JPWO2013038932A1 - Optical retardation element and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are an optical phase difference element that can be suitably used in a 3D image display device and the like, and a method for manufacturing the same, by patterning the phase difference.
In the optical phase difference element, the first photo-alignment region oriented parallel to the electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation by polarized light irradiation, and the first optical alignment region oriented perpendicular to the electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation. The second photo-alignment regions are arranged in adjacent regions, and the slow axes of the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region are different from each other.

Description

Related applications

  This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-198302 for which it applied on September 12, 2011 in Japan, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-198330 for which it applied on the same day, The whole is referred to as a part of this application. Cited as what constitutes

  The present invention relates to an optical phase difference element and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an optical phase difference element that can be suitably used in a 3D image display device by patterning a phase difference.

  An optical phase difference element obtained by patterning a phase difference is used in a 3D image display device or the like. The 3D image recognizes a three-dimensional image by showing only the image for the left eye to the left eye and only the image for the right eye to the right eye. For example, in a display device in which a polarizing plate is arranged on the front surface such as a liquid crystal image display device, an optical phase difference element patterned with a phase difference corresponding to each pixel is mounted, and light emitted from the display device is transmitted to the left eye. The image for the right eye is converted into two circularly polarized images, and the left and right eyes are observed with different circularly polarized glasses. Shows only the right-eye video and recognizes the stereoscopic image. An optical phase difference element patterned with such a phase difference has a slow axis (or fast axis) direction of a phase difference between pixels adjacent to a checkered pattern in accordance with the pixels of the display device as shown in FIG. There are a checkerboard system in which the phase is changed by 90 °, and a line-by-line method in which the slow axis (or fast axis) direction of the phase difference is alternately changed by 90 ° in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. .

  As a method for producing an optical retardation element patterned with such a retardation, a polymer layer (photo-alignment film) that exhibits liquid crystal alignment ability by polarized light is subjected to pattern exposure with polarized light through a mask, and the polymer layer is exposed. There is a method of aligning and fixing to a pattern corresponding to the orientation of the polymer layer by applying and aligning a polymerizable liquid crystal and polymerizing and fixing the orientation with heat or light.

  For example, as a method of manufacturing an optical phase difference element in which a phase difference is patterned, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-49865) discloses that a first support material is irradiated with polarized light so that molecules have a predetermined orientation. An alignment layer composed of a polymer layer is provided, and subsequently, the alignment layer is irradiated with polarized light so that the alignment pattern of the alignment layer is different in the slow axis direction or the fast axis direction in the adjacent region. Next, a photopolymerizable liquid crystal monomer layer is provided on the alignment layer, and then the liquid crystal monomer layer is heated to a predetermined temperature to change the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal monomer layer to the molecular alignment of the alignment layer. Next, the liquid crystal monomer layer is irradiated with light to polymerize the liquid crystal monomer layer, and the liquid crystal alignment layer is fixed to form a liquid crystal polymer layer, which is then adhered to the liquid crystal polymer layer. Or via an adhesive layer is provided a film-like or sheet-like second supporting member, followed by a method of producing in a method in which peeling off the first support member from the alignment layer is disclosed.

JP 2005-49865 A

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to irradiate ultraviolet rays by covering a mask with an alignment layer made of a polymer layer (linearly polarized light), and energy use efficiency in exposure is reduced. Furthermore, there is a possibility that a desired alignment layer cannot be obtained depending on exposure accuracy and exposure intensity.

  In particular, manufacturing with roll-to-roll has problems such as not only technical difficulties in terms of exposure accuracy and exposure intensity, but also a large irradiation apparatus.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical phase difference element in which the entire surface is irradiated with polarized light without providing a mask and the phase difference is patterned, and a method for manufacturing the same.

  As a result of diligent research to solve the above problems, the present inventor has patterned and applied two kinds of photo-alignment materials having different alignment characteristics, and the entire surface is polarized and exposed without using a mask. Thus, it was found that an optical phase difference element having a patterned phase difference can be produced, and one embodiment of the present invention has been completed.

  As yet another embodiment, the present inventors patterned two kinds of photo-alignment materials having different alignment characteristics and applied each region, and polarized exposure was performed on the entire surface without using a mask. It has also been found that an alignment film having different alignment directions can be obtained in each region, and an optical retardation element having a phase difference patterned can be produced by aligning a liquid crystalline compound on the alignment film and fixing the alignment.

  The first configuration of the present invention includes a first photo-alignment region oriented in parallel to the electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation by polarized light irradiation, and perpendicular to the electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation. The aligned second photo-alignment regions are disposed in adjacent regions, and the slow axes of the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region are different optical retardation elements.

  In the optical phase difference element, the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region have (i) a side chain including a structure in which a photosensitive group and a mesogen unit are bonded via a spacer or not. From the side chain liquid crystal expressing photosensitive polymer (or side chain liquid crystal expressing photosensitive polymer) and (ii) the side chain liquid crystal expressing photosensitive polymer having a photosensitive side chain having a carboxyl group at the end of the side chain. Each may be formed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of different polymers.

  The optical retardation element may further include a liquid crystal compound layer, and the liquid crystal compound layer uses the first and second photo-alignment regions as alignment films, and the first retardation film is formed on the alignment film. The optical phase difference element may be aligned along the alignment direction of each of the first and second photo-alignment regions.

That is, as a second configuration of the present invention, the optical phase difference element includes a first photo-alignment region aligned in parallel to the electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation by polarized light irradiation,
A second photo-alignment region that is oriented perpendicularly to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation is disposed in a region adjacent to the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region. Alignment films having slow axes different from each other,
On this alignment film, a liquid crystalline compound layer aligned along the alignment direction of each of the first and second photo-alignment regions;
The optical phase difference element comprised by these may be sufficient.

  In the optical phase difference element, the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region have (i) a side chain including a structure in which a photosensitive group and a mesogen unit are bonded via a spacer or not. A side chain liquid crystal expressing photosensitive polymer, (ii) a side chain liquid crystal expressing photosensitive polymer having a photosensitive side chain and having a carboxyl group at the end of the side chain, and (iii) a vinyl thinner having a cinnamoyl group in the side chain. Each may be formed from a different polymer selected from the group consisting of a mate-based photosensitive polymer and (iv) a cis-trans isomerized photosensitive polymer.

  In the first configuration and the second configuration, the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region have a monomer unit having a side chain represented by any of the following formulas (1) to (3) May be formed from polymers different from each other selected from the group consisting of photosensitive polymers.

(In the formulas (1) and (2), n represents 1 to 12, m represents an integer of 1 to 12, and X or Y represents none, —COO, —OCO—, —N═N—, — Each represents C═C— or —C ₆ H ₄ —, and W ₁ and W ₂ are the same or different and each represents a cinnamoyl group, a chalcone group, a cinnamylidene group, a biphenylacryloyl group, a furylacryloyl group, a naphthylacryloyl group or Represents their derivatives.)

