JPS61284735A - Optical modulator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display an image having good quality with high resolubiton by providing an optical means having a heating element for heating a molecular film consisting of org. compd. molecules having a hydrophobic part and hydrophilic part, signal output means for outputting the signal corresponding to image information and illuminating optical system. CONSTITUTION:The desired position of the heating element 2 is heated to generate a property change in the heated part 5 of the monomolecular film or cumulative film 3 of the monomolecular layers on the element 2. The optical path is changed or scattering is generated by the light passing through the part except the heated part 5 and the light passing through the heated part 6 when illuminating light 7 which is parallel light is made incident on the optical element from the substrate 1 side thereof. Such change is directly or indirectly detected and displayed. The change of the optical path arising from the refraction, scattering, diffraction, etc. of the light 7 passing through the heated part 5 by the refractive index gradient generated thermally in said part and the consequent refraction thereof without passing through the inside of the molecular film 3 is utilized. A wide range of org. compds. having the hydrophobic part and hydrophilic part in the molecules are usable for the molecules constituting the molecular film of the optical element.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a novel light modulation device that utilizes chemical and physical changes in organic compounds.

[Conventional technology]

Currently, cathode ray tubes (so-called CRTs) are widely used as terminal displays in various office equipment and measuring instruments, or as displays in monitors for televisions and video cameras. However, dissatisfaction with this CRT remains that it does not reach the level of hard copies using silver salt or electrophotography in terms of image quality, resolution, and display capacity. Also, as an alternative to CRT, dot matrix display is performed using liquid crystal. Although attempts have been made to put so-called liquid crystal panels into practical use, no liquid crystal panel has yet been found to be satisfactory in terms of drive performance, reliability, productivity, and durability.

Liquid crystals can also be used as optical switching elements
□ However, the response speed is generally slow. If you try to improve this, the types of liquid crystals that can be used will be limited.
However, there are also problems with the liquid crystal itself, such as limited operating temperatures, so it lacks versatility.

At present, an optical element that overcomes the above problems and has excellent versatility and a light modulation device using the same have not yet been obtained.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention aims to solve problems that could not be solved by the conventional techniques in this technical field.

In other words, one object of the present invention is to display high-resolution, high-quality images. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel light modulation device for use in display devices, recording devices, storage devices, etc., which has excellent drive performance, productivity, durability, and reliability. A further object of the present invention is to provide a light modulation device using an organic compound.

[Means for solving problems]

The above object is achieved by the present invention as follows.

That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a monomolecular film or a cumulative film thereof made of organic compound molecules having at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, and a heating element for heating the monomolecular film or the cumulative film. A light modulation device comprising an optical element, a driving means for driving the heat generating element, a signal output means for outputting a signal according to image information to the element, and an illumination optical system for illuminating the optical element. It is.

[For production]

The method for producing an optical element used in the present invention includes heating a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer accumulation film made of organic compound molecules having at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, and heating the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer accumulation film. A method for producing an optical element comprising a heat generating element is characterized in that the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film is produced by the Langmuir-Prodgett method.

Examples of optical elements produced by the above method will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the optical element, and the first
Figure (A) shows a transmission type optical element OE, and Figure 1 (B)
1 and 2 respectively indicate reflective optical elements OE. 1 is a substrate, 2 is a heating element, 3 is a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack, and 4 is a protective substrate.

The image forming principle of the transmission type optical element shown in FIG. 1(A) is as follows.

A desired position of the heating element 2 is heated according to a certain pattern for image formation, and a physical property change is caused in the heated portion 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer accumulation film 3 on the heated heating element 2. When illumination light 7', which is parallel light, is incident from the substrate l side of this optical element, the optical path changes and scattering occurs due to the light passing through parts other than the heating part 5 and the light passing through the heating part 6. Occurs. Capture and display this change directly or indirectly.

In the reflective optical element shown in FIG. 1(B), the irradiation light 7
Contrary to the transmission type, the light enters from the protective substrate 4 side, forming a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer accumulation! 13 is reflected by a reflection film (not shown) provided on the substrate l side, and the heating part 5 and the heating part 5
Changes in the optical path of reflected light reflected at other parts are captured and displayed.

As the constituent molecules of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack of the optical element of the present invention, a wide variety of organic compounds can be used as long as they have a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part in the molecule.

Examples of such organic compounds include the following: (1) higher fatty acids CH3 (CH2); C00H CH3(CH2)1. C00H CH3(CH2), 8COOH CH3(CH2)4(CH=CHCH2), (CH2
)2COOHCH2= CH(CH2)8COOH CH2= CH(CH2),, C00)ICH2=
CH(CH2)2oCOOHCH3(CH2), 7CC
0OH CH2 CH3(CH2), C-C-C-C(CH2), C
oolCH8(CH2), C=C-C-C(CH2)
,Coo)ICH3(CH2),,C-C-C=C(
CH2), C00HCH3(CH,), 3C=C・-
C=C(CH2)8COOH(2) Cyanine dye general formula (I) X←CH= CH←X In the test, X is a group of ■ or ■, y: is a group of ■ to or a positive integer).

(1) (m)CN)
(V) (■) (■) (vr) (DO■ In the formula of x, Z t* N -R1, Q, Se.

((Me) 2 Te, Y is H or 2-Me
R1 is a C1-4 alkyl group, and R2 is a C1-30 alkyl group.

Specific examples of the cyanine dye represented by general formula 1 are illustrated below.

(3) Azo dye (R2 is an alkyl group of C,...) (4)
Phospholipid lecithin sphingomyelin plasmamalogen kephalin (5) Long chain dialkylammonium salt (m is lO~
(an integer of 30) As a method for creating a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer cumulative film using the organic compound, for example.

The Langmuir-Blodgett method (LB method) developed by Langmuir et al. langmuir
Blodgett's method is a molecule with a structure that has a hydrophilic group and a hydrophobic group, and when the balance between the two (amphiphilic balance) is maintained appropriately, the molecule faces the hydrophilic group downward on the water surface. This is a method of creating a monomolecular film or a cumulative film of monomolecular layers by utilizing the fact that the monomolecular layer becomes a monomolecular layer. When the monomolecular layer on the water surface has the characteristics of a two-dimensional system and zero molecules are sparsely dispersed, the two-dimensional ideal gas equation, nA=kT, is established between the surface aA per molecule and the surface pressure ■. , resulting in a "gas film", where k is Portzmann's constant and T is the absolute temperature. If A is made sufficiently small, the intermolecular interaction becomes strong and a two-dimensional solid "condensed film (or solid film)" is formed, and the condensed film can be transferred layer by layer to the surface of a substrate such as glass. Using this method, a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack is produced, for example, in the following manner.

First, an organic compound is dissolved in a solvent, and this is expanded into an aqueous phase to precipitate the organic compound in the form of a film.

Next, to prevent this precipitate from freely diffusing on the aqueous phase and spreading too much, a partition plate (or float) is installed to limit the area of development and control the state of aggregation of the film substance, and the Obtain the surface pressure n.

By moving this partition plate, the developed area can be reduced to control the state of aggregation of the film material, and the surface pressure can be gradually increased to set the surface pressure (2) suitable for producing a cumulative film. The monomolecular film is transferred onto the substrate by gently vertically moving the clean substrate up and down while maintaining this surface pressure. A monomolecular layer film is produced as described above, and a monomolecular layer cumulative film having a desired degree of accumulation is formed by repeating the above-mentioned operations.

