lens 102. At this time, grating 1
By 03, the direction of the optical axis becomes perpendicular to the multilayer flat plate optical system, and the condensed light enters the light receiving element 104 arranged on the surface of the multilayer flat plate optical system. Light receiving element 104
Is output to the processor 203. Since the optical elements are arranged on the surface of the flat plate optical system, there are few problems of heat radiation and wiring, and since the optical systems are stacked in multiple layers, they are compact and the optical path length is short.

FIG. 10 shows a cross section of a multilayer flat plate optical system whose surface is covered with a reflective film 11. Total reflection is desirable as the light propagation method in the multilayer flat plate optical system from the viewpoint of light utilization, but when propagating light by total reflection, the reflection angle becomes large and the effect of lens aberration becomes noticeable. Become. In order to reduce the reflection angle, a structure may be adopted in which the surface of the multilayer flat plate optical system is covered with a reflective film. At this time, the surface on which the optical element is formed needs an opening 105 for letting light in and out.

FIG. 11 shows the optical system of FIG. 12 realized by a multilayer flat plate optical system. First layer transparent substrate 2
A lens is formed on the surface of 01, a grating is formed on the transparent substrate 202 of the second layer, a semitransparent film is formed on the transparent substrate 203 of the third layer, and a reflective film is formed on the transparent substrate 204 of the fourth layer. .. The light emitted from the light source 100 is collimated by the lens 102, and by the grating 101,
It is deflected to propagate inside the substrate. The deflected light is divided into a transmitted component and a reflected component by the semitransparent film 106. The reflected light is reflected by the reflection film 107.
The transmitted light is reflected by the reflection film 108 of the fourth layer,
The light is multiplexed by the semitransparent film 106. The combined light is deflected by the grating 103 in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, and is condensed by the lens 108 on the light receiving element 104.

FIG. 13 uses a deflecting beam splitter instead of the half mirror of the optical system of FIG. 12 in order to increase the light utilization rate. As compared with the configuration of FIG. 11, the surface of the transparent substrate 203 of the third layer is made of a polarizing film.

FIG. 14 shows a structure in which a phase plate such as a quarter-wave plate is added in order to convert linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light when a light source such as a laser which emits linearly polarized light is used. On the surface of the transparent substrate 201 of the first layer, a lens and a second
The transparent substrate 202 of the layer is a phase plate, the transparent substrate 203 of the third layer is a grating, and the transparent substrate 204 of the fourth layer is
A semitransparent film is formed on the transparent substrate 205, and a reflective film is formed on the transparent substrate 205 of the fifth layer. Light source 100 for emitting linearly polarized light
The light emitted from is collimated by the lens 102 and converted into circularly polarized light by the phase plate 109.

