JPH09305092A - Light control element and its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent coloring and the lowering of reflectance due to absorption of light in the visible region and to obtain a light control element having a desired reflection wavelength, and simultaneously, to prevent the lowering and dispersion of the reflectance of the obtained light control element caused by the vibration of a cell or other optical systems and the flow of air, etc. SOLUTION: The cell 10, in which a mixed liquid 51 of a liquid crystal and a photosetting resin is held between a supporting plate 11 forming a transparent electrode 41 on the inside surface and a supporting plate 12 forming a transparent electrode 42 on the inside surface and a reflecting layer 22 on the outside surface, is prepared. Next, a prism 30 is optically and closely adhered to the outside surface of the supporting plate 11, and the cell 10 is irradiated with an ultraviolet light 100 at an angle of θi to a layer of the mixed liquid 51 via the prism 30 to form a light control layer 50 having a periodic structure of a liquid crystal layer and a resin layer. Next, the prism 30 is peeled off from the cell 10, and lastly, the reflecting layer 22 is removed with an etching solution to obtain the light control element in which the light control layer 50 is held between the supporting plates 11, 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voltage or the like which can be used for an optical switch of an optical communication device or an optical arithmetic device, a light valve of a projection type display device, a reflection type display body of a reflection type display device, or the like. The present invention relates to a light control element that reflects light depending on the presence or absence of a stimulus from the outside, and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal resin composite in which a liquid crystal and a polymer material are alternately formed in layers is known as a light control element that reflects light depending on the presence or degree of external stimulus such as voltage. .

FIG. 10 shows a light control element made of the above liquid crystal resin composite of the reflection type display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-294952, and the light control element has a transparent electrode 41 on the inner surface. The formed support plate 11 and the transparent electrode 42 on the inner surface
The light control layer 50 is sandwiched between the light control layer 50 and the supporting plate 12 on which the light control layer is formed.

The light control layer 50 is formed by alternately layering liquid crystal and a photo-curing resin as a polymer material in a direction perpendicular to the plate surfaces of the support plates 11 and 12, and the transparent electrodes 41 and 42.
Due to the periodic difference in the refractive index between the liquid crystal layer, whose refractive index changes according to the voltage applied between it, and the resin layer, which does not change the refractive index, the principle of an interference filter causes It reflects light in the region and transmits light in other wavelength regions.

Since the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer is changed by the voltage applied between the transparent electrodes 41, 42, the dimming layer 50 is controlled to control the light of all wavelength regions in the incident light by controlling the applied voltage. It is possible to make a transition from a light transmission state in which light is transmitted to a light reflection state in which light in a specific wavelength region is reflected and light in another wavelength region is transmitted as described above, and it is possible to change the reflectance.

When this light control element is used as a reflection type display device, by disposing a light absorber on the outer surface of the support plate 12, when the light control element is in the light transmitting state, a dark display is obtained and the light reflecting state is obtained. It is possible to obtain a reflection type display device which produces a bright display when it is operated.

A light control element made of this liquid crystal resin composite is
Conventionally, it is manufactured by the following method. That is, first, the cell 10 in which the mixed liquid 51 of the liquid crystal and the photocurable resin is sandwiched between the support plate 11 on which the transparent electrode 41 is formed and the support plate 12 on which the transparent electrode 42 is formed is prepared.

Next, as shown in FIG.
Is installed in the optical system 60. In the optical system 60, the laser 61
The laser beam 62 from the laser beam is split into two laser beams 64 and 65 by the beam splitter 63, and one of the laser beams 64 is reflected by the reflection mirror 66 to obtain the laser beam 111 as the laser beam 111.
And the other laser beam 65 is reflected by the reflection mirrors 67 and 68 to enter the cell 10 as the laser beam 112, and the laser beams 111 and 112 are simultaneously irradiated from the front side and the back side of the cell 10.

As a result, an interference pattern between the laser light 111 and the laser light 112 is formed in the mixed liquid 51, and the photocurable resin is cured along the interference pattern.
Along with the curing of the photocurable resin, the liquid mixture 51 is phase-separated into a liquid crystal portion and a resin portion in a periodic and layered manner, and a desired light control element is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 10, laser beams 111, 1
When 12 is incident on the layer of the mixed liquid 51 at an angle of θi, the liquid crystal layer and the resin layer of the liquid crystal resin composite as the light control layer 50 are formed in the plate surface direction of the support plates 11 and 12. The period d is given by: d = λm / (2cos θi) (1) where λm is the wavelength of the laser beams 111 and 112 in the mixed liquid 51.

Then, the light control layer 50 thus formed.
Wavelength λr of reflected light when light is incident from the direction perpendicular to
ef is expressed as λref = 2n × d (2), where n is the average refractive index of the light control layer 50. When the wavelength of the laser beams 111 and 112 in the atmosphere is λair, λm = λair / n, and therefore λref = 2n {λm / (2cosθi)} = λair / cosθi (3).

As such a light control element, red,
Laser light 11 is used as a method of obtaining a reflection wavelength λref having a predetermined wavelength for manufacturing a reflection type color display device including a display body that reflects green and blue color light.
1, 112 are made to enter the support plates 11 and 12 vertically, and the wavelengths of the laser beams 111 and 112 are reflected by the reflection wavelength λre.
a method of setting a wavelength according to f, and laser beams 111 and 112
There is known a method in which the wavelength 2 is made constant and the angle 2θi formed by the laser beams 111 and 112 is set to an angle corresponding to the reflection wavelength λref according to the equation (3).

Specifically, as the former method, in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-294952, page 3, step 0013, an argon laser beam of 488 nm and a green light are obtained in order to obtain a light control element that reflects blue light. In order to obtain a dimming element that reflects light, an argon laser beam of 514.5 nm and a helium-neon laser beam of 632.8 nm to obtain a dimming element that reflects red light are vertically incident on the support plate. It is shown.

The latter method is also the same as in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-29495.
It is shown on page 3, page 0013 of the publication No. 2, as a specific example thereof, ASIA DISPLAY '95, p603-.
By changing the angle formed by two 488 nm argon laser beams, the reflection wavelengths of 474 n
It is shown that a light control element having a wavelength of m, 515 nm, or 630 nm can be obtained.

[0015]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[First Problem and Purpose] When manufacturing a light control device composed of a liquid crystal resin composite as described above, the mixed liquid 51 of the liquid crystal and the photo-curable resin absorbs the laser beams 111 and 112 to mix them. An interference pattern is formed in the liquid 51, and the photocurable resin is hardened along the interference pattern, so that the mixed liquid 51
Periodically phase-separates into a liquid crystal part and a resin part,
The light control layer 50 is obtained.

However, in the conventional manufacturing method, as the laser beams 111 and 112, the above-mentioned JP-A-6-2949 is used.
52 publication and ASIA DISPLAY '95, p60
3 to 606, 488 nm, 514.5 nm, 6
Visible light such as 32.8 nm laser light is used.