The film-forming molecule may be one of the above-mentioned organic compounds or J-Tow1.
-f site IL: 9! The thickness of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack is preferably 30 gm to 300 gm, particularly 3000 gm to 30 gm.

In order to transfer the monolayer onto the substrate, in addition to the above-mentioned vertical dipping method, methods such as horizontal deposition method and rotating cylinder method are used. The horizontal attachment method is a method in which the substrate is transferred by contacting it horizontally with the water surface.
The rotating cylinder method is a method in which a cylindrical substrate is rotated on the water surface to transfer a monomolecular layer onto the surface of the substrate. In the vertical immersion method described above, when the substrate is lowered in a direction across the water surface, a monomolecular layer with the hydrophilic groups facing the substrate is formed on the substrate as the first layer. As mentioned above, when the substrate is moved up and down, the monomolecular layers overlap one by one in each process.The direction of the film-forming molecules is reversed in the pulling process and the dipping process, so according to this method, the spaces between each layer are hydrophilic. Y where a group and a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group and a hydrophobic group face each other
A mold film is formed. A schematic diagram of the monomolecular layer cumulative film produced in this manner is shown in FIG.

In the figure, 8-1 is a hydrophilic group, and 8-2 is a hydrophobic group.

On the other hand, the horizontal deposition method is a method in which the substrate is brought into horizontal contact with the water surface and transferred, and a monomolecular layer with hydrophobic groups facing the substrate is formed on the substrate. In this method, there is no change in the orientation of the film-forming molecules even if they are accumulated, and an X-shaped film is formed in which the hydrophobic groups face the substrate in all layers.On the contrary, in all the layers, the hydrophilic groups face the substrate. A cumulative film oriented toward is called an X-type film.

The rotating cylinder method is a method in which a cylindrical substrate is rotated on the water surface to transfer a monomolecular layer onto the surface of the substrate. The method of transferring the monomolecular layer onto the substrate is not limited to these methods, and when using a large-area substrate, a method of extruding the substrate from a substrate roll into an aqueous phase may also be used. Furthermore, the directions of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups mentioned above toward the substrate are in principle.

It can also be changed by surface treatment of the substrate.

Other methods for creating a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack include a sputtering method, a plasma polymerization method, and a bilayer film production method.

Examples of materials that can be used as the substrate 1 include glass, metals such as aluminum, plastics, and ceramics. In the case of the transmission type shown in FIG. 1(A), use 4 glass or plastic that is as pressure-resistant and translucent as possible.

A colorless or light-colored one is particularly preferable. Also, if the substrate surface is insufficiently cleaned, the monomolecular layer will be disturbed when the monomolecular layer is transferred from the water surface, and a good monomolecular film or monomolecular layer accumulation film will not be obtained. Since this is not possible, it is necessary to use a substrate with a clean surface.

As the protective substrate 4, pressure-resistant and transparent glass or plastic is suitable as much as possible, and colorless or light-colored ones are particularly preferable. Although this is preferable in order to improve the durability and stability of the cumulative film, the protective substrate may or may not be provided depending on the selection of film-forming molecules.

The heating element 2 generates heat in various forms such as a dot matrix shape (dotted line shape), a dot line shape (dotted line shape), a line shape, an island shape, etc., and heats a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer accumulation film by heat conduction. It is for the purpose of

Examples of the heat generating element 2 include those that utilize radiation heating such as infrared rays, and those that utilize Joule heat such as resistance heating. As the former, various inorganic or organic materials are suitable, such as alloys of Gd, Tb, and Fe, inorganic pigments such as carbon black, organic dyes such as nigrosine, and organic pigments such as azo. For the latter, metal compounds such as hafnium boride and tantalum nitride, and alloys such as nichrome are suitable for the latter.0 The film thickness of the heat generating element 2 affects energy transmission efficiency and resolution.From these points of view,
The preferred thickness of the heat generating element 2 is 2,000 to 2,000.

When the optical element is of a transmissive type, the heating element 2 is required to be transparent to visible light.

However, even if the heating element 2 is not specially provided, the substrate 1 can also serve as the heating element by selecting a substrate material having the above characteristics.

Using a compound material, a metal film, a galvanic mirror, etc. is deposited by sputtering or vapor deposition on the substrate 1 from a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer cumulative film 3. Established by law etc.

Like the heat generating element 2, the reflective film can also be used as the substrate 1 by selecting a material that can reflect light as the material for the substrate 1.

A monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack on a substrate is sufficiently strongly fixed and is unlikely to peel or peel off from the substrate. Adhesive layers can also be provided between the membranes or monolayer stacks. Furthermore, the monomolecular layer formation conditions, L
In the case of method B, the adhesion force can also be strengthened by selecting the hydrogen ion concentration, ion species, or surface pressure of the aqueous phase, for example.

The above-mentioned change in physical properties in the heating section 5 particularly means a change in optical properties, such as the refractive index, density, and polarization of the molecular aggregates constituting a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack. It means a change in rate etc. and a phase transition. For example, regarding the refractive index, it is assumed that the temperature of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack 3 increases from t°C to (10Δt)°C due to the heat generated by the heating section 6 of the heating element 2. In this case, the refractive index of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack at a temperature of t°C is N, and this refractive index at a temperature of (t+Δt)°C is N.
+ΔN, the refractive index gradient is ΔN/Δt knee 104 (
Although the rate of change in the refractive index, that is, the change in the refractive index with respect to temperature, which is 1/"0), is slight, a minute region of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer accumulation film 3 in the vicinity of the heating section 6 of the heating element is heated. Then, the refractive index gradient in the micro region is large, and therefore, the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer accumulation l! of this heated micro region is large.
The heating section 5 of No. 3 has power, and light is refracted, scattered, diffracted, etc. in a region with a large refractive index gradient.

1 Other parts of the heat generating element 2 where the heating part 6 of the heat generating element 2 generates heat to such an extent that the physical properties of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film 3 change as described above to form the heating part 5 Since no heat is generated, there is almost no change in the physical properties of the corresponding monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 3 in the low temperature region, and the physical properties are approximately uniform. Even in the low-temperature region, it is actually heated due to heat conduction from the heating section, etc., and the optical properties change, but this is relatively negligible in terms of changes in the heating section.

The illumination light 7 passing through the heating part 5 of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film is refracted, scattered, diffracted, etc. due to the refractive index gradient (gradient end index) thermally generated in this part, and is reflected in the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film. The light does not travel straight through the monomolecular layer cumulative film 3, but is refracted and changes its optical path. Therefore, the illumination light 7 that passes through the heating section 5 of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer accumulation film and the illumination light 7 that does not pass through it do not become parallel light when they exit the optical element OE. Their injection directions are different from each other 0 heating element 2
When the heating part 6 of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film stops heating, the heating part 5 of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film is cooled and disappears, and the optical element OE
The direction of the illumination light 7 emitted from is all the same direction. Therefore, the illumination light 7 that passes through the high-temperature region of the heating section 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 3 and the illumination light that passes through the low-temperature region of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 3 that is not the heating section. 7 are optically identified.

The aforementioned phase transitions are caused by changes in temperature, pressure, etc. The temperature at which a phase transition occurs, that is, the phase transition temperature (Tc
) is specific to each substance, and it is particularly preferable that the organic compound forming the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack has a crystalline phase below Tc and undergoes a phase transition to a liquid crystal phase above Tc.

