EP0332456A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Light modulation element
Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals Inc
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Filing: 1989-03-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A light modulation element is disclosed which comprises a liquid crystal element comprising a cell composed of two transparent substrates, each substrate being provided with a transparent electrode on one surface, and a liquid crystal material assuming a smectic A phase, the said substrates being arranged so that the transparent electrodes are opposed to each other and separated by a space which is filled with the liquid crystal material.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinichi Nishiyama
- 👤 Hideo Yamaoka
- 👤 Tooru Yamanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/137; G02F1/139; G02F1/141; G02F1/1418; C; C09; C09K; C09K19/00; C09K19/04; C09K19/06; C09K19/32; C09K19/322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A light modulation element which comprises liquid crystal element, the said liquid crystal element comprising a cell composed of two transparent substrates, at least one of which is optionally flexible, each substrate being provided with a transparent electrode on one surface, and a liquid crystal material assuming a smectic A phase, the said substrates being arranged so that the transparent electrodes are opposed to each other and separated by a space which is filled with the said liquid crystal material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A light modulation element which comprises liquid crystal element, the said liquid crystal element comprising a cell composed of two transparent substrates, at least one of which is optionally flexible, each substrate being provided with a transparent electrode on one surface, and a liquid crystal material assuming a smectic A phase, the said substrates being arranged so that the transparent electrodes are opposed to each other and separated by a space which is filled with the said liquid crystal material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A light modulation element according to claim 1 which comprises a polarizing plate placed outside at least one of the transparent substrates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
A light modulation element according to claim 1 or 2 which comprises a second liquid crystal element and two polarizing plates, the polarizing plates being arranged such that their polarizing directions are mutually perpendicular or parallel, and the two liquid crystal elements being arranged side by side between the said polarizing plates and being sealed with a sealing material, and wherein the retardation of light transmitted through the said two liquid crystal elements is from 0.13 to 0.26 µm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A light modulation element according to claim 1 or 2 which comprises a polarizing plate and a reflective layer which reflects at least visible light, wherein the liquid crystal element is interposed between the said polarizing plate and the said reflective layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A light modulation element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the width of the space between the transparent substrates is adjusted so that the liquid crystal material may be oriented by the wall surface effect of the transparent substrates and wherein fibers are disposed in the liquid crystal material, the said fibers having an aspect ratio (l/d) wherein: 3≦ l/d ≦ 100 d representing the fiber diameter and l representing the average length of the fiber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A light modulation element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cell is sealed with a sealing material and each of the transparent substrates is provided on one surface with a transparent electrode and an orientation-controlling layer in that order, the said orientation-controlling layer comprising a film of an organic high polymer having a beta-dispersion temperature not lower that the curing temperature of the said sealing material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A light modulation element according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises a spacer separating the two transparent electrodes, the said spacer being formed from a polyimide material obtained by patterning a photosensitive polyimide precursor, and monodomains being formed as the result of an interfacial effect between the said spacer and the liquid crystal material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A light modulation element according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises two polarizing plates arranged such that their polarizing directions are mutually parallel or perpendicular, wherein each of the transparent substrates is provided on one surface with a transparent electrode and a ferroelectric layer in that order, and the liquid crystal element is sealed with a sealing material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A light modulation element according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises a spacer separating the two transparent electrodes which also functions as an orientation-controlling film, the said spacer comprising two or more concentric O-ring spacers or at least one comb-shaped spacer, and optionally being provided with a plurality of notches for charging the said liquid crystal material into the space between the substrates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A light modulation element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one substrate is flexible and satisfies the following relation: a⁴/Et³<0.32 wherein t is the thickness in mm of the flexible substrate, E is the modulus in Kgf/m² thereof and a is the width in mm of the space between the two substrates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A light modulation element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the width of the space between the two transparent electrodes is from 1 to 3 µm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A light modulation element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the liquid crystal material has been initially oriented by heating the said material contained in the cell to a temperature near the upper limit for the said material to assume a smectic A phase, and applying a DC bias voltage to the material thus heated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A light modulation element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one of the transparent substrates is provided with a non-linear element or an active element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A light modulation element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one of the transparent electrodes is provided with a thin organic or inorganic film having the potential to orientate the liquid crystal material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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