  (In the formula (3), s represents 0 or 1, t represents an integer of 1 to 3, and R represents H, an alkyl group, an alkyloxy group, or a halogen.)

  More preferably, the first photo-alignment region is formed from a polymer composed of a monomer having a side chain represented by the formula (1), and the second photo-alignment region is represented by the formula (2) or (3). You may form from the polymer which consists of a monomer which has the side chain shown.

Such an optical phase difference element can be suitably used for a 3D image display device or the like.
Therefore, the present invention includes a laminated body in which the optical retardation element and a polarizing element are laminated, and also includes an image display device equipped with the optical retardation element or the laminated body.

The third configuration of the present invention includes a step of forming a pretreatment sheet in which the first photoalignable material and the second photoalignable material are respectively formed in adjacent regions;
The pretreatment sheet is irradiated with the entire surface of the polarized light without using a mask, and the first light alignment material is aligned in parallel to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation. An irradiation step of forming an alignment region and orienting the second photo-alignment material perpendicularly to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation to form the second photo-alignment region;
Is a manufacturing method of an optical retardation element.

  In the manufacturing method, from the gravure printing, the flexographic printing, the ink jet printing, and the screen printing using the first coating liquid containing the first photoalignable material and the second coating liquid containing the second photoalignable material. The pretreatment sheet may be formed by at least one printing method selected from the group consisting of:

  Moreover, a heating process may be performed following the polarized light irradiation process, and a cooling process may be further performed.

The fourth configuration of the present invention includes a step of forming a pretreatment film formed in a region where the first photoalignable material and the second photoalignable material are adjacent to each other;
The pretreatment film is entirely irradiated with polarized light without passing through a mask, and the first light alignment material is aligned in parallel to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by this polarized light irradiation, so that the first light is irradiated. An alignment region is formed, and the second photo-alignment material is aligned perpendicularly to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by this polarized light irradiation to form a second photo-aligned region, and the first and second An irradiation step of forming alignment films having slow axes different from those of the photo-alignment region;
Applying a liquid crystalline compound on the alignment film to form a liquid crystalline compound layer aligned along the alignment direction of each of the first and second photo-alignment regions;
Is a manufacturing method of an optical retardation element.

In the manufacturing method, from the gravure printing, the flexographic printing, the ink jet printing, and the screen printing using the first coating liquid containing the first photoalignable material and the second coating liquid containing the second photoalignable material. The pretreatment film may be formed by at least one printing method selected from the group consisting of:
Alternatively, one of the first coating liquid and the second coating liquid may be applied over the entire surface, and the other may be partially applied on the coating surface.

  It should be noted that any combination of at least two components disclosed in the claims and / or the specification and / or the drawings is included in the present invention. In particular, any combination of two or more of the claims recited in the claims is included in the present invention.

  According to the optical phase difference element of the present invention, two kinds of photo-alignment materials having specific anisotropy with respect to polarized light are used, and these photo-alignment materials are respectively applied to the electric field vibration plane of the polarization. Since each region is arranged so as to take the alignment direction, the retardation element can be efficiently manufactured by collectively exposing the entire surface without using a mask to carry out polarization exposure.

  In particular, when a specific photo-orientation material is used, such a retardation element not only has excellent patterning accuracy, but can express a clear pattern having a desired shape.

  In addition, the optical retardation element of the present invention can impart photo-alignment by whole-surface exposure without using a mask, so roll-to-roll, etc. without using complicated manufacturing processes such as adjusting exposure accuracy and exposure intensity Thus, a phase difference element in which the phase difference is patterned can be manufactured.

  In addition, when a sheet made of a photo-alignable material can be used directly as a phase difference element, it is possible to pattern a clear phase difference without using a step of applying a photopolymerizable liquid crystal monomer to the alignment layer. It is.

  The present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments and drawings are merely for illustration and description and should not be used to define the scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, the same part number in a plurality of drawings indicates the same part.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the checker board system which is an example of the optical phase difference element which patterned the phase difference. It is a schematic diagram which shows the line by line system which is an example of the optical phase difference element which patterned the phase difference. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the optical phase difference element which patterned the phase difference of this invention. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing an optical phase difference element in which the phase difference of Example 1 is patterned. FIG. FIG. 3 is a polarization microscope observation view and an optical system of an optical phase difference element obtained by patterning the phase difference of Example 1. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the optical phase difference element which patterned the phase difference. It is a schematic diagram which patterns the orientation layer from which the orientation direction of Example 3 differs, and shows the preparation methods of a base material. The alignment layer from which the orientation direction from Example 3 differs is patterned, A schematic diagram which shows a polarizing microscope observation figure and optical system when aligning a liquid crystalline compound on the alignment layer. 6 is a schematic view showing a method for producing an optical phase difference element in which the phase difference of Example 4 is patterned. FIG. FIG. 6 is a polarization microscope observation view and an optical system of an optical phase difference element obtained by patterning the phase difference of Example 4;

(Basic configuration of optical retardation element with patterned phase difference)
In the optical phase difference element patterned with the phase difference according to the present invention, the first photo-alignment region oriented parallel to the electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation by polarized light irradiation, and the electric field vibration of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation. Second photo-alignment regions oriented perpendicular to the surface are arranged in adjacent regions, and the slow axes of the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region are different from each other. Yes.

  The optical phase difference element is composed of a first photo-alignment region and a second photo-alignment region, and these regions act as a liquid crystalline material having direct photo-alignment properties, so that a direct phase difference can be obtained without providing an alignment film. The 1st embodiment which can exhibit the patterning of may be sufficient. In another aspect, the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region act as an alignment film, a liquid crystal compound layer is provided on the alignment film, and the alignment of the liquid crystal compound layer is fixed. It may be an embodiment.

(First embodiment)
For example, an optical retardation element having a patterned phase difference according to the first embodiment includes a first photo-alignment region aligned in parallel to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by polarized light irradiation, and the polarized light irradiation. The second photo-alignment regions aligned perpendicularly to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation are disposed in adjacent regions, respectively, and the delay between the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region is set. The phase axes may be different from each other, and these regions may be an optical phase difference element that acts as a liquid crystalline material having photo-alignment properties.

