Optical element
AssigneeLG Chem, Ltd.
InventorsSin Young Kim, Ji Youn Lee, Moon Soo Park, Hyuk Yoon
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Abstract
An optical element and a use of the optical element are provided. The exemplary optical element can be useful in realizing a smart blind having excellent transmission and blocking characteristics in front and lateral surfaces thereof without using a retardation film by employing a polarizing layer whose polarization characteristics are patterned using a guest/host-type dye layer including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound and a dichroic dye. Such an optical element may be applied to various light modulating devices such as smart blinds, smart windows, window protective films, flexible display elements, active retarders for displaying a 3D image, or viewing angle adjustment films.
Claims12
An optical element comprising first and second polarizing layers disposed to face each other, each of the first and second polarizing layers comprising a first region having an absorption axis formed in a first direction, and a second region having an absorption axis formed in a second direction different from the first direction,
- wherein each of the first and second polarizing layers is a guest/host-type dye layer comprising a polymerizable liquid crystal compound, and a dichroic dye,
- wherein the first and second polarizing layers are disposed to allow for change in relative positions of the first and second polarizing layers to switch from a first state in which the first region of the first polarizing layer is disposed to face the first region of the second polarizing layer to a second state in which the first region of the first polarizing layer faces the second region of the second polarizing layer, and
- wherein the optical element is switched between a transmission mode and a blocking mode based on a change in relative positions of the first and second polarizing layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.