Optically anisotropic body

• US 20060014088A1
• Filed: 10/27/2003
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Peeters, Emiel, Broer, Dirk Jan, De Boer, Dirk Kornelis Gerhardus, Karman, Gerardus Petrus, Van Der Zande, Blanca Maria Irma, Nieuwkerk, Armanda Cindrella
• Application Number:
  US10/534,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20060014088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 430/20
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3016 involving passive liquid crystal elements optical properties of liquid crystals G02F1/0063; polarising elements associated with active liquid crystal devices G02F1/133528
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/305 including organic materials, e.g. polymeric layers

Abstract

The invention relates to an optically anisotropic body, such as a compensation foil or a micro-lens array, having a desired pattern of optical properties. Said body is obtainable by a method wherein a non-uniform electric and/or magnetic field is applied over a body comprising a polymerizable electro-optical and/or magneto-optical material, such as a LC monomer, thus inducing a desired molecular pattern. The pattern is made permanent by polymerising the electro-optical and/or magnetooptical material.

Claims

1. An optically anisotropic body characterized in being obtainable by providing a body comprising a polymerizable electro-optical and/or magneto-optical material capable of being brought into an optically anisotropic state in response to an electric and/or magnetic field,

subjecting the polymerizable electro-optical and/or magneto-optical material to a non-uniform electric and/or magnetic field to establish electric and/or magnetic field lines in accordance with a desired pattern within the electro-optical and/or magneto-optical material, the electric and/or magnetic field lines being of sufficient strength for aligning the material and bringing the material into a desired optically anisotropic state commensurate with the non-uniform electric and/or magnetic field, and

polymerising the material in said optically anisotropic state to provide the optically anisotropic body.

2. An optically anisotropic body according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical and/or magneto-optical material is a liquid crystal (LC) monomer.

3. An optically anisotropic body according to claim 1, wherein the body comprising said polymerizable material is provided on an alignment layer.

4. An optically anisotropic body according to claim 1, wherein said non-uniform electric and/or magnetic field is applied by use of a plurality of spaced electrodes and/or magnetic poles.

5. An optically anisotropic body according to claim 1, wherein said non-uniform electric and/or magnetic field is applied by use of at least one structured electrode and/or magnetic pole pair.

6. An optically anisotropic body according to claim 4, wherein said non-uniform electric and/or magnetic field is applied by use of a plurality of spaced electrodes and/or magnetic poles arranged at one side of the body.

7. An optically anisotropic body according to claim 1, wherein one or more electrode(s) and/or magnetic pole(s) is/are part of the body.

8. An optically anisoptropic body according to claim 7, which comprises a plurality of spaced electrodes and/or magnetic poles arranged at one side of the body.

9. An optically anisotropic body according to my claim 1, which is selected from the group consisting of a polariser, a compensation foil, and a micro-lens array.