In the optical phase difference element, the patterning of the phase difference in which the slow axis (or fast axis) direction of the phase difference between the regions is different can be appropriately set according to the use of the optical element.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a checkerboard system in which a first photo-alignment region and a second photo-alignment region are adjacent in a checkered pattern as an example of patterning. In FIG. 1, the first photo-alignment region 11 and the second photo-alignment region 12 are arranged adjacent to each other in a lattice shape.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a line-by-line method in which the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region are adjacent in a horizontal stripe pattern as another example of patterning. Has been. In FIG. 2, the first photo-alignment regions 21 and the second photo-alignment regions 22 are alternately arranged adjacent to each other in a striped pattern. Furthermore, FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an optical phase difference element obtained by patterning a phase difference of a line-by-line method. In FIG. 3, regions having slow axes of + 45 ° (first photo-alignment region 21) and −45 ° (second photo-alignment region 22) are arranged in stripes with respect to the horizontal direction.

  The material a has anisotropy with the slow axis oriented parallel (or perpendicular) to the electric field vibration plane of the irradiated polarized light, and the material b is perpendicular (or parallel) to the electric field vibration plane of the irradiated polarized light. ) In which the slow axis is oriented and anisotropy is produced, the checker board in which the slow axis (or fast axis) direction of the phase difference between pixels adjacent to the checkered pattern is changed by 90 ° in accordance with the pixels of the display device. To obtain an optical phase difference element in which the phase difference is patterned as in the line-by-line method in which the slow axis (or fast axis) direction of the phase difference is changed by 90 ° alternately one pixel at a time in the horizontal direction. Can do.

(Second Embodiment)
An optical phase difference element having a phase difference patterned, which is a second embodiment of the present invention, includes a first photo-alignment region aligned in parallel to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by polarized light irradiation, and the polarized light. A second photo-alignment region oriented perpendicularly to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized illumination by irradiation is disposed in each adjacent region, and the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region Alignment films having different slow axes from each other,
On this alignment film, a liquid crystalline compound layer aligned along the alignment direction of each of the first and second photo-alignment regions;
It may be comprised.

In the optical phase difference element of the present invention, the phase difference patterning in which the slow axis (or fast axis) direction of the phase difference between the regions is different can be appropriately set according to the use of the optical element.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a checkerboard system in which a first photo-alignment region and a second photo-alignment region are adjacent in a checkered pattern as an example of patterning. In FIG. 1, the first photo-alignment region 11 and the second photo-alignment region 12 are arranged adjacent to each other in a lattice shape.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a line-by-line method in which the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region are adjacent in a horizontal stripe pattern as another example of patterning. Has been. In FIG. 2, the first photo-alignment regions 21 and the second photo-alignment regions 22 are alternately arranged adjacent to each other in a striped pattern.
Further, FIG. 6 shows an optical phase difference obtained by patterning a phase-by-line phase difference in which a liquid crystal compound is aligned on the first photo-alignment region 1a and the second photo-alignment region 2a and the alignment is fixed. The schematic diagram of an element is illustrated. In FIG. 6, regions having slow axes of + 45 ° (first liquid crystal compound layer 1b) and −45 ° (second liquid crystal compound layer 2b) are arranged in stripes with respect to the horizontal direction.

(Photo-alignment material)
In the present invention, the first photo-alignment material and the second photo-alignment material are formed of different photo-alignment materials, and the first photo-alignment region is an electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation by polarized light irradiation. The second photo-alignment region is formed of a first photo-orientation material that is oriented in parallel to the second photo-orientation region, and the second photo-orientation region is oriented perpendicular to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation. Formed from material.

  Such a photo-alignment material is not particularly limited as long as a predetermined alignment property can be exhibited. However, the first and second photo-alignment materials usually have a liquid crystal material having photo-alignment property or photo-alignment property. It contains at least a photosensitive polymer material that has or induces, and may contain a low-molecular compound described later, if necessary.

(Liquid crystalline material or photosensitive polymer material with photo-alignment)
The liquid crystalline material having photo-alignment contained in the first and second photo-alignment materials includes (i) a structure in which a photosensitive group and a mesogen unit are bonded with or without a spacer. Examples include a side-chain liquid crystal-expressing photosensitive polymer having a side chain, and (ii) a side-chain liquid crystal-expressing photosensitive polymer having a photosensitive side chain and having a carboxyl group at the end of the side chain. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Further, when the optical retardation element further includes a liquid crystal compound layer, not only the liquid crystal material but also a photosensitive polymer material having photo alignability may be used as the first and second photo-alignment materials. Good. Note that the photosensitive polymer material has at least a photosensitive group and is anisotropically cross-linked by polarized light irradiation, a material having a photosensitive group that isomerizes, or undergoes an anisotropic decomposition reaction by polarized light irradiation. Examples thereof include a material having a photosensitive group.

  For example, as the photosensitive polymer material, (i) a side chain liquid crystal expression type photosensitive polymer having a side chain including a structure in which a photosensitive group and a mesogen unit are bonded with or without a spacer; A side-chain liquid crystal-expressing photosensitive polymer having a carboxylic side group at the end of the side chain and (iii) a vinyl cinnamate-based photosensitive polymer having a cinnamoyl group in the side chain (for example, polyvinyl cinnamate, polyvinyl And (iv) cis-trans isomerized photosensitive polymers having an azobenzene group, a stilbene group or the like in the main chain or side chain, and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. May be.

  In the photopolymer having such photo-orientation, the direction of the anisotropic slow axis (or fast axis) caused by irradiation with polarized light is such that the photosensitive group, the substituent (mesogen unit) serving as the mesogenic component, the spacer. The first photo-orientable material and the second photo-orientable material may be appropriately selected from materials exhibiting a desired orientation.

  In the present invention, the photosensitive group refers to a functional group that binds to other molecules by light irradiation. In the present invention, the liquid crystalline material indicates liquid crystallinity when a physical external stimulus (heating, cooling, electric field, magnetic field, application of shear, etc.) is given to the material alone, or a solvent or non-liquid crystalline property. A material that exhibits liquid crystallinity when mixed with a component.

More specifically, examples of the photosensitive group include a cinnamoyl group, a chalcone group, a coumarin group, a cinnamylidene group, a biphenylacryloyl group, a furylacryloyl group, a naphthylacryloyl group (or a derivative thereof), and the like. Examples of the unit include a substituent such as biphenyl, terphenyl, phenylbenzoate, and azobenzene, and examples of the spacer include an alkylene group and an oxyalkylene group.
In addition, the side chain liquid crystal expressing photosensitive polymer having a photosensitive side chain and having a carboxyl group at the end of the side chain has a photosensitive side chain having a carboxyl group at the end of the side chain, and the side chain end A polymer that forms a rigid structure by dimerization of the carboxyl group by hydrogen bonding and that exhibits liquid crystallinity without including a mesogenic group in the side chain itself is preferably used.