Therefore, in the conventional manufacturing method, the mixed liquid 5
1 absorbs the laser beams 111 and 112,
The light control layer 50 is colored. That is, for example, laser light 1
When 488 nm light belonging to the blue light region is used as 11, 112, as a result of absorbing 488 nm light,
The light control layer 50 is colored yellow which is a complementary color of blue.

The absorption of light and the coloring caused thereby often remain in the light control layer 50 after the reaction of the mixed liquid 51, for example, as the laser lights 111 and 112.
For example, when light of 8 nm is used to obtain the light control layer 50 in which the reflection wavelength region is in the blue light region, when light is incident on the light control element, part of the blue light in the incident light is Light control layer 50
In many cases, the reflectance for blue light is reduced by being absorbed by.

Two lights are made to enter the hologram light-sensitive material,
Even when a hologram is recorded on the hologram photosensitive material by the interference of the two lights, the problem of coloring due to absorption of light and the absorption of light after recording due to the same arise. Therefore, in the case of a hologram sensitive material, in order to prevent absorption of light after hologram recording, a decoloring process such as applying the hologram sensitive material to a solvent to dissolve the dye after recording is performed.

However, in the case of the light control element composed of the liquid crystal resin composite as described above, after the liquid mixture 51 is reacted to obtain the light control layer 50, the light in the predetermined wavelength region within the visible light region is irradiated. As a light control element that reflects, if a decoloring treatment is performed to prevent absorption of light in the predetermined wavelength region, elution or alteration of the liquid crystal occurs, and it becomes useless as a desired light control element, and substantially. It cannot be decolorized.

Therefore, the first feature common to each claim of the present invention
The purpose of is to make it possible to obtain a light control element having a reflection wavelength of a desired wavelength, which does not cause coloring and a decrease in reflectance due to absorption of visible light.

[Second Problem and Objective] The optical system 60 of FIG.
In the above, the vibration of the cell 10 during the laser exposure is the largest factor that lowers and varies the reflectance of the obtained light control device. For example, the vibration causes the cell 10 to have a distance of 1000 fringes in the y direction, which is the thickness direction thereof, which is λm / 2.
The interference pattern formed by the laser beams 111 and 112 is also displaced by λm / 2 by only the shift (usually 0.13 to 0.27 μm for visible light), resulting in the liquid crystal layer and the resin layer. The periodic structure of and disappears.

Even if the cell 10 does not vibrate, the beam splitter 63 and the reflection mirrors 66 to 68 vibrate to cause the cell 1 to vibrate.
A shift relative to 0 causes exactly the same problem. Further, when the shift is smaller than λm / 2, the periodic structure does not disappear, but becomes incomplete, resulting in a decrease or variation in reflectance.

Then, the laser beams 111 and 112 at the time of curing
Generally, it takes several minutes to cure the photocurable resin, although it depends on the strength of the resin and the sensitivity of the photocurable resin. However, it is not easy to suppress the vibration of the cell 10 or other optical elements to 0.13 to 0.27 μm or less over a long time of several minutes. Particularly when the areas of the support plates 11 and 12 are large, it is not easy to eliminate the flexural vibration of the support plates 11 and 12.

Further, the flow of air in the optical path also causes a change in the optical path length due to a change in the density of the air, which causes a decrease or variation in the reflectance like vibration.

As a hologram recording method, not a method for manufacturing a light control element, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-19382 discloses a method for recording holograms.
To eliminate the effects of vibration and air flow,
As shown in FIG. 2, the hologram sensitive material 72 is formed on one surface of the substrate 71.
And the other surface of the substrate 71 is made an uneven surface, and the highly reflective layer 73 is coated on the uneven surface to form the hologram dry plate 70, and the laser beam 120 is applied from the hologram sensitive material 72 side to the hologram dry plate 70. The method of irradiation is shown.

In this case, the laser beam 120 passes through the hologram sensitive material 72 and the substrate 71 and is diffused and reflected by the high reflection layer 73. The diffuse reflected light 120a and the laser light 120 cause interference fringes in the hologram sensitive material 72. While being formed, the phase of the interference fringes is uniquely determined by the distance of the hologram photosensitive material 72 from the high reflection layer 73.

In this method, the hologram sensitive material 7 is used.
Since 2 and the high reflection layer 73 are integrally formed, the distance between the hologram sensitive material 72 and the high reflection layer 73 is kept constant. Therefore, the interference fringes are formed at the same position in the hologram photosensitive material 72 regardless of the vibration of the hologram dry plate 70 or the like and the flow of air.

However, this Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-19382
Even if the method shown in FIG. 12 disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication is applied to a method of manufacturing a light control element made of a liquid crystal resin composite,
The above-mentioned problems of coloring and reduction of reflectance due to absorption of light occur.

Therefore, a second object of the present invention is, in addition to the above-mentioned first object, the reflectance of the obtained light control element due to the vibration of the cell or other optical system at the time of manufacture, the flow of air, etc. It is to be able to prevent the deterioration and variation of

[Third Problem and Object] As a hologram recording method, not as a method for manufacturing a light control element, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-2
In Japanese Patent No. 81888, in order to record a large area hologram, as shown in FIG. 13, a transparent body 83 having a saw-tooth cross section is closely attached to one surface of a hologram sensitive material 82, and a mirror 84 is closely attached to the other surface thereof. Then, the light flux 130 is made to enter the hologram photosensitive material 82 through the transparent body 83 substantially perpendicularly to one slope 83 a of the transparent body 83, and
Further, a method of intermittently moving the mirror 84 with respect to the hologram sensitive material 82 is shown.

In this case, the incident light beam 130 passes through the transparent body 83 and the hologram light-sensitive material 82 and is reflected by the mirror 84, and the reflected light 130a and the incident light beam 130 form interference fringes in the hologram light-sensitive material 82. At the same time, the phase of the interference fringe is uniquely determined by the distance of the hologram photosensitive material 82 from the mirror 84.

However, this Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-28188
Even when the method shown in FIG. 13 disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8 is applied to a method of manufacturing a light control device made of a liquid crystal resin composite, the above-mentioned problems of coloring and reduction of reflectance due to light absorption occur.

Further, in this method, since the mirror 84 is moved with respect to the hologram sensitive material 82, the distance between the hologram sensitive material 82 and the mirror 84 is likely to change. for that reason,
By applying this method to a method of manufacturing a light control element made of a liquid crystal resin composite, a cell 10 as shown in FIG. 10 is arranged instead of the hologram sensitive material 82 to obtain a large area light control element. In that case, the mixed liquid 51 and the mirror 84 in the cell 10
The distance between and is likely to fluctuate, and as a result, the reflectance of the light control element is likely to decrease or vary.

Further, in this method, since the mirror 84 is moved intermittently with respect to the hologram sensitive material 82, this method is applied to a method of manufacturing a light control element made of a liquid crystal resin composite, and similarly, a large area is obtained. When an attempt is made to obtain the light control element, the reflectance of the light control element is likely to be uneven (uneven) corresponding to the movement pitch of the mirror 84.

