KR20110125858A - Method and apparatus of manufacturing the patterned retarder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A manufacturing method of a patternized retarder and manufacturing device thereof are provided to effectively shorten a process and time which manufactured a patternized retarder without needing an additional device for aligning each high price pattern area and each pattern area and without performing at least two masks working. CONSTITUTION: A manufacturing method of a patternized retarder includes as follows: a step of examining a patternized wire grid polarizer on a film which is available for optical alignment. The film of an optical alignment is for forming a liquid crystal layer on the film. The optically aligned film includes a chiralic material which is available for a liquid compound and optical modulation.

Description

Method for manufacturing patterned retarder and apparatus for manufacturing same {METHOD AND APPARATUS OF MANUFACTURING THE PATTERNED RETARDER}

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a patterned retarder that can be applied to a stereoscopic image display apparatus using a polarizing glasses method, and a manufacturing apparatus thereof.

A patterned retarder (also called a birefringent medium or a retardation film) is applied to a stereoscopic image display device of polarized glasses and used to implement a stereoscopic image.

FIG. 1 is a stereoscopic image display device including a patterned retarder 101 including a substrate (polarizing plate) 105, an alignment film 107, and a liquid crystal coating layer 109 on one surface of an image display panel 103. Here, the left circularly polarized light part (L) and the right circularly polarized light part (R) have a structure that is alternately and repeatedly arranged in a stripe shape. Light passing through the left circular polarizer L passes through the polarizing film of the left eye in the user's polarizing glasses, and light passing through the right circular polarizer R passes through the polarizing film of the right eye in the polarizing glasses of the user. By forming different images in iii), a stereoscopic image can be realized.

In the method for producing a patterned retarder, an alignment film is formed by applying a composition for forming an alignment film on a single substrate as in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-337226. The mask is placed on the alignment layer to be irradiated with polarized light to pattern the area A. After the mask is moved, the polarized light is irradiated to pattern the B area. After coating the composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer on the patterned alignment layer and irradiated with ultraviolet rays to prepare a patterned retarder (see FIG. 2).

This method necessarily requires a polarizing exposure machine to form a patterned alignment region in the alignment film. The polarizing exposure machine polarizes the light irradiated from the exposure machine and has a disadvantage in that quartz (quartz), which is quite expensive, must be used as an element for polarization. In addition, in order to shorten the process, when forming each pattern region, a separate polarizing exposure machine should be provided.

In addition, an alignment apparatus and an alignment operation for aligning two mask operations and each pattern region are required.

Thus, the method and apparatus for manufacturing the patterned retarder is very complicated, there is a problem that takes a long time.

Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and does not require two or more mask operations, and does not require an expensive polarizing exposure machine and a separate device for aligning each pattern region. The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a patterned retarder and an apparatus for manufacturing the same, which can effectively shorten the process and time for manufacturing the dough.

In addition, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a patterned retarder and a manufacturing apparatus thereof, which can simplify the manufacturing process and improve productivity by employing a process suitable for short time mass production.

1. A method of making a patterned retarder comprising covering and irradiating a patterned wire grid polarizer on a film capable of light orientation.

2. The method according to the above 1, wherein the film capable of photo alignment is an alignment film for forming a liquid crystal layer on the film.

3. The method according to the above 1, wherein the photo-alignable film comprises a liquid crystal compound and a chiral material capable of light modulation.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding 1, wherein the pattern of the wire grid polarizer is substantially perpendicular to the transmission axis, and the pattern of the wire grid polarizer is formed repeatedly.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the pattern of the wire grid polarizer is formed to correspond to the retarder pattern.

6. In the above 4, the light is unpolarized manufacturing method of the patterned retarder.

7. The method according to the above 4, wherein the lattice period of the wire grid polarizer is less than or equal to the dominant wavelength of light.

8. The method according to the above 7, wherein the lattice period of the wire grid polarizer is 1/2 to 1/4 with respect to the dominant wavelength of light.