FIG. 15 shows an optical branching element formed by using a birefringent material. First layer transparent substrate 20
A lens is formed on the surface of No. 1 and a grating is formed on the transparent substrate 202 of the second layer, and the transparent substrate 2 of the fourth layer is formed.
Reference numeral 04 is formed of a birefringent material. Since birefringent materials have different refractive indices for the P-polarized component light and the S-polarized component light, when circularly polarized light enters this substrate, the P-polarized component light and the S-polarized component light are separated. To be done. The light emitted from the light source 100 is collimated by the lens 102, and is deflected by the grating 101 so as to propagate inside the substrate. When the deflected light enters the transparent substrate 204 of the fourth layer, it is separated into P-polarized component light and S-polarized component light. For example, the P-polarized component light is deflected by the grating 103, and the S-polarized component light is deflected by the grating 110 in the direction perpendicular to the substrate.
It is condensed to 2 respectively.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a first connecting device according to the present invention. This connection device includes a processor 1 that can operate in parallel, a light source 2, and an output of the processor 1 that causes the light source 2
And a transparent substrate 101, 102, 1 for propagating the light emitted from the light source 3 having a drive circuit 3 for driving the
03, a light receiving element 8 for receiving the light propagating through the transparent substrates 101, 102, 103, an amplifier circuit 9 for amplifying a signal received by the light receiving element 8, and a signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 9 are input. And a processor 10 capable of operating in parallel. The light source 3 is modulated by the signal output from the processor 1 using the drive circuit 2, and the emitted light sequentially enters the transparent substrates 101, 102, 103. The light propagating through these transparent substrates is emitted from the transparent substrate 101 and enters the light receiving element 8. The current flowing through the light receiving element 8 is amplified by the amplifier circuit 9 until it reaches the level of the input signal of the processor 10, and enters the processor 10. At this time, the processor 1 and the processor 10 are optically connected. When optical components are formed on the surface of the transparent substrate, the light emitted from the light source 3 is modulated by these optical components and enters the light receiving element 8.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the second connecting device according to the present invention. This connecting device is used for the light source 3
And the transparent substrate 10 that propagates the light emitted from the light source 3.
1, 102, a reflective film 11 that reflects the light emitted from the light source 3, and a light receiving element 8 that receives the light reflected by the reflective film 11. Transparent substrates 101, 102
The reflective film 11 constitutes an example of the first optical system according to the present invention. The light emitted from the light source 3 is transparent substrate 101.
To the transparent substrate 102 on which the reflective film 11 is formed. The light is reflected by the reflective film 11, then passes through the transparent substrate 101, and enters the light receiving element 8.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the third connecting device according to the present invention. This connecting device is used for the light source 3
And the transparent substrate 10 that propagates the light emitted from the light source 3.
1, 102, a grating 12 that diffracts the light that is vertically incident on the substrate 101 from the light source 3, and a reflection film 11 that reflects the light diffracted by the grating 12.
The grating 13 that diffracts the light reflected by the reflective film 11 so that the light is emitted vertically from the substrate 101.
And a light receiving element 8 for receiving the light diffracted by the grating 13. Transparent substrates 101, 10
2, the gratings 12 and 13 and the reflective film 11 constitute an embodiment of the second optical system according to the present invention. The light emitted from the light source 3 is transmitted to the transparent substrate 1 by the grating 12.
After being deflected in the direction of propagation inside 02, after being propagated therein, and reflected by the reflection film 11, it is diffracted by the grating 13 so as to be vertically emitted from the transparent substrate 101 and is incident on the light receiving element 8.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a fourth connecting device according to the present invention. This connecting device is used for the light source 3
And a lens 14 for collimating the light emitted from the light source 3.
And a grating that diffracts collimated light 1
2, a reflection film 11 that reflects the light diffracted by the grating 12, a grating 13 that diffracts the light reflected by the reflection film 11 so that the light is emitted vertically from the substrate 103, and a diffraction film diffracted by the grating 13. Lens 15 for collecting light, and lens 15
The light receiving element 8 receives the light condensed by the light receiving element 8. Transparent substrates 101-103, lenses 14, 15,
The gratings 12 and 13 and the reflective film 11 form an example of the third optical system according to the present invention. The light emitted from the light source 3 is collimated by the lens 14 and is deflected by the grating 12 in a direction of propagating inside the transparent substrate 103. The light propagates through the transparent substrate 103, is reflected by the reflective film 11, is then diffracted by the grating 13 so as to be emitted vertically from the transparent substrate 103, and is condensed on the light receiving element 8 by the lens 15.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the fifth connecting device according to the present invention. This connecting device is used for the light source 3
And a lens 14 for collimating the light emitted from the light source 3.
And a grating that diffracts collimated light 1