  Examples of the main chain constituting the above-mentioned side-chain liquid crystal-expressing photosensitive polymer include hydrocarbons, acrylates, methacrylates, siloxanes, maleimides, N-phenylmaleimides, etc., in which the side chains are bonded via a spacer. It is done. These polymers are a single polymer composed of the same repeating unit, a copolymer composed of a plurality of units having side chains with different structures, or a unit having a side chain containing a photosensitive group and a side not containing a photosensitive group. Any of copolymers obtained by blending a unit having a chain to such an extent that liquid crystallinity is not impaired may be used.

  Furthermore, in order to improve heat resistance, a polymer in which a reactive group is introduced into the above polymer and a crosslinking structure is introduced to the extent that liquid crystallinity is not impaired by a crosslinking agent such as an isocyanate material or an epoxy material may be used. Further, a bifunctional low molecular material may be added as a low molecular material described below for polymerization so that the photosensitive polymer contains a crosslinkable polymer.

  A photosensitizer may be added to adjust the photosensitivity. Such photosensitizers include benzoin methyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether, and benzoin derivatives such as α, α-dimethoxy-α-phenylacetophenone; benzophenone, 2,4-dichlorobenzophenone, methyl o-benzoylbenzoate, 4 Photosensitizers such as benzophenone derivatives such as 4,4′-bis (dimethylamino) benzophenone and 4,4′-bis (diethylamino) benzophenone are preferably used.

  Preferably, as a polymer used for forming such an optically anisotropic layer, JP-A-11-189665, JP-A-2002-202409, JP-A-2004-170595, JP-A-2005-2005 are used. The liquid crystalline polymer disclosed by the present applicant, for example, in US Pat.

  More preferably, for example, the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region have side chain liquid crystal expression type photosensitivity formed from monomer units having side chains represented by the following formulas (1) to (3). Each may be formed from different photo-alignment materials selected from the group consisting of polymers.

In the formulas (1) and (2), n represents 1 to 12, m represents an integer of 1 to 12, and X or Y represents none, —COO, —OCO—, —N═N—, —C ═C— or —C ₆ H ₄ —, wherein W ₁ and W ₂ are the same or different and are each a cinnamoyl group, a chalcone group, a cinnamylidene group, a biphenylacryloyl group, a furylacryloyl group, a naphthylacryloyl group, or Represents a derivative of

In Formula 3, s represents 0 or 1, t represents an integer of 1 to 3, R represents H, an alkyl group (for example, a C _1-10 alkyl group), an alkyloxy group (for example, C _1-10). Alkyloxy group) or halogen.

Among these side chain liquid crystal expression type photosensitive polymers, for example, as a first photo-alignment material in which an anisotropic slow axis caused by polarized light irradiation is parallel to the electric field vibration direction, the above formula (1 A side chain liquid crystal expression type photosensitive polymer formed from a monomer unit having a side chain represented by
More preferably, as such a polymer, in the above formula (1), n is 6, m is 2, X is none, W ₁ is a polymer formed using a monomer having a side chain represented by a cinnamoyl group, etc. Is mentioned.

Further, a monomer having a side chain represented by the above formula (2) or (3) as a second photo-alignment material in which an anisotropic slow axis generated by polarized light irradiation is perpendicular to the electric field vibration direction You may use the side chain liquid crystal expression type photosensitive polymer formed from a unit.
More preferably, as such a polymer, in the formula (2), n is 6, Y is none, and W ₂ is a polymer formed using a monomer having a side chain represented by a 4-methoxycinnamoyl group. In the formula (3), a polymer formed by using a monomer having a side chain represented by s is 1, t is 1, and R is H, and the like.

(Low molecular compound)
In the present invention, in order to enhance the orientation in the photo-alignment region, a low molecular compound may be mixed in addition to the photosensitive polymer having the photosensitive group. Such low-molecular compounds have substituents such as biphenyl, terphenyl, phenylbenzoate and azobenzene, which are known as mesogenic components, and such substituents and allyl, acrylate, methacrylate, cinnamic acid groups (or derivatives thereof) A group having a liquid crystallinity in which a functional group such as a group is bonded via a spacer as described above is preferably used. These low molecular materials are not only used as a single material, but a plurality of materials may be mixed. Such a low molecular weight material is preferably added in an amount of 5 to 50% by weight, preferably 10 to 30% by weight, based on the photosensitive polymer.

(Liquid crystal compound)
When the optical retardation element has a liquid crystal compound layer, the liquid crystal compound layer to be aligned on the photo-alignment film is formed by applying the liquid crystal compound to the photo-alignment film and then along the alignment direction of the photo-alignment film. It is formed by orienting. The liquid crystalline compound may be a liquid crystalline polymer or a liquid crystalline monomer, and is liquid crystalline when a physical external stimulus (heating, cooling, electric field, magnetic field, shearing, etc.) is applied to the material alone. Any known liquid crystalline compound can be used as long as the material exhibits liquid crystallinity by mixing with a solvent or a non-liquid crystalline component.

  For example, the liquid crystalline compound may be a liquid crystalline monomer or liquid crystalline polymer having a functional group that is polymerized by light or heat in the main chain or side chain, or may be liquid crystalline by a crosslinking agent such as an isocyanate material or an epoxy material. It may be a liquid crystalline polymer or a liquid crystalline monomer into which a cross-linked structure is introduced to such an extent that does not damage the above.

  Moreover, you may apply | coat a bifunctional low molecular liquid crystal material as a low molecular material as a liquid crystalline compound. In this case, the low-molecular liquid crystal material is polymerized after alignment to form a crosslinkable liquid crystal polymer layer.

  Moreover, you may add a photoinitiator and a sensitizer to a liquid crystalline compound as needed. Such a liquid crystalline compound is aligned on the first and second photo-alignment regions in accordance with the alignment direction of the alignment film, and then the alignment is fixed. Thereby, an optically anisotropic layer (liquid crystalline compound layer) made of a liquid crystalline compound and patterned with a predetermined retardation can be formed on the alignment layer.

(Manufacturing method of optical retardation element of first embodiment)
The manufacturing method of the optical retardation element of the first embodiment is as follows:
Forming a pretreatment sheet in which the first photoalignable material and the second photoalignable material are respectively formed in adjacent regions;
The pretreatment sheet is irradiated with the entire surface of polarized light without a mask, and the first photo-alignment material is oriented in parallel to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation, and the second An irradiation step of aligning the photo-alignable material perpendicularly to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation;
At least.

(Pretreatment sheet forming process)
In the pretreatment sheet forming step, first, a first photoalignable material and a second photoalignable material are formed in adjacent regions. In this case, for each of the first photoalignable material and the second photoalignable material, the first coating liquid containing the first photoalignable material and the second coating containing the second photoalignable material. Prepare the solution.
In these coating solutions, the above-mentioned photopolymerizable side-chain liquid crystal-expressing photosensitive polymer, low-molecular compounds, photosensitizers, and other components (polymerization catalyst, etc.) added as necessary are suitable. Dissolved in various solvents. Moreover, in order to improve coating property, in order to improve the adhesiveness to a base material, you may add various additives to such an extent that orientation is not impaired.

