Liquid crystal optical element

Abstract

A liquid crystal optical element includes an optical function layer and two transparent substrates. The optical function layer is sandwiched between two transparent substrates. The optical function layer contains liquid crystal molecules and a photoisomerization material. The liquid crystal optical element switches between a light-transmitting state and a light-scattering state according to an orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules. The optical function layer holds the liquid crystal molecules and the photoisomerization material within a mesh structure formed of a resin-particle aggregate. Therefore, light can be strongly scattered when the liquid crystal optical element is in a screen state, and a high-contrast image is obtained when visible light is projected onto the liquid crystal optical element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.