Liquid crystal optical element and method for fabricating the same

A liquid crystal optical element comprising:

• a first substrate and a second substrate;
• a first liquid crystal layer, which is provided between the first and second substrates;
• a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, which are provided on the first and second substrates, respectively, so as to face each other with the first liquid crystal layer interposed between them;
• and
• a first switching layer and a second switching layer, which are provided between the first electrode layer and the first liquid crystal layer and between the second electrode layer and the first liquid crystal layer, respectively, and each of which includes molecules that change their orientation directions in response to a voltage applied between the first and second electrode layers,
• wherein the first liquid crystal layer changes its orientation state as the molecules included in the first and second switching layers change their orientation directions, and
• wherein when the voltage is applied between the first and second electrode layers, each of the molecules included in one of the first and second switching layers and an associated one of the molecules included in the other switching layer change their orientation directions into mutually opposite directions but to substantially the same degree such that coloring of a light ray, which has been obliquely incident onto the first liquid crystal layer, is compensated for by a portion of the first liquid crystal layer, which is located closer to one of the first and second switching layers, and by another portion of the first liquid crystal layer, which is located closer to the other switching layer, in a reciprocating fashion.

A method for fabricating a liquid crystal optical element that includes:

• a first substrate and a second substrate;
• a liquid crystal layer provided between the first and second substrates;
• a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, which are provided on the first and second substrates, respectively, so as to face each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed between them;
• and a first switching layer and a second switching layer, which are provided between the first electrode layer and the liquid crystal layer and between the second electrode layer and the liquid crystal layer, respectively, and each of which includes molecules that change their orientation directions in response to a voltage applied between the first and second electrode layers, the liquid crystal layer changing its orientation state as the molecules included in the first and second switching layers change their orientation directions,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• preparing a mixture that includes a liquid crystal material;
• preparing the first and second substrates on which the first and second electrode layers have been formed, respectively;
• bonding the first and second substrates together with a predetermined gap provided between them;
• injecting the mixture into the gap between the bonded substrates;
• and
• defining the first and second switching layers on the first and second electrode layers and the liquid crystal layer between the first and second switching layers, respectively, by causing a phase separation in the mixture injected.