  Examples of the solvent include dioxane, dichloroethane, cyclohexanone, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, o-dichlorobenzene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and the like, and these solvents are used alone or in combination.

As the coating means, a printing method according to patterning can be used. Examples of the printing method include gravure printing, flexographic printing, inkjet printing, and screen printing. By such a printing method, the obtained coating liquid is applied on a support or the like according to desired patterning.
Note that the first coating liquid and the second coating liquid may be applied simultaneously or separately.

And it can be made to dry as needed and a pre-processing sheet | seat (namely, liquid crystalline polymer layer) can be formed on a support body.
The drying in this case may be performed at room temperature, or may be performed by heating at a low temperature of, for example, 60 ° C. or less, depending on the material. If the temperature is raised too much, the formed film may become cloudy.

(Polarization irradiation process)
The pretreatment sheet prepared in this way is irradiated with polarized light (for example, linearly polarized ultraviolet rays) without passing through a mask. By this polarized light irradiation, the first photo-alignment material is aligned parallel to the electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation, and the second photo-alignment material is aligned perpendicular to the electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation. .
The polarized light to be irradiated is not particularly limited as long as it is light having a wavelength capable of reacting with the photosensitive group portion, and the wavelength of polarized light is generally 200 to 500 nm, although it varies depending on the type of side chain of the liquid crystalline polymer. In particular, the effectiveness of 250-400 nm is often high. Due to the irradiation with polarized light, the liquid crystalline polymer is optically uniaxially or biaxially aligned.
Moreover, you may perform polarization irradiation under a heating as needed.

(Heating process after irradiation with polarized light)
After irradiation with polarized light, the film may be further heated as necessary. By heating, molecular motion occurs in the film, and the side chain (and low molecular weight material) of the polymer that did not cause photoreaction is reoriented in the same direction as the photoreacted side chain. As a result, the side chain (and low molecular weight material) molecules of the side chain liquid crystal-expressing type photopolymer are oriented in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the electric field oscillation direction of the irradiated linearly polarized light. A photo-alignment region in which the property is induced is formed. Heating after irradiation with polarizing UV light promotes this reorientation.

  Moreover, you may perform a cooling process further following this heating process. When a film that has been exposed and heated to align unreacted side chains, or a film that has been exposed and aligned under heating to a temperature below the softening point of the polymer, the molecules become frozen in the film and good light is obtained. Orientation is obtained. Cooling is usually preferably performed by standing cooling. If rapid cooling is performed, orientation may be insufficient.

(Non-polarizing UV irradiation)
Next, it is preferable to irradiate the non-polarizing ultraviolet ray to the photo-oriented layer. When irradiated with non-polarizing UV light, the photopolymer (and low molecular weight material) that has unreacted photosensitive groups remaining in the film reacts to react to fix the orientation, and stable photo-alignment A layer is formed. In addition, although irradiation with non-polarizing ultraviolet rays is usually performed without heating, when it is necessary to adjust (decrease) the retardation value, it can also be performed with heating.

  As described above, the entire surface is polarized and exposed without using a mask, so that the slow axis (or the fast axis) of the phase difference between adjacent regions alternately in a checkered pattern or in the horizontal direction is striped. It is possible to produce an optical phase difference element in which a phase difference in which optically anisotropic layers having different directions are formed is patterned. In such an optical phase difference element, even if a photopolymerizable liquid crystal monomer is not applied to the alignment layer, good phase difference is exhibited.

(Manufacturing method of optical retardation element of second embodiment)
The manufacturing method of the optical retardation element of the second embodiment is as follows:
Forming a pretreatment film in which the first photoalignable material and the second photoalignable material are respectively formed in adjacent regions;
The pretreatment film is entirely irradiated with polarized light without passing through a mask, and the first light alignment material is aligned in parallel to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by this polarized light irradiation, so that the first light is irradiated. An alignment region is formed, and the second photo-alignment material is aligned perpendicularly to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by this polarized light irradiation to form a second photo-aligned region, and the first and second An irradiation step of forming alignment films having slow axes different from those of the photo-alignment region;
Applying a liquid crystalline compound on the alignment film to form a liquid crystalline compound layer aligned along the alignment direction of each of the first and second photo-alignment regions;
At least.

(Pretreatment film formation process)
In the pretreatment film forming step, first, a first photoalignable material and a second photoalignable material are formed in adjacent regions. In this case, for each of the first photoalignable material and the second photoalignable material, the first coating liquid containing the first photoalignable material and the second coating containing the second photoalignable material. Prepare the solution.
For these coating solutions, photosensitive polymer materials having the above-mentioned photo-alignment properties (for example, side chain liquid crystal-expressing type photosensitive polymer, vinyl cinnamate type photosensitive polymer, cis-trans isomerized photosensitive polymer, etc.) are necessary. The low molecular weight compound, photosensitizer, and other components (polymerization catalyst, etc.) added by (1) are dissolved in a suitable solvent. Moreover, in order to improve coating property, in order to improve the adhesiveness to a base material, you may add various additives to such an extent that orientation is not impaired.

  Examples of the solvent include dioxane, dichloroethane, cyclohexanone, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, o-dichlorobenzene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and the like, and these solvents are used alone or in combination.

As the coating means, a printing method according to patterning can be used. Examples of the printing method include gravure printing, flexographic printing, inkjet printing, and screen printing. By such a printing method, the obtained coating liquid is applied on a support or the like according to desired patterning.
Note that the first coating liquid and the second coating liquid may be applied simultaneously or separately. When coating separately, the first coating solution and the second coating solution may be applied separately on the support surface, or the other coating solution may be applied on the surface coated with one coating solution. Also good. The coated surface can be dried as necessary to form a pretreatment film (that is, a photosensitive polymer layer) on the support.
In any case, the coated surface may be appropriately dried as necessary after coating. The drying in this case may be performed at room temperature, or may be performed by heating at a low temperature of, for example, 60 ° C. or less, depending on the material. If the temperature is raised too much, the formed film may become cloudy.

For example, once one coating solution is applied to the entire support surface to form a coating surface, the other coating solution may be partially applied to the coating surface to form another coating surface. These coated surfaces exhibit photo-alignment properties corresponding to the properties of the photosensitive polymer material present in the uppermost layer.
In such a case, it is not only unnecessary to align the application positions of the materials, but there is an advantage that a printing plate is not required when the entire surface is applied.
In addition, when the other coating liquid is applied on the surface coated with one coating liquid, it is preferable to apply the other coating liquid after the first coated surface is dried.

(Polarization irradiation process)
The pretreatment film thus prepared is irradiated with polarized light (for example, linearly polarized ultraviolet light) without passing through a mask. By this polarized light irradiation, the first photo-alignment material is aligned parallel to the electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation, and the second photo-alignment material is aligned perpendicular to the electric field vibration surface of the polarized light irradiation. .
The polarized light to be irradiated is not particularly limited as long as it is light having a wavelength with which the photosensitive group part can react, and the wavelength of polarized light is generally 200 to 500 nm, although it varies depending on the type of side chain of the photosensitive polymer. In particular, the effectiveness of 250-400 nm is often high. By irradiating with polarized light, the photosensitive polymer is optically uniaxially or biaxially oriented.
Moreover, you may perform polarization irradiation under a heating as needed.

(Heating process after irradiation with polarized light)
After the polarized light irradiation, the alignment film may be further heated as necessary. By heating, molecular movement occurs in the alignment film, and the side chain (and low molecular weight material) of the polymer that did not cause photoreaction is reoriented in the same direction as the photoreacted side chain. As a result, the molecules of the side chains (and low molecular weight materials) of the photosensitive polymer are oriented in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the direction of electric field oscillation of the irradiated linearly polarized light, and birefringence is induced in the entire alignment film. A photo-alignment region is formed. Heating after irradiation with polarizing UV light promotes this reorientation.

(Formation process of liquid crystalline compound layer)
Next, the liquid crystalline compound described above is applied to the alignment film with a predetermined thickness. The applied liquid crystalline compound is usually heated once to transition to an isotropic phase, and then cooled to room temperature, whereby the first and second photo-alignment regions formed in each alignment film are aligned in the respective alignment directions. The molecular axes are aligned along the liquid crystal compound layer (having a retardation value of, for example, about 80 to 180 nm, preferably about 100 to 160 nm).

  Further, when the liquid crystalline compound is a photopolymerizable liquid crystalline compound, it is preferable to further irradiate non-polarizing ultraviolet rays. By irradiating non-polarizing ultraviolet rays, the orientation of the liquid crystal compound in the liquid crystal compound layer can be fixed.

  Furthermore, the optical retardation element formed in the alignment film shape can be peeled off from the support and used. In that case, the obtained optical retardation element is peeled off by an appropriate peeling means. Also good.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on examples, but the present invention is not limited to the examples. A synthesis method relating to the materials used in the examples of the present invention will be described below.

(Monomer 1)
4-Hydroxy-4'-hydroxyethoxybiphenyl was synthesized by heating 4,4'-biphenyldiol and 2-chloroethanol under alkaline conditions. This product was reacted with 1,6-dibromohexane under alkaline conditions to synthesize 4- (6-bromohexyloxy) -4′-hydroxyethoxybiphenyl. Subsequently, lithium methacrylate was reacted to synthesize 4- (6-methacryloyloxyhexyloxy) -4′-hydroxyethoxybiphenyl. Further, cinnamoyl chloride was added under basic conditions to synthesize monomer 1 represented by the following formula (4).

(Monomer 2)
4- (6-Hydroxyhexyloxy) cinnamic acid was synthesized by heating p-coumaric acid and 6-chloro-1-hexanol under alkaline conditions. A large excess of methacrylic acid was added to this product in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid for esterification to synthesize monomer 2 represented by the following formula (5).

(Low molecular compound 1)
4-Hydroxy-4'-hydroxyethoxybiphenyl was synthesized by heating 4,4'-biphenyldiol and 2-chloroethanol under alkaline conditions. This product was reacted with 1,6-dibromohexane under alkaline conditions to synthesize 4- (6-bromohexyloxy) -4′-hydroxyethoxybiphenyl. Subsequently, lithium methacrylate was reacted to synthesize 4- (6-methacryloyloxyhexyloxy) -4′-hydroxyethoxybiphenyl. Furthermore, methacrylic acid chloride was added under basic conditions to synthesize a low molecular compound 1 represented by the following formula (6).

(Polymer 1)
Monomer 1 was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran, AIBN (azobisisobutyronitrile) was added as a reaction initiator, and polymerization was performed at 56 ° C. for 24 hours to obtain photosensitive polymer 1. This polymer 1 exhibited liquid crystallinity.

(Polymer 2)
Monomer 2 was dissolved in dioxane, AIBN (azobisisobutyronitrile) was added as a reaction initiator, and polymerization was carried out at 70 ° C. for 24 hours to obtain photosensitive polymer 2. This polymer 2 exhibited liquid crystallinity.

[Example 1]
Polymer 1 and low molecular weight material 1 are mixed at a weight ratio of 85:15, dissolved in toluene, and 0.05 parts by weight of commercially available (Tokyo Kasei) 4,4′-bis (diethylamino) benzophenone is added. Solution 1 was prepared. Moreover, the polymer 2 was melt | dissolved in 1, 4- dioxane and the solution 2 was prepared. As illustrated in the schematic diagram of FIG. 4, the solution 1 was applied onto a polyethylene terephthalate film (PET film) 40 using a gravure printing tester so that the application area had a width of about 150 μm. The substrate was dried at room temperature (about 25 ° C.) to form the first application region 41. Furthermore, the solution 2 was apply | coated so that an application area | region might become about 250 micrometers width | variety using the gravure printing test machine on the PET film in which the 1st application area | region was formed. The substrate was dried at room temperature (about 25 ° C.) to form the first application region 41 and the second application region 42 on the PET film.

  Subsequently, the coating film was irradiated with light L from a high-pressure mercury lamp converted into linearly polarized light using a Grand Taylor prism for 300 seconds, then heated at 130 ° C. and left at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then, it was gradually cooled to room temperature to induce orientation. Furthermore, in order to fix the orientation, light from a high-pressure mercury lamp is irradiated for 1500 seconds without being converted into linearly polarized light, and the slow axis (or fast axis) directions m and m ′ of the phase difference between adjacent regions are mutually different. An optical retardation element on which a first photoalignment region and a second photoalignment region patterned with different phase differences were formed on a PET film.

  In order to confirm the optical characteristics of the produced optical retardation element, the optical retardation element was transferred from the PET film onto the TAC film using an adhesive. FIG. 5- (A), FIG. 5- (B), and FIG. 5- (C) show that the transferred TAC film 50 was observed with a polarizing microscope (Cross Nicol). In the figure, A indicates a polarizer of a polarizing microscope, and B indicates an analyzer.

  FIG. 5- (A) is an observation in which the a region is + 45 ° slow axis direction and the b region is −45 ° slow axis direction with respect to the polarization direction of the polarizing microscope. Transmitted light is generated by the phase difference in both the a region and the b region.