2, a semitransparent film 16 that splits the light diffracted by the grating 12, reflection films 11 and 17 that reflects the light split by the semitransparent film 16, and reflection films 11 and 1.
The grating 13 that diffracts the light reflected by 7 so as to be emitted vertically from the substrate 103, the lens 15 that focuses the light diffracted by the grating 13, and the light that is focused by the lens 15 The light receiving element 8 receives light. Transparent substrates 101-10
4 and the lens 14, the grating 12, the semitransparent film 16, the reflective films 11 and 17, the grating 13 and the lens 15 provided on these substrates form an example of the fourth optical system according to the present invention. The light emitted from the light source 3 is collimated by the lens 14 and is deflected by the grating 12 in the direction of propagation inside the transparent substrate 103. The light propagates through the transparent substrate 103 and is divided into two by the semitransparent film 16, one of which is the reflective film 1.
After being reflected by 1 and reflected by the reflecting film 17, the other is combined by the semi-transparent film 16 and then diffracted by the grating 13 so as to be vertically emitted from the transparent substrate 103, and the light receiving element 8 by the lens 15.
Focus on.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a sixth connecting device according to the present invention. This connecting device is used for the light source 3
And a lens 14 for collimating the light emitted from the light source 3.
And a grating that diffracts collimated light 1
2, the polarizing film 18 that splits the light diffracted by the grating 12, the reflection films 11 and 17 that reflects the light split by the polarizing film 18, and the light reflected by the reflection films 11 and 17 from the substrate 103. It is composed of a grating 13 that diffracts light so as to be emitted vertically, a lens 15 that collects the light diffracted by the grating 13, and a light receiving element 8 that receives the light condensed by the lens 15. .. Transparent substrates 101-104,
The lenses 14 and 15, the gratings 12 and 13, the reflection films 11 and 17, and the polarization film 18 form an example of the fifth optical system according to the present invention. The light emitted from the light source 3 is collimated by the lens 14 and is deflected by the grating 12 in the direction of propagation inside the transparent substrate 103. The light propagates through the transparent substrate 103 and the polarizing film 1
After being reflected by the reflection film 11 and the other by the reflection film 17,
The light is combined by the polarizing film 18 and then the grating 1
The light is diffracted by 3 to be emitted vertically from the transparent substrate 103, and is condensed on the light receiving element 8 by the lens 15.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a seventh connecting device according to the present invention. This connecting device includes an optical system composed of transparent substrates 101 to 105, a light source 3 for emitting linearly polarized light, a lens 14 for collimating the light emitted from the light source 3, and a phase for converting the collimated light into circularly polarized light. A plate 19, a grating 12 for diffracting the light transmitted through the phase plate 19, a polarizing film 18 for branching the light diffracted by the grating 12, and reflecting films 11, 17 for reflecting the light branched by the polarizing film 18. , A grating 13 that diffracts the light reflected by the reflection films 11 and 17 so that the light is vertically emitted from the substrate 104.
And a lens 15 for collecting the light diffracted by the grating 13, and a light receiving element 8 for receiving the light condensed by the lens 15. Transparent substrate 1
01 to 105, the lenses 14 and 15, the phase plate 19, the gratings 12 and 13, the polarizing film 18, and the reflecting films 11 and 17 form an example of the sixth optical system according to the present invention. The light emitted from the light source 3 is collimated by the lens 14 and is deflected by the grating 12 in the direction of propagation inside the transparent substrate 104. The light is transmitted through the transparent substrate 10.
4 is propagated in 4 and is divided into two by the polarizing film 18,
One is reflected by the reflective film 11 and the other is reflected by the reflective film 17.
After being reflected by the transparent substrate 10 after being multiplexed by the polarizing film 18 by the grating 13.
The light is diffracted so as to be emitted vertically from 4 and is condensed on the light receiving element 8 by the lens 15.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an eighth embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention. This connection device includes an optical system including transparent substrates 101 to 104, a light source 3, a lens 14 that collimates the light emitted from the light source 3, a grating 12 that diffracts the collimated light, and a diffraction by the grating 12. The gratings 13 and 22 for diffracting the light that is birefringent by the transparent substrate 104 made of the birefringent material so as to be emitted perpendicularly from the substrate, and the light diffracted by the gratings 13 and 22 are respectively collected. Lens 15 and 21, and lens 15
And light receiving elements 8 and 20 for receiving the light condensed by 16 and 16, respectively. Transparent substrates 101 to 1
04, lens 14, 15, 21, grating 12,
Reference numerals 13, 22 and the reflection film 11 constitute an example of the seventh optical system according to the present invention. The light emitted from the light source 3 is collimated by the lens 14 and is deflected by the grating 12 in a direction of propagating inside the transparent substrate 103. When the light enters the transparent substrate 104 made of a birefringent material, the P-polarized light component and the S-polarized light component have different refractive indices, so that the light is split into two by the transparent substrate 104, and one of them is divided by the grating 13. , The light is diffracted so as to be vertically emitted from the transparent substrate 103, is condensed on the light receiving element 8 by the lens 15, and the other is diffracted by the grating 22 so as to be vertically emitted from the transparent substrate 103, and is received by the lens 21. It is focused on 20.

