(19)
(11) EP 1 566 671 A8

(12) CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
Note: Bibliography reflects the latest situation

(15) Correction information:
Corrected version no 1 (W1 A1)

(48) Corrigendum issued on:
12.04.2006 Bulletin 2006/15

(43) Date of publication:
24.08.2005 Bulletin 2005/34

(21) Application number: 05250974.2

(22) Date of filing: 21.02.2005
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
G02B 6/122(1995.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR LV MK YU

(30) Priority: 23.02.2004 JP 2004046454
26.07.2004 JP 2004217365
25.01.2005 JP 2005016792

(71) Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Takagi, Akinari, c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Tokyo (JP)
  • Ikemoto, Kiyokatsu, c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Tokyo (JP)
  • Hoshi, Hikaru, c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Tokyo (JP)

(74) Representative: Legg, Cyrus James Grahame et al
ABEL & IMRAY, 20 Red Lion Street
London WC1R 4PQ
London WC1R 4PQ (GB)

   


(54) Three-dimensional periodic structure and functional element including the same


(57) A three-dimensional periodic structure exhibiting a complete photonic band gap in a wide wavelength range and being readily produced, as well as a functional element including the same, is provided. In the three-dimensional periodic structure exhibiting a photonic band gap according to the present invention, layers composed of a plurality of columnar structures spaced at predetermined intervals are stacked sequentially with additional layers therebetween. Discrete structures contained in the additional layers are disposed at the positions corresponding to the intersections of the columnar structures, and the area of substantially all of the discrete structures is larger than the area of the intersection region of the above-described columnar structures.