Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide that propagates light by total reflection; and a second waveguide. The second waveguide includes: a first multilayer reflective film; a second multilayer reflective film that faces the first multilayer reflective film; and a first optical waveguide layer directly connected to the first waveguide and located between the first and second multilayer reflective films. The first optical waveguide layer has a variable thickness and/or a variable refractive index and propagates the light transmitted through the first waveguide. The first multilayer reflective film has a higher light transmittance than the second multilayer reflective film and allows part of the light propagating through the first optical waveguide layer to be emitted to the outside. By changing the thickness of the first optical waveguide layer and/or its refractive index, the direction of the part of the light emitted from the second waveguide is changed.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first waveguide that propagates light in a first direction; and a second waveguide including a first mirror, a second mirror, and an optical waveguide layer. The first mirror extends in the first direction and has a first reflecting surface, and the second mirror extends in the first direction and has a second reflecting surface. The optical waveguide layer is located between the first and second mirrors and propagates the light in the first direction. A forward end portion of the first waveguide is disposed inside the optical waveguide layer. In a region in which the first and second waveguides overlap each other when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first reflecting surface, at least part of the first waveguide and/or at least part of the second waveguide includes at least one grating whose refractive index varies periodically in the first direction.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first mirror having a first reflecting surface and extending along a first direction, a second mirror having a second reflecting surface that faces the first reflecting surface and extending along the first direction, and an optical waveguide layer, located between the first mirror and the second mirror, that causes light to propagate along the first direction. A transmittance of the first mirror is higher than a transmittance of the second mirror. A reflection spectrum of at least either the first mirror or the second mirror with respect to light arriving from a direction normal to the reflecting surface includes, in a wavelength region in which a reflectance is higher than or equal to 90%, a local maximum point and first and second points of inflection located closer to a long-wavelength side than the local maximum point.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first mirror, a second mirror facing the first mirror, an optical waveguide layer, located between the first mirror and the second mirror, that contains a material whose refractive index changes when a voltage is applied, first and second electrodes directly or indirectly holding the optical waveguide layer therebetween, the first electrode including a plurality of electrode sections arranged in a first direction, and a control circuit. The light is emitted via the first mirror from the optical waveguide layer, or the light is taken into the optical waveguide layer via the first mirror.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a waveguide array including a plurality of waveguides arranged in a first direction. Each waveguide includes: an optical waveguide layer that propagates light supplied to the waveguide in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a first mirror having a first reflecting surface intersecting a third direction; and a second mirror having a second reflecting surface that faces the first reflecting surface. The optical waveguide layer is located between the first and second mirrors and has a variable thickness and/or a variable refractive index for the light. The width of the first mirror and the width of the second mirror are each larger than the width of the optical waveguide layer. The first mirror has a higher light transmittance than the second mirror and allows part of the light propagating through the optical waveguide layer to be emitted in the third direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a waveguide array including a plurality of waveguides arranged in a first direction. Each waveguide includes: an optical waveguide layer that propagates light supplied to the waveguide in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a first mirror having a first reflecting surface intersecting a third direction; and a second mirror having a second reflecting surface that faces the first reflecting surface. The optical waveguide layer is located between the first and second mirrors and has a variable thickness and/or a variable refractive index for the light. The width of the first mirror and the width of the second mirror are each larger than the width of the optical waveguide layer. The first mirror has a higher light transmittance than the second mirror and allows part of the light propagating through the optical waveguide layer to be emitted in the third direction.

Abstract: An optical device includes: two non-waveguide regions arranged in a second direction intersecting a first direction with a spacing therebetween; an optical waveguide region that is located between the two non-waveguide regions, contains a liquid crystal material, and propagates light in the first direction; and an alignment film that aligns the liquid crystal material. Each of the two non-waveguide regions includes a low-refractive index member having a lower refractive index than the liquid crystal material. The alignment film is located between the liquid crystal material and the low-refractive index members.

