KR20150037695A - Light-spliting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to a light-splitting device and a three-dimensional video display device. The illustrative light-splitting device is capable not only to split incidental light into more than two types of light with different polarizing characteristics, but also to control light transmission at the demarcation of the light-splitting area. Such light-splitting device, for example, may act as optical filter of a three-dimensional video display device to display three-dimensional video with a wider viewing angle without losing brightness.

Description

[0001] LIGHT-SPLITING DEVICE [0002]

The present application relates to a light-dividing element and a stereoscopic image display apparatus.

A stereoscopic image display device is a display device capable of displaying an image having a deep feeling. Since the stereoscopic image display device can stereoscopically display an object in a space, the three-dimensional information inherent to the object can be transmitted to the observer in a complete manner, and realistic expression is possible. The stereoscopic image display technology is largely classified into a spectacle method and a non-spectacle method. In addition, the eyeglass system can be classified into a polarizing glasses system and a liquid crystal shutter glass system, and the no-glasses system can be classified into a binocular / multi-binocular system, a volumetric system, or a holographic system have.

Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-0003966

The present application provides a light dividing element and a stereoscopic image display apparatus.

An exemplary light splitting element may include a phase retardation layer and a pattern polarizing layer formed below the phase retardation layer. The phase delay layer may include, for example, a first region and a second region that are alternately arranged along one direction and have different phase delay characteristics from each other. The pattern polarizing layer may include first and second polarizing regions arranged alternately along the one direction and having light transmission axes formed in different directions from each other. 1 is a plan view of a phase split layer 101 including first and second regions 1011 and 1012 and a patterned polarization layer 102 including first and second polarization regions 1021 and 1021, The device is illustratively shown.

Such a light-dividing element includes, for example, a phase retardation layer capable of performing a light splitting function and a pattern polarizing layer capable of performing a light transmittance adjustment function, and thus can be used as an optical filter in a stereoscopic image display device The stereoscopic image can be displayed at a wide viewing angle without loss of luminance.

Hereinafter, the phase delay layer will be described more specifically. The phase delay layers may be alternately arranged along one direction as described above, and may include a first region and a second region having different phase delay characteristics from each other. The phrase " that the phase delay characteristics are different from each other " in the present application means that, in a state where all of the target regions have phase delay characteristics, the regions have optical axes formed in the same or different directions, In the case of different areas; And a case in which they have optical axes having the same phase delay value and formed in different directions. In another example, " the phase delay characteristics are different " means that any one of the target regions has a phase delay characteristic and the other region has no phase delay characteristic, for example, an optically isotropic Region can also be included.

The first and second regions of the phase delay layer have different phase retardation characteristics. For example, the first and second regions may be divided into two kinds of light beams whose polarization axes are substantially perpendicular to each other when linearly polarized light is incident, When the light is incident, it can perform a function of dividing circularly polarized light whose direction of rotation is opposite to each other or elliptically polarized light whose direction of rotation is opposite to each other.

When the terms "vertical", "horizontal", "orthogonal" or "parallel" are used in defining the angle in the present application, it is understood that the term "substantially vertical", " And includes, for example, a manufacturing error or variation, and the like. Thus, for example, each of the above cases may include an error within about +/- 15 degrees, preferably within about +/- 10 degrees, and more preferably within about +/- 5 degrees.

The phase delay layer may exhibit quarter-wave phase delay characteristics, for example, in the first or second region. In the present specification, the "n-wavelength phase delay characteristic" may mean a characteristic that the incident light can be phase-delayed by n times the wavelength of the incident light within at least a part of the wavelength range. For example, the phase retardation layer may have a phase retardation for a wavelength of 550 nm from 110 nm to 220 nm or from 130 nm to 170 nm. In the present specification, " plane phase difference " is a numerical value calculated by (nx-ny) xd, where nx is the refractive index in the surface phase axial direction of the phase delay layer and ny is the refractive index in the phase- , and d is the thickness of the phase delay layer. Further, in the present specification, the term "slow axis" may mean an axis indicating the highest refractive index in the phase retardation layer, and "fast axis" means a refractive index indicating the lowest refractive index in the phase retardation layer Directional axis. Further, in the present application, the "optical axis" may mean a slow axis or a fast axis in the liquid crystal layer, and may mean, for example, a slow axis.