Therefore, in addition to the above first and second objects, a third object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably and easily obtain a large area dimming element which does not cause uneven reflectance. Is to

[0037]

In the first invention (the invention of claim 1), when the reference numerals of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and described later are cited, the two light beams 101 and 102 are converted into photoreactive members. A light control element which is made incident on 51, causes the photoreactive member 51 to react along an interference pattern formed by the two light fluxes 101 and 102, and reflects light in accordance with the presence or degree of external stimulus. In the method for producing
Ultraviolet light is used as the light fluxes 101 and 102 of the book, and the two light fluxes 101 and 102 are crossed inside the photoreactive member 51 to manufacture a light control element that reflects light in a predetermined wavelength region. .

In the second invention (the invention of claim 2), FIG.
In reference to the reference numerals of the embodiments described later, the light-reactive member 51 is provided with the reflecting means 22 integrally on one surface side thereof, and the light-reactive member 51 is exposed from the other surface side thereof. Interference formed by one ultraviolet light beam 100 incident on the member 51, and the incident light beam 100 and the reflected light beam 100a obtained by transmitting the light beam 100 through the photoreactive member 51 and then by the reflection means 22. The photoreactive member 51 is made to react along a pattern to manufacture a light control element that reflects light in a predetermined wavelength region depending on the presence or absence of external stimulus or its degree.

In the third invention (the invention of claim 6), FIG.
When the reference numerals of the embodiments shown in FIG.
In particular, the reflecting means 28 completely covers one surface of the photoreactive member 51, and the incident light flux 100 is applied only to a part of the photoreactive member 51. The spot irradiated with the spot light is moved relative to the photoreactive member 51 to cause the entire photoreactive member 51 to react.

[0040]

According to the manufacturing method of the first invention which adopts the above method, the photoreactive member 51 absorbs the incident light beams 101 and 102 to form an interference pattern in the photoreactive member 51. The photoreactive member 51 reacts along the interference pattern to obtain the light control layer 50. But in this case
Since the incident light beams 101 and 102 are ultraviolet light, the light control layer 50 is not colored even if the photoreactive member 51 absorbs the incident light beams 101 and 102.

Therefore, it is not necessary to decolorize the obtained light control element, and the photoreactive member 51 is sensitive to only ultraviolet light and not to visible light. With such a structure, even when light is made incident on the obtained light control element, light in the visible light region in the incident light is not absorbed by the light control layer 50, and light in the visible light region is not absorbed. The absorption of the light does not lower the reflectance of the light control element.

In this case, between the wavelength λair of the incident light beams 101 and 102 and the wavelength λref of the reflected light when light is incident on the obtained light control element in the vertical direction, the formula (3) is given. Since there is such a relationship, the wavelengths λa of the incident light beams 101 and 102, which are ultraviolet light having a shorter wavelength than visible light,
ir and the mixed liquid 51 of the incident light fluxes 101 and 102
By selecting the angle θi with respect to the layer, it is possible to obtain a light control element having a reflection wavelength λref of a desired wavelength.

According to the manufacturing method of the second invention which adopts the above method, since the incident light beam 100 and the reflected light beam 100a are ultraviolet rays, the coloring and reflectance due to absorption of visible light is the same as in the first invention. It is possible to obtain a dimming device having a desired reflection wavelength, which does not cause a decrease in the wavelength.

Further, in the manufacturing method of the second invention, the interference pattern is formed in the photoreactive member 51 at a position uniquely determined by the distance of the photoreactive member 51 from the reflecting means 22. In the second aspect of the invention, since the reflection means 22 is provided integrally with the photoreactive member 51, the photoreactive member 51 and the photoreactive member 51 are not affected by vibrations of the optical system or other optical systems or air flows. The distance from the reflecting means 22 is kept constant, an interference pattern is formed at the same position in the photoreactive member 51, and there is no reduction or variation in the reflectance of the obtained light control element.

According to the manufacturing method of the third invention which adopts the above method, the incident light beam 100 and the reflected light beam 100a are made to be ultraviolet light as in the second invention, so that coloring and reflectance due to absorption of visible light are performed. It is possible to obtain a dimming device having a desired reflection wavelength, which does not cause a decrease in the wavelength.

Further, according to the manufacturing method of the third invention,
Similarly to the second invention, the reflecting means 28 is connected to the photoreactive member 51.
Since it is provided integrally with, it is possible to prevent a decrease or variation in the reflectance of the obtained light control element due to the vibration of the photoreactive member 51 or other optical system or the flow of air.

Further, according to the manufacturing method of the third invention,
The reflecting means 28 is provided integrally with the photoreactive member 51, and one surface of the photoreactive member 51 is completely covered, and the incident light flux 100 is used as spot light for irradiating only a part of the photoreactive member 51. The spot irradiated with the spot light is moved relative to the photoreactive member 51 so that the photoreactive member 5 is moved.
Since the whole 1 is made to react, as in the case of intermittently moving the optical system such as the prism and the reflecting means such as the mirror with respect to the photo-reactive member 51, the dimming element corresponds to the pitch of the movement. It is possible to reliably and easily obtain a large-area light control element that does not cause unevenness in reflectance and does not cause unevenness in reflectance.

[0048]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[Embodiment 1 ... FIG. 1] FIG. 1 shows an example of a manufacturing method of the present invention, which is an example of the invention of claim 1.

In this example, first, the transparent electrode 41 is formed on the inner surface.
A cell 10 is prepared in which a mixed liquid 51 of liquid crystal and a photocurable resin is sandwiched between a support plate 11 on which the transparent electrode 42 is formed and a support plate 12 on which the transparent electrode 42 is formed.

Next, the prisms 31 and 32 are optically closely attached to the outer surfaces of the support plates 11 and 12, respectively, and the prism 3
1, 32 to the cell 10 from both sides of which ultraviolet light 10
1, 102 with respect to the layer of the mixed liquid 51, respectively.
Irradiation is performed at an angle of 1 to form a light control layer 50 having a periodic structure of a liquid crystal layer and a resin layer.

Finally, from the cell 10 to the prisms 31, 32
Then, the dimming element having the dimming layer 50 sandwiched between the support plates 11 and 12 is obtained.

The supporting plates 11 and 12 are made of a dielectric having a property of transmitting visible light and ultraviolet light, such as glass,
A resin such as acrylic, polycarbonate, or polyethylene is used, and the transparent electrodes 41 and 42 are made of a conductive material having a property of transmitting visible light and ultraviolet light, for example, ITO (I
_{ndium Tin Oxide), Si0 2,} Zn
0: Al or the like is used.

As the liquid crystal, one that transmits the ultraviolet light 101 and 102 is used, and for example, phenylcyclohexyl group or one or more hydrogens of the phenyl group is F, OC.
A compound substituted with a functional group such as F ₃ or OCHF ₂ can be used.

The photocurable resin includes a monomer or an oligomer such as acrylate, acrylamide, epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate, and a photopolymerization initiator such as cleavable photopolymerization initiators benzoin, benzoin ether and benzoin ketal. And so on
Benzophenone, which is a hydrogen abstraction type photopolymerization initiator,
It is a mixture of Michler's ketone, etc., and an ion-reactive photopolymerization initiator, such as allyldiazonium fluoroborate, and is a resin that polymerizes by ultraviolet light without absorbing visible light and coloring by it. In addition, a thermal polymerization inhibitor, a binder polymer, a chain transfer agent, etc. may be appropriately added. Also, a sensitizer may be added to improve the reaction rate.