9. Transfer unit for transferring the substrate; An alignment film forming unit for forming an alignment film on the substrate to be transferred; A patterned alignment layer forming unit covering the patterned wire grid polarizer on the alignment layer and irradiating light to form a patterned alignment layer; And a patterned retarder forming unit forming a liquid crystal coating layer on the patterned alignment layer and irradiating light to form a patterned retarder.

10. Transfer unit for transferring the substrate; A liquid crystal coating layer forming unit forming a liquid crystal coating layer including a chiral material capable of light modulation on the substrate to be transferred; And a patterned retarder forming unit covering the patterned wire grid polarizer on the liquid crystal coating layer and irradiating light to form a patterned retarder.

According to the present invention, the manufacturing apparatus (exposure apparatus, alignment apparatus, etc.) and the manufacturing process (two mask operations, etc.) can be reduced, thereby reducing costs and shortening the processing time.

In addition, the present invention can significantly improve the quality of the patterned retarder due to the significantly reduced problems caused during the alignment of the pattern area.

In addition, the present invention can manufacture a roll-shaped patterned retarder, the manufacturing process is simplified when applied to a three-dimensional image display device, and can be provided by cutting the patterned retarder according to the size of the image display device process Margins can be greatly improved.

In addition, the present invention can produce a patterned retarder in a continuous process to improve mass production and productivity.

1A and 1B are the structure of the patterned retarder,
2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a conventional patterned retarder,
3 is an apparatus for manufacturing a patterned retarder according to an example of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows the definition of the pitch (P), line width (W) and height (H) of the patterned wire grid polarizer according to the present invention,
5A, 5B and 5C are examples of patterns of wire grid polarizers according to the present invention,
6 is a method of manufacturing an exemplary patterned retarder in accordance with the present invention;
7 is an apparatus for manufacturing a patterned retarder according to an example of the present invention;
8 is a method of manufacturing an exemplary patterned retarder in accordance with the present invention;
9 is a structure of a patterned retarder manufactured according to the present invention.

The present invention includes a step of covering and irradiating a patterned wire grid polarizer on a film capable of optical alignment, thereby reducing the manufacturing apparatus and the process, reducing the processing time, and continuously improving the quality of the patterned retarder. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a patterned retarder capable of mass production and an apparatus for manufacturing the same.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

The method of manufacturing the patterned retarder of the present invention includes the step of covering and irradiating a patterned wire grid polarizer on a film capable of light orientation.

The photo-alignable film may include an alignment film for forming a liquid crystal layer on the film, or a liquid crystal compound and a chiral material capable of light modulation.

The pattern of the wire grid polarizer is formed to correspond to the retarder pattern.

The manufacturing method of the patterned retarder when the film | membrane which can be photo-aligned is an oriented film for forming a liquid crystal layer on the film is as follows.

Transferring the substrate; Forming an alignment layer on the transferred substrate; Covering the patterned wire grid polarizer on the formed alignment layer and irradiating with light to form a patterned alignment layer; And applying a composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer on the patterned alignment layer and irradiating with light to form a patterned retarder.

In this case, the apparatus for manufacturing a patterned retarder may include an optical alignment unit 1 and a patterned retarder forming unit 3 as shown in FIG. 3. The photo-alignment part 1 includes a conveying part 11 having a first roll 7 for unwinding the substrate 5 and a second roll 9 for winding the substrate 5.

An alignment film forming portion (not shown) for forming an alignment film on the substrate before the photoalignment portion 1 is also included. The alignment film forming unit may be a flow casting method and a conventional apparatus such as an air knife, gravure, reverse roll, kiss roll, spray or blade, etc. may be used. have. The alignment film may be formed in the process immediately before the alignment by the alignment film forming unit, and in some cases, the alignment film may be formed on the substrate 5 through a separate alignment film forming process. Moreover, in order to harden the formed oriented film, the usual drying apparatus can be used for the oriented film formation part as needed.