The phase retardation layer may further have a difference between a refractive index in the in-plane slow axis direction and a refractive index in the in-plane fast axis direction of 0.05 to 0.2, 0.07 to 0.2, 0.09 to 0.2 or 0.1 to 0.2, 0.5 탆 to 2.0 탆 or about 0.5 탆 to 1.5 탆. The refractive index may be a refractive index measured with respect to light having a wavelength of 550 nm or 589 nm, and the refractive index difference may be measured according to the manufacturer's manual using Axoscan's Axoscan. The phase delay layer having the relationship of the refractive index and the thickness can realize a phase delay characteristic suitable for the application to be used, and can be suitably used as an optical filter in a stereoscopic image display device, for example.

When the first and second regions exhibit a quarter-wave phase delay characteristic, the slow axis of the first region and the slow axis of the second region are different from each other. For example, perpendicular to each other. In this case, the linearly polarized light having passed through the first and second regions may be divided into circularly polarized light or elliptically polarized light that rotates in opposite directions

The first and second regions having different phase delay characteristics from each other are not limited to those described above. For example, one of the first and second regions may include a 3/4 wavelength layer and the other region may have a 1 / 4-wavelength layer, it is possible to generate left-handed and right-handed polarized light.

In another example, any one of the first and second regions may be a half wavelength layer, and the other region may be an optically isotropic region. In this case, when the linearly polarized light transmits through the first and second regions, it can be emitted as light that is substantially linearly polarized and mutually orthogonal to each other.

The phase delay layer may be, for example, a liquid crystal layer containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound. The "polymerizable liquid crystal compound" in the present application may mean a compound containing a moiety capable of exhibiting liquid crystallinity, such as a mesogen skeleton, and containing at least one polymerizable functional group. The polymerizable liquid crystal compound can be contained in the liquid crystal layer, for example, in a crosslinked or polymerized state. In the present application, "the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is contained in a crosslinked or polymerized form" may mean a state in which the liquid crystal compound is polymerized to form a skeleton such as a main chain or side chain of the liquid crystal polymer in the liquid crystal layer .

The polymerizable liquid crystal compound may, for example, be contained in the phase delay layer in a horizontally oriented state. The term "horizontal alignment" in the present application means that the optical axis of the retardation layer containing the polymerized liquid crystal compound is in the range of about 0 degrees to about 25 degrees, about 0 degrees to about 15 degrees, about 0 degrees to about 10 degrees May also mean a case of having an inclination angle of about 0 degrees to about 5 degrees or about 0 degrees.

As the polymerizable liquid crystal compound, for example, a compound represented by the following formula (1) can be used.

[Chemical Formula 1]

Wherein A is a single bond, -COO- or -OCO-, and R ₁ to R ₁₀ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a cyano group, a nitro group, -OQP Wherein at least one of R ₁ to R ₁₀ is -OQP or a substituent of the following formula 2 or two adjacent substituents of R ₁ to R ₅ or two adjacent substituents of R ₆ to R ₁₀ are And Q represents an alkylene group or an alkylidene group, and P represents an alkenyl group, an epoxy group, a cyano group, a carboxyl group, an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group, an acryloyl group, A methoxy group, a methoxy group, a methoxy group, a methoxy group,

(2)

Wherein B is a single bond, -COO- or -OCO-, and R ₁₁ to R ₁₅ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a cyano group, a nitro group or -OQP , At least one of R ₁₁ to R ₁₅ is -OQP, or R ₁₁ To R < ₁₅ > are connected to each other to form benzene substituted with -OQP, wherein Q is an alkylene group or an alkylidene group, and P is an alkenyl group, an epoxy group, a cyano group, A methacryloyl group, an acryloyloxy group, or a methacryloyloxy group.

The formation of benzene substituted with -OQP in the above two substituents in Formulas 1 and 2 means that two adjacent substituents are connected to each other to form a naphthalene skeleton substituted with -OQP as a whole have.

In the above formula (2), "-" on the left side of B may mean that B is directly connected to benzene of the formula (1).

The term "single bond" in the above formulas (1) and (2) means a case where no separate atom exists in the part represented by A or B. For example, when A is a single bond in formula (I), benzene on both sides of A may be directly connected to form a biphenyl structure.

As the halogen in the above formulas (1) and (2), chlorine, bromine or iodine can be exemplified.

The term alkyl group in the present application includes, unless otherwise specified, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, 1 to 16 carbon atoms, 1 to 12 carbon atoms, 1 to 8 carbon atoms or 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 16 carbon atoms or 4 to 12 carbon atoms. The alkyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents.

