A device is provided. The device includes a first lens assembly controllable to switch between a first plurality of optical powers. The first lens assembly includes a plurality of directly optically coupled lenses, and is configured to converge or diverge a light transmitted therethrough. The device also includes a second lens assembly coupled with the first lens assembly, and controllable to switch between a second plurality of optical powers that are opposite to the first plurality of optical powers.

An optical modulator in which an optical signal is input from one side of a package, includes in the package, a chip that optically modulates the optical signal and in which an input waveguide and an output waveguide of the optical signal are led to mutually different destinations each being one end of the chip facing the one side of the package and a side surface of the chip orthogonal to the one end of the chip; an input optical system coupled to the input waveguide of the chip; and an output optical system coupled to the output waveguide of the chip.

An optical modulator in which an optical signal is input from one side of a package, includes in the package, a chip that optically modulates the optical signal and in which an input waveguide and an output waveguide of the optical signal are led to mutually different destinations each being one end of the chip facing the one side of the package and a side surface of the chip orthogonal to the one end of the chip; an input optical system coupled to the input waveguide of the chip; and an output optical system coupled to the output waveguide of the chip.

An off-axis optical system includes an optical source to generate a light beam and an off-axis optical element arranged at a first angle with respect to a normal to the light beam. The off-axis optical element deflects the light beam onto a target. The off-axis optical element can be a thin-film reflective element having a combined deflection and lens profile.

An off-axis optical system includes an optical source to generate a light beam and an off-axis optical element arranged at a first angle with respect to a normal to the light beam. The off-axis optical element deflects the light beam onto a target. The off-axis optical element can be a thin-film reflective element having a combined deflection and lens profile.

A reflective optical device has an insulation layer, a lattice group, a rear surface electrode, and a voltage application unit. Lattice group is composed of a plurality of lattices including a lattice and a lattice. Each of the plurality of lattices has a structure in which dielectric layer and graphene layer are laminated. Voltage application unit has a function of individually applying a voltage to each of lattice group. Voltage application unit includes a voltage application unit to apply a first voltage to lattice, and a voltage application unit to apply a second voltage to lattice.

A reflective optical device has an insulation layer, a lattice group, a rear surface electrode, and a voltage application unit. Lattice group is composed of a plurality of lattices including a lattice and a lattice. Each of the plurality of lattices has a structure in which dielectric layer and graphene layer are laminated. Voltage application unit has a function of individually applying a voltage to each of lattice group. Voltage application unit includes a voltage application unit to apply a first voltage to lattice, and a voltage application unit to apply a second voltage to lattice.

The present invention includes an optical deflector that changes a deflection angle depending on an applied voltage, a voltage control unit that applies a voltage to the optical deflector, and a storage unit that stores a value of a voltage to be output by the voltage control unit. The voltage control unit outputs a voltage of a value stored in the storage unit to the optical deflector. The storage unit stores a goal voltage V=g.sub.goal(t), which provides a deflection angle θ with the goal time dependency θ=θ.sub.goal(t).

The present invention includes an optical deflector that changes a deflection angle depending on an applied voltage, a voltage control unit that applies a voltage to the optical deflector, and a storage unit that stores a value of a voltage to be output by the voltage control unit. The voltage control unit outputs a voltage of a value stored in the storage unit to the optical deflector. The storage unit stores a goal voltage V=g.sub.goal(t), which provides a deflection angle θ with the goal time dependency θ=θ.sub.goal(t).

Multi-state switchability is highly desirable in optoelectronic devices. For liquid crystal (LC) based devices, the stability of any configuration is achieved through a balance between imposed interactions and the LC's orientational elasticity. In most cases, the latter acts to resist deformation. By combining surface topography and chemical patterning, provided here are the effects of saddle-splay orientational elasticity, a property that, despite being intrinsic to all LCs, is routinely suppressed. Utilizing theory and continuum elastic calculations, provided here are example conditions for which, even using generic, achiral LC materials, spontaneously broken surface symmetries develop. Also provided are multi-stable devices in which a weak, but directional, applied field switches between spontaneously-polar surface state domains. The disclosed approach is useful in low-field and fast-switching optoelectronic devices, beyond those attainable by current technologies.