Variable hologram element, and optical device using the same

• US 7,133,172 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nishioka, Kimihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Assaf, Fayez G.
• Application Number:
  US11/010,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20060023278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 359/15, 359/19, 349/86, 349/88
• US Class Current: 359/15
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/32 Photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/0264 Organic recording material
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical element with variable optical properties, which ensures that the amount of light available is increased, and an optical device using the same. In a liquid crystal variable hologram element 3, polymer layers 18 and liquid crystal layers 19 are alternately arranged between transparent substrates 16 and 17, with liquid crystal particles 20 lining up in each liquid crystal layer 19. When voltages are applied on transparent electrodes 21 and 22, liquid crystal molecules 23 have their longitudinal directions oriented vertically with respect to the electrodes, so that the refractive index of the polymer layers 18 is substantially equal to that of the liquid crystal layers 19, resulting in no development of hologram. When the voltages are held off, the refractive index of the polymer layers 18 is different from that of the liquid crystal layers 19. This repetition gives rise to an interference fringe action, by which a hologram can be developed. Thus, the variable hologram element 3 can function as a hologram reflecting mirror.

Claims

1. A variable hologram element comprising a polymer dispersed liquid crystal or a polymer stabilized liquid crystal, and having an imaging function, wherein said polymer dispersed liquid crystal or said polymer stabilized liquid crystal satisfies the following conditions:

λ

/300<

d<

5λ

;

|n_p−

n_o|<

0.15

0.005<

w<

0.7

where,

λ

is the wavelength of light.

d is a diameter of a liquid crystal particle,

n_p is a refractive index of the polymer,

n_o is the refractive index along an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the liquid crystal particle, and

w is a volumetric proportion of the polymer in a liquid crystal layer.

2. The variable hologram element according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate for holding said polymer dispersed liquid crystal or said polymer stabilized liquid crystal, wherein said substrate has a curved surface.

3. The variable hologram element according to claim 1, wherein a light ray transmitting said hologram element satisfies the following condition:

0°

≦

|α

max|<

40°

where α

max is a maximum value of an angle of the light ray transmitting said variable hologram element with respect to a normal to said variable hologram element.

4. A variable hologram element comprising a polymer dispersed liquid crystal or a polymer stabilized liquid crystal or a polymer stabilized liquid crystal, and having an imaging function, wherein

said polymer dispersed liquid crystal or said polymer stabilized liquid crystal satisfies the following conditions:

λ

/300<

d<

5λ

|n_p−

n_L|<

0.15

0.005<

w<

0.7

where

λ

is the wavelength of light,

d is a diameter of a liquid crystal particle,

n_p is a refractive index of the polymer,

w is a volumetric proportion of the polymer in a liquid crystal layer, and

n_L is a refractive index of the liquid crystal layer which is represented by the following formula;

n_L=wn_p+(1−

w)(2n_o+n_e)/3.

5. The variable hologram element according to claim 4, further comprises a substrate for holding said polymer dispersed liquid crystal or said polymer stabilized liquid crystal, wherein said substrate has a curved surface.

6. The variable hologram element according to claim 4, wherein a light ray transmitting said hologram element satisfies the following condition:

0°

≦

|α

max|<

40°

where α

max is a maximum value of an angle of the light ray transmitting said variable hologram element with respect to a normal to said variable hologram element.