The ultraviolet light 101, 102 is preferably highly coherent, and it is desirable to use laser light or orbital radiation light. The ultraviolet light 101, 102 is generated by the prisms 31, 3
2. It is necessary to pass through the support plates 11 and 12 and the transparent electrodes 41 and 42.

Although it depends on the materials of the prisms 31, 32, the support plates 11, 12 and the transparent electrodes 41, 42, the wavelength of the ultraviolet light 101, 102 is preferably 300 nm or more, more preferably 325 nm or more. Such ultraviolet light 101, 102 is 337n of a nitrogen laser.
m, argon ion laser 334, 335, 351n
m, 351 nm of krypton ion laser, 378 nm of xenon ion laser, 325 n of He-Cd laser.
m, a dye laser having a wavelength of 300 to 400 nm, for example, PPD, BBD, PPO, PBD, BBQ, PP.
The oscillation light of a dye laser using a laser dye such as F or DPS, or the second harmonic of laser light of 600 to 800 nm can be used.

In order to obtain high coherence, the ultraviolet light 101,
The polarized light of 102 is preferably linearly polarized light. From that point, it is desirable to use a pulse laser or a continuous wave laser as the light source of the ultraviolet light 101, 102.

By irradiating the mixed liquid 51 of the liquid crystal and the photo-curable resin with the ultraviolet rays 101 and 102 as described above, interference fringes are formed inside the mixed liquid 51, and light is generated in the bright portion of the interference fringes. The polymerization reaction of the curable resin proceeds to form a structure in which the polymer and the liquid crystal are phase-separated into layers. However, it is essential here that a layered periodic structure is formed, and the presence or absence of phase separation is not essential. A liquid crystal polymer gel in which a polymerized polymer chain swells in a gel state with liquid crystal may be used.

The thickness of the light control layer 50 is selected in the range of 1 to 20 μm. If the thickness of the light control layer 50 is larger than this, the voltage applied between the transparent electrodes 41 and 42 must be extremely high in order to control the reflectance, which is not preferable. Further, when the thickness of the light control layer 50 is 0.5 μm or less, the reflectance becomes low, which is not preferable.

Actually, glass plates were used as the support plates 11 and 12, ITO was used as the transparent electrodes 41 and 42, ZLI-5092 manufactured by Merck was used as the liquid crystal, and LCR0271 manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd. was used as the photocurable resin. Using a mixed liquid 51 of a liquid crystal and a photo-curable resin, the layer thickness is 10 μm, 337 nm oscillating light of a nitrogen laser is used as the ultraviolet light 101 and 102, and θi = 45 ° to produce a light control element. When white light was vertically incident on the obtained light control device, blue reflected light of 477 nm was obtained.

However, the mixed liquid 5 of the ultraviolet light 101, 102
The angle θi with respect to the layer No. 1 can be appropriately changed so as to obtain a desired reflection wavelength according to the equation (3).
In fact, under the above materials and conditions, when θi = 39 °, green reflected light of 535 nm is reflected as θi =
At 33 °, the red reflected light of 619 nm is
When θi = 20 °, reflected light in the infrared region of 985 nm was obtained.

In the example of FIG. 1, the ultraviolet rays 101 and 102 are incident on the layer of the mixed liquid 51 at a symmetrical angle, and the support plates 11 and
In the case of obtaining the light control layer 50 having a periodic structure parallel to 12, the ultraviolet light 101, 102 is incident on the layer of the mixed liquid 51 at an asymmetric angle, and the period inclined with respect to the support plates 11, 12. You may make it obtain the light control layer of a structure, and by this, a light control element which has high visibility only in a desired direction can be obtained.

In this example, the prisms 31 and 32 are provided to prevent the intensity of the ultraviolet light 101 and 102 incident on the layer of the mixed liquid 51 from being reduced due to reflection on the surfaces of the support plates 11 and 12. It is a thing. Therefore, the prisms 31 and 32 are not necessarily required unless there is a particular problem in the intensity of the ultraviolet light 101 and 102.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, it is sufficient that the ultraviolet rays 101 and 102 are incident on the surfaces of the prisms 31 and 32 substantially perpendicularly. Therefore, the prisms 31 and 32 are not necessarily perpendicular to each other as shown in FIG. The prism does not have to be a prism, but may be trapezoidal or rectangular.

According to this example, the mixed liquid 51 contains the ultraviolet light 10
When the dimming layer 50 is obtained by absorbing 1,102, the dimming layer 50 is not colored, and it is not necessary to decolorize the obtained dimming element. Further, by using a photocurable resin that does not absorb visible light and does not cause coloring due to absorption of visible light, even when light is incident on the obtained light control element, Light in the visible light region is not absorbed by the light control layer 50,
The reflectance of the light control element does not decrease due to absorption of light in the visible light region.

Further, by selecting the wavelength of the ultraviolet light 101, 102 and the angle 2θi formed by the ultraviolet light 101, 102, it is possible to obtain a light control element having a desired reflection wavelength.

[Embodiment 2 ... FIG. 2] FIG. 2 shows another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention, which is an example of the invention of claim 2.

In this example, first, the transparent electrode 41 is formed on the inner surface.
Between the support plate 11 on which the transparent electrode 42 is formed on the inner surface and the reflective layer 22 on the outer surface,
A cell 10 in which a mixed liquid 51 of liquid crystal and photocurable resin is sandwiched is prepared.

Next, the prism 30 is optically brought into close contact with the outer surface of the support plate 11, and the cell 10 is attached through the prism 30.
Ultraviolet light 100 is applied to the layer of the mixed liquid 51 from one side thereof at an angle of θi to form a light control layer 50 having a periodic structure of a liquid crystal layer and a resin layer.

Next, the prism 30 is peeled off from the cell 10, and finally the reflective layer 22 is removed with an etching solution to obtain a light control element in which the light control layer 50 is sandwiched between the support plates 11 and 12.

Support plates 11 and 12, transparent electrodes 41 and 42,
As the liquid crystal and the photocurable resin, the same ones as in the example of FIG. 1 are used. As the ultraviolet light 100, the same light as the ultraviolet lights 101 and 102 in the example of FIG. 1 is used.

In this example, the ultraviolet light 100 passes through the prism 30 and the cell 10 and is reflected by the reflection layer 22. The reflected light 100a and the ultraviolet light 100 form interference fringes in the mixed liquid 51, and The photocurable resin reacts along the interference fringes to obtain the light control layer 50.

In this case, in order to obtain interference fringes having a high contrast ratio, it is desirable that the reflectance of the reflective layer 22 be as close to 1 as possible. Therefore, as the reflective layer 22, a metal exhibiting a high reflectance with respect to ultraviolet rays, such as Al, Ag, Zn,
It is desirable to use a vapor deposition film or a plating film of Rh, Pt, or the like, or a dielectric multilayer film in which a high-refractive index dielectric material and a low-refractive index dielectric material are alternately laminated. In particular, it can be easily formed,
A is that a reflective film with a high reflectance that does not change with time is obtained.
l evaporated films are preferred.

