Title
Optical switching device
Author
den Broeder, F.J.A.
Hanzen, R.M.N.
Duine, P.A.
Jungblut, R.M.
Draijer, C.
Roozeboom, F.
van der Sluis, P.
Publication year
2000
Abstract
A description is given of an optical switching device (1) comprising a transparent substrate (3), a switching film (5) of a hydride compound of a trivalent transition or rare earth metal having a thickness of 300 nm, and a palladium capping layer (7) having a thickness of 30 nm. The capping layer is in contact with hydrogen. An electric current through the switching film (5) can be switched on and off between the terminals (9, 11). Joule heating of the switching film (5) causes a rapid transition from the transparent trihydride state to the absorbing dihydride state. By switching off the current, the switching film (5) cools down, which results in the formation of the absorbing dihydride state. The conversion between both states is reversible and can be repeated many times. The device can be used for controlling light beams, or it can be used in or for a display. Optionally, cooling of the switching film (5) is obtained with a Peltier element in thermal contact with the switching film (5).
Subject
Mechatronics, Mechanics & Materials
TFT - Thin Film Technology
TS - Technical Sciences
Electronics
Industrial Innovation
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TNO identifier
520108
Report number
6.101.298
Document type
patent