The first roll 7 and the second roll 9 of the conveying unit 11 are independently connected to a driving source (not shown) such as a motor and a power transmission member (not shown) such as a belt or a chain and rotated by receiving a driving force. It is desirable to be arranged so that it can.

In addition, a guide roll (not shown) and a accumulator (not shown) for controlling the transfer amount of the substrate in accordance with the process for maintaining the tension and stable transfer of the substrate can be provided.

The photoalignment unit 1 is provided with light 15 capable of orientating the entire region of the alignment layer provided on the base 5 in one direction. The light 15 uses unpolarized light, and may use an electron beam or an electromagnetic wave. It is preferable to use the ultraviolet-ray excellent in fairness for electromagnetic waves.

In particular, in the embodiment of the present invention, the light 15 may be arbitrarily selected according to the kind of the alignment film provided on the surface of the substrate 5, and any light may be provided as long as it can be oriented in a non-contact manner.

The patterned wire grid polarizer 17 is preferably disposed between the light 15 and the substrate 5. The polarization function of the patterned wire grid polarizer 17 is influenced by the pitch P, the line width W and the height H of the grid lines, which are defined as the distance between the centers of the grid lines as shown in FIG. 4.

To improve the degree of polarization of light passing through the patterned wire grid polarizer, the pitch (lattice period, P) is less than or equal to the principal wavelength of the exposure light, preferably less than or equal to 0.5 times the wavelength, more preferably the principal wavelength. It is preferably a size of 0.5 to 0.25 times. The line width W is 0.5 times or less with respect to P, and the height H is formed with a size ratio of 1 time or more with respect to W, which is preferable for improving the degree of polarization of light passing through the patterned wire grid polarizer.

The patterned wire grid polarizer has lattice lines arranged on a transparent substrate.

The transparent substrate may be formed in a film form using glass or a synthetic resin such as polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN).

The grating of the polarizer may be formed of a metal or metal oxide having high light reflectance. For example, it may be formed of a single metal such as aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), gold (Au), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), or an alloy thereof. Preferably, it is preferable to form aluminum (Al), silver (Ag) or aluminum molybdenum oxide (AMO) having high light reflectance and low light absorption, and more preferably, aluminum molybdenum oxide (AMO) having excellent workability. In addition, the single metal or alloy may be formed in a multilayer structure in which a plurality of layers are stacked.

The lattice forming method of the patterned wire grid polarizer may be formed on a transparent substrate by a known method such as a nanoimprint lithography method, a laser interference lithography method, or an electron beam lithography method.

The pattern of the patterned wire grid polarizer may be formed as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, for example. In this case, A is a transmission axis and B is an absorption axis, and transmission axes of adjacent patterns are substantially perpendicular to each other. Substantially vertical in the present invention is an angle of the degree to which the stereoscopic image can be implemented using a patterned retarder formed by the patterned wire grid polarizer, and specifically, may be 90 ± 5 °.

When the light emitted from the light 15 passes through the patterned wire grid polarizer, the light is polarized and transmitted, and a pattern is formed on the film that can be photo-aligned by the polarized light.

The patterned retarder forming portion 3 is provided on one side of the optical alignment portion 1 to form a liquid crystal coating layer on the alignment film provided on the substrate. Although the patterning retarder forming unit is illustrated and described with an example disposed on one side of the optical alignment unit for the continuous process in the embodiment of the present invention, the patterning retarder forming unit is not limited thereto. It is also possible.

The patterned retarder forming portion 3 includes a composition applying portion 31, a composition drying portion 33, and a curing portion 35.

The composition application | coating part 31 is apply | coating a composition for liquid crystal coating layer formation containing a liquid crystal compound and a solvent uniformly on a hard alignment film. Such a composition application part 31 is usually flow casting and air knife, gravure (reverse roll), reverse roll (kiss roll), spray (spray) or blade (blade), etc. Can be used.

The composition drying unit 33 is for drying the mixed solution applied in the composition applying unit 31 to form a coating layer, which may also be a common drying apparatus.