The term alkoxy group in the present application may mean an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, 1 to 16 carbon atoms, 1 to 12 carbon atoms, 1 to 8 carbon atoms or 1 to 4 carbon atoms unless otherwise specified. The alkoxy group may be linear, branched or cyclic. In addition, the alkoxy group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents.

The term alkylene group or alkylidene group in the present application may mean an alkylene group or an alkylidene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, 4 to 10 carbon atoms, or 6 to 9 carbon atoms unless otherwise specified. The alkylene group or alkylidene group may be linear, branched or cyclic. Also, the alkylene group or alkylidene group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents.

Unless otherwise specified, the alkenyl group in the present application may mean an alkenyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, 2 to 16 carbon atoms, 2 to 12 carbon atoms, 2 to 8 carbon atoms, or 2 to 4 carbon atoms. The alkenyl group may be linear, branched or cyclic. In addition, the alkenyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents.

In the general formulas (1) and (2), P is preferably an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group, an acryloyloxy group or a methacryloyloxy group, more preferably an acryloyloxy group or a methacryloyloxy group, And more preferably an acryloyloxy group.

Examples of the substituent which may be substituted in the specific functional group in the present application include alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkenyl groups, epoxy groups, oxo groups, oxetanyl groups, thiol groups, cyano groups, carboxyl groups, acryloyl groups, methacryloyl groups, Acryloyloxy group, methacryloyloxy group, aryl group, and the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The -OQP, which may be present in at least one of the formulas (1) and (2) or the moiety of the formula (2), may for example be present at the position of R ₃ , R ₈ or R ₁₃ . Further, the substituents constituting benzene substituted with -OQP and connected to each other may be, for example, R ₃ and R ₄ , or R ₁₂ and R ₁₃ . The substituent other than -OQP or the residue of the formula (2) in the above-mentioned compound of formula (1) or the residue of formula (2) or substituents other than the substituent which is bonded to each other to form benzene may be, for example, hydrogen, halogen, A branched alkyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group containing a straight or branched alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a cyano group or a nitro group, and in another example Chlorine, a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group containing a straight-chain or branched alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, .

The first and second regions of the phase delay layer may be alternately disposed adjacent to each other with a stripe shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the one direction as shown in Fig. (P in Fig. 2) of the pitch of the area, that is, the line width of one first area and the interval between the first area and the adjacent area when the first and second areas are alternately formed in a stripe shape; (V in Fig. 2) of the adjacent first regions are not limited, and can be determined according to the stereoscopic image display apparatus to which the light splitting element is applied.

Or the first and second regions of the phase delay layer may be alternately arranged adjacent to each other in a lattice form as shown in Fig. In this case as well, the pitch and the interval of each region are not particularly limited and can be determined according to the application to which the light-dividing element is applied. In the above, the pitch and the interval may mean the pitch and the interval in the longitudinal or transverse direction in the first region and the second region arranged in a lattice pattern.

Hereinafter, the pattern polarizing layer will be described more specifically. The pattern polarizing layer may include first and second polarizing regions arranged alternately along the one direction and having light transmission axes formed in different directions as described above. The term " polarizing layer " in the present application may mean, for example, a functional layer having a transmission axis formed in one direction and exhibiting an anisotropic transmission property with respect to incident light. For example, the polarizing layer may have a function of transmitting light that vibrates in one direction from incident light that vibrates in various directions, and absorbs light that vibrates in the other direction. More specifically, the polarizer may be an element having a function of separating incident light into two polarized components orthogonal to each other, transmitting one polarized component, and absorbing and blocking the other polarized component. The term " pattern polarizing layer " in the present application may mean, for example, a functional element in which the anisotropic transmission characteristics are patterned.

The patterned polarizing layer may be, for example, a coating layer of a polarizing material. Therefore, the light-dividing element can be manufactured simply and continuously by a roll-to-roll process, and thinning of the device through structure simplification is possible. The polarizing material may include, for example, a polymerizable liquid crystal compound and a dichroic dye. Such a polarizer is called a so-called guest-host type polarizing element. For example, the dichroic dyes are arranged together according to the alignment of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound in the direction of the optical axis to absorb light parallel to the alignment direction of the dye, Anisotropic light absorption effect can be exhibited. As the polymerizable liquid crystal compound of the pattern polarizing layer, for example, the polymerizable liquid crystal compound described in the item of the phase retardation layer can be used.