Further, the Tc is suitably 50 to 100°C. For example, the Tc of dialkyl ammonium salt is 20 to 60°C. Generally, Tc increases with the alkyl chain length. FIG. 3 schematically shows the phase transition phenomenon in the case of a dialkylammonium salt. As mentioned above,
Although the refractive index change is approximately proportional to the temperature change, the refractive index changes significantly before and after Tc. Therefore, it is better to set the heating temperature above Tc.It goes without saying that it is not necessary to set the heating temperature above Tc if a change in temperature can be obtained. Furthermore, by appropriately selecting the constituent molecules of the cumulative film, the film undergoes a phase transition from a crystalline phase to a liquid crystalline phase, or from a certain type of liquid crystalline phase to a certain type of liquid crystalline phase, thereby exhibiting light scattering or opaqueness. Changes in physical properties other than the refractive index due to phase transition such as light scattering can also be used for image formation.

Although the optical element of the present invention is capable of direct viewing under certain illumination conditions (for example, illumination with parallel light), its use and utility as a display device can be further improved by combining it with an imaging optical system, which will be described later. spread. In the case of direct viewing display using a transmissive optical element, the display pixels are determined based on the difference in the amount of light that reaches an observation eye (not shown) positioned with respect to the direction of the light that has passed through the heating section 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film. can be identified. By utilizing light scattering due to phase transition, direct viewing display is simpler and more effective.

In the case of a combination of a reflective optical element and an imaging optical system (to be described later), the image forming position of the heating unit 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stacked film by the imaging optical system and the heating element 2 are not heated ( Imaging optics for the low temperature region portion (hereinafter referred to as non-heating section) of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film 3 (including the case where the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film 3 is preheated by the heating element 2) Since the imaging positions differ depending on the system, display points can be more clearly identified by defocusing. Therefore, by defocusing, a bright spot can be inverted and displayed as a dark spot. If the imaging optical system described later is not used, parallel light is used as the illumination light 7 to increase the display effect of the optical element, and if a light-shielding grating as described later is attached, the display effect can be dramatically improved. In addition, in Figure 1,
The heating element 2 is in direct contact with the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer accumulation film 3 to heat the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer accumulation film, but the heating element 2 is placed near the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer accumulation film. □The monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film 3 may be heated by thermal conduction heating. For example, in FIG. 1 CB), if the heat-generating element 2 does not reflect light, A light-reflecting metal film, a dielectric mirror, or the like may be interposed between the cumulative film 3 and the heat generating element 2.

In addition, in FIG. 1, in order to make the explanation easier to understand, the light flux that enters the optical element OE is shown as parallel light, but this is not limited to parallel light.In terms of wood, the light that enters the optical element OE is a heat-generating element. 2, a high-temperature region of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film 3, that is, a heating section 5, is formed in the optical path due to the heat generated by the heating section 6 of No. 2. It takes advantage of the fact that change occurs.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an optical element for more specifically explaining the image forming principle of an optical q element using the light modulation method of the present invention, and FIG. 4(A) is a cross-sectional view of a transmissive optical element. , Figure 4 (B
) indicate reflective optical elements.

In the figure, 9 is a radiation absorption layer that absorbs radiation 10 and generates heat, 3 is a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack, and 4 is a protective substrate. In the reflective optical element OE shown in FIG. This is a heating element layer. These reflective films 11. The heating element layer 12 is not necessarily required for the optical element OE, but is provided as necessary. For example, when the radiation absorbing layer 9 has light reflectivity, the reflective film 11 is not used, and also when the radiation intensity is sufficiently strong, the heating layer 12 is not necessary. However, since the first heating element layer 12 will be described later, the description will be made assuming that there is no heating element layer 12 in FIG. 4(B). Further, the heating element layer 12 is also provided in the transmission type optical element shown in FIG. 4(A) as necessary. The radiation absorbing layer 9 efficiently absorbs radiation 10, particularly infrared rays, and generates heat, but it must be resistant to melting itself due to the generation of heat. This radiation absorbing layer 9 is obtained by forming a film (including a multilayer film) of various inorganic or organic materials. Since the radiation absorbing layer 9 itself has a thickness of only a few liters, it generally lacks a supporting function, so it is common to add a radiation transparent support plate made of glass, plastic, etc. (not shown) as a substrate. . There are the above-mentioned types of organic compounds constituting the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 3, and those that are generally transparent to visible light are suitable;
Reference numeral 13 denotes a grating, which may or may not be transparent to O, and when the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 3 is not heated, it enters the optical element and converts the transmissive optical element. Illumination light 7 that is transmitted or reflected by a reflective optical element and exits from the optical element is blocked. When the optical element OE configured in this way is irradiated with radiation (particularly infrared rays 11) 10 from the right side of the drawing, corresponding points on the radiation absorption layer 9 generate heat. When a part of the radiation absorbing layer 9 generates heat in this way, the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer accumulation 11 of the part that is in contact with or in the vicinity of the radiation absorbing layer 9 generates heat! 3 is heated by thermal conduction, its temperature rises, and its physical properties change from before heating, forming a heated portion 5 in the high temperature region of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 3. The illumination light 7 passing through this heating section 5 is
When passing through the heating section 5, the optical path is changed by the mechanism described above in FIG. At least a portion of the illumination light 7 that has undergone this optical path change passes through the aperture of the grating 13 when exiting the optical element OE. On the other hand, all of the illumination light 7 that does not pass through the heating section 5 is blocked by the grating 13, so when viewing the optical element OE through the grating 13, the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer accumulation on which the heating section 5 is formed The illumination light passing through the membrane part and the illumination light 7 passing through the non-heated part are distinguished.

Of course, if the illumination light 7 passing through the non-heating part is made to pass through the opening of the grating 13, the illumination light 7 passing through this part will be blocked by the grating 13 when the heating part 5 is formed. There is also an opening in the grating 13 through which the illumination light 7 does not pass.
An optical element having the opposite form to the above-mentioned example is also possible.

Even when there is no grating 13, the direction of the illumination light 7 passing through the heating section 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 3 and the direction of the illumination light 7 passing through the non-heating section are the same as those emitted from the optical element OE. Since the illumination light beams 7 are different from each other, the illumination light beams 7 can be optically distinguished when viewed in the direction in which either one of the light beams comes.

Note that when irradiating the optical element OE with the radiation 10,
It is possible to irradiate in a pattern corresponding to a predetermined image, or it is possible to use a laser light source to irradiate a large number of beams at once in a dot shape using the radiation 10 as a beam. Alternatively, a method of scanning one line beam over the radiation absorbing layer 9 can also be used.

In addition, the direction in which the radiation 10 is irradiated is not limited to the one illustrated example in the case of the transmission type optical element OE shown in FIG. When the radiation 10 passes through the molecular layer stack 3, it is also possible to irradiate the radiation 10 from the left side of the drawing.

Note that erasure of the 1 display is naturally performed by cooling the heating section 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 3.

Although the method for forming display pixels by radiation heating has been described above, in the present invention, the radiation absorbing layer 9 shown in FIG. Alternatively, it is also possible to bring a heating element (not shown) close to or in contact with this to heat the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack by conduction.

In the present invention, in order to further enhance the discrimination effect of display pixels, a visible light reflecting film 11 may be separately interposed between the radiation absorbing layer 9 and the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film as described above. can. Such a reflective film 11 needs to be formed of a high melting point metal material or metal compound material that does not melt itself during heat conduction.

In order to obtain an effective display in the optical element of the present invention, it is necessary to heat the surface of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack 3 that is in contact with the radiation absorption layer 9 and its vicinity. It is not a requirement that it extend to the surface of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 3 that is in contact with the protective substrate 4 and its vicinity.