The hardening part 35 irradiates and hardens the formed coating layer using an exposure machine, and a conventional apparatus such as a light source for irradiating electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays may be used. Moreover, it can also thermoset using a heater.

In addition, after the patterned retarder forming unit, the present invention may include a defect inspection unit (not shown) to perform defect inspection of the patterned retarder. The defect inspection unit specifies a specified defect by using a scan such as a polarization filter, and displays the specified defect by using a marking device such as ink marking or barcode marking on the specified defect, or the defect information (shape, size, position) in a separate storage unit. ) Can be stored and applied to a stereoscopic image display device.

The manufacturing method of the patterned retarder of an example of this invention made in this way is demonstrated in detail with reference to FIG.

First, the base material is transferred by the transfer part 11 (S1). At this time, when the substrate is in a roll shape, it is preferable to move in the usual roll to roll method. In addition, it is preferable to use an accumulator (not shown) which controls the conveyance amount of the substrate in accordance with a guide roll (not shown) and a process for maintaining the tension and transferring the stable substrate.

An alignment film is formed on the substrate (S3). Formation of the alignment film is carried out by the alignment film applying apparatus, and drying is performed by a drying apparatus as necessary. In addition, when the alignment film is formed on the substrate through a separate alignment film forming process, the present process may be omitted.

The alignment layer is generally used in the art and is not particularly limited, but an organic alignment layer is preferably used. More preferably, those described in International Patent No. 2005/096041, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 10-123461, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 10-227998 may be used.

As the organic alignment film, a composition for forming an alignment film containing an acrylate type, a polyimide type, or a polyamic acid may be used. The polyamic acid is a polymer obtained by reacting diamine and dianhydride, and the polyimide is obtained by imidating the polyamic acid, and their structure is not particularly limited.

It is important to maintain a suitable viscosity of the composition for forming an alignment film. When the viscosity is too high, it is difficult to form an alignment film having a uniform thickness because it does not easily flow even when pressure is applied. When the viscosity is too low, the spreadability is good, but it is difficult to control the thickness of the alignment film. For example, it is preferable that they are 1cP thru | or 13cP at 25 degreeC.

In addition, it is preferable that the composition for forming the alignment layer considers the surface tension, the solid content, the volatility of the solvent, and the like. In particular, since the content of solid content affects the viscosity and surface tension, it is good to adjust the thickness and curing characteristics of the alignment film in consideration of the same. If the solid content is too high, the viscosity is high, the thickness of the alignment film is thick, if it is too low, there is a problem that a high proportion of the solvent causes a stain after drying the solution. For example, the content of the solid content is preferably 0.1 to 30% by weight.

It is preferable that the composition for oriented film formation is a solution form in which solid content, such as an acrylate type, a polyimide type, or a polyamic acid, melt | dissolved in the solvent. The solvent is not particularly limited as long as it can dissolve the solid content. Specifically, butyl cellosolve, gamma-butyrolactone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether may be used.

Such solvents are suitably mixed so as to form a uniform alignment film in consideration of solubility, viscosity, surface tension, and the like.

In addition to the alignment layer composition, a crosslinking agent and a coupling agent may be further mixed to form an effective alignment layer.

A patterned alignment layer is manufactured by using a wire grid polarizer patterned on the alignment layer (S5). When the patterned wire grid polarizer is disposed on the alignment layer in the optical alignment unit, and the light is irradiated from the upper portion of the polarizer, the alignment direction of the alignment layer is patterned by the polarized light passing through the patterned wire grid polarizer.

The light uses unpolarized light, and may use an electron beam or an electromagnetic wave. It is preferable to use the ultraviolet-ray excellent in fairness for electromagnetic waves.

