Liquid crystal optical element and liquid crystal device incorporating same
AssigneeSharp Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHarry Garth Walton, Edward Peter Raynes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical element includes a liquid crystal layer; and at least one alignment layer in contact with the liquid crystal layer, the at least one alignment layer being formed from a mixture including a first reactive mesogen and a second reactive mesogen. Each of the first and second reactive mesogens have at least one polymerizable functional group, and a number of polymerizable functional groups of the second reactive mesogen is smaller than that of the first reactive mesogen. A ratio of the second reactive mesogen to the first reactive mesogen in the mixture is determined so as to provide a predetermined pretilt angle with liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.
Claims16
An optical element, comprising:
- a liquid crystal layer;
- and
- at least one first alignment layer in contact with the liquid crystal layer, the at least one first alignment layer being formed from a mixture including a first reactive mesogen and a second reactive mesogen,
- wherein each of the first and second reactive mesogens have at least one polymerizable functional group, and a number of polymerizable functional groups of the second reactive mesogen is smaller than that of the first reactive mesogen, and
- wherein a ratio of the second reactive mesogen to the first reactive mesogen in the mixture is determined so as to provide a predetermined pretilt angle to liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.
A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
- a liquid crystal layer;
- alignment layers disposed on opposite sides of the liquid crystal layer, at least one of said alignment layers being formed of a mixture including first reactive mesogen and a second reactive mesogen;
- and
- a pair of electrodes opposing each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween,
- wherein each of the first and second reactive mesogens have at least one polymerizable functional group, and a number of polymerizable functional groups of the second reactive mesogen is smaller than that of the first reactive mesogen, and
- wherein a ratio of the second reactive mesogen to the first reactive mesogen in the mixture is determined so as to provide a predetermined pretilt angle to liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.