However, the higher the temperature of the surface of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer accumulation M 3 in contact with the heating surface of the radiation absorption layer 9 and its vicinity is than the temperature of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer accumulation film 3 in the surrounding area, the more the optical Experiments have shown that the display contrast of element OE is improved. Furthermore, if you actively utilize this,
By varying the amount of heat for heating the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack 3, it becomes possible to display halftones.

The smaller the diameter of the irradiation spot for irradiating the radiation 10 onto the radiation absorbing layer 9, the better the display contrast will be.The suitable spot diameter (diameter) of the radiation 110 is approximately 0.5 to 100.

However, a display image can be obtained even if the radiation absorbing layer 9 is irradiated with radiation lO in the form of a rectangular luminous flux with a width of 2 mm and a length of 10 mm. The heating section 5 of the monomolecular layer stack includes the latter range. However, even if the heating part 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer accumulation film is not very small, the temperature of the heating surface is not uniform, so the direction of the optical path of light in the heating part 5 and the optical path of light in the non-heating part are different. If there is a difference in direction, a discrimination effect will occur. Therefore, in the present invention, the heating section 5 of the intermediate molecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film is not limited to a minute range.

In the optical element used in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4(B), in order to greatly accelerate the formation speed of the heating portion 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film as the display pixel, reflection When no film is used, there is a gap between the radiation absorption layer 9 and the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film 3 of the optical element OE, and when a reflection film is used, there is a gap between the radiation absorption layer 9 and the reflection film 11. In some cases, it may be desirable to preheat a predetermined monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack by providing a heat generating layer 12 that generates heat by Joule heat between the two layers. At this time, the radiation absorbing layer 9 or the reflective film 1
When 1 is a conductor, it is desirable to provide an insulating layer (not shown) between the conductor and the heating element layer 12.

As such a heating element layer 12, a dowel, a linear heating element corresponding to one or more scanning lines of a radiation beam, a grid-shaped heating element (none of which are shown), etc. are suitable. When the heating element layer 12 is a linear heating element, it is thought that good display results can be obtained because the heating portion is minute in the width direction.

At this time, it is preferable to synchronize the irradiation of the radiation lO to the radiation absorbing layer 9 and the heating of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack 3 by the heating element layer 12.

Examples of the material for such a heating element layer 12 include metal compounds such as boride/fnium and tantalum nitride, and alloys such as nichrome.

In addition, in the present invention, the structure of the optical element in which a corrosive component comes into direct contact with the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack should be avoided as it will shorten the life of the element. It is. This is because in a configuration in which a corrosive component is in contact with a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack, chemical corrosion, thermal oxidation, etc. occur, and the optical element is often damaged or deteriorated.

Therefore, in such cases, it is desirable to form a tactile protective film (not shown) at the interface between the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack and the corrosive component. Examples of the material for this protective film include dielectric materials such as silicon oxide and titanium oxide, heat-resistant plastics, and the like. A reflective film may also serve as this protective film.

Note that when a metal or the like is used as the radiation absorption layer 9, it is generally formed into a film on a radiation-transparent support plate as a substrate. There is no need to worry about it being oxidized by external air.

If the radiation absorption rate of the radiation absorption layer 9 is not perfect,
An anti-reflection film (not shown) is placed on the side that is irradiated with radiation lO.
By applying this, the absorption rate of the radiation 10 of the radiation absorption layer 9 can be significantly increased.

Next, the light/help type projection device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. A light valve refers to a device that controls or modulates light, thus converting light from an independent light source into a suitable medium (in the case of the present invention, a monolayer film or a monolayer stack of optical elements). This includes all displays that are controlled and projected onto a screen. Compared to self-luminous displays such as cathode ray tubes, this method can theoretically increase the size and brightness of the display screen by increasing the intensity of the light source used, so it is especially suitable for large screen displays that require a large amount of light. suitable for Among them, the one shown in Figure 5 is also called schlieren light pulp, and it changes the refraction angle, diffraction angle, or reflection angle of light to the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film that is the control medium according to the input signal. In this method, a pattern of different colors or a pattern of ha scattering is created, and a Schlieren optical system is used to convert the changes into brightness and darkness images, which are then projected onto a screen.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the basic principle of the display device. The images of each slit of the first grating 13a are arranged so as to be formed by a Schlieren lens 14 onto the second grating 13) and each par in such a manner as to be shielded from light. [Schlieren lens] The monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film as a medium of the transmission type optical element OE placed between the Schlieren lens 4 and the second grating 13b is not heated, and its physical properties (for example, refractive index) If is uniformly smooth, then the first case -713
All the incident light that has passed through a is blocked by the second grating 13b and does not reach the screen 15, but the optical element O
Monolayer or monolayer accumulation of E It! 3 is heated by a heating element to a high temperature and a heated portion 5 of a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack is formed, the optical path of light passing there changes as described above. The incident light 16 that has passed through the second grating 13b reaches the slurry 1 in 15 through the gap (opening) of the second grating 13b without being blocked by the second grating 13b.

Therefore, if the imaging lens 17 is arranged so as to image the heating surface heating the heating section 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film of the five optical elements OE, or the medium surface in the vicinity thereof, on the screen 15, A bright and dark image corresponding to the amount of temperature change of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film of the optical element OE is obtained on the screen 15. Note that the first and second gratings 13a used for this
The openings 13b and 13b may be linear or dotted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a transmission type light valve type projection device, and shows an example of arrangement of signal input means for transmission type optical elements. 13a is a first grating, OE is a transmission type optical element, 14 is a Schley lens, 13b is a second grating, 17
1 is an imaging lens, and 15 is a screen, the construction of which is similar to that of the display device shown in FIG. Radiation modulated through a laser light source and a light modulator (not shown) (mainly,
The signal light of infrared rays) 10 is horizontally scanned by a rotating polygon mirror as a horizontal scanner 8, vertically scanned via a lens 20, by a rotating polygon mirror or a galvano mirror as a vertical scanner 19, and reflected by a cold filter 21. An image is formed on the radiation absorption layer 9 of the transmission type optical element shown in FIG. A two-dimensional image of the heated portion 5 of the cumulative film is formed. on the other hand,
Since the incident light 16 that has passed through the first grating 13a passes through the cold filter 21, the heating section 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film of the optical element OE is placed on the screen 15 by the mechanism described above in FIG. It forms a two-dimensional visible image corresponding to the Of course, the radiation absorbing layer of the optical element OE used in this figure must be transparent to visible light.

Note that if a semiconductor laser array or a light emitting diode array (arrayed in a line) is used, the horizontal scanner can be omitted. Also, cold filter and galvano mirror
may be shared.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a light valve type projection device as a display device using the light modulation method according to the present invention.

22 is a video generation circuit that generates a video signal; 23 is a control circuit that controls the video signal and supplies this signal to the video amplification circuit 24 and the horizontal and vertical drive circuits 25; 26 is a laser light source; and 27 is a circuit from the laser light source. The light modulated by the optical modulator 27, which modulates the laser beam according to the signal from the video amplification circuit 24, enters the horizontal scanner 18 or the vertical scanner 19. Further, the horizontal scanner 18 and the vertical scanner 19 operate in response to drive signals synchronized with the video signals from the horizontal and vertical drive circuits 25, respectively. The configuration of the other portions within the broken line is the same as the configuration described above, so the description thereof will be omitted.

The video (, j) output from the video generation circuit 22 is amplified by the video amplification circuit 24 via the control circuit 23. The optical modulator 27 is driven by the input of the amplified video signal, and the light is emitted from the laser light source 26. On the other hand, a horizontal synchronization signal and a vertical synchronization signal are output from the control circuit 23, and drive the water moscier+-!8 and vertical skimmer 19 via the horizontal and vertical drive circuits 25, respectively. In this way, a thermal two-dimensional image is formed in the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack of the optical element OE.The subsequent configuration operations within the broken line are as described above, and will be described here for the sake of simplicity. The description is omitted. Note that when receiving TV radio waves, a receiver may be used instead of the video generation circuit 22.

FIG. 8 is an example of a color optical element that utilizes the light modulation method of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the upper half is a transmissive optical element and the lower half is a reflective optical element. be. 9 is a radiation absorption layer, 11 is a reflective film, which is not provided in the transmission type optical element shown in the upper half of this figure;
No. 8 is a color mosaic film, and its specific structure and manufacturing technology have already been explained in detail in Japanese Patent Publication No. 13094/1982 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 36019/1983. , detailed explanation will be omitted here as these are referred to. 3 is a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack, 4 is a protective substrate, and 28 is a color mosaic filter.

In the illustrated example, the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film 3 in contact with the red filter portion (R) of the color mosaic filter 28 is heated by thermal conduction by the radiation absorbing layer 9 that absorbs the radiation 10, and is heated by the radiation absorption layer 9 that absorbs the radiation 10. Heating section 5 of monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film
When this occurs, the collimated illumination light 7 that has been reflected by the reflective film 11 or transmitted through the radiation absorption layer 9 passes through the heating section 5 of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer accumulation film, thereby causing the above-mentioned Through this mechanism, the light passes through a bent optical path as shown by the two-dot chain line, which is different from the optical path of the light that would have passed in the absence of the heating section 5 as shown by the broken line.

The light is emitted outside the optical element OE. When white light enters the red filter section (R), the transmitted light or reflected light that comes out from the display element DE is the blue filter section (B ) and the light passing through the green filter section (G) are similar to the path of the light passing through the red filter section (R).

However, in the case of FIG. 8, only the light rays that do not pass through the heating section 5 are shown for the green filter section (G).

Furthermore, when the incident light is white light, the light that has passed through the blue filter section (B) is only the light that makes blue visible (hereinafter referred to as blue light), and the light that has passed through the green filter section (G). The optical element OE is directed toward the direction of the light that passes through the heating section 5 of this monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film, which is only the light that makes green visible (hereinafter referred to as green light). When viewed, an observer (not shown) sees false colors created by the additive coloring method. When the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film 3 is simultaneously heated in the section (B) to form the heated section 5, an observer (not shown) can see a white color.

Further, as explained in FIG. 4, only the light coming out from the optical element OE and passing through the heating section 5 of the round molecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film is filtered through the opening of the light-shielding grating (not shown). By passing it through.

Furthermore, a clearer pseudo-color display can be achieved using the additive coloring method.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another optical element using the light modulation method according to the present invention, FIG. 9(A) is a transmissive type optical element, and FIG. 9(B) is a reflective type optical element. In each figure shown, 3 is a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack, 4 is a protective substrate, and 28 is a color mosaic filter, which were explained in FIGS. 1 and 8. An element that has the same function as an object. 29 is a thermally conductive insulating layer.

On both sides, a plurality of heat generating resistance wires 30 as heat generating elements are provided.
．． 31 are arranged secondarily in a matrix so as to intersect with each other with an insulating layer in between.

The substrate serves as a support plate for the heating resistance wires 30 and 31 and the insulating layer 29. In the case of the transmission type optical element DE shown in FIG. 9(A), these heating resistance wires 30, 31,
The substrate 1 and the insulating layer 29 are transparent, and the heating resistance wires 30 and 31 are made of a transparent thin film of indium tin oxide, for example. And these display elements D
In E, only when the predetermined heating resistance wires 30 and 31 are selected and generate heat, a heating portion of a high temperature region that can be displayed in the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film 3 is generated in the intersection region of the two. (
(not shown). The color mosaic filter may be provided at least at the intersection of the heating resistance wires 30 and 31, and the reflective film 11 may be provided as necessary, as described above in FIG.

Next, an example of driving such optical elements in a matrix will be described in more detail using FIG. 10.

In the figure, OE indicates an optical element, and this optical element OE has the same detailed configuration as explained in FIG.
, X m , X n , X o , X p
c7) The heating resistance wire of the rod shaft (these are called row lines) and Yc
, Yd, Ye, and the like (these are called column lines), and the column line Yc.

One of Yd and Ye is connected to a common DC power supply, and the other is emitter-grounded and connected to transistors Tr1 to Tr.
It is connected to the collector side of 3.

Row lines X l , X m , X n , X o ,
X p d sequentially.

When a heating current pulse is applied, the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film (not shown) corresponding to these row lines is sequentially heated linearly. Or, since it is set to be below the heating display threshold of the monomolecular layer cumulative film, a heating area in the high temperature region for heating display does not occur in the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film. By applying a video signal pulse to the base sides of the transistors Trl to Tr3 whose emitters are grounded in synchronization with the application of a current signal to turn on the transistors Trl to Tr3.

A predetermined video signal is applied to the 0 column lines Yc, Yd, and Ye connected to these transistors Trl to Tr3, respectively. By applying this video signal, the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack corresponding to the column conductors Yc, Yd, and Ye is linearly heated. As a result, at the intersection of the row line and the column line where the heating current pulse and the video signal are synchronized, heat is generated additively from both, and the degree of heating of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer accumulation film increases. When the display threshold is exceeded, a heating portion 5 of a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack is formed at the intersection of the selected row line and column line.

In addition, in one or more examples, images can be formed in exactly the same way even when the driving method is changed as follows. That is, even if a modification is made in which a video signal is applied to the row lines and a heating current signal is applied to the column lines, the effect is exactly the same. In this way, the optical element OE illustrated in FIG. 10 also enables matrix driving. When the thickness of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer cumulative film of the optical element OE is very thin, it is possible to install heating resistance wires arranged in stripes on both the protective substrate side and the substrate side as described above. , the following effects occur.

■ The manufacturing process is simplified and the yield is improved.

■ Thermal efficiency is good because the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack is heated from both sides.

etc.

In order to enhance the heat dissipation effect of the heat generating resistance wire, it is desirable to separately provide a heat sink. The board 1 (FIG. 9) can be used as a substitute for this heat sink.

Note that it is not necessary that all of the two signal lines be formed of heat-generating resistors; rather, in order to save energy, only the crossing portions of the row lines and column lines are formed of heat-generating resistors.
It can be said that it is preferable to construct the other parts with a good conductor such as AM, but this has the disadvantage that the manufacturing process becomes complicated.

Further, another example of a heating element as a heating element for constructing an optical element suitable for matrix driving as shown in FIG. 10 will be explained with reference to FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view schematically depicting a partial area of the heating element. In FIG. 0, 32 indicates a heating resistance layer;
This can be obtained by forming a film of a known heating resistor (for example, nichrome alloy, hafnium boride, tantalum nitride, etc.) into a planar shape.

Although not shown, this resistance layer 32 naturally extends downward in the drawing. Also, 3°3a.

33b, 33c, and 33d are all column conductors, and 34a
, 34b, and 34c are all row conductors. All these conductive wires are made of good conductors such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, etc. (Although not mentioned, the conductive wires are
In the heating element shown in the figure, for example, the column conductor 33b and the row conductor 34c are selected and a voltage is applied to them both. When this occurs, a portion of the resistance layer 32 corresponding to the intersection 35 of the two is energized and generates heat.

In this way, any (row/column) intersection of the row conductor and the column conductor can be heated.

Therefore, the heating element shown in FIG.
In the optical element incorporated in place of the heating element made of the insulating layer 29, a dot matrix image can be displayed using the same matrix driving method as in the example shown in FIG.

By the way, in the heat generating element shown in FIG. 11, the heat generating resistor layer 32 is divided and provided only at the intersection of the row conducting wire 34 and the column conducting wire 33 (the conducting wires are insulated from each other in other desired areas). In such a configuration (FIG. 12), it is possible to substantially prevent the occurrence of losstalk, which is inconvenient for image formation faithful to the signal.

In the example of FIG. 11, the row conductor 34a.

34b... (hereinafter referred to as row conductor 34) and column conductor 3
3a, 33b*s* (hereinafter referred to as 1-row conductor 33) is 5
i02. Although it is arranged through an insulating film (not shown) such as Si3N4, the insulating film in the intersection area of the row conductor 34 and column conductor 33 is removed, and instead, a heating resistor 32a,
32b... (hereinafter referred to as heating resistor 32) is embedded.

Next, in FIG. 13, the heating element as the heating element shown in FIG. 12 is connected to the heating resistance wire 30.3 shown in FIG.
The sixth row axis selection circuit 36 is a material axis drive circuit 37a.

37b... (hereinafter referred to as the material shaft drive circuit 37) is electrically coupled to the material shaft drive circuit 37 by a signal line, and each output terminal of each material shaft drive circuit 37 is coupled to each row conductor 34. ing. There are various ways to connect the output terminals and the row conducting wires 34, but in order to explain the basic aspect in this specification, it is assumed that there are as many output terminals as there are row conducting wires 34,
It is assumed that one output terminal is connected to the negative row conductor.

Column conduction selection circuit 38, dynamic axis drive circuit 39a.

39b, .
0 image control circuit 40 electrically connected to 8 by a signal line outputs an image control signal to instruct the rod selection circuit 36 which rod axis should be selected.

The same applies to the column selection circuit 38. That is, the rod shaft selection circuit 3 is controlled by the image control signal from the image control circuit 40.
6 is a specific rod shaft (
For example, if the rod shaft selection circuit 36 selects the row conductor Xp, it will issue an Xp row selection signal, and in response, the rod shaft drive circuit 37Xp will input the material shaft drive signal. On the other hand, when a video signal, which is one of the image control signals from the 1-image control circuit 40, is input to the column conductor selection circuit 38, in response to the command, the column conductor selection circuit 38 selects a predetermined column conductor (column conductor). Select 0
For example, if the column conductor selection circuit 38 selects the column conductor Ye,
The moving shaft drive circuit 39Ye receives the Ye column selection signal issued from the column conduction selection circuit 38 and receives the groove &! Switch iYe
Turn on (conducting).

If the selection of the rod axis and the selection of the column conductor are made synchronously, in this example, the intersection point of the row conductor Xp and the column conductor Ye (selection point;
A current flows through the heating resistor at p*Ye),
Joule heat is generated and a heated portion is formed in the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 81 (not shown). Leakage current also flows at non-selected points, but it is less than the current value that forms the heating part of the monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack, so no heating part is formed in the monomolecular film or monomolecular stack stack, and the heating resistor By giving the body a diode function, leakage current can be made even weaker.

In this way, in the same way as explained in FIG. 1θ, in FIG. A two-dimensional image display can be performed by bringing the selected column conducting wire 33 into a conductive state via the conductive line 33. The first column axis selection circuit 38 receives a command from a video signal and outputs a column guide selection signal. At this time, the direction of the current flowing through the heating resistor 1 does not matter, and the row and moving axis selection circuit 3
6.38 and line, and moving axis selection circuit 37.39 are shift)
) It is constructed using known techniques using transistors, transistor arrays, etc.

In addition, in the matrix drive display method using the heat generating elements described above, as described above in FIG. 4 (CB), the optical element OE having the configuration shown in FIG. 9 (B) also
If necessary, corrosion-resistant oxidation is applied between the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film 3 and the reflective film or the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film 3 and the heating element (for example, the heating resistance wire 30 therein). By interposing a silicon film or a silicon nitride film, reaction corrosion between the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack and the monomolecular film can be appropriately prevented.

In addition, the red filter part (R), the green filter part (G), and the blue filter part (B) of the color mosaic filter shown in FIG. In optical element DE, 1 heating resistance wire 3
0 and 31 (or, in the case of the heating element shown in FIG. 12, the heating resistor 32), the same configuration as the example shown in FIG. 8 can be achieved. Of course, by employing this, color display can be performed using the same principle as in FIG. 8 with a display element using the heating elements shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, respectively.

Such a matrix-driven optical element can also be applied to the light valve type projection device shown in Figures 5 and 6. The combination of sexual molecules and surface-active substances causes light,
It is also possible to obtain an optical element having a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack that can be controlled by electric ions or the like.

FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of the optical modulation device of the present invention. An optical element 41 capable of generating a refractive index distribution in a two-dimensional pattern is irradiated with a light beam from a light beam generating means 40 consisting of a light source 40a and a collimator lens 40b. The light flux that is not diverged by the refractive index distribution is condensed by the lens 42 and blocked by a light shielding filter 43 provided at the focal plane of the lens 42. The optical element 41
Since the light beam scattering position of is set to almost coincide with the other focal plane of the lens 42, the light beam diverged by the optical element 41 becomes a substantially parallel light beam at the lens 42, and the light beam scattered by the lens 41
5, an image is formed on the photosensitive medium surface 46 to form a two-dimensional image according to the pattern of the refractive index distribution. shins 4
If a deflection mirror 44 is disposed between the photoreceptor 2 and the lens 45 to deflect the diverging light beam, the two-dimensional scanning image described above can be obtained on the photoreceptor surface 46.

For example, if it is designed so that various character patterns can be formed by the refractive index distribution using the optical element that generates the refractive index distribution two-dimensionally, it can be realized as a printer-terminal device such as a word processor. Intermittent rotation of the deflection mirror is desirable because the optical element 41 does not simultaneously produce a refractive index distribution over the entire surface.

Furthermore, even in optical elements that can form two-dimensional patterns,
It goes without saying that a transmitted light type optical element as shown in FIG. 9(A) can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which a refractive index distribution was formed using a heating resistor, but in order to obtain a refractive index distribution,
It is also possible to obtain heat by scanning a light beam and converting the scanned beam into heat. FIG. 15 shows an embodiment in which a refractive index distribution is formed by scanning a light beam, in which the optical element OE is a transparent protection plate 54. Monomolecular film or monomolecular layer stack 55, thermally conductive insulating layer 56, and transparent support 57
A heat absorbing layer 58 is provided on the support body 57. 59 is a self-modulating semiconductor laser, and the light beam from the laser 59 is passed through a collimator lens 60.
The beam becomes a parallel beam and is imaged onto the heat absorption layer 58 by a scanning condensing lens 62 via a galvanometer mirror 61. This heat absorption layer 58 is made of a material that particularly well absorbs the light flux of the wavelength from the semiconductor laser 59, and therefore the light flux passing through the absorption layer 58 is approximately zero.

The galvanometer mirror 61 is rotated around the rotation axis, and a scanning optical system is set so that the light beam spot moves in the direction of arrow A2 along the absorption layer 58. Then, in the region of the absorption layer 58 where the beam spot by the semiconductor laser 59 is formed, the light beam is converted into heat, and the refractive index distribution is applied to the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer cumulative film via the insulating layer 56. form. Therefore, by turning on and off the beam emitted from the semiconductor laser as the galvanomirror 61 rotates, it is possible to form a refractive index distribution at a desired position.

It goes without saying that all of the reflection type optical systems mentioned above can be used as the optical system for projecting the light beam diverged by the refractive index distribution and guiding the single divergent light to the receiving medium, so we will not explain it here. Omit.

Further, by providing the heat absorption layer 58 on the entire surface and using a two-dimensional scanning optical system as a scanning optical system that irradiates the absorption layer with a light beam, a light modulation device using a refractive index distribution having a two-dimensional pattern is obtained. I can do it.

The main effects of the present invention are summarized as follows.

(1) 1 of the heating part of a minute monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer cumulative film
Since these pixels can be arranged in high density as display pixel units, high resolution images can be displayed.

(2) Still images or moving images including slow motion can be easily displayed by adjusting the duration of the heating portion of the monomolecular film or the monomolecular layer stack as display pixels.

(3) Multicolor display and full color display can be easily implemented.

(4) Since the structure of the device is relatively simple, productivity is excellent, and the device has high durability and reliability.

(5) Applicable to a wide range of drive systems.

(6) Since a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer cumulative film can be produced using the Langmuir-Blodgett method, it is extremely easy to increase the area.

(7) Since no liquid such as liquid crystal is used, manufacturing is easy and safe.

(8) Optical elements using the light modulation method according to the present invention include:
Application is not limited to display devices, but also to light modulation devices used in electrophotography and the like.

(9) Since the phase transition temperature is not so high, less power is required for optical elements, etc., and the power supply section, that is, the light modulation device and the display device, can be made smaller accordingly.

(10) When utilizing the phase transition of a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer stack, some molecules maintain the phase transition state for a long time depending on the structure of the molecules constituting the stack. In such a case, the optical element according to the present invention can also be used as a recording device (material) or a storage device (material).

In order to explain the present invention more specifically, Examples are given below.

Example 1 An optical element was manufactured as follows.

Gd-Tb-Fe (gadolinium,
A radiation absorbing layer 9 was formed by adhering a TV ram and iron calendar. In order to prevent oxidation of this GdeTbeFe layer,
A 5i02 overcoat was coated on top.

Next, after thoroughly cleaning the above board, the
LB film manufacturing device Trou manufactured by YCE-Loebl
gh-4) (7)4XlO-immersed in an aqueous phase containing 4 mol of CdCl2.

Thereafter, 0.1 ml of a chloroform solution containing 5XlO-3 mol of alaxic acid was dropped into the aqueous phase using a syringe. After volatilization of chloroform, the surface pressure of the monomolecular layer of araxic acid was adjusted to 30 dyne/cm'', and by repeating pulling and dipping at a speed of 1 cm/min, a film thickness of 5 ml was formed on the surface of the SiO2 film. A Y-shaped cumulative film of ~10 m was deposited, and a glass substrate was placed thereon as a protective substrate 4.Furthermore, a linear film of 5 mm/m was closely or close to the outer surface of the glass substrate 4. A grid was installed.

A semiconductor laser that emits light at a wavelength of 830 nm was used as a radiant heat source. The alchidic acid was heated by irradiation with a semiconductor laser, and the wavefront of the incident light beam passing through it was deformed, resulting in a light modulation effect.

Example 2 An optical element was manufactured as follows.

On the surface of a 50 mm square glass substrate, indium tin oxide (I-T110) with a film thickness of 1500 mm was applied by sputtering, and a linear pattern of 100 wood/mm was formed by the 0-order photoetching method. , a transparent heat generating resistance wire 31 was obtained. As the etching solution for IT-0, a mixed solution of ferric chloride aqueous solution and hydrochloric acid was used.

Next, an insulating layer 29 was formed by depositing a 2,000-thick 5i02 film on the surface of the glass substrate on which the transparent heating resistance wire 31 was placed by sputtering. Furthermore, IT-0 with a film thickness of 1500 was applied thereon, and a transparent heat generating resistor wire 30 was formed perpendicularly to the transparent heat generating resistor wire 31 by photoetching.

Next, a cumulative film of stearic acid was deposited on the above substrate in Example 1.
A film was formed to a thickness of 5 to 104 m according to the same process steps as described above, and a glass substrate 4 was placed thereon.

A semiconductor laser that emits light at a wavelength of 830 nm was used as a radiant heat source.

It was confirmed that when driven in combination with an appropriate Schlieren optical system, a predetermined light modulation effect can be obtained. That is, a predetermined portion of the stearic acid layer was heated by the irradiation with the semiconductor laser, and the wavefront of the incident light flux passing through the predetermined portion was deformed.

Example 3 An optical element was manufactured as follows.

Gd@TbeFe (gadolinium.
A layer of terbium (iron) was deposited to form a radiation absorbing layer 9. In order to prevent oxidation of this Gd/Tb/Fe layer,
5i02 all on top of that! Te covered bottom, next second, LB
A monomolecular film of cadmium 7-rachidate was formed on the water surface of the nlB production device, and a Y-shaped nest aWi with a film thickness of 10 ILm was deposited on the surface of the 5i02 film by vertical dipping, and a protective substrate 4 was formed on it. A glass substrate was then covered. moreover,
5 wood closely or in close proximity to the outer surface of the glass substrate 4
A linear grid of mm was installed.

A semiconductor laser that emits light at a wavelength of 830 nm was used as a radiant heat source. It was confirmed that a certain display effect could be achieved when driven under appropriate transmitted illumination.

Example 4 An optical element was manufactured as follows.

On the surface of a 50 mm square glass substrate, a 1,500-thickness indium tin oxide (T110) was applied by sputtering, and a linear pattern of 10 lines/l111 was formed by zero-order photoetching. A transparent heat generating resistance wire 31 is obtained. In addition, as the etching solution for ■・T-0, a mixed solution of ferric chloride aqueous solution and hydrochloric acid was used.
Next, on the surface of the glass substrate on which the transparent heating resistance wire 31 was installed, a 5i02 film having a thickness of 2000 was deposited by sputtering to form an insulation 3129. Furthermore, I.T.0 with a film thickness of 1,500 people was added on top of it by photo-etching.

A transparent heat generating resistance wire 30 was formed perpendicularly to the transparent heat generating resistance wire 31. Next, a monomolecular film of araxin cadmium was formed on the water surface of the LB film manufacturing apparatus, and a 5i02 film was formed by a vertical dipping method. A Y-shaped cumulative film having a film thickness of 101 Lm was formed on the surface, and a glass substrate 4 was placed thereon. When operated under the above-mentioned transmitted illumination optical system, a predetermined display effect was obtained.

Example 5 An optical element was manufactured as follows.

Gd, Tb, Fe (gadolinium,
A layer of TVram φ iron) was deposited to form a radiation absorbing ya9. In order to prevent this Gd·TbeFe layer from oxidizing, it was coated with an Si02 protective film.

Next, after thoroughly cleaning the above board, Joysuleple (J
LB film production equipment (Tro
ugh-4) in the aqueous phase. Then distearyldimethylammonium bromide 5XIO-3mol
0.1 ml of a chloroform solution containing the following was added dropwise into the aqueous phase using a syringe. After volatilization of chloroform, the monomolecular layer of distearyldimethylammonium bromide was adjusted to a surface pressure of 30 dyne/crn', and
By repeating pulling and dipping at a speed of /min,
A Y-type cumulative film having a film thickness of 5 to 10 μm was deposited on the surface of the 5i02 film, and a glass substrate was placed thereon as a protective substrate 4. Further, a linear grid of 5 pieces/mm was placed closely or close to the outer surface of the glass substrate 4.