Actually, an Al vapor-deposited film was used as the reflection layer 22, the materials of the members other than the reflection layer 22 were the same as those actually used in Example 1, and the ultraviolet light 100 was 337 nm oscillation light of a nitrogen laser. Use and set θi = 45 °,
When a dimming device was manufactured and white light was vertically incident on the obtained dimming device, blue reflected light of 477 nm was obtained.

According to this example, as in the case of Example 1, it is possible to obtain a light control element having a reflection wavelength of a desired wavelength which does not cause coloring and a decrease in reflectance due to absorption of visible light.

Furthermore, according to this example, since the reflective layer 22 is provided integrally with the cell 10 having the mixed liquid 51, the cell 1
The distance between the layer of the mixed solution 51 and the reflective layer 22 is kept constant regardless of the vibration of 0 or other optical systems and the flow of air, and an interference pattern is formed at the same position in the layer of the mixed solution 51. As a result, there is no reduction or variation in the reflectance of the obtained light control element.

[Embodiment 3 ... FIG. 3] FIG. 3 shows still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention, which is another example of the invention of claim 2.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 9A, first, the liquid crystal is provided between the support plate 11 having the transparent electrode 41 formed on the inner surface and the support plate 13 having the reflective layer 22 formed on the inner surface. A cell 10 in which a mixed solution 51 of a resin and a photocurable resin is sandwiched is prepared.

Next, the prism 30 is optically brought into close contact with the outer surface of the support plate 11, and the cell 10 is inserted through the prism 30.
Ultraviolet light 100 is applied to the layer of the mixed liquid 51 from one side thereof at an angle of θi to form a light control layer 50 having a periodic structure of a liquid crystal layer and a resin layer.

Next, the support plate 13 on which the prism 30 and the reflection layer 22 are formed is separated from the support plate 11 on which the dimming layer 50 is formed, and finally, as shown in FIG. As described above, the support plate 12 having the transparent electrode 42 formed on the inner surface is attached to the light control layer 50 to obtain a light control element in which the light control layer 50 is sandwiched between the support plates 11 and 12.

As the reflective layer 22, the same one as in Example 2 is used. Also in this example, interference fringes are formed in the mixed liquid 51 according to the same principle as that of the second embodiment.
The photocurable resin reacts along the interference fringes, and the light control layer 5
0 is obtained.

In practice, a glass plate was used as the support plate 13, an Al vapor deposition film was used as the reflection layer 22, and the materials of the members other than the support plate 13 and the reflection layer 22 were the same as those actually used in Example 1. , 337 nm oscillation light of a nitrogen laser is used as the ultraviolet light 100, and θi = 45 °,
When a dimming device was manufactured and white light was vertically incident on the obtained dimming device, blue reflected light of 477 nm was obtained.

According to this example, as in the case of Example 2, it is possible to obtain a light control element having a reflection wavelength of a desired wavelength which does not cause coloring and a decrease in reflectance due to absorption of visible light, and at the same time the cells 10 to 10 can be obtained. It is possible to prevent a decrease or variation in the reflectance of the obtained light control element due to vibration of another optical system or air flow.

Further, according to this example, the ultraviolet light 100 and the reflected light 100a thereof are transmitted to the transparent electrode 42 and the support plate 1.
Since the light does not pass through 2, the loss of light due to it can be prevented, and since there is no reflection on the surface of the transparent electrode 42, an interference fringe with a high light-dark ratio can be obtained.

[Embodiment 4 ... FIG. 4] FIG. 4 shows still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention, which is an example of the invention of claim 3.

In this example, first, the transparent electrode 41 is formed on the inner surface.
A cell 10 is prepared in which a mixed liquid 51 of liquid crystal and a photocurable resin is sandwiched between a support plate 11 on which the transparent electrode 42 is formed and a support plate 12 on which the transparent electrode 42 is formed.

Next, the prism 30 is optically brought into close contact with the outer surface of the support plate 11, and the cell 10 is attached through the prism 30.
The ultraviolet light 100 from one side, and the ultraviolet light 100 is the support plate 1
Irradiate at an angle θi so that the light is totally reflected on the outer surface 24 of 2.
A light control layer 50 having a periodic structure of a liquid crystal layer and a resin layer is formed.

Finally, the prism 30 is separated from the cell 10 to obtain a light control element in which the light control layer 50 is sandwiched between the support plates 11 and 12.

As the support plates 11 and 12, etc., the first embodiment is used.
Use the same as. As the ultraviolet light 100, the same light as the ultraviolet lights 101 and 102 of the first embodiment is used.

In this example, the ultraviolet light 100 is transmitted through the prism 30 and the cell 10 and then the outer surface 24 of the support plate 12.
Then, the light 100a is totally reflected, and the reflected light 100a and the ultraviolet light 100 form interference fringes in the mixed liquid 51, and the photocurable resin reacts along the interference fringes to obtain the light control layer 50.

In this case, the refractive index of the support plate 12 is n _sub , and the critical angle of total reflection on the outer surface 24 of the support plate 12 is θ.
There is a relation of 1 / n _sub = sin θc (4), and in order for the ultraviolet light 100 to be totally reflected on the outer surface 24 of the support plate 12, the condition of 90 ° −θi> θc (5) is satisfied. There must be.

For example, when n _sub = 1.5, θ
i must be <48.2 °. At this time, 470
In order to obtain the blue reflected light of nm, the wavelength of the ultraviolet light 100 must be 350 nm or less from the formula (3).

That is, in combination with the conditions shown in Example 1, the wavelength of the ultraviolet light 100 is preferably in the range of 300 to 350 nm, more preferably 325 to 350 nm. Such ultraviolet light 100 includes nitrogen laser 337 nm and argon ion laser 351 n.
m, 325 nm of He-Cd laser, or oscillation light of dye laser can be used.

Actually, the material of each member was the same as that actually used in Example 1, the oscillation light of 337 nm of a nitrogen laser was used as the ultraviolet light 100, and θi = 40 ° was set to manufacture a light control element. When white light was vertically incident on the obtained light control device, green reflected light of 524 nm was obtained.

In this example, if the prism 30 is not used,
It is impossible to allow the ultraviolet light 100 to enter the cell 10 at an angle that causes total internal reflection. Therefore, in this example, unlike the first embodiment, the prism 30 is indispensable.

However, since it is sufficient that the ultraviolet light 100 is incident on the surface of the prism 30 substantially perpendicularly, the prism 30 does not necessarily have to be a right-angle prism as shown in FIG. 4, and may have a trapezoidal or rectangular shape. Good.

According to this example, as in the second and third embodiments,
It is possible to obtain a light control element having a reflection wavelength of a desired wavelength that does not cause coloring and a decrease in reflectance due to absorption of visible light, and to obtain the light control element by vibration of the cell 10 or other optical system or air flow. It is possible to prevent a decrease or variation in the reflectance of the optical element.

