| 摘要 |
<p><P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical path switching element and a spatial light modulator which have simple structure and have high durability and light use efficiency and are operated at high speed and have high S/N, and to provide an image display device using the same. <P>SOLUTION: The optical path switching element comprises a light incidence part 3 on which light is made incident through a light guiding member 1, a reflection part 6 which reflects incident light made incident from the light incidence part 3, and a light emission part 4 which emits light reflected by the reflection part 6 to the outside as exit light through the light guiding member 1, and a refractive index varying material 5 is enclosed in an optical path including the reflection part 6. A signal is given to the refractive index varying material 5 in accordance with information to change the refractive index, so that an optical path through which light reflected by the reflection part 6 is emitted through the light guiding member 1 is changed. A linearly polarized light incidence means 2 preadjusts the direction of the polarization axis of linearly polarized light so that the detection output of a photodetector 13 may be minimized with a voltage not applied to the refractive index varying material 5 (with the detection output off). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO</p> |