  FIG. 5- (B) is obtained by inserting a retardation film 51 having a retardation axis direction C which is equal to the retardation value in the region a and has a retardation value of 90 °. The phase difference in the a region is canceled and shielded, while the b region is not shielded without canceling the phase difference (in contrast, the phase difference is increased and transmitted light is increased).

  FIG. 5- (C) shows an example in which a retardation film 52 having a retardation axis direction C ′ having a phase difference value equivalent to 90 ° is inserted with respect to the slow axis direction of the region b. The phase difference in the region b is canceled and shielded, while the region a is not shielded without canceling the phase difference (in contrast, the phase difference is increased and transmitted light is increased).

By inserting a phase difference film having an axial angle different by 90 °, “a phase difference is canceled and light shielding” and “a phase difference is enhanced and transmitted light is increased” are reversed in a region and b region. It was confirmed that optically anisotropic layers having a phase difference of 90 ° in the slow axis (or fast axis) direction of the phase difference were formed in the b region.
That is, the produced optical phase difference element is formed with optically anisotropic layers in which the slow axis (or fast axis) direction of the phase difference between regions adjacent to each other alternately in the horizontal direction is 90 ° different. It was confirmed that the optical phase difference element was obtained by patterning the existing phase difference.

Example 3
Polymer 1 was dissolved in toluene, and 0.05 part by weight of 4,4′-bis (diethylamino) benzophenone (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry) was added to prepare Solution 1. Moreover, the polymer 2 was melt | dissolved in 1, 4- dioxane and the solution 2 was prepared. As illustrated in the schematic diagram of FIG. 7, the solution 1 was applied to the first region on the glass plate 60, and the substrate was dried at room temperature (about 25 ° C.) to form the first application region 61. Next, the solution 2 is applied to the second region on the glass substrate on which the first application region has been formed, and the substrate is dried at room temperature (about 25 ° C.) to thereby form the first application region 61 and the second application region. 62 was formed on a glass substrate.

  Subsequently, the coating film was irradiated with light L obtained by converting light from a high-pressure mercury lamp into linearly polarized light using a Grand Taylor prism for 300 seconds. Next, a liquid crystal compound (“ZLI-4792”, manufactured by Merck Japan Co., Ltd.) was applied onto the base material, the substrate was heated to 100 ° C., and the liquid crystal compound was transferred to an isotropic phase, and then cooled to room temperature. . Here, when the substrate coated with this liquid crystalline compound was observed with a polarizing microscope, it was confirmed that the liquid crystalline compound layer 63 formed from the liquid crystalline compound was aligned along the alignment direction in the photo-alignment film. .

  In the substrate coated with the liquid crystalline compound, the optical properties near the boundary in two regions were observed with a polarizing microscope (Cross Nicol) as shown in FIGS. 8- (A), 8- (B), and 8- (C). It is. In the figure, A indicates a polarizer of a polarizing microscope, and B indicates an analyzer.

  FIG. 8- (A) is an observation in an arrangement in which the electric field oscillation direction when irradiated with linearly polarized light is 45 ° with respect to the polarization direction of the polarization microscope. A phase difference is caused by liquid crystal alignment in both the a region and the b region, and transmitted light is observed.

  FIG. 8- (B) shows a case where the retardation film 71 is inserted in such a manner that the slow axis direction C is perpendicular (90 °) to the electric field vibration direction when the linearly polarized light is irradiated here. It is. The phase difference in the region a is canceled and the dark state is entered. On the other hand, the b region remains in a bright state without canceling out the phase difference (in contrast, the phase difference is increased and transmitted light is increased).

  FIG. 8- (C) shows a case where the retardation film 71 is inserted in such a manner that the slow axis direction C is parallel (0 °) to the electric field vibration direction when the linearly polarized light is irradiated. It is. In this case, the phase difference in the b region is canceled and the dark state is entered. On the other hand, the a region remains in a bright state without canceling out the phase difference (in contrast, the phase difference is increased and transmitted light is increased).

By inserting a retardation film having an axial angle different by 90 °, “a phase difference is canceled and dark state” and “a phase difference is enhanced and transmitted light is increased” are reversed in a region and b region. It was confirmed that alignment layers having alignment directions m and m ′ having different alignment directions by 90 ° in the regions b and b were formed.
As described above, it was confirmed that an alignment layer in which the alignment direction of the liquid crystal compound differs depending on the region can be produced by the production method of the present invention.

  That is, in the produced optical phase difference element, optically anisotropic layers in which the slow axis (or fast axis) direction of the liquid crystalline compound is different by 90 ° are formed in regions adjacent to each other in a stripe pattern in the horizontal direction. It was confirmed that

Example 4
Polymer 1 was dissolved in toluene, and 0.05 part by weight of 4,4′-bis (diethylamino) benzophenone (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry) was added to prepare Solution 1. Moreover, the polymer 2 was melt | dissolved in 1, 4- dioxane and the solution 2 was prepared. As illustrated in the schematic diagram of FIG. 9, the solution 1 was applied to the entire surface of the glass plate 80, and the substrate was dried at room temperature (about 25 ° C.) to form the first coating layer 81 of the polymer 1. Next, the solution 2 is applied to a specific region 82 on the glass substrate on which the coating layer 81 has been formed, and this substrate is dried at room temperature (about 25 ° C.), so that the first coating region 81 and the second coating region 82 are dried. Were formed on a glass substrate.

  Subsequently, the coating film was irradiated with light L from a high-pressure mercury lamp converted into linearly polarized light using a Grand Taylor prism for 300 seconds, then heated at 120 ° C., and then gradually heated to room temperature over 30 minutes. It was cooled and used as an alignment film. Next, on this base material, 80 wt% of a liquid crystal compound (“ZLI-4792”, manufactured by Merck Japan Ltd.) is mixed with 20 wt% of a low molecular compound, and a photopolymerization initiator (“Irgacure 907”, Ciba 0.05 parts by weight of Specialty Chemicals) was mixed and dissolved. This mixture was applied onto the prepared alignment film, the substrate was heated to 70 ° C., and the mixture was changed to an isotropic phase, and then cooled to room temperature. Here, when observed with a polarizing microscope, it was confirmed that the mixture layer was oriented.

  Furthermore, non-polarizing ultraviolet rays were irradiated for 300 seconds to crosslink the mixture layer. The mixture layer stopped flowing while maintaining the orientation. Thus, an optical retardation element having an optically anisotropic layer (liquid crystalline compound layer) 83 on the alignment layer was produced.

Similarly to Example 3, the optical characteristics in the vicinity of the boundary between the two regions of the produced retardation optical element were observed with a polarizing microscope (crossed Nicols) as shown in FIGS. 10- (A), 10- (B), and FIG. 10- (C).
By inserting a retardation film having an axial angle different by 90 °, “a phase difference is canceled and dark state” and “a phase difference is enhanced and transmitted light is increased” are reversed in a region and b region. It was confirmed that optically anisotropic layers having 90 ° differences in the slow axis (or fast axis) directions n and n ′ of the phase difference were formed in the regions b and b.
As described above, it was confirmed that an alignment layer in which the alignment direction of the liquid crystal compound differs depending on the region can be produced by the production method of the present invention.