Abstract: An optical device includes: a first multilayer reflective film mirror; a second multilayer reflective film mirror facing the first multilayer reflective film mirror; an optical waveguide layer that is located between the first and second multilayer reflective film mirrors and propagates light whose wavelength in a vacuum is ?; and a first transparent electrode layer located at at least one position of a position between the first multilayer reflective film mirror and the optical waveguide layer, a position between the second multilayer reflective film mirror and the optical waveguide layer, a position between two adjacent layers included in the first multilayer reflective film mirror, and a position between two adjacent layers included in the second multilayer reflective film mirror. The transmittance of the first multilayer reflective film mirror for the light is higher than the transmittance of the second multilayer reflective film mirror for the light.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first waveguide that propagates light in a first direction; and a second waveguide including a first mirror, a second mirror, and an optical waveguide layer. The first mirror extends in the first direction and has a first reflecting surface, and the second mirror extends in the first direction and has a second reflecting surface. The optical waveguide layer is located between the first and second mirrors and propagates the light in the first direction. A forward end portion of the first waveguide is disposed inside the optical waveguide layer. In a region in which the first and second waveguides overlap each other when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first reflecting surface, at least part of the first waveguide and/or at least part of the second waveguide includes at least one grating whose refractive index varies periodically in the first direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a first mirror; a second mirror opposed to the first mirror; two non-waveguide regions sandwiched between the first mirror and the second mirror; an optical waveguide region disposed between the two non-waveguide regions; and two intermediate regions. The average refractive index of the optical waveguide region is higher than the average refractive index of each intermediate region. The average refractive index of each intermediate region is higher than the average refractive index of each non-waveguide region. The first mirror allows part of light propagating through the optical waveguide region to be emitted as emission light in a third direction. By changing the refractive index and/or thickness of the optical waveguide region, the third direction, which is the emission direction of the emission light, is changed.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a light-emitting device, an image sensor, and a control circuit. The light-emitting device includes a light source, a first waveguide that propagates light from the light source by means of total reflection, a second waveguide, and a first adjustment element. The control circuit causes the light source to repeatedly emit light pulses. Further, the control circuit causes at least some of the plurality of photo-detection cells to accumulate the signal charge in synchronization with the emission of the light pulses and thereby causes the image sensor to generate every first period of time a frame based on the signal charge thus accumulated. Furthermore, the control circuit causes the first adjustment element to change the direction of the emitted light from the second waveguide every second period of time that is shorter than or equal to half the first period of time.

Abstract: An optical scanning system including an optical scanning device, and a photoreceiver device. The optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide array including a plurality of first waveguides; and a first phase shifter for adjusting phases of light propagating through the plurality of first waveguides to change an emission direction of emission light from the plurality of first waveguides. The photoreceiver device includes: a second waveguide array including a plurality of second waveguides configured to receive reflected light and propagate the received reflected light; and a second phase shifter for adjusting phases of the received reflected light propagating through the plurality of second waveguides to change a reception direction of the reflected light received by the plurality of second waveguides. An array pitch of the plurality of first waveguides in the optical scanning device differs from an array pitch of the plurality of second waveguides in the photoreceiver device.

Abstract: An optical scanning system including an optical scanning device, and a photoreceiver device. The optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide array including a plurality of first waveguides; and a first phase shifter for adjusting phases of light propagating through the plurality of first waveguides to change an emission direction of emission light from the plurality of first waveguides. The photoreceiver device includes: a second waveguide array including a plurality of second waveguides configured to receive reflected light and propagate the received reflected light; and a second phase shifter for adjusting phases of the received reflected light propagating through the plurality of second waveguides to change a reception direction of the reflected light received by the plurality of second waveguides. An array pitch of the plurality of first waveguides in the optical scanning device differs from an array pitch of the plurality of second waveguides in the photoreceiver device.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: first and second mirrors; an optical waveguide layer disposed between the first and second mirrors; a pair of electrodes sandwiching the optical waveguide layer; and a driving circuit that applies a voltage to the pair of electrodes. The first mirror has a higher light transmittance than the second mirror and emits part of light propagating through the optical waveguide layer to the outside. The optical waveguide layer contains a liquid crystal material or an electrooptical material. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal material or the direction of a polarization axis of the electrooptical material is parallel or perpendicular to the direction in which the optical waveguide layer extends. The driving circuit applies the voltage to the pair of electrodes to change the refractive index of the liquid crystal material or the electrooptical material to thereby change the light emission direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning system comprises an optical scanning device and a photoreceiver device. The optical scanning device includes a first waveguide array including a plurality of first waveguides through which light beams propagate and from which the light beams are emitted as emission light in an emission direction crossing a propagation direction of the light beams. The photoreceiver device includes a second waveguide array including a plurality of second waveguides disposed in areas on which, when the emission light from the plurality of first waveguides is reflected as reflected light from a target object, the reflected light is incident, the plurality of second waveguides configured to receive the reflected light to propagate the received reflected light as propagating light beams. An array pitch of the plurality of first waveguides in the optical scanning device differs from an array pitch of the plurality of second waveguides in the photoreceiver device.

