Liquid crystal element with a layer of an oriental liquid crystal polymer, and optical element and polarizing element using the same

• US 6,166,799 A
• Filed: 06/10/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Naoki, Kameyama, Tadayuki, Motomura, Hironori, Mihara, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, TARIFUR RASHID
• Application Number:
  US09/328,597
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 349/78, 349/175, 349/117, 349/183, 349/98, 349/185, 349/123
• US Class Current: 349/185
• 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: G02F 1/133504 Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133543 Cholesteric polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133636 with twisted orientation, e.g. comprising helically oriented LC-molecules or a plurality of twisted birefringent sublayers

Abstract

A liquid crystal element which comprises an oriented liquid crystal polymer and with which a liquid crystal display less apt to have display unevenness in a wide viewing range including the front and slant directions can be fabricated; and an optical element and a polarizing element each containing the liquid crystal element. The liquid crystal element comprises either a layer of an oriented liquid crystal polymer or a substrate and formed thereon the layer of an oriented liquid crystal polymer, wherein the liquid crystal polymer layer has an average in-plane haze of 10% or higher and a dispersion of the in-plane haze H (%) within the range represented by the relationship a-√(10a)≦H≦a+√(10a) wherein "a" is the average haze (%), or has an average in-plane haze lower than 10% and a dispersion of the in-plane haze H (%) within the range represented by the relationship 0≦H≦b+√(10b) wherein "b" is the average haze (%). The optical element comprises a multilayer structure comprising the liquid crystal element and a retardation film laminated thereon. The polarizing element comprises a multilayer structure comprising the liquid crystal or optical element and a polarizing plate laminated thereon.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal element which comprises either a layer of an oriented liquid crystal polymer, or a substrate and formed thereon the layer of an oriented liquid crystal polymer, said liquid crystal polymer layer having an average in-plane haze lower than 10% and having a dispersion of the in-plane haze H (%) within the range represented by the relationship 0≦

H≦

b+√

(10b) wherein "b" is the average haze (%).

2. The liquid crystal element of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal polymer is a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer.

3. The liquid crystal element of claim 2, which is used in compensating for a retardation caused by a liquid crystal cell.

4. An optical element comprising a multilayer structure comprising the liquid crystal element of claim 2 and a retardation film laminated thereon.

5. A polarizing element comprising a multilayer structure comprising the liquid crystal element of claim 2 and a polarizing plate laminated on the liquid crystal element.

6. The liquid crystal element of claim 1, which is used in compensating for a retardation caused by a liquid crystal cell.

7. An optical element comprising a multilayer structure comprising the liquid crystal element of claim 6 and a retardation film laminated thereon.

8. A polarizing element comprising a multilayer structure comprising the liquid crystal element of claim 6 and a polarizing plate laminated on the liquid crystal element.

9. An optical element comprising a multilayer structure comprising the liquid crystal element of claim 1 and a retardation film laminated thereon.

10. A polarizing element comprising a multilayer structure comprising the optical element of claim 9 and a polarizing plate laminated on the optical element.

11. A polarizing element comprising a multilayer structure comprising the liquid crystal element of claim 1 and a polarizing plate laminated on the liquid crystal element.