Examples of dichroic dyes include those known to be capable of forming so-called guest host type polarizing elements, for example, known dyes known to have properties that can be arranged according to the orientation of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound Can be used. As such dichroic dyes, for example, known dyes such as azo dyes or anthraquinone dyes can be used. Specifically, azo dyes F355 (registered trademark), F357 (registered trademark), or F593 (registered trademark) Nippon Kankoh Shikiso kenkyusho Ltd.), and dyes of a kind known to exhibit the above-mentioned effects, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The dichroic ratio of the dichroic dye can be suitably selected within a range that does not impair the desired physical properties. The dichroic ratio in the present application may mean a value obtained by dividing the absorption of the polarized light parallel to the long axis direction of the dichroic dye by the absorption of the polarized light parallel to the direction perpendicular to the long axis direction. The dichroic dye may have a dichroic ratio of, for example, 5 or more, 6 or more, or 7 or more. The dichroic dye may be, for example, at least a part of the wavelength within the wavelength range of the visible light region, for example, within the wavelength range of about 380 nm to 700 nm or about 400 nm to 700 nm, Can be satisfied. The upper limit of the dichroic ratio may be, for example, 20 or less, 18 or less, 16 or less, or 14 or less.

The first polarizing region of the patterned polarizing layer may be arranged to overlap with the first or second region of the retardation layer when observed in a direction perpendicular to one direction, for example, and the second polarizing region may be, for example, And may be disposed so as to overlap the boundaries of the first and second regions of the phase delay layer when viewed in the vertical direction.

The angle formed by the light transmission axis of the first polarizing region of the pattern polarizing layer and the light transmission axis of the second polarizing region may be, for example, from 70 degrees to 110 degrees, from 80 degrees to 100 degrees, and from 85 degrees to 95 degrees. When the transmission axes of the first and second polarizing regions form the angle, the light dividing element can have an excellent light transmission control function.

The light transmission axis of the first polarizing region of the pattern polarizing layer may be orthogonal to or parallel to a line bisecting the angle formed by the slow axis of the first region of the phase retardation layer and the slow axis of the second region. When the light splitting element satisfies the above arrangement, it can exhibit an excellent light blocking function at the boundary portion between the first region and the second region of the phase delay layer. The length measured in one direction of the second polarizing region of the patterned polarizing layer may be equal to or less than, for example, the length measured in the one direction of the first polarizing region.

An exemplary light dividing element can satisfy Equation 1 or Equation 2 below. When the light splitting element satisfies the following equations (1) and (2), it can have excellent light transmission control function at the boundary between the first region and the second region of the phase delay layer.

[Equation 1]

A + B / 3? L? A + 2B / 3

Wherein A is a length measured in one direction of a first polarizing region overlapping with a first region of the first polarizing region, B is a length measured in the one direction of the second polarizing region, L is a length Is the length measured in one direction of the region.

 [Equation 2]

C + B / 3? R? C + 2B / 3

C is a length measured in one direction of a second polarizing region overlapping with a second region of the first polarizing region, B is a length measured in the one direction of the second polarizing region, R is a length Is the length measured in one direction of the region.

The light splitting element may further include a base layer, and a phase delay layer and a pattern polarizing layer may be sequentially formed on the base layer. In this case, the light splitting element may further include an orientation film, and the orientation film may be formed between the base layer and the phase retardation layer or between the phase retardation layer and the pattern polarizing layer. Fig. 4 exemplarily shows a light splitting element including a base 401, an orientation film 402a, a phase retardation layer 101, an orientation film 402b and a pattern polarizing layer sequentially.

The light splitting element may further comprise a base layer, wherein a phase delay layer is formed on one side of the base layer and a polarizing layer is formed on the other side of the base layer. In this case, the light splitting element may further include an orientation film, and the orientation film may be formed between the phase delay layer and the base layer or between the base layer and the pattern polarization layer. 5 exemplarily shows a light dividing element including a phase retardation layer 101, an orientation film 402a, a base layer 401, an orientation film 402b and a pattern polarizing layer 102 in order.

Plastic substrates include TAC (triacetyl cellulose); A cycloolefin copolymer (COP) such as a norbornene derivative; Poly (methyl methacrylate), PC (polycarbonate), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), diacetyl cellulose (DAC), polyacrylate (PAC), polyether sulfone (PES) (PPS), polyarylate (PAR), amorphous fluorine resin, or the like can be used as the substrate, but it is possible to use a substrate such as PPS (polyphenylsulfone), PEI (polyetherimide), PEN (polyethylenemaphthatate) A coating layer of a silicon compound such as gold, silver, silicon dioxide or silicon monoxide, or a coating layer such as an antireflection layer may be present on the base layer

As the alignment film, any kind can be used as long as it can appropriately control the alignment of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound in the adjacent polarizing layer. For example, the alignment film may be a contact type alignment film such as a rubbing alignment film or a photo alignment film compound, It is possible to use an alignment film known to be capable of exhibiting alignment characteristics by a non-contact method such as irradiation with linearly polarized light.

