Liquid crystal optical element with liquid crystal in polymer matrix with particular modulus of elasticity
First Claim
1. A liquid crystal optical element comprising a pair of substrates with electrodes and a liquid crystal and polymer composite material, which is interposed between the pair of substrates, in which liquid crystal is dispersed and held in a polymer matrix so that the refractive index of the polymer matrix substantially coincides with the refractive index of the liquid crystal used in either state of applying of a voltage or without applying a voltage, and the above refractive indices don'"'"'t coincide with each other in the other state, characterized in that the elastic modulus of the polymer material which forms the polymer matrix is 3×
- 107 N/m2 or less at 20°
C. and 1×
103 N/m2 or more at 40°
C.
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Abstract
A liquid crystal optical element comprises a pair of substrates with electrodes and a liquid crystal and polymer composite material, which is interposed between the pair of substrates, in which liquid crystal is dispersed and held in a polymer matrix so that the refractive index of the polymer matrix substantially coincides with the refractive index of the liquid crystal used in either state of applying a voltage or without applying voltage, and the refractive indices don'"'"'t coincide with each other in the other state, wherein the elastic modulus of the polymer material which forms the polymer matrix is 3×107 N/m2 or less at 20° C. and 1×103 N/m2 or more at 40° C.
85 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A liquid crystal optical element comprising a pair of substrates with electrodes and a liquid crystal and polymer composite material, which is interposed between the pair of substrates, in which liquid crystal is dispersed and held in a polymer matrix so that the refractive index of the polymer matrix substantially coincides with the refractive index of the liquid crystal used in either state of applying of a voltage or without applying a voltage, and the above refractive indices don'"'"'t coincide with each other in the other state, characterized in that the elastic modulus of the polymer material which forms the polymer matrix is 3×
- 107 N/m2 or less at 20°
C. and 1×
103 N/m2 or more at 40°
C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- 107 N/m2 or less at 20°
-
8. A liquid crystal display element for effecting a display including a half-tone display which comprises an active matrix substrate having an active element for each picture element electrode, a counter electrode substrate provided with a counter electrode and a liquid crystal and polymer composite material in which a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy is dispersed and held in a polymer matrix so that the refractive index of the polymer matrix substantially coincides with the ordinary refractive index (n0) of the liquid crystal used, said liquid crystal and polymer composite material being interposed between the active matrix substrate and the counter electrode substrate, characterized in that the elastic modulus of the polymer material which forms the polymer matrix is 3×
- 107 N/m2 or less at 20°
C. and 1×
103 N/m2 or more at 40°
C. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- 107 N/m2 or less at 20°
-
11. The liquid crystal display element according to claim wherein the dielectric anisotropy Δ
- ε
of the liquid [crystal used satisfy the relation of 5<
Δ
ε
<
13. - View Dependent Claims (12)
- ε
Specification