JP5344169B2 - Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element and method for producing holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a holographic polymer dispersion liquid crystal optical element which has a uniform gap between substrates and is stable in qualities. <P>SOLUTION: The holographic polymer dispersion liquid crystal optical element includes a first substrate 11, a first electrode 13 disposed on the first substrate 11, a barrier wall member (C1, C2, C3, C4) disposed in the periphery of the first electrode 13 and in an closed figure, and a holographic polymer dispersion liquid crystal material 17 disposed on the first electrode 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical element such as a hologram element having a function of transmitting, reflecting, diffracting or scattering incident light. In particular, the present invention relates to a holographic sensor using a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material as a photosensitive recording material. The present invention relates to a molecular dispersion liquid crystal optical element and a method for producing such a holographic polymer dispersion liquid crystal optical element.

  In recent years, optical elements using holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals have attracted attention. The general characteristics of such a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element will be described. 5 and 6 are diagrams schematically showing the principle of the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element. FIG. 5 shows a state where no voltage is applied to the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material, and FIG. 6 shows a state where a voltage is applied.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element has a structure in which droplets 62 in which liquid crystal molecules 63 are accommodated in a curable resin 64 are aligned. Have. As shown in the figure, both ends of this structure are sandwiched between transparent electrodes 60 and 60 'and glass substrates 61 and 61', and a predetermined voltage is applied to transparent electrodes 60 and 60 'or not. Thus, the state of the liquid crystal molecules 63 is aligned or non-aligned.

  FIG. 5 shows a state where no voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 60, 60 ', and at this time, the diffracted light can be observed as a normal hologram. FIG. 6 shows a state in which a voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 60, 60 '. At this time, the function of the hologram is lost and light is transmitted as it is.

  The manufacturing method of the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element as described above is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-318515. In the manufacture of such a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element, as described in Patent Document 1, FIG. 14 and the like, an adhesive mixed with a bead spacer in order to maintain a gap between the glass substrates 22 and 23 is used. An agent (sealant) 27 is used.

  Next, the role of such a bead spacer will be described in more detail. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a conventional holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element. FIG. 7 is a view showing a cross section of the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element, in the order of FIG. 7 (A) → FIG. 7 (B) → FIG. 7 (C) → FIG. 7 (D) → FIG. Is manufactured.

  In the manufacturing process of the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element, first, as shown in FIG. 7A, a first electrode that is a transparent electrode is formed on a first substrate 11 that is a transparent substrate such as a glass plate or an acrylic plate. 13 is formed.

  In FIG. 7B, the bead spacers 20 are dispersed on the first substrate 11, and then the second substrate 12 on which the second electrode 14 is formed is arranged so as to face the first substrate 11. Is shown. The bead spacer 20 is a glass bead having an average particle diameter of about several μm, and the bead spacer 20 holds a gap between the substrates.

FIG. 7C shows a state in which the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is vacuum-injected between the gaps, and a seal member 16 is provided around the substrate. Such a sealing member 16 allows the material to flow out of the substrate. The holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is a material in which droplets containing liquid crystal molecules are dispersed in a curable resin.

  Next, FIG. 7D shows a photosensitive process in which a desired portion is formed into a hologram by two light beams of object light and reference light. In this step, the object light and the reference light are applied to the portion on the first electrode 13 where the hologram is desired to be formed, and the reference light is applied to the other portions. In order to irradiate the object light only on the portion of the first electrode 13 to be holographically used, a mask (not shown) or the like is used.

FIG. 7E shows a completed state of the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element that has undergone the hologram forming process. In FIG. 7E, (P) shows a holographic area, and (Q) shows a non-hologram area. When the voltage is not applied between the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 14, the region (P) exhibits a function as a hologram. If no voltage is applied between the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 14, the region (P) does not exhibit a function as a hologram and becomes transparent.
JP 2006-318515 A JP 2007-133088 A

  By the way, in the manufacturing process of the conventional holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element as described above, the bead spacers 20 tend to aggregate and become lumpy, so that the gap between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 is low. There is a problem that the gaps of the optical elements are likely to be non-uniform and it is difficult to provide an optical element having a stable quality.

  Further, in the conventional manufacturing process, it is necessary to prepare a mask for irradiating only the region (P) with object light, and there is a problem that it takes time and effort in the exposure process.

