Liquid crystal optical element, manufacturing method thereof, and vehicle light using same
First Claim
1. A liquid crystal optical element comprising:
- a pair of coupled substrates each having an electrode; and
a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, the liquid crystal layer including an adjustable part and a non-adjustable part, the adjustable part containing liquid crystal having a dielectric anisotropy and being responsive to an electric field that is to be generated by applying a voltage between the electrodes so that orientations of liquid crystal molecules and a resulting refractive index distribution in the adjustable part change in accordance with the electric field, whereas orientations of liquid crystal molecules in the non-adjustable part is substantially fixed so that the non-adjustable part is substantially non-responsive to the electric field.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid crystal optical element including a pair of coupled substrates each having an electrode, and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, the liquid crystal layer including an adjustable part and a non-adjustable part, the adjustable part containing liquid crystal having a dielectric anisotropy and being responsive to an electric field that is to be generated by applying a voltage between the electrodes so that orientations of liquid crystal molecules and a resulting refractive index distribution in the adjustable part change in accordance with the electric field, whereas orientations of liquid crystal molecules in the non-adjustable part is substantially fixed so that the non-adjustable part is substantially non-responsive to the electric field.
10 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A liquid crystal optical element comprising:
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a pair of coupled substrates each having an electrode; and
a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, the liquid crystal layer including an adjustable part and a non-adjustable part, the adjustable part containing liquid crystal having a dielectric anisotropy and being responsive to an electric field that is to be generated by applying a voltage between the electrodes so that orientations of liquid crystal molecules and a resulting refractive index distribution in the adjustable part change in accordance with the electric field, whereas orientations of liquid crystal molecules in the non-adjustable part is substantially fixed so that the non-adjustable part is substantially non-responsive to the electric field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle light comprising:
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a light source;
a reflector located behind the light source; and
a liquid crystal optical element disposed in an optical path of light which is emitted from the light source, the liquid crystal optical element including;
a pair of coupled substrates each having an electrode, and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, the liquid crystal layer including an adjustable part and a non-adjustable part, the adjustable part containing liquid crystal having a dielectric anisotropy and being responsive to an electric field that is to be generated by applying a voltage between the electrodes so that orientations of liquid crystal molecules and a resulting refractive index distribution in the adjustable part change in accordance with the electric field, whereas orientations of liquid crystal molecules in the non-adjustable part is substantially fixed so that the non-adjustable part being substantially non-responsive to the electric field. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal optical element, comprising:
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preparing a pair of substrates each having an electrode and an alignment film;
injecting a mixed material of a liquid crystal material and a photocurable monomer between the pair of the substrates; and
selectively irradiating the mixed material with ultraviolet rays through a photomask to form a pattern of a hardened region and a non-hardened region. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification