JPS6462615A - Liquid crystal optical element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain high contrast in a liquid crystal optical element without using a polarizing plate by regulating a ratio of transmittance (Trt. angle) when axes of polarization of two plane polarizing plates are perpendicular to each other to that (T)) when they are parallel to each other to >=0.90. CONSTITUTION:Liquid crystal optical elements are usually in a scattering state (turbulent state) when an electric field is not impressed thereto due to a differ ence of refractive indices between an unoriented substance and a supported polymer. But the correlation between the polarized condition of incident light and the polarized condition of transmitted light is incident light and the polar ized condition of transmitted light is eliminated when Trt. angle/T) is regulated to >=0.90, more pref. to >=0.93. Thus, an element having high glance shielding effect keeping an confronting image of the element invisible is obtd. By this constitution, an optical element having high contrast is obtd. without using a polarizing plate. The element is utilizable for wide field use of display, particu larly, for the display of large area or curved area, or for dimming or optical shutter, etc. of large area.