A semiconductor laser that emits light at a wavelength of 830 nm was used as a radiant heat source. The distearyldimethylammonium bromide layer was heated to 60° C. or higher by irradiation with a semiconductor laser, at which time a phase transition occurred, causing scattering, and a display effect was confirmed.

Example 6 The optical element effect was manufactured as follows.

On the surface of a 50 mm square glass substrate, a 1500 mm thick indium Φ tin oxide (T-0) was applied by sputtering, and a linear pattern of 100 mm/m was formed using the 0-order photoetching method. As a result, a transparent heat generating resistance wire 31 is obtained. As the etching solution for IT@O, a mixed solution of ferric chloride aqueous solution and hydrochloric acid was used.

Next, a 2000-thickness 5i02 film was deposited on the surface of the glass substrate on which the transparent heat-generating resistance wire 31 was placed by sputtering to form an insulation M29. Furthermore, IT-0 having a thickness of tsoo was applied thereon, and a transparent heat generating resistor wire 30 was formed perpendicularly to the transparent heat generating resistor wire 31 by photo-etching.

Next, a cumulative film of distearyldimethylammonium bromide was formed on the substrate to a thickness of 5 to 10 ILm according to the same process as in Example 1 under the same conditions as in Example 1, and the glass substrate 4 was placed thereon.

A semiconductor laser that emits light at a wavelength of 830 nm was used as a radiant heat source.

It was confirmed that when driven in combination with an appropriate Schlieren optical system, a predetermined light modulation effect can be obtained. That is, when a predetermined portion of the distearyldimethylammonium bromide layer is heated to 60° C. or higher by irradiation with a semiconductor laser.

A phase transition occurred and light scattering occurred.

Example 7 A color optical element having a radiation absorption layer as a heat generating element was manufactured as follows.

Gd-Tb Fe (Gadolinium
The radiation absorbing layer 9 was formed by depositing a layer of iron (TVram/iron). In order to prevent oxidation of this Gd/TbmFe layer,
It was coated with a 5io2 protective film over it.

A mosaic filter having a red colored area (R), a green colored area (G), and a blue colored area (B) as a color separation filter was created according to the following method. The arrangement was Bayer one-sided, and the size of one mosaic was 50 ILm square.

A solvent-soluble polyester resin (Vylon-200; Toyo Doubeki Co., Ltd.) was used as the polymer material for each colored polymer layer. In addition, the coloring agents are Sukamilon Red 5-GG (manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a red coloring agent, and Cibaset Green 5G (manufactured by Ciba Geigy) as a green coloring agent.
and Miketon Fast Blue Extra (manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) were used as the blue colorant.

First, a mother liquor of a colored polymer was prepared by uniformly dissolving Vylon-200 (40 parts), nitrocellulose (10 parts), and methyl ethyl ketone (80 parts) while stirring.

50 cc of the above mother liquor and 1 mg of the above red coloring agent were thoroughly mixed (about 21 cm) in a stainless steel ball mill to prepare a red colored polymer. A green colored polymer and a blue colored polymer were prepared in the same manner.

Next, apply the red colored polymer onto the glass plate using a spinner (
Mikasa; IH-5 type) was used, and the thickness was 0.
It was applied to form a uniform film of 8 g, m. After the film was sufficiently cured, a photoresist OMR-81 (manufactured by Tokyo Ohka), which was to serve as an etching mask, was applied thereon using a spinner as well. Thereafter, an etching mask was formed by exposing with a predetermined patterning mask and developing.

Next, unnecessary portions (non-mask portions) were removed by ashing and etching using a plasma etching device (“PLASMOD”, manufactured by Tegal corp) in which a chlorine gas was flowed, thereby obtaining a red filter element. Similarly, each green and blue colored polymer was applied using a spinner.

A green filter element and a blue filter element each having a predetermined pattern were provided on the glass substrate by creating an etching mask using photoresist and performing plasma etching in this order. As a result, a three-color mosaic filter having a predetermined pattern consisting of red, & color and blue colored areas was created.

Next, a 7rakidine-energized domium monomolecular film was formed on the water surface of the LB film production equipment, and 5i02W1
A Y-shaped cumulative film having a film thickness of 10 μm was deposited on the surface of the substrate, and a glass substrate was placed thereon as a protective substrate 1.

A semiconductor laser that emits light at a wavelength of 830 nm was used as a radiant heat source. It has been confirmed that when driven in combination with an appropriate Schlieren optical system, a certain display effect can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1(A) is a sectional view of a transmission type optical element using the light modulation method according to the invention, FIG. 1CB) is a sectional view of a reflection type optical element using the light modulation method according to the invention. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a monomolecular layer cumulative film, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a phase transition phenomenon in a monomolecular layer cumulative film, and Figure 4 is a diagram of the imaging principle of an optical element using the light modulation method according to the present invention. This is an explanatory diagram, and the fourth
FIG. 4(A) shows the case of a transmissive optical element, and FIG. 4(B) shows the case of a reflective optical element. 5 and 6 are schematic structural diagrams of a light valve type projection device incorporating an optical element using the light modulation method according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a light valve type projection device as a display device using the light modulation method according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a color optical element using the light modulation method according to the present invention, FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a configuration example of a matrix-driven optical element, and FIG. 9(A) is a transmissive type optical element. The optical element shown in FIG. 9(B) is a reflective optical element. 1st O
The figure is a schematic explanatory diagram of an image forming method using the light modulation method according to the present invention, and FIGS. 11 and 12 show heating elements OE: display element 1: substrate 2; Layer accumulation film 4: Protective substrate 5: Monomolecular film or monomolecular layer accumulation film heating section 6: Heat generating element heating section 7: Illumination light 8-1: Hydrophilic group 8-2: Hydrophobic group 9: Radiation absorption Layer 10: Radiation 11: Reflective film 12: Heating layer 13: Grid 13a: First grating 13b: Second grating 14: Schlieren lens 15 Screen 16: Incident light 17: Imaging lens 18: Horizontal scanner 19: Vertical scanner 20: Lens 21: Cold filter 22: Image generation circuit 23: Control circuit 24: Image amplification circuit 25: Horizontal drive circuit, vertical drive circuit 26: Laser light source 27: Light modulator 28: Color mosaic filter 29: Insulating layer 30.31: Heat generating resistance wire 32.32 a, 32b, 33c...-2 heat generating resistor layer 9 heat generating resistor 1 33.33a, 33b, 33cm...: Column conductor wire 34.3
4a, 34b, 34c...-: Row conductor 35: Intersection 36: Bamboo wheel selection circuit 37. 37a, 37b...: Bamboo wheel drive circuit 38 Second column axis selection circuit 39.39th, 39b...: Column conduction drive circuit 40 : Image control circuit 40a: Light source 40b: Collimator lens 42.45: Lens 44 Bipolarizing mirror 46: Photoreceptor 54: Transparent protective plate 55: Monomolecular cumulative layer 56: Insulating layer 57: Support 58: Heat absorption layer 59 : Semiconductor laser 50 = collimator lens 31 two galvanometer mirrors

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An optical element comprising a monomolecular film made of an organic compound molecule having at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, or a cumulative film thereof, and a heat generating element for heating the molecular film or the cumulative film; 1. A light modulation device comprising a drive means for driving the optical element, a signal output means for outputting a signal according to image information to the element, and an illumination optical system for illuminating the optical element. (2) The light modulation device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination optical system comprises a Schilleren optical system.