POLARIZING ELEMENT, POLARIZING ELEMENT MANUFACTURING METHOD, LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICE, AND PROJECTION DISPLAY

• US 20080218665A1
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: ZHANG, Huiping, KUMAI, Yoshitomo
• Granted Patent: US 7,755,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/96
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3058 comprising electrically conductive elements, e.g. wire grids, conductive particles
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3105 for displaying all colours simultaneously, e.g. by using two or more electronic spatial light modulators simultaneous projection in colour photography G03B33/10; beam splitting or combining systems per se G02B27/10

Abstract

A polarizing element manufacturing method includes (a) forming a plurality of fine metal wires by forming a metal film on a substrate and patterning the metal film, (b) applying, onto a base material, a glass precursor solution for forming a protective layer for protecting the fine metal wires, (c) placing the substrate on the base material so that ends of the fine metal wires are immersed in the glass precursor solution, and (d) forming the protective layer by drying the glass precursor solution, and bonding together the base material and the substrate with the protective layer therebetween.

Claims

1. A polarizing element manufacturing method comprising:

(a) forming a plurality of fine metal wires by forming a metal film on a substrate and patterning the metal film;

(b) applying, onto a base material, a glass precursor solution for forming a protective layer for protecting the fine metal wires;

(c) placing the substrate on the base material so that ends of the fine metal wires are immersed in the glass precursor solution; and

(d) forming the protective layer by drying the glass precursor solution, and bonding together the base material and the substrate with the protective layer therebetween.

2. The polarizing element manufacturing method according to claim 1, further comprising

(e) eliminating the base material from the protective layer, wherein the base material is made of an organic material.

3. The polarizing element manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the base material is made of an inorganic material.

4. The polarizing element manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the glass precursor solution is formed by dispersing inorganic oxide fine particles in a dispersion solvent including a silane compound.

5. A polarizing element comprising

a substrate;

a plurality of fine metal wires provided on the substrate; and

a protective layer provided on the fine metal wires, the protective layer being formed by curing a glass precursor solution in which ends of the fine metal wires are immersed, wherein

a region enclosed by the adjacent fine metal wires, the substrate, and the protective layer is a space.

6. The polarizing element according to claim 5, wherein

the glass precursor solution is formed by dispersing inorganic oxide fine particles in a dispersion solvent including a silane compound.

7. A liquid crystal device comprising

the polarizing element according to claim 5.

8. A projection display comprising

the liquid crystal device according to claim 7 as an optical modulation device.