  The non-hologram region (Q) is irradiated with reference light in the manufacturing process. At this time, a whitening phenomenon occurs in which the region (Q) becomes white turbid, resulting in a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal. There is a problem that the transparency in the region other than the hologram portion of the optical element is lowered. In order to cope with such a problem, a technique has been proposed in which a predetermined voltage is applied to the region (Q) to improve the transparency of the optical element. Such a technique is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-133088.

  FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element corresponding to the whitening phenomenon as described above. In such an optical element, an insulating layer 21 is provided for electrical insulation from the first electrode 13, and a predetermined voltage is also applied to the third electrode 23 insulated from the first electrode 13. To do. That is, by applying a predetermined voltage between the second electrode 14 and the third electrode 23, the transparency of the region (Q) is improved.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 8 to cope with the whitening phenomenon of the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element, it is necessary to provide the insulating layer 21 or the third electrode 23 for the region (Q) other than the functional region. There is a problem that the configuration is very complicated and the manufacturing process is also complicated. Furthermore, a voltage application circuit for applying a predetermined voltage must be prepared between the second electrode 14 and the third electrode 23, and a circuit configuration for using the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element is also provided. There is also the problem of increasing complexity.

This invention is for solving the above subjects, and the invention which concerns on Claim 1 is the 1st base material, the 1st electrode provided on the said 1st base material, and the said 1st electrode provided around the, and a closed configuration and the septum member, have a, a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material disposed on the first electrode, the first electrode is not provided the The holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material is not provided on the first substrate .

  The invention according to claim 2 is the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to claim 1, wherein the second base material is provided with a second electrode in contact with the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material; It is characterized by having.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the second aspect, the first electrode between the first base material and the second base material is not provided. An air layer is present on the first substrate .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the second aspect, the first electrode between the first base material and the second base material is not provided. A refractive index matching liquid layer is present on the first substrate .

The invention according to claim 5 is the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to claim 2, wherein the first electrode between the first substrate and the second substrate is not provided. An optical adhesive layer is present on the first substrate .

  The invention according to claim 6 is the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the partition member is a resist material.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a step of providing a first electrode on a first substrate, a step of providing a partition member having a closed shape around the first electrode, and the first electrode provided Injecting a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material onto the first electrode so as not to inject the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material onto the first substrate that is not formed. This is a method for producing a graphic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a step of providing a first electrode on the first substrate, a step of providing a partition member having a closed shape around the first electrode, and a step of providing on the first electrode. A holographic polymer comprising: injecting a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material; and injecting a refractive index matching liquid onto the first base material on which the first electrode is not provided. It is a manufacturing method of a dispersion liquid crystal optical element.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a step of providing a first electrode on the first substrate, a step of providing a partition member having a closed shape around the first electrode, and a step of providing on the first electrode. A holographic polymer comprising: injecting a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material; and injecting an optical adhesive layer on the first substrate on which the first electrode is not provided. A method for producing a dispersed liquid crystal optical element.

  According to the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element and the method for manufacturing the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the embodiment of the present invention, the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal is formed in the closed partition member. Since the material is injected, it is not necessary to provide a bead spacer, the gap between the substrates of the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element is constant, and an optical element having a stable quality can be provided.

  In addition, according to the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element and the method for manufacturing the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the embodiment of the present invention, the holographic polymer only in the closed partition wall member Since the dispersed liquid crystal material is arranged, it is not necessary to perform selective irradiation using a mask or the like in the exposure process, and the complexity in the exposure process can be eliminated.

  In addition, according to the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element and the method for manufacturing the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the embodiment of the present invention, the holographic polymer only in the closed partition wall member In other areas, the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material does not exist, so that there is no air whitening problem. 21 and the third electrode 23 need not be provided for the region (Q) other than the functional region, and the configuration is very simple and the manufacturing is easy. In addition, a circuit configuration for using the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element can be simplified.

It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal optical element which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the photosensitive process of the holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal optical element which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal optical element which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal optical element which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the principle of a holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal optical element. It is a figure which shows typically the principle of a holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal optical element. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the conventional holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal optical element. It is a figure which shows the conventional holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal optical element. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal optical element which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element.