Furthermore, according to this example, the step of forming the reflective layer 22 and the step of removing or peeling the reflective layer 22 or the support plate 13 in Examples 2 and 3 are unnecessary. Further, since the reflectance of the total reflection surface is almost 1, the second embodiment
The reflectance can be made higher than in the case where the metal reflection layer 22 is provided as in No. 3, and interference fringes having a higher contrast ratio can be obtained.

[Embodiment 5 ... FIG. 5] FIG. 5 shows still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention, which is an example of the invention of claim 4.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 9A, first, a support plate 11 having a transparent electrode 41 formed on its inner surface is prepared, and a liquid crystal and a photocurable resin are mixed on the transparent electrode 41. The liquid 51 is applied to a thickness of, for example, 10 μm to form the cell 10.

Next, the prism 30 is optically brought into close contact with the outer surface of the support plate 11. Next, after putting the whole element in the chamber and replacing the air with nitrogen, the layer of the mixed solution 51 was passed through the prism 30 and the support plate 11 and the ultraviolet light 100 was emitted.
The ultraviolet light 100 causes the interface 25 between the layer of the mixed liquid 51 and nitrogen.
Irradiation is performed at an angle θi such that the light is totally reflected by the light control layer 50 to form a light control layer 50 having a periodic structure of a liquid crystal layer and a resin layer.

The reason why the air is replaced with nitrogen is to prevent the curing reaction of the photocurable resin from being hindered by the presence of air, but the curing reaction is inhibited even in the presence of air as the photocurable resin. When not used, it is not always necessary to replace air with nitrogen.

Next, the prism 30 is peeled off from the cell 10, and finally, as shown in FIG. 6B, the support plate 12 having the transparent electrode 42 formed on the inner surface is attached to the light control layer 50 to support it. A light control element in which a light control layer 50 is sandwiched between the plates 11 and 12 is obtained.

As the method for applying the mixed liquid 51, known application methods such as spin coating, roll coating, bar coating, screen printing, offset printing, letterpress printing and intaglio printing can be used.

Also in this example, according to the same principle as in Example 4, interference fringes are formed in the mixed liquid 51, and the photocurable resin reacts along the interference fringes to obtain the light control layer 50. . However, in this case, when the critical angle for total reflection at the interface 25 is θc, the angle θi is calculated by the equation (5) as in the fourth embodiment.
It is necessary to meet the condition of.

Further, as shown in Example 4, in order to obtain a light control element capable of obtaining reflected light of red, green or blue, the wavelength of the ultraviolet light 100 is in the range of 300 to 350 nm, more preferably. It is preferably in the range of 325 to 350 nm.

In practice, the materials of the respective members were made the same as in the case of actual execution in Example 1, and a dimming element was manufactured by using 337 nm oscillating light of a nitrogen laser as the ultraviolet light 100, and obtained. When white light is vertically incident on the light control element, blue reflected light of 477 nm is obtained when θi = 45 ° and 5 when θi = 39 °.
Green reflected light of 35 nm was obtained, and when θi = 32 °, red reflected light of 636 nm was obtained.

According to this example, as in Examples 2 to 4,
It is possible to obtain a light control element having a reflection wavelength of a desired wavelength that does not cause coloring and a decrease in reflectance due to absorption of visible light, and to obtain the light control element by vibration of the cell 10 or other optical system or air flow. It is possible to prevent a decrease or variation in the reflectance of the optical element.

Further, according to this example, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the step of forming the reflective layer 22 and the step of removing or peeling the reflective layer 22 and the support plate 13 in the second and third embodiments are not necessary. Since the total reflection surface has a reflectance of about 1, the reflectance can be higher than that in the case where the metal reflection layer 22 is provided as in Examples 2 and 3, and an interference fringe with a higher contrast ratio can be obtained. To be

Further, as in the case of the third embodiment, the ultraviolet light 100 and its reflected light 100a are the transparent electrode 42 and the support plate 1.
2 does not pass therethrough, so that the loss of light due to it can be prevented, and since there is no reflection on the surface of the transparent electrode 42, an interference fringe with a higher contrast ratio can be obtained as compared with the fourth embodiment.

Further, according to this example, the optical path difference between the incident ultraviolet light 100 and the reflected light 100a is determined by the mixed liquid 5
Since the thickness of one layer can be made as small as about twice as much as the thickness of one layer, as the ultraviolet light 100, it is possible to use, for example, a light having a relatively low coherence, for example, a light of a mercury lamp which is monochromatic by a monochromator.

Of course, it is more preferable to use, for example, laser light or orbital radiation light having high coherence. Specifically, from the relationship with the above wavelength range, as the ultraviolet light 100, nitrogen laser 337 nm, argon ion laser 351 nm, He—Cd laser 325 nm, dye laser oscillation light, or the like can be used.

[Embodiment 6 ... FIG. 6] FIG. 6 shows still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention, which is an example of the invention of claim 5.

In this example, first, the transparent electrode 41 is formed on the inner surface.
Liquid crystal and photocuring are provided between the support plate 11 on which the transparent electrode 42 is formed on the inner surface and the support plate 12 on the outer surface of which the uneven surface is formed into a scattering surface and the reflecting layer 26 is formed on the scattering surface. A cell 10 in which a mixed liquid 51 with a resin is sandwiched is prepared.

Next, the prism 30 is optically brought into close contact with the outer surface of the support plate 11, and the cell 10 is inserted through the prism 30.
Ultraviolet light 100 is applied to the layer of the mixed liquid 51 from one side thereof at an angle of θi to form a light control layer 50 having a periodic structure of a liquid crystal layer and a resin layer.

Next, the prism 30 is peeled off from the cell 10, and finally the reflective layer 26 is removed with an etching solution to obtain a light control element in which the light control layer 50 is sandwiched between the support plates 11 and 12.

Support plates 11 and 12, transparent electrodes 41 and 42,
The same liquid crystal and photocurable resin as those in Example 1 are used. As the ultraviolet light 100, the same light as the ultraviolet lights 101 and 102 of the first embodiment is used. As the reflective layer 26, the same one as the reflective layer 22 of the second embodiment is used.

In this example, the ultraviolet light 100 is transmitted through the prism 30 and the cell 10 and scattered and reflected by the reflection layer 26, and the scattered reflected light 100b and the ultraviolet light 100 form interference fringes in the mixed liquid 51. The photocurable resin reacts along the interference fringes to obtain the light control layer 50.

In this case, when the irregularities on the outer surface of the support plate 12 are regarded as a set of minute plane mirrors, a Gauss function-like one can be used as the distribution function in the normal direction of the minute plane mirrors. In addition, the micro plane mirror and the support plate 1
The average of the angles formed with 1 is preferably in the range of about 7 to 12 °. That is, when the average of the angles formed by the microscopic plane mirror and the support plate 11 is smaller than about 7 °, the visibility of the obtained light control element decreases, as in Example 1.
If the angle is larger than about 2 °, the scattered reflected light 100b causes light confinement when it is emitted from the support plate 11 to the outside, and the reflectance of the obtained light control element decreases.

