Optical modulation element with surface parallel and unidirectional alignment of LC

Abstract

A liquid crystal optical modulation element is disclosed. The modulation element comprises two transparent substrates positioned so as to face each other; a transparent electrode provided on the facing surface of the transparent substrates; a transparent insulating/orientation control layer provided on each of the facing surfaces of the transparent electrodes, having insulating properties and orientating the liquid crystal molecules in the proximity thereof in a preferential direction substantially parallel to the surfaces of the substrates; a liquid crystal layer exhibiting ferroelectricity, sandwiched between the insulating/orientation control layers; and means for polarizing light passing through said liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal optical modulation element of the present invention is produced by the steps of coating transparent electrodes onto transparent sbstrates; coating polyimide films so as to cover the transparent electrodes; rubbing the polyimide coating films; positioning the transparent substrates parallel to each other so that the rubbed polyimide coating films face each other so that a liquid crystal cell is thereby assembled; introducing a liquid crystal exhibiting ferroelectricity into the cell thus formed and sealing the cell; and providing polarizers on the external surfaces of the substrates.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.