As the alignment film, for example, a photo alignment film containing a photo-aligning compound can be used. The term photo-aligning compound in the present application may mean a compound that is orientationally ordered through irradiation of light and can orient adjacent liquid crystal compounds in the predetermined direction in the aligned state. The oriented compound may be a monomolecular compound, a monomeric compound, an oligomeric compound or a polymeric compound.

The photo directing compound may be a compound containing a photosensitive moiety. Various photo-orientable compounds which can be used for the alignment of liquid crystal compounds are known. Photo-aligning compounds include, for example, compounds that are aligned by trans-cis photoisomerization; Compounds that are aligned by photo-destruction such as chain scission or photo-oxidation; Compounds that are aligned by photo-crosslinking or photopolymerization such as [2 + 2] cycloaddition, [4 + 4] addition cyclization or photodimerization; A compound aligned by photo-Fries rearrangement or a compound aligned by ring opening / closure reaction can be used. Examples of the compounds that are aligned by trans-cis photoisomerization include azo compounds such as sulfonated diazo dye or azo polymer, stilbenes, etc. Examples of the compound which is aligned by photolysis include cyclobutane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylic dianhydride, aromatic polysilane or polyester, polystyrene or polyimide, and the like. The compounds that are aligned by photo-crosslinking or photopolymerization include cinnamate compounds, coumarin compounds, cinnamamide compounds, tetrahydrophthalimide compounds, maleimide compounds, (Hereinafter, referred to as an anthracenyl compound) having a chalconyl residue (hereinafter, referred to as a chalcone compound) or an anthracenyl residue (hereinafter referred to as an anthracenyl compound) as a benzophenone compound or a diphenylacetylene compound or a photo- Examples of the compounds that can be aligned by optical freeze rearrangement include aromatic compounds such as benzoate compounds, benzoamide compounds, and methacrylamidoaryl methacrylate compounds, Examples of the compounds to be aligned by the ring-opening / ring closing reaction include spiropyran compounds and the like A [4 + 2] π electron system ([4 + 2] π electronic system), but may be exemplified by compounds such as sorting by a ring opening / ring-closure reaction of, without being limited thereto.

The photo aligning compound may be a monomolecular compound, a monomeric compound, an oligomeric compound, a polymeric compound, or a blend of the photo-aligning compound and the polymer. The oligomeric or macromolecular compound may have a residue derived from the above-described photo-orienting compound or a photo-sensitive residue described above in the main chain or side chain.

Examples of the polymer having a moiety or photosensitizing moiety derived from the photo-orienting compound or capable of being mixed with the photo-aligning compound include polynorbornene, polyolefin, polyarylate, polyacrylate, poly (meth) (Meth) acrylate, poly (amic acid), polymaleinimide, polyacrylamide, polymethacrylamide, polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl ester, polystyrene, polysiloxane, polyacrylonitrile or polymethacrylonitrile But is not limited thereto.

Examples of the polymer that can be contained in the oriented compound include polynorbornene cinnamate, polynorbornene alkoxy cinnamate, polynorbornene allyloyloxycinnamate, polynorbornene fluorinated cinnamate, polynorbornene chlorinated cinnamate, or Polynorbornene dicinnamate, and the like, but are not limited thereto.

When the oriented compound is a polymeric compound, the compound may have a number average molecular weight of, for example, from about 10,000 g / mol to about 500,000 g / mol, but is not limited thereto.

The precursor forming the orientation film or the orientation film may further comprise a photoinitiator in addition to the photo-orienting compound. The photoinitiator can be used without particular limitation, for example, as long as it can induce a free radical reaction by an anion of light. Examples of such photoinitiators include alphahydroxyketone compounds, alpha-amino ketone compounds, phenylglyoxylate compounds, and oxime ester compounds, and oxime ester compounds can be used, for example. The proportion of the photoinitiator in the precursor is not particularly limited and may be included to such an extent as to induce an appropriate reaction.