After the patterned alignment layer is cured, a liquid crystal coating layer is formed (S7). In the forming of the liquid crystal coating layer (S7), the composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer is coated on the aligned alignment layer (S9). Then, the coated liquid crystal coating layer-forming composition is dried to form a coating layer (S11). The coating layer is photocured (S13). Through this process, a patterned retarder in which the liquid crystal coating layer is aligned according to the alignment direction of the alignment layer is manufactured.

The composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer may include a liquid crystal compound and a solvent, and the liquid crystal compound may include, for example, a reactive liquid crystal compound (RM). As an example of a reactive liquid crystal compound (RM), the thing described in Information Display 10 volume 1 (the latest research trend of the reactive liquid crystal monomer) is mentioned.

The reactive liquid crystal compound refers to a monomer molecule having a liquid crystal phase including a mesogen capable of expressing liquid crystal and a terminal group capable of polymerization. By polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal compound, it is possible to obtain a crosslinked polymer network while maintaining the aligned phase of the liquid crystal. When the reactive liquid crystal compound molecules are cooled from the clearing point, a large area domain having a structure that is better aligned at a relatively low viscosity in the liquid crystal phase may be obtained than when the liquid crystal polymer having the same structure is used.

The liquid crystal coating layer thus formed is mechanically and thermally stable because it has a solid thin film form while maintaining the properties such as optical anisotropy and dielectric constant of the liquid crystal.

The reactive liquid crystal compound (RM) may be used as a composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer by diluting in a solvent in order to secure the efficiency of the coating process and the uniformity of the coating layer. Preferably, it is good to melt | dissolve in the solvent which can melt | dissolve a liquid crystal compound, and to have uniformity.

For example, the reactive liquid crystal compound may be a solvent capable of dissolving it, in particular one or two or more selected from propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), isopropyl alcohol (IPA), xylene, and chloroform. The mixed solvent may be used to prepare a composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer.

In addition, the reactive liquid crystal compound comprises an initiator for polymerizing and crosslinking it to prepare a coating layer forming composition. As the initiator, a known photopolymerization initiator or a thermal polymerization initiator may be used, and a photopolymerization initiator is preferable because of easy reaction time and control. The initiator is 10% by weight or less, preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight based on the total solids of the reactive liquid crystal compound.

The reactive liquid crystal compound further includes an additive to prepare a composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer. Additives include, for example, dispersants, binders (eg, free radical polymerizable and cationic polymerizable binders), preservatives (eg, glutaraldehyde, tetramethylolacetyleneurea), silane coupling agents, leveling agents, crosslinking agents, antioxidants Degassers, defoamers, viscosity modifiers, flow improvers, sedimentation inhibitors, gloss improvers, lubricants, adhesion promoters, anti-skinning agents, metting agents, emulsifiers, stabilizers, hydrophobic agents, light stabilizer additives, treatment improvers and antistatic agents have.

The content of the reactive liquid crystal compound in the composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer is to maintain 5 to 30% by weight. If the content is less than 5% by weight, it is impossible to implement retardation, and when the content exceeds 30% by weight, the reactive liquid crystal compound is precipitated, making it difficult to form a uniform liquid crystal coating layer.

Moreover, the manufacturing method of the patterned retarder when the film | membrane which can be photo-aligned contains a liquid crystal compound and the chiral substance which can be modulated is as follows.

Transferring the substrate; Forming a liquid crystal coating layer including a chiral material capable of light modulation on the transferred substrate; And covering the patterned wire grid polarizer on the formed liquid crystal coating layer and irradiating light to form a patterned retarder.

At this time, the manufacturing apparatus of the patterned retarder, as shown in Fig. 7, the transfer portion 11 having a first roll 7 for unwinding the substrate 5 and a second roll 9 for winding the substrate 5 And a patterned retarder forming portion 3 having light 37 and patterned wire grid polarizer 39.

In the manufacturing method of the patterned retarder of the present invention made as described above, the substrate is transferred (S1) in a roll-to-roll manner as shown in FIG. After forming (S3), the patterned wire grid polarizer is covered on the liquid crystal coating layer and cured by irradiating with light (S5).

