Liquid crystal device with composite layer of cured resin pillars and liquid crystal phase and method of producing the same

• Main Authors: OKADA MASAKAZU, HATANO TAKUJI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.12.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF

A liquid crystal device comprises a pair of substrates; and a composite layer disposed between the pair of substrates, the composite layer including a resin phase and a liquid crystal phase of a liquid crystal material exhibiting cholesteric characteristic, the composite layer having an area defining one pixel, and the area including a plurality of regions being different from each other in condition of the resin phase. A method of producing a liquid crystal device comprises the steps of defining an area corresponding to one pixel; and forming a plurality of regions of composite layer in the area, the composite layer including a resin phase and a liquid crystal phase of a liquid crystal material exhibiting cholesteric characteristic, and each of the regions being different from the others in condition of the resin phase. The step of forming the regions may include the steps of supplying a composition of the liquid crystal material and the resin material into a space between the paired substrates; and separating the liquid crystal material in a region corresponding to each of the regions from the resin under a condition different from the others. If the resin material is a photo-curing resin material, the separating step may include the steps of masking the composition with a mask having a plurality of regions, each of which has a plurality of openings and is different from the others in condition of the openings; and exposing the composition to light through the mask.