The orientation of the photo alignment layer may be performed so as to include first and second orientation regions oriented in different directions, and the alignment process may be performed through irradiation of linearly polarized light. The irradiation of the linearly polarized light can be performed through, for example, a wire grid polarizer. At least some of the regions of the photo alignment layer may be simultaneously or sequentially exposed to linearly polarized light polarized in different directions in the alignment process. When the linearly polarized light is irradiated one or more times, the orientation of the orientation film can be determined by the polarization direction of the finally irradiated light.

The phase retardation layer or the pattern polarizing layer can be formed, for example, on a patterned photo alignment film in which first and second alignment regions having different alignment directions are patterned, a liquid crystal composition or a polymerizable liquid crystal compound containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound, And then polymerizing the polymerizable liquid crystal compound after coating a polarizing material containing a dichroic dye.

The patterned photo alignment layer may be formed by, for example, applying a photo alignment layer composition on a base layer, irradiating linearly polarized ultraviolet rays to perform primary alignment, and using a mask, And can be produced by secondary orientation by irradiating polarized ultraviolet rays to only a partial region. In this case, a patterned light alignment film having two or more kinds of alignment areas having different first alignment directions including a first alignment area having a first alignment direction and a second alignment area having a second alignment direction different from the first alignment direction Can be prepared.

The method of coating the liquid crystal composition or the polarizing material on the patterned photo alignment layer is not particularly limited and may be selected from the group consisting of a roll coating method, a printing method, an ink jet coating method, a slit nozzle method, a bar coating method, a comma coating method, a spin coating method or a gravure coating method Can be carried out by coating through a known coating method.

The polymerization method of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is not particularly limited and can be carried out by a known liquid crystal compound polymerization method. For example, the polymerization may be carried out by maintaining the appropriate temperature at which the polymerization reaction is initiated or by irradiating a suitable active energy ray. When the maintenance at an appropriate temperature and the irradiation of the active energy ray are simultaneously required, the above process can be carried out sequentially or simultaneously. The irradiation of the active energy ray may be performed using, for example, a high-pressure mercury lamp, an electrodeless lamp, or a xenon lamp, and the conditions such as the wavelength, luminous intensity, Can be selected within a range in which the polymerization of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound can be properly carried out.

The light splitting element may further comprise a lower polarizer present underneath the patterned polarization layer. 6 shows an example of a light dividing element in which a lower polarizer 601, a patterned polarizing layer 102, an orientation film 402b, a phase retardation layer 101, an orientation film 402a and a base layer 401 are sequentially arranged 7 shows an example of a light dividing element in which a lower polarizer 601, a pattern polarizing plate 102, an orientation film 402a, a base layer 401, an orientation film 402a and a phase retardation layer 101 are sequentially arranged .

As the lower polarizer, a common absorption polarizer known in the art can be used. For example, the lower polarizer may comprise a dichroic material. More specifically, as the first polarizer, a polymer stretched film dyed with a dichroic substance such as an iodine compound or a dichroic dye, for example, a polyvinyl alcohol film, may be used, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The light transmission axis of the lower polarizer may be formed in a direction parallel to the light transmission axis of the first polarizing region of the pattern polarizer, for example. In this case, the polarized light passing through the lower polarizer can transmit the first polarized light region in which the transmission axis is parallel as it is, and the second polarized light region in which the transmission axis is not parallel is controlled in transmission degree, have.

The present application also relates to a stereoscopic imaging apparatus. An exemplary stereoscopic image display device may include the light dividing element. The stereoscopic image display apparatus may include, for example, a display panel including right eye and left eye signal generating regions capable of generating a right eye signal and a left eye signal, and a light dividing element disposed on the display panel have.

An exemplary stereoscopic image display device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a display device) may include a light source 801, a display panel 802, and a light splitting element 1, as shown in Fig. If the display device is a polarizing glasses type, the observer wears polarizing glasses and can observe a stereoscopic image output from the display device.

In the display device, for example, the light source can emit light in the unpolarized state toward the display panel in the driving state. The " driving state of the display device " in the present application may refer to a state in which the display device is in operation and a state in which an image, for example, a stereoscopic image is displayed. As the light source, for example, a direct type or an edge type backlight unit (BLU) commonly used as a light source in a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) may be used have. As the light source, various types of apparatuses other than the above may be used.

