Quarter wave plate comprising two optically anisotropic layers

• US 6,853,423 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ichihashi, Mitsuyoshi, Arakawa, Kohei, Kawata, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, HUYEN LE
• Application Number:
  US10/405,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 349/117, 349/98, 349/194, 349/119
• US Class Current: 349/117
• 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 1/133541 Circular polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133637 characterised by the wavelength dispersion
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133638 Waveplates, i.e. plates with a retardation value of lambda/n

Abstract

A circularly polarizing plate comprises a linearly polarizing membrane and a quarter wave plate. The quarter wave plate comprises an optically anisotropic layer A and an optically anisotropic layer B. The quarter wave plate has such an optical characteristic that a retardation value essentially is a quarter of a wavelength when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm. One of the optically anisotropic layers A and B is a layer made from liquid crystal molecules, and the other is a polymer film or a layer made from liquid crystal molecules.

Claims

1. A quarter wave plate comprising an optically anisotropic layer A and an optically anisotropic layer B, said optically anisotropic layer A having a retardation value in the range of 210 to 300 nm when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 550 nm, and said optically anisotropic layer B having a retardation valve in the range of 115 to 150 nm when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 550 nm, said quarter wave plate having a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm, wherein one of the optically anisotropic layers A and B is a layer made from liquid crystal molecules, and the other is a polymer film.

2. The quarter wave plane as defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are uniformly aligned in the optically anisotropic layer.

3. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are fixed in the optically anisotropic layer while keeping the uniform alignment.

4. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 3, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are fixed by a polymerization reaction.

5. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal molecules discotic liquid crystal molecules, which are essentially vertically aligned.

6. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 1, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of a retardation valve to a wavelength in the range of 0.21 to 0.29 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

7. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 6, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.22 to 0.28 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

8. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 7, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.23 to 0.27 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

9. The quarter wave plate as defined as defined in claim 8, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of a retardation value of a wavelength in the range of 0.24 to 0.26 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

10. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 1, wherein an angle between a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer A and a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer B is arranged in the range of 50°

to 70°

.

11. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 10, wherein the angle between a slow axis of the tire optically anisotropic layer A and a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer B is arranged in the range of 54°

to 66°

.

12. A quartet wave plate comprising an optically anisotropic layer A and an optically anisotropic layer B, said optically anisotropic layer A having a retardation value in the range of 210 to 300 nm when the retardation valve is measured at the wavelength of 550 nm, and said optically anisotropic layer 13 having a retardation value in the range of 115 to 150 nm when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 550 nm, said quarter wave plate having a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm, wherein each of the optically anisotropic layers A and B is a layer made from liquid crystal molecules.

13. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 12, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are uniformly aligned in the optically anisotropic layer.

14. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 13, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are fixed in the optically anisotropic layer while keeping the uniform alignment.

15. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 14, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are fixed by a polymerization reaction.

16. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 12, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are discotic liquid crystal molecules, which are essentially vertically aligned.

17. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 12, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of it retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.21 to 0.29 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

18. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 17, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.22 to 0.28 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

19. The quartet wave plate as defined in claim 18, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.23 to 0.27 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

20. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 19, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.24 to 0.26 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

21. The quarter wave plate as deflated in claim 12, wherein an angle between a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer A and a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer B is arranged in the range of 50°

to 70°

.

22. The quarter wave plate as defined in claim 21, wherein the angle between a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer A and a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer B is arranged an the range of 54 °

to 66°

.

23. A circularly polarizing plate which comprises a linearly polarizing membrane and a quarter wave plate comprising an optically anisotropic layer A and an optically anisotropic layer B, said optically anisotropic layer A having a retardation value in the range of 210 to 300 nm when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 550 nm, and said optically anisotropic layer B having a retardation value in the range of 115 to 150 nm when the retardation value it measured at the wavelength of 550 nm, said quarter wave plate having a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm, and 650 nm, wherein each of the optically anisotropic layers A and B is a layer made from liquid crystal molecules.

24. The circularly polarizing plate as defined in claim 23, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.21 to 0.29 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm 550 nm and 650 nm.

25. The circularly polarizing plate as defined in claim 24, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.22 to 0.28 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

26. The circularly polarizing plate as defined in claim 25, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.23 to 0.27 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

27. The circularly polarizing plate as defined in claim 26, wherein the quarter wave plate has a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.24 to 0.26 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.

28. The circularly polarizing plate as defined in claim 23, wherein an angle between a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer A and a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer H is arranged in the range of 50°

to 70°

.

29. The circularly polarizing plate as defined in claim 28, wherein the angle between a slow axis of the optionally anisotropic layer A and a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer B is arranged in the range of 54 °

to 66°

.

30. The circularly polarizing plate as defined in claim 23, wherein an angle between the polarizing axis and the slow axis of one of the optically anisotropic layers A and B is in the range of 60°

to 80°

.

31. The circularly polarizing plate as defined in claim 30, wherein the angle between tire polarizing axis and the slow axis of one or the optically anisotropic layers A and B is in the range of 64°

to 79°

.

32. A reflective liquid crystal display comprising a reflector, is liquid crystal cell and a linearly polarizing membrane in this order, wherein a quarter wave plate is further arranged between the liquid crystal cell and the linearly polarizing membrane, said quarter wave plate comprising an optically anisotropic layer A and an optically anisotropic layer B, said optically anisotropic layer A having a retardation value in the range of 210 to 300 nm when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 550 nm, and said optically anisotropic layer B having a retardation value in the range of 115 to 150 nm when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 550 nm, said quarter wave plate having a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength with the range of 0.2 to 0.3 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm, wherein one of the optically anisotropic layers A and B is a layer made from liquid crystal molecules, and the other is a polymer him.

33. A reflective liquid crystal display comprising a reflector, a liquid crystal cell and a linearly polarizing membrane so this order, wherein a quarter wave plate is further arranged between the liquid crystal cell and the linearly polarizing membrane, said quarter wave plate comprising an optically anisotropic layer A and an optically anisotropic layer B, said optically anisotropic layer A having a retardation value in the range of 210 to 300 nm when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 550 nm, and said optically anisotropic layer B having a retardation value in the range of 115 to 150 nm when the retardation value is measured as the wavelength of 550 nm, said quarter wave plate having a ratio of a retardation value to a wavelength in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm, wherein one of the optically anisotropic layers A and B is a layer made from liquid crystal molecules.