Further, in order not to reduce the resolution of the obtained light control element, the tilt space distribution of the micro plane mirror is preferably 10 cycles / mm or more, more preferably 100 cycles / mm or more.

The ultraviolet light scattered and reflected at two different points on the reflection layer 26 forms an undesired thousand fringes, that is, a so-called noise grating in the mixed solution 51. Therefore, in order to reduce this noise grating, the support is required. The thickness of the plate 12 is preferably as small as possible, and is preferably 100 μm or less.

As a method of making the outer surface of the support plate 12 uneven, a method of mechanically damaging the outer surface of the support plate 12 by sanding or sandblasting, a method of chemically damaging it by etching, and a method of making the outer surface of the support plate 12 transparent A method of applying a transparent coating containing fine particles, an embossing method of pressing the support plate 12 as a resin member with a metal mold having irregularities formed thereon, and transferring the irregularities from the metal mold having irregularities formed when the support plate 12 is formed. It is possible to use a method, a method of attaching a resin film having unevenness to the support plate 12, or the like.

In practice, an Al vapor-deposited film was used as the reflection layer 26, the materials of the members other than the reflection layer 26 were the same as those actually used in Example 1, and 337 nm oscillation light of a nitrogen laser was used as the ultraviolet light 100. Using θi = 39 °,
When a dimmer element was manufactured and white light was vertically incident on the obtained dimmer element, green reflected light of 535 nm was obtained.

The outer surface of the support plate 12 has an uneven shape,
Instead of forming the reflection layer 26 on the uneven surface, for example, a light scattering layer may be provided on the outer surface of the support plate 12, and a mirror-like reflection layer may be provided on the light scattering layer.

As the light scattering layer in this case, A. A system containing fine particles having different refractive indices, for example, white inorganic pigments such as titanium oxide, lead oxide, barium sulfate, organic fine particles such as resin or organic low-molecular material, fibers, etc. are dispersed in a binder such as resin. Paint, resin containing bubbles, ceramic plate, crystalline polymer containing fine crystals, glass containing fine crystals, B.I. A system in which multiple materials with different refractive indices are intertwined with each other, such as composite resin materials obtained by mixing multiple resins or their monomers once and then phase-separating, chalcogen glass, etc. Glass, C.I. A material having a birefringent multi-domain, for example, a liquid crystal polymer, a composite phase separation material of a liquid crystal polymer and a crystalline polymer or an amorphous polymer,
An inorganic pigment, organic fine particles, a composite material in which fibers are dispersed in a liquid crystalline polymer, a composite material in which a low molecular liquid crystal is dispersed in a polymer matrix, or the like can be used.

However, if the scattering surface is depolarized, the clarity of the interference pattern is lost, which is not preferable. From this point, it is desirable to make the outer surface of the support plate 12 uneven as described above.

According to this example, as in Examples 2-5,
It is possible to obtain a light control element having a reflection wavelength of a desired wavelength that does not cause coloring and a decrease in reflectance due to absorption of visible light, and to obtain the light control element by vibration of the cell 10 or other optical system or air flow. It is possible to prevent a decrease or variation in the reflectance of the optical element.

Further, in Examples 1 to 5, since the periodic structure of the liquid crystal layer and the resin layer in the light control layer 50 is uniform and parallel to the support plate 11, the light control layer 50 is located at the position of regular reflection with respect to the light source. Only the reflected image can be observed, and when it is applied to a reflective display device, the visibility deteriorates depending on the illumination condition. Since the normal direction of the periodic structure with the resin layer differs from place to place, the reflected light is scattered and a clear display can be obtained under all illumination conditions.

[Embodiment 7 ... FIG. 7] FIG. 7 shows still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention, which is another example of the invention of claim 5.

In this example, first, the transparent electrode 41 is formed on the inner surface.
And the supporting plate 12 on which the transparent electrode 42 is formed on the inner surface and the outer surface is made uneven to form the scattering surface 27.
A cell 10 in which a mixed liquid 51 of a liquid crystal and a photo-curable resin is sandwiched between and is prepared.

Next, the prism 30 is optically brought into close contact with the outer surface of the support plate 11, and the cell 10 is inserted through the prism 30.
The ultraviolet light 100 from one side, and the ultraviolet light 100 is the support plate 1
The dimming layer 5 having a periodic structure of a liquid crystal layer and a resin layer by irradiating at an angle θi such that the light is totally reflected by the outer scattering surface 27 of No. 2
Form 0.

Finally, the prism 30 is separated from the cell 10 to obtain a light control element in which the light control layer 50 is sandwiched between the support plates 11 and 12.

The characteristics of the irregularities on the outer surface of the support plate 12 and how to make them are the same as in the sixth embodiment. Then, also in this example, according to the same principle as in Example 6, interference fringes are formed in the mixed liquid 51, and the photocurable resin reacts along the interference fringes to obtain the light control layer 50.

In practice, the materials of the respective members were the same as those in the case of the embodiment 1, and the light control element was manufactured by using 337 nm oscillation light of a nitrogen laser as the ultraviolet light 100 and setting θi = 39 °. When white light was made incident vertically on the obtained light control device, green reflected light of 535 nm was obtained.

According to this example, as in Examples 2 to 6,
It is possible to obtain a light control element having a reflection wavelength of a desired wavelength that does not cause coloring and a decrease in reflectance due to absorption of visible light, and to obtain the light control element by vibration of the cell 10 or other optical system or air flow. It is possible to prevent a decrease or variation in the reflectance of the optical element.

Furthermore, according to this example, as in Example 6, the normal direction of the periodic structure of the liquid crystal layer and the resin layer in the light control layer 50 is different from place to place, and thus the reflection type display device. When applied to, the reflected light is scattered and a clear display can be obtained under all lighting conditions.

Further, since the reflectance of the total reflection surface is approximately 1, the reflectance can be made higher than that in the case where the metal reflection layer 26 is provided as in the embodiment 6, and the interference fringes having a higher light-dark ratio. Is obtained.

[Embodiment 8 ... FIG. 8, FIG. 9] FIG. 8 shows still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention, which is an example of the invention of claim 6.

In this example, first, the transparent electrode 41 is formed on the inner surface.
A cell 10 is prepared in which a mixed liquid 51 of liquid crystal and a photocurable resin is sandwiched between a support plate 11 on which the transparent electrode 42 is formed and a support plate 12 on which the transparent electrode 42 is formed. However, in this example, the cell 10 has a large area.

Next, the prism 30 is formed on the outer surface of the support plate 11.
Are optically bonded via the matching oil 35.

Next, while continuously moving the cell 10 in the surface direction as shown by arrow 1, the cell 10 is supplied with the ultraviolet light 100 from one side through the prism 30 and the ultraviolet light 1
The angle θ at which 00 is totally reflected on the outer surface 28 of the support plate 12
The light control layer 5 having a periodic structure of a liquid crystal layer and a resin layer is irradiated as a spot light by i at the entire surface of the cell 10.
Form 0.