On both sides of the display panel 802, for example, polarizers 803A and 803B may be disposed. Hereinafter, the polarizing plate disposed between the display panel and the light source is referred to as a first polarizing plate 803A, and the polarizing plate disposed between the display panel and the optical dividing device may be referred to as a second polarizing plate 803B. The first and second polarizing plates may have, for example, a light transmission axis and a light absorption axis which are mutually orthogonal to each other. The transmission axes of the first and second polarizing plates may be disposed in the display device in different directions, for example, directions orthogonal to each other. For example, when the light emitted from the light source 801 is incident on the first polarizing plate 803A, light having a polarization direction parallel to the transmission axis of the first polarizing plate may be transmitted to the display panel 802. [

The display panel may also be a liquid crystal panel including a liquid crystal layer existing between two substrates 804A and 804B. The liquid crystal panel may include, for example, a first substrate, a pixel electrode, a first alignment film, a liquid crystal layer, a second alignment film, a common electrode, and a second substrate sequentially arranged from the light source side. In the first substrate, for example, an active driving circuit including TFT (Thin Film Transistor) and wiring as a driving element electrically connected to the transparent pixel electrode may be formed. The pixel electrode includes a metal oxide such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), and can function as an electrode for each pixel. Further, the first or second alignment film may serve to align liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer, for example. The liquid crystal layer may include, for example, liquid crystal of VA (Vertical Alignment), TN (Twisted Nematic), STN (Super Twisted Nematic) or IPS (In FLane Switching) mode. The liquid crystal layer may have a function of transmitting or blocking light from the light source for each pixel by the voltage applied from the driving circuit. The common electrode can function as, for example, a common counter electrode.

(Hereinafter referred to as " UR area ") and a left eye signal (hereinafter, referred to as " L ") that can generate a right eye signal UR and UL regions 803R and 803L each including one or more pixels are formed as a left eye signal generating region (hereinafter referred to as " UL region ") capable of generating a left eye signal Can be. The UR and UL regions may be formed, for example, by one or more unit pixels including a liquid crystal sealed between the first and second alignment films in the liquid crystal panel. The UR and UL regions may be arranged in a row and / or column direction. The UR and UL regions may be arranged alternately adjacent to each other, for example, with a stripe image extending in a common direction. In another example, the UR and UL regions may be alternately arranged adjacent to one another in a lattice pattern.

The display panel may further include a light transmittance control area (hereinafter referred to as " TC1 area ") 802B adjacent to the UR and UL areas. However, the TC1 region adjacent to the UR and UL regions may be an arbitrary configuration. The term " TC1 region " in the present application may mean an area formed to block incident light, absorb a part of incident light, and transmit only a part of the incident light. The TC1 region may mean, for example, a region where the transmittance of the incident light, that is, the light transmittance is 0% to 20%, 0% to 15%, 0% to 10%, or 0% to 5%.

The reason that the TC1 region is adjacent to the UR and UL regions is that when an image is observed at at least one angle falling within the viewing angle range, the R signal and / or the L signal generated in the UR and / At least a part of the R and / or L signals are incident on the TC1 region, the signal incident on the TC region is blocked by the TC1 region, or only a part of the signal incident on the TC1 region passes through the TC1 region, Which means that the TC1 region exists at a position where it can be transmitted to the device to be driven.

The TC region present adjacent to the UR and UL regions may be located between the UR and UL regions. Examples of the case where the TC region exists between the UR and the UL region include a case where the UR, TC and UL regions are sequentially located on the same plane, or a TC region And the like can be exemplified. When the TC region is located on the front or back of the plane on which the UR and UL regions are located, the TC region may be present in a superimposed state with at least a portion of the UR and / or UL region have.

The TC1 region may be, for example, a black matrix. For example, when the display panel is a liquid crystal panel, the TC area may be a black matrix included in a color filter that normally exists in the second substrate, which may be included in the liquid crystal panel, as described above. In one example, the TC region may be formed of a resin layer containing chromium (Cr), a pigment such as a double layer film of Cr and Cr oxide (Cr / CrOx double layer film), carbon black, carbon pigment, And a graphite. The method of forming the TC region using the above material is not particularly limited. For example, the TC region can be formed by a photolithography or a lift-off method, which is a typical method of forming a black matrix. In another example, the TC1 region can be formed by a combination of the pattern polarizing layer and the lower polarizer described above. For example, the second polarizing region of the pattern polarizing layer having the transmission axis formed in a direction not parallel to the light transmission axis of the lower polarizer may serve as the TC1 region.

As for the light dividing element included in the display device, the contents described in the item of the light dividing element can be applied equally. The light dividing element may be disposed such that the pattern polarizing layer is adjacent to the second polarizing plate 803B. In this case, the second polarizing plate 803B may refer to the same element as the lower polarizing plate 601 in the item of the light dividing element.

