# US 12,216,275 B2 · Optical element, image display device, virtual reality display device, electronic viewfinder, method of producing polarizer

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- Number: US 12,216,275 B2
- Document ID: US12216275B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/538,749
- Filed: 2023-12-13
- Published: 2024-04-25
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-01
- Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation
- Applicants: FUJIFILM Corporation
- Inventors: Naoyoshi Yamada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216275B2

## CPC

- G02B 5/3033: {in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid}
- B29D 11/00644: {polarizing}
- B29D 11/00865: {Applying coatings; tinting; colouring (printing, marking or copying processes B41M; identification in general G09F3/00; producing decorative effects in general B44C; positioning or marking of lenses B24B13/0055)}
- 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)}
- G02B 17/023: {for extending or folding an optical path, e.g. delay lines}
- G02B 23/14: Viewfinders (for photographic apparatus G03B13/02)
- G02B 27/0018: {with means for preventing ghost images (anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11)}
- G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features}
- G02F 1/1335: Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
- G02F 1/13363: Birefringent elements, e.g. for optical compensation
- G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt}
- G09F 9/00: Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements (in which the variable information is permanently attached to a movable support G09F11/00; abacus G06C1/00; slide-rules G06G1/00)
- H05B 33/02: Details
- H10K 59/8791: {Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES

## Abstract

A method of producing an absorbing polarizer which has a plurality of regions where directions of absorption axes are different from each other and has a curved surface portion. The method includes a step of forming a layer of a composition for forming a photo-alignment film that contains a photo-alignment agent on a surface of a resin base material, a step of forming the alignment film by irradiating the layer with ultraviolet rays of linearly polarized light via a lens, and aligning the photo-alignment agent, and a step of coating a surface of an alignment film with a composition containing a liquid crystal compound and a dichroic substance. The alignment film has a curved surface portion and a plurality of regions where directions of an alignment regulating force are different from each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of producing an absorbing polarizer which has a plurality of regions where directions of absorption axes are different from each other and has a curved surface portion, the method comprising:
a step of forming a layer of a composition for forming a photo-alignment film that contains a photo-alignment agent on a surface of a resin base material,
a step of forming the alignment film by irradiating the layer with ultraviolet rays of linearly polarized light via a lens, and aligning the photo-alignment agent, and
a step of coating a surface of an alignment film with a composition containing a liquid crystal compound and a dichroic substance,
wherein the alignment film has a curved surface portion and a plurality of regions where directions of an alignment regulating force are different from each other.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of producing a polarizer according to claim 1,
wherein the step of coating the surface is a step of spray-coating the surface of an alignment film with the composition.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of producing a polarizer according to claim 1,
wherein the step of forming the layer of the composition for forming the photo-alignment film comprises a step of coating a surface of a planar resin base material with the composition for forming the photo-alignment film to form a coating film, and a step of molding the resin base material and the coating film into a curved surface shape.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An optical element comprising:
an absorbing polarizer A produced by the method of producing a polarizer according to claim 1; and
an absorbing polarizer B.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

An image display device comprising:
the optical element according to claim 4; and
an image display element.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The image display device according to claim 5,
wherein a reflective linear polarizer, a first λ/4 plate, a half mirror, and a second λ/4 plate are provided between the polarizer A and the polarizer B in order from a side of the polarizer A.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The image display device according to claim 5,
wherein a first λ/4 plate, a reflective circular polarizer, a half mirror, and a second λ/4 plate are provided between the polarizer A and the polarizer B in order from a side of the polarizer A.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The image display device according to claim 7,
wherein the reflective circular polarizer has a cholesteric liquid crystal layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The image display device according to claim 5,
wherein the polarizer B is laminated on the image display element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

A virtual reality display device comprising:
the image display device according to claim 5.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

An electronic viewfinder comprising:
the image display device according to claim 5.