In this method, a patterned retarder is manufactured by covering and irradiating a patterned wire grid polarizer directly on a liquid crystal coating layer including a chiral material capable of light modulation without an alignment layer.

The liquid crystal coating layer may be formed by containing a photoisomerizable material disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 10-153707 or a chiral material capable of light modulation described in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0603455. In the composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer containing a chiral material capable of light modulation, the liquid crystal has an alignment direction when the polarized light is irradiated after applying the liquid crystal coating layer without the alignment layer.

The present invention easily prepares a patterned retarder by applying a liquid crystal coating layer containing a chiral material capable of light modulation and then covering the patterned wire grid polarizer and irradiating light.

Other details are the same as above.

9 is a structure of a patterned retarder according to the present invention. The patterned retarder is a substrate, an alignment region (a, b) which is oriented in different directions on top of the substrate, has a stripe shape, and is alternately arranged, and a liquid crystal disposed on the alignment region (a, b) The coating layer 109 is included.

The substrate of the present invention preferably uses a known optical film such as a polyolefin-based film having a glass substrate, a cyclo-based or norbornene structure, a triacetyl cellulose, a polycarbonate film, and preferably a polarizing plate. In addition, when the substrate has a roll shape, a roll-shaped patterned retarder can be manufactured, which is advantageous because the manufacturing process is simplified and the process margin is improved when applied to the image display apparatus.

In general, a stereoscopic image display apparatus using a patterned retarder requires a step of laminating a patterned retarder on an polarizing plate through an adhesive or the like in order to form left circular polarization and right circular polarization. However, when the polarizing plate is used as the substrate, such a lamination process is omitted, thereby reducing manufacturing costs as well as process shortening.

The polarizing plate includes a polarizer and a polarizer protective film laminated on at least one surface of the polarizer.

The polarizer may be one in which the dichroic dye is adsorbed and oriented on a film made of polyvinyl alcohol-based resin. As a polyvinyl alcohol-type resin which comprises the said polarizer, the copolymer etc. of polyvinyl acetate which is a homopolymer of vinyl acetate, a vinyl acetate, and the other monomer copolymerizable with this can be used. As the other monomer copolymerizable with vinyl acetate, unsaturated carboxylic acids, unsaturated sulfonic acids, olefins, vinyl ethers and acrylamides having an ammonium group may be used. The thickness of the polarizer is not particularly limited and may be prepared in the conventional thickness used in the art.

The polarizer protective film is preferably excellent in transparency, mechanical strength, thermal stability, moisture shielding, isotropy, etc., for example, polyester-based films such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene isophthalate, polybutylene terephthalate; Cellulose films such as diacetyl cellulose and triacetyl cellulose; Polycarbonate film; Acrylic films such as polymethyl (meth) acrylate and polyethyl (meth) acrylate; Styrene-based films such as polystyrene acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer; Polyolefin-based films such as polyethylene, polypropylene, cyclo- or polyolefin-based films having a norbornene structure, and ethylene propylene copolymers; Polyimide film; Polyether sulfone-based film; A sulfone film etc. can be used, The thickness of these is also not specifically limited.

In addition, the liquid crystal coating layer of the present invention forms a pattern so that the slow axis direction of the adjacent pattern maintains 45 ° and 135 °, respectively, independently of the absorption axis (stretch axis) direction of the polarizing plate, thereby forming the right polarizing part and the left circular polarizing part.

Such a patterned retarder can be continuously produced in long lengths, which facilitates mass production, thereby increasing productivity. In addition, the patterned retarder of the embodiment of the present invention is made of a film that can exhibit a flexible form (flexible) can be attached to an image panel having a variety of conditions.