[0027]

By using the optical connecting device of the present invention, a compact optical system having a short optical path length can be realized without problems of heat radiation and wiring.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a first optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a second optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a third optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a fourth optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a fifth optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a sixth optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a seventh optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of an eighth optical connecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the principles of the first optical connecting device, the third optical connecting device, and the fourth optical connecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the second optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the principles of a fifth optical connecting device and a sixth optical connecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the principle of a fifth optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining the principle of the sixth optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining the principle of the seventh optical connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view for explaining the principle of the eighth optical connection device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 10, 200, 203 Processor 2 Driving circuit 3, 100, 105 Light source 4 Optical element 8, 20, 104, 112 Light receiving element 9 Amplification circuit 11, 17, 107 Reflective film 12, 13, 22, 101, 103, 110 Grating 14, 15, 21, 102, 108, 111 Lens 16, 106 Semi-transparent film 18 Polarizing film 19,109 Phase plate 23 Birefringent material 105 Light source 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 Transparent substrate

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G02B 6/34 7132-2K G06E 1/00 8323-5B

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An optical system in which at least two transparent substrates, each having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof, are superposed, first and second processors, and a drive for amplifying electric power output from the first processor. A circuit, a light source that emits light according to the output of the drive circuit, and causes emitted light to enter the transparent substrate of the first layer in the optical system; and a first layer that is emitted from the light source and passes through the optical system. Optical connection comprising a light receiving element for receiving the light emitted from the transparent substrate and an amplification element for amplifying an output signal of the light receiving element and inputting the output signal to the second processor. apparatus. 2. A transparent substrate is n (n is a positive integer of 2 or more)
In an optical system in which a plurality of optical elements are formed on the surface of at least one of the transparent substrates, the transparent substrate of the first layer is in contact with the transparent substrate of the second layer. The non-existing surface is covered with a reflective film except a portion for entering and exiting light, and the (n-1) th transparent substrate of the nth layer is provided.
An optical system, wherein a surface of the layer that is not in contact with the transparent substrate is covered with a reflective film. 3. An optical system in which at least two transparent substrates, each having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof, are superposed on each other.
Any or all surfaces of the transparent substrate except the second layer,
A first grating that diffracts light that is vertically incident on the surface, and a light that is diffracted by the first grating and propagates inside the transparent substrate is diffracted to be perpendicular to the transparent substrate of the first layer. An optical system in which a second grating that emits light is formed in the optical system. 4. An optical system in which at least two transparent substrates on each of which a plurality of optical elements are formed are stacked, and a plurality of lenses are formed on the surface of all the transparent substrates or a part of the transparent substrates. Optical system characterized by 5. An optical system in which at least two transparent substrates having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof are superposed,
All of the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer, or some of the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer, are semitransparent films that allow a part of incident light to pass therethrough and reflect the other. An optical system in which at least a part of the surface is covered with. 6. An optical system in which at least two transparent substrates, each having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof, are superposed on each other.
An optical system in which a polarizing film is formed on at least a part of the surface of all the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer or a part of the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer. .. 7. An optical system in which at least two transparent substrates, each having a plurality of optical elements formed on the surface thereof, are superposed on each other.
An optical system in which a phase plate is formed on the surface of at least a part of all the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer or a part of the remaining transparent substrates except the first layer. .. 8. An optical system in which at least two transparent substrates on each of which a plurality of optical elements are formed are superposed,
An optical system in which a part of the transparent substrate except the second layer is a birefringent material.