  That is, in the produced optical phase difference element, optically anisotropic layers in which the slow axis (or fast axis) direction of the liquid crystalline compound is different by 90 ° are formed in regions adjacent to each other in a stripe pattern in the horizontal direction. It was confirmed that

  As described above, in the present invention, an optical retardation element in which optical anisotropic layers having different slow axis (or fast axis) directions of phase differences between adjacent regions are formed by a simple manufacturing method. The optical phase difference element obtained by patterning such a phase difference can be suitably used for an image display device such as a 3D image display device.

  As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, but various additions, modifications, or deletions can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Included in the range.

40: PET film 41: First application area 42: Second application area L: Linearly polarized light m: Slow axis direction of the first application area m ′: Slow axis direction of the second application area A: Polarizer of polarizing microscope B: Analyzer of polarizing microscope 50: TAC film to which the optical retardation element of Example 1 was transferred 51: Retardation film having a retardation value equivalent to the a region 52: Equivalent to the b region C: retardation axis direction of retardation film 51 c ′: retardation axis direction of retardation film 52 60: glass plate 61: first application area 62: second application area 63: Liquid crystalline compound layer 70: Substrate on which the liquid crystalline compound of Example 1 is aligned 71: Retardation film 72: Retardation film d: Slow axis direction of retardation film 71 d ′: Retardation of retardation film 72 Phase axis direction 80 Glass plate 81: First coating region 82: Second coating region 83: Liquid crystalline compound layer n: Slow axis direction of first optical anisotropic layer n ′: Slow of first optical anisotropic layer Phase axis direction

Claims (15)

A first photo-alignment region oriented parallel to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by polarized light irradiation;
A second photo-alignment region oriented perpendicularly to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation is disposed in each adjacent region;
An optical phase difference element in which slow axes of the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region are different from each other.   2. The side chain according to claim 1, wherein the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region have a side chain including a structure in which (i) a photosensitive group and a mesogen unit are bonded via a spacer or not. A liquid crystal-expressing photosensitive polymer, and (ii) a polymer having different side chains selected from the group consisting of a photosensitive side chain and a side-chain liquid crystal-expressing photosensitive polymer having a carboxyl group at the end of the side chain. Optical phase difference element.   2. The optical retardation element further comprising a liquid crystalline compound layer according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline compound layer uses the first and second photo-alignment regions as alignment films, An optical retardation element that is aligned along the alignment direction of each of the first and second photo-alignment regions.   4. The side chain according to claim 3, wherein the first photo-alignment region and the second photo-alignment region have a side chain including a structure in which (i) a photosensitive group and a mesogen unit are bonded via a spacer or not. A liquid crystal-expressing photosensitive polymer, (ii) a side-chain liquid crystal-expressing photosensitive polymer having a photosensitive side chain and having a carboxyl group at the end of the side chain, and (iii) a vinyl cinnamate system having a cinnamoyl group in the side chain. An optical retardation element formed from a different polymer selected from the group consisting of a photosensitive polymer and (iv) a cis-trans isomerized photosensitive polymer. In Claim 1, a 1st photo-alignment area | region and a 2nd photo-alignment area | region consist of the photosensitive polymer formed from the monomer unit which has a side chain represented by either of following formula (1)-(3). An optical retardation element formed from polymers different from each other selected from the group.

(In the formulas (1) and (2), n represents 1 to 12, m represents an integer of 1 to 12, and X or Y represents none, —COO, —OCO—, —N═N—, — Each represents C═C— or —C ₆ H ₄ —, and W ₁ and W ₂ are the same or different and each represents a cinnamoyl group, a chalcone group, a cinnamylidene group, a biphenylacryloyl group, a furylacryloyl group, a naphthylacryloyl group or Represents their derivatives.)

(In the formula (3), s represents 0 or 1, t represents an integer of 1 to 3, and R represents H, an alkyl group, an alkyloxy group, or a halogen.)   In Claim 5, a 1st photo-alignment area | region is formed from the polymer which consists of a monomer which has a side chain shown by said Formula (1), and a 2nd photo-alignment area | region is said Formula (2) or (3). An optical retardation element formed of a polymer comprising a monomer having a side chain represented by   The optical phase difference element used in the 3D image display device according to claim 1.   A laminate in which the optical retardation element according to claim 1 and a polarizing element are laminated.   An image display device equipped with the optical phase difference element according to claim 1. Forming a pretreatment sheet in which the first photoalignable material and the second photoalignable material are respectively formed in adjacent regions;
The pretreatment sheet is irradiated with the entire surface of the polarized light without using a mask, and the first light alignment material is aligned in parallel to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation. An irradiation step of forming an alignment region and orienting the second photo-alignment material perpendicularly to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by the polarized light irradiation to form the second photo-alignment region;
A method for manufacturing an optical phase difference element.   In Claim 10, from the gravure printing, the flexographic printing, the ink jet printing, and the screen printing by using the first coating liquid containing the first photo-aligning material and the second coating liquid containing the second photo-aligning material. A manufacturing method for forming a pretreatment sheet by at least one printing method selected from the group consisting of:   The manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein the heating step is performed following the polarized light irradiation step, and the cooling step is further performed. Forming a pretreatment film in which the first photoalignable material and the second photoalignable material are respectively formed in adjacent regions;
The pretreatment film is entirely irradiated with polarized light without passing through a mask, and the first light alignment material is aligned in parallel to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by this polarized light irradiation, so that the first light is irradiated. An alignment region is formed, and the second photo-alignment material is aligned perpendicularly to the electric field vibration plane of the polarized light irradiation by this polarized light irradiation to form a second photo-aligned region, and the first and second An irradiation step of forming alignment films having slow axes different from those of the photo-alignment region;
Applying a liquid crystalline compound on the alignment film to form a liquid crystalline compound layer aligned along the alignment direction of each of the first and second photo-alignment regions;
A method for manufacturing an optical phase difference element.   In Claim 13, from the gravure printing, the flexographic printing, the ink jet printing, and the screen printing by using the first coating liquid containing the first photo-aligning material and the second coating liquid containing the second photo-aligning material. A manufacturing method for forming a pretreatment film by at least one printing method selected from the group consisting of:   In claim 13, in the pretreatment film forming step, one of the first coating liquid containing the first photoalignable material and the second coating liquid containing the second photoalignable material is applied over the entire surface. A manufacturing method in which the other is partially coated on the coated surface.

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