  FIG. 1A shows a first substrate 11 which is a starting material for a manufacturing process of a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element. The first substrate 11 is a transparent substrate such as a glass plate or an acrylic plate. In the next step of FIG. 1B, a first electrode 13 that is a transparent electrode is formed on the first substrate 11. The first electrode 13 is made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO (Indium-Tin Oxide).

  In the next step of FIG. 1C, the seal member 16 is provided around the first substrate 11, and the partition member 15 is provided around the first substrate 11. A resist material can be used for the partition member 15, and the resist material can be brought into a state shown in FIG. 1C by performing known steps such as exposure, development, and etching. Note that both the partition member 15 and the seal member 16 can be made of a resist material. As the resist material, a resist material having high resolution and good developability may be used. For example, as such a resist material, a heat-resistant transparent photosensitive protective film Optmer NN780 manufactured by JSR Corporation can be mentioned.

  Here, the partition member 15 has a closed shape when viewed from a surface that irradiates or transmits light as an optical element. This will be described again when explaining the completed state of the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element. Since the partition wall member 15 has a closed shape, the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material 17 can be injected into the closed region, and the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal can be injected into a region that does not need to be holographically formed. The material 17 can be prevented from spreading.

  Since the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material is injected into the closed partition member 15 as described above, it is not necessary to provide a bead spacer, and the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element is not provided. The gap between the substrates is constant, and it becomes possible to provide an optical element with stable quality.

  Next, in the process shown in FIG. 1D, the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is injected into the closed partition member 15 using an ink jet device or a dispenser. The holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is a material in which droplets containing liquid crystal molecules are dispersed in a curable resin. As the curable resin, an uncured photocurable resin mainly including a photopolymerizable material such as a monomer or an oligomer and a photopolymerization initiator that absorbs ultraviolet rays is used.

  Next, in the step shown in FIG. 1E, the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is covered with the second substrate 12 on which the second electrode 14 is formed. At this time, the second electrode 14 is naturally arranged in a direction in which the second electrode 14 is in contact with the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17. As shown in FIG. 1E, in the present embodiment, the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is arranged only in the partition member 15 having a closed shape, and the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is disposed in other regions. It becomes an air layer in which no graphic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material exists. For this reason, the whitening phenomenon problem does not occur in the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the present embodiment.

  Next, the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element that has undergone the above steps is subjected to a photosensitive step, which is a step of recording a hologram. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a photosensitive process of the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, FIG. 2 shows a photosensitive process in which a desired portion is formed into a hologram by two light beams of object light and reference light. In the manufacturing process of the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the present embodiment, the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is present only in the portion to be holographically formed, and the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material is present in other regions. Therefore, it is not necessary to selectively irradiate object light with a mask or the like. For this reason, it is possible to carry out the exposure process very simply. In addition, due to the presence of the air layer in which the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 does not exist, the insulating layer 21 is provided without causing the whitening phenomenon problem, or the third electrode is provided for the region (Q) other than the functional region. 23 is not necessary, and the configuration is very simple and the manufacture is easy. In addition, a circuit configuration for using the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element can be simplified.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a surface on which light is irradiated or transmitted as an optical element, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3A, the partition wall member 15 has a closed shape as shown by C1 to C4, whereby the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is injected into the closed region. It is possible to prevent the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 from spreading over the area that does not need to be hologramized. As described above, hologram recording is performed in the photosensitive process only in the area between C1 and C2 and in the area between C3 and C4, and the function as a hologram is developed. .

  In the present embodiment, an example of a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element in which a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is injected in a square shape to form a hologram has been described. However, the partition member 15 has a closed shape. If it does, arrangement | positioning of the hologram of a holographic polymer dispersion | distribution liquid crystal optical element is not limited to this, It can include another aspect. FIG. 4 is a view showing a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, a square-shaped hologram can be formed by the partition member 15 having a closed shape (C5).

  As described above, according to the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element and the method for manufacturing the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the embodiment of the present invention, the holographic polymer is included in the closed partition member. It is not necessary to provide a bead spacer for the configuration in which the dispersed liquid crystal material is injected, and the gap between the substrates of the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element is constant, and it is possible to provide a stable quality optical element. Become.