Hereinafter, preferred examples are provided to aid the understanding of the present invention, but the following examples are merely for exemplifying the present invention, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. It is natural that such variations and modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Example 1

An acrylate-based alignment liquid was coated on the uncoiled 75 μm-thick polarizing plate, followed by hot air drying at 40 ° C. for 120 seconds to form an alignment film having a thickness of 1,000 μm. As the polarizing plate, a triacetyl cellulose (TAC) protective film was bonded to one surface of the PVA polarizer, and a cycloolefin-based protective film was bonded to the other surface on which the alignment film was coated.

A patterned wire grid polarizer was placed on the alignment film of the transferred polarizing plate and irradiated with ultraviolet rays with a 14mW exposure lamp to prepare a photoalignment alignment film. The patterned wire grid polarizer was patterned such that the transmission axes of adjacent patterns were perpendicular to each other.

A 25 wt% (solid content) composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer prepared by dissolving a reactive liquid crystal compound in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) was applied onto the alignment layer.

After preliminary drying at 80 ° C. for 20 seconds, the resultant was dried at 110 ° C. for 5 seconds to form a liquid crystal coating layer having a thickness of 1.5 μm. Subsequently, a patterned retarder having a 14 mW exposure lamp photocured with ultraviolet light for 500 seconds was alternately present in a region where the phase difference delay of light passing through the liquid crystal coating layer is -λ / 4 and a region that is λ / 4.

Example 2

Coating the composition for forming a liquid crystal coating layer of 20% by weight (solid content) prepared by dissolving a chiral material capable of optical modulation and a reactive liquid crystal compound in chloroform on a 75 μm-thick polarizing plate (same as Example 1). And hot air dried at 40 ° C. for 120 seconds to form a liquid crystal coating layer having a thickness of 1.5 μm.

The patterned wire grid polarizer is then placed on the transferred liquid crystal coating layer and irradiated with ultraviolet light for 14 seconds with a 14 mW exposure lamp, whereby the phase difference delay of the light passing through the liquid crystal coating layer is -λ / 4 and λ / 4. Patterned retarders with alternating regions were produced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Optical alignment part 3: Patterned retarder formation part
5, 105: substrate 7: first roll
9: second roll 11: feed roll
15, 37: light
17, 39: patterned wire grid polarizer
31: coating composition
33: composition drying unit
35: hardened part
101: patterned retarder 103: image display panel
107: alignment film 109: liquid crystal coating layer

Claims (10)

A method of manufacturing a patterned retarder comprising covering and irradiating a patterned wire grid polarizer on a film capable of light orientation.
The method of manufacturing a patterned retarder according to claim 1, wherein the film capable of photo alignment is an alignment film for forming a liquid crystal layer on the film.
The method of claim 1, wherein the photo-alignable film includes a liquid crystal compound and a chiral material capable of light modulation.
The method of manufacturing a patterned retarder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pattern of the wire grid polarizer is substantially perpendicular to the transmission axis, and the pattern of the wire grid polarizer is formed repeatedly.
The method of claim 4, wherein the pattern of the wire grid polarizer is formed to correspond to the retarder pattern.
The method of claim 4, wherein the light is unpolarized.
The method of manufacturing a patterned retarder according to claim 4, wherein the lattice period of the wire grid polarizer is equal to or less than the dominant wavelength of light.
The method of manufacturing a patterned retarder according to claim 7, wherein the lattice period of the wire grid polarizer is 1/2 to 1/4 with respect to the dominant wavelength of light.
A transfer unit for transferring the substrate;
An alignment film forming unit for forming an alignment film on the substrate to be transferred;
A patterned alignment layer forming unit covering the patterned wire grid polarizer on the alignment layer and irradiating light to form a patterned alignment layer; And
And a patterned retarder forming unit forming a liquid crystal coating layer on the patterned alignment layer and irradiating light to form a patterned retarder.
A transfer unit for transferring the substrate;
A liquid crystal coating layer forming unit forming a liquid crystal coating layer including a chiral material capable of light modulation on the substrate to be transferred; And
And a patterned retarder forming unit covering the patterned wire grid polarizer on the liquid crystal coating layer and irradiating light to form a patterned retarder.

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