Abstract: An optical scanning device including: a first mirror having a first reflecting surface; a second mirror having a second reflecting surface; two non-waveguide regions disposed between the first and second mirrors and that are spaced apart from each other in a first direction parallel to at least either the first reflecting surface or the second reflecting surface; and an optical waveguide region disposed between the first and second mirrors and that is sandwiched between the two non-waveguide regions. The optical waveguide region propagates light in a second direction that crosses the first direction. The optical waveguide region and the two non-waveguide regions include respective first regions in which a common material exists. The optical waveguide region or each of the two non-waveguide regions further includes a second region in which a first material having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the common material exists.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus includes an excitation light source that emits first light; a light-emitting device on an optical path of the first light, the light-emitting device emitting second light having a wavelength in air; and a first converging lens on an optical path of the second light. The light-emitting device comprises: a photoluminescent layer that emits the second light by being excited by the first light; and a light-transmissive layer on the photoluminescent layer. At least one of the photoluminescent layer and the light-transmissive layer has a surface structure comprising projections or recesses arranged perpendicular to a thickness direction of the photoluminescent layer. At least one of the photoluminescent layer and the light-transmissive layer has a light emitting surface perpendicular to the thickness direction, the second light emitted from the light emitting surface. The surface structure limits the directional angle of the second light emittied from the light emitting surface.

Abstract: An optical scanning device including: a first mirror having a first reflecting surface; a second mirror having a second reflecting surface; two non-waveguide regions disposed between the first and second mirrors and that are spaced apart from each other in a first direction parallel to at least either the first reflecting surface or the second reflecting surface; and an optical waveguide region disposed between the first and second mirrors and that is sandwiched between the two non-waveguide regions. The optical waveguide region propagates light in a second direction that crosses the first direction. The optical waveguide region and the two non-waveguide regions include respective first regions in which a common material exists. The optical waveguide region or each of the two non-waveguide regions further includes a second region in which a first material having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the common material exists.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a first mirror; a second mirror; two non-waveguide regions; an optical waveguide region; and a first adjusting element. The optical waveguide region propagates light. The optical waveguide region and the two non-waveguide regions include respective first regions in which a common material exists. The optical waveguide region or each of the two non-waveguide regions further includes a second region in which a first material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the common material exists. The first mirror allows part of the light propagating through the optical waveguide region to be emitted through the first mirror. The first adjusting element changes at least either the average refractive index of the optical waveguide region or a thickness of the optical waveguide region to change a direction of the light emitted through the first mirror.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a first mirror; a second mirror; two non-waveguide regions; an optical waveguide region; and a first adjusting element. The optical waveguide region propagates light. The optical waveguide region and the two non-waveguide regions include respective first regions in which a common material exists. The optical waveguide region or each of the two non-waveguide regions further includes a second region in which a first material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the common material exists. The first mirror allows part of the light propagating through the optical waveguide region to be emitted through the first mirror. The first adjusting element changes at least either the average refractive index of the optical waveguide region or a thickness of the optical waveguide region to change a direction of the light emitted through the first mirror.