  In addition, according to the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element and the method for manufacturing the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the embodiment of the present invention, the holographic polymer only in the closed partition wall member Since the dispersed liquid crystal material is arranged, it is not necessary to perform selective irradiation using a mask or the like in the exposure process, and the complexity in the exposure process can be eliminated.

  In addition, according to the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element and the method for manufacturing the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to the embodiment of the present invention, the holographic polymer only in the closed partition wall member In other areas, the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material does not exist, so that there is no air whitening problem. 21 and the third electrode 23 need not be provided for the region (Q) other than the functional region, and the configuration is very simple and the manufacturing is easy. In addition, a circuit configuration for using the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element can be simplified.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to another embodiment of the present invention. Another embodiment of the present invention is different in that the non-functional region filling material 18 is injected into a portion corresponding to the air layer on the first substrate 11 in the above-described embodiment. Since they match, the above differences will be described in detail. The step of injecting such a non-functional region filling material 18 onto the first substrate 11 is shown in FIG. 9D ′, and the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is injected onto the first substrate 11. It can implement suitably as a pre-process of a process, or a post process. As shown in FIG. 9 (D ′), the non-functional region filling material 18 injected onto the first substrate 11 remains separated from the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 by the partition member 15. The final holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element is subjected to a photosensitive step, which is a step of recording a hologram, through a lid step with the second substrate 12 on which the second electrode 14 is formed in FIG. Can be obtained.

As the non-functional region filling material 18 for filling the region where the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is not formed between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12, a refractive index such as an immersion oil type A manufactured by Cargill Co. A matching liquid can be used. By using a refractive index matching liquid as the non-functional region filling material 18, a refractive index matching liquid layer is formed in the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element as the final product.

  With the refractive index matching liquid layer as described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the previous embodiment, the refractive index can be matched in a region where the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material 17 is not formed. The effect that visibility can be improved can be expected.

  Further, as the non-functional region filling material 18, an optical adhesive such as NOA 61 manufactured by Norland Corporation can be used. By using an optical adhesive as the non-functional region filling material 18, an optical adhesive layer is formed on the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element as the final product.

  With the optical adhesive layer as described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the previous embodiment, since the reflectance between the substrate and the filling material is low, light reflection inside the substrate can be reduced, and the substrate It is possible to expect an effect that it is difficult to visually recognize interference fringes due to gap unevenness.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Holographic polymer dispersion liquid crystal optical element, 11 ... 1st board | substrate, 12 ... 2nd board | substrate, 13 ... 1st electrode, 14 ... 2nd electrode, 15 ... Partition Member, 16 ... sealing member, 17 ... holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material, 18 ... non-functional region filling material, 20 ... bead, 21 ... insulating layer, 23 ... third Electrode, 60, 60 '... Transparent electrode, 61, 61' ... Glass substrate, 62 ... Droplet, 63 ... Liquid crystal molecule, 64 ... Curable resin

Claims (9)

A first substrate;
A first electrode provided on the first substrate;
A partition member provided around the first electrode and having a closed shape;
A holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material provided on the first electrode,
A holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element, wherein the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material is not provided on the first base material on which the first electrode is not provided. The holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to claim 1, further comprising: a second substrate provided with a second electrode that is in contact with the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material. 3. The holographic device according to claim 2, wherein an air layer is present on the first base material on which the first electrode between the first base material and the second base material is not provided. 4. Polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element. The refractive index matching liquid layer exists on the first base material on which the first electrode is not provided between the first base material and the second base material. Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element. The optical adhesive layer is present on the first base material on which the first electrode between the first base material and the second base material is not provided. Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element. 6. The holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical element according to claim 1, wherein the partition member is a resist material. Providing a first electrode on the first substrate;
Providing a partition member having a closed shape around the first electrode;
Injecting a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material on the first electrode so as not to inject the holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material on the first substrate on which the first electrode is not provided. A method for producing a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element. Providing a first electrode on the first substrate;
Providing a partition member having a closed shape around the first electrode;
Injecting a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material onto the first electrode;
And a step of injecting a refractive index matching liquid onto the first base material on which the first electrode is not provided. A method for producing a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element. Providing a first electrode on the first substrate;
Providing a partition member having a closed shape around the first electrode;
Injecting a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal material onto the first electrode;
And a step of injecting an optical adhesive layer onto the first base material on which the first electrode is not provided. A method for producing a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element.

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