In practice, the materials of the respective members were the same as those in the case of Example 1, and a 370 nm oscillating light of a nitrogen laser was used as the ultraviolet light 100 and θi = 45 ° was set to manufacture a light control element. Then, when white light was vertically incident on the obtained light control device, blue reflected light of 477 nm was obtained.

According to this example, as in Examples 2 to 7,
It is possible to obtain a light control element having a reflection wavelength of a desired wavelength that does not cause coloring and a decrease in reflectance due to absorption of visible light, and to obtain the light control element by vibration of the cell 10 or other optical system or air flow. It is possible to prevent a decrease or variation in the reflectance of the optical element.

Furthermore, according to this example, as in the case of intermittently moving the optical system such as the prism and the reflecting means such as the mirror with respect to the cell 10, the dimming is performed in accordance with the pitch of the movement. It is possible to reliably and easily obtain a large-area light control element that does not cause unevenness in the reflectance of the element and does not cause unevenness in the reflectance.

In general, as the intensity of the ultraviolet light 100 is higher, a clear phase separation structure can be formed in the light control layer 50, and the reflectance of the light control element can be increased. Then, rather than irradiating the entire surface of the cell 10 with ultraviolet light at the same time, it is possible to irradiate the cell 10 with the ultraviolet light 100 locally, as in this example, to irradiate ultraviolet light of higher intensity. Therefore, according to this example, it is possible to reliably and easily obtain a light control element having a high reflectance.

Further, according to this example, since the cell 10 is locally irradiated with the ultraviolet light 100, the irradiation optical system of the ultraviolet light 100 can be downsized and the cost of the manufacturing apparatus can be reduced. . Further, in general, the smaller the irradiation area of light, the smaller the variation in exposure intensity. Therefore, according to this example, it is possible to reduce the variation in exposure intensity and obtain a light control element with high uniformity of reflectance.

The region 90 in FIG. 8 is a region where the incident ultraviolet light 100 and the reflected light 100a do not overlap each other. In such a region 90, no interference pattern is formed and the periodic structure is disturbed. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the number of such regions 90 as much as possible. Therefore, it is desirable to make the distance between the layer of the mixed solution 51 and the total reflection surface 28 as small as possible. From that point, the ultraviolet light 100 is separated from the layer of the mixed solution 51 and the air (nitrogen) as in the fifth embodiment. Interface 2
It is more preferable to use the method of total reflection at 5.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the reflection type display device of the present invention, which is manufactured by the method shown in FIG.
This is a case where a reflective color display device is configured by using two light control elements as a reflective display member that reflects red, green, and blue color light, respectively.

That is, in the reflection type display device of this example, the display panel 10R in which the dimming layer 50R is sandwiched between the support plates 11R and 12R, the display panel 10G in which the dimming layer 50G is sandwiched between the support plates 11G and 12G, And support plates 11B, 12
The display panel 10B in which the light control layer 50B is sandwiched between B is manufactured and laminated by the method shown in FIG. 8, and the light absorption layer 15 is formed on the back surface side of the display panel 10B.

The light control layers 50R, 50G, and 50B are liquid crystal resin composites having reflection wavelength regions in the red, green, and blue wavelength regions, respectively, so that their respective reflectances can be independently controlled. Transparent electrodes 41 and 42 are provided for each display pixel 200. Therefore, an arbitrary display color can be obtained by additive color mixture.

[Other Embodiments] In each of Examples 1 to 8, a mixed liquid 5 of a liquid crystal and a photocurable resin was used as the photoreactive member.
1 is used to obtain a liquid crystal resin composite as the light control layer 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two light beams may be incident on the photoreactive member or one light beam may be generated. When incident, the reflected light flux is generated to form an interference pattern in the photoreactive member, and the photoreactive member is caused to react along the interference pattern, depending on the presence or degree of external stimulus. It can be widely applied when manufacturing a light control element that reflects light.

[0152]

As described above, according to the first aspect,
It is possible to obtain a light control device having a desired reflection wavelength, which does not cause coloring and a decrease in reflectance due to absorption of visible light. Further, by making the photoreactive member sensitive only to ultraviolet light and not sensitive to visible light, it is possible to manufacture a light control element in a bright place where visible light exists. Therefore, it is possible to improve the workability of the element manufacturing.

According to the second invention, in addition to this, it is possible to prevent a decrease or variation in the reflectance of the obtained light control element due to the vibration of the cell or other optical system or the flow of air.

According to the third invention, in addition, it is possible to obtain a large-area light control element which does not cause unevenness in the reflectance in a reliable and easy manner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing still another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a reflective display device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional method for manufacturing a light control device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an exposure optical system used in the method for manufacturing a light control device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a hologram recording method.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of a hologram recording method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 cells 11, 12, 13 support plate 22 reflection layer (reflection means) 24 outer surface (total reflection surface, reflection means) 25 interface (total reflection surface, reflection means) 26 reflection layer (reflection means, light scattering means) 27 scattering reflection Surface (reflection means, light scattering means) 28 Outer surface (total reflection surface, reflection means) 30, 31, 32 Prism 35 Matching oil 41, 42 Transparent electrode 50 Light control layer 51 Mixed liquid (photoreactive member) 100, 101, 102 ultraviolet light 100a reflected light 100b scattered reflected light 10R, 10G, 10B display panel (light control element)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. Two light beams are made incident on a photoreactive member, and the photoreactive member is made to react along an interference pattern formed by the two light beams to determine the presence or absence of external stimulus. According to the method of manufacturing a light control element that reflects light, ultraviolet light is used as the two light beams, and
A method of manufacturing a dimming element, which comprises manufacturing a dimming element that reflects light in a predetermined wavelength region by intersecting a light flux of a book inside the photoreactive member. 2. A reflecting means is integrally provided on one surface side of the photoreactive member so that one light beam of ultraviolet light is incident on the photoreactive member from the other surface side of the photoreactive member. , The incident light beam and the reflected light beam obtained by being reflected by the reflecting means after being transmitted through the photoreactive member cause the photoreactive member to react along an interference pattern, thereby stimulating from the outside. A method of manufacturing a light control element, which manufactures a light control element that reflects light in a predetermined wavelength region depending on the presence or absence of the light source and the degree thereof. 3. The method for manufacturing a light control element according to claim 2, wherein the reflecting means is a total reflection surface. 4. The method for manufacturing a dimming element according to claim 3, wherein the total reflection surface is an interface between the photoreactive member and air. 5. The method of manufacturing a dimming element according to claim 2, wherein a light scattering means is provided in an optical path between the photoreactive member and the reflecting means. 6. The spot according to claim 2, wherein the reflecting means completely covers one surface of the photoreactive member, and the incident light flux irradiates only a part of the photoreactive member. A method for manufacturing a light control element, wherein light is irradiated, and a portion irradiated with the spot light is moved relative to the photoreactive member to react the entire photoreactive member. 7. A light control element manufactured by the manufacturing method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. 8. A reflection type display device using a light control element manufactured by the manufacturing method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 as a reflection type display body.