When the linearly polarized light transmitted through the first polarizing plate 803A in the display device passes through the UR area 802R of the display panel, the R signal becomes the R signal. When the linearly polarized light is transmitted through the UL area 802L of the display panel, . When the R and L signals are incident from the display panel, the second polarizing plate can transmit only linearly polarized light parallel to the transmission axis of the second polarizing plate. Next, the phase retardation layer of the light splitting element may include, for example, an RG region in which an R signal through the second polarizer plate 804B is incident and an LG region in which an L signal through the second polarizer plate 804B is incident . The RG region and the LG region may be regions capable of adjusting the polarization states of the R and L signals, respectively. The RG region and the LG region may correspond to the first and second regions described above in the light splitting element, for example.

The RG and LG regions may serve to cause the R and L signals to be emitted from the stereoscopic image display device with circularly polarized light or elliptically polarized light whose direction of rotation is opposite to each other. That is, the R and L signals respectively incident on the RG and LG regions of the light dividing element are converted into different polarized states and outputted, and the observer can perceive the stereoscopic image by observing the signal wearing polarizing glasses.

The pattern polarizing layer 102 may be disposed adjacent to the second polarizing plate 803B and the first polarizing region having the transmission axis parallel to the light transmission axis of the second polarizing plate may overlap the RG region or the LG region of the retardation layer And the second polarizing region having the transmission axis perpendicular to the light transmission axis of the second polarizing plate may be disposed so as to overlap the boundary between the RG region and the LG region of the phase retardation layer. In this case, the second polarizing region can function as a light transmission amount control region (hereinafter referred to as a TC2 region) in the light splitting element.

Similar to the relation between the TC1 region and the UR and RL regions, the second polarizing region (TC2 region) may also exist adjacent to the RG and LG regions. The fact that the second polarizing region (TC2 region) is also adjacent to the RG and LG regions means that the R signal and / or the L signal transmitted from the display panel at the time of observing the image at at least one of the angles falling within the viewing angle range are RG and / A part of the R and / or L signal is incident on the second polarized region after passing through the RG and / or LG region, or after passing through the RG and / or LG region, before entering the LG region, It may mean that a signal incident on the polarized region is blocked by the second polarized region or that a second polarized region exists at a position where only a part of the signal incident on the second polarized region can pass through the second polarized region have.

The exemplary light splitting element is capable of dividing incident light into two or more kinds of light having different polarization characteristics by the phase retardation layer, and is capable of dividing the phase Since the light transmission amount can be adjusted at the boundary of the light-splitting area of the delay layer, when applied to an optical filter of the stereoscopic image display device, the stereoscopic image can be displayed at a wide viewing angle without loss of luminance. In addition to the above-mentioned contents, the method of constructing the stereoscopic image display device as described above is not particularly limited, and a conventional method can be applied as long as the light dividing element is used.

The exemplary light splitting element is capable of dividing the incident light into two or more lights having different polarization characteristics as well as adjusting the light transmission amount at the boundary of the light splitting area. Such a light-dividing element is applied, for example, as an optical filter of a stereoscopic image display device, so that a stereoscopic image can be displayed at a wide viewing angle without loss of brightness.

Fig. 1 exemplarily shows a light dividing element.
Figs. 2 to 3 illustrate the phase retardation layer by way of example.
Figs. 4 to 7 illustrate exemplary light splitting elements. Fig.
Fig. 8 exemplarily shows a stereoscopic image display device.
Figs. 9 and 10 show images of the luminance blur evaluation results of the light splitting elements of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, respectively.

Hereinafter, the present application will be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment according to the present application and a comparative example not complying with the present invention, but the scope of the present application is not limited by the following examples.

Example  One

(Iodine PVA stretched film, simplex transmittance: 42%, orthogonal transmittance: 0.01%) having an absorption axis parallel to the following roll direction and an optical axis formed in a direction parallel to the absorption axis of the first polarizer, and having a width of 445 And a second region having a width of 100 mu m are alternately formed in a stripe shape, wherein the first region has a transmittance of 70% and the second region has an optical axis perpendicular to the absorption axis of the first polarizer, And a TAC substrate and R and L regions each having an optical axis of 45 degrees and 135 degrees with respect to the absorption axis of the first polarizer respectively and having a width of 545 mu m are bounded by the center line of the second region of the pattern polarizer Were sequentially laminated by roll coating to produce a light-dividing element of Example 1. The light-dividing element of Example 1 was fabricated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the phase-

The orthotropic transmittance is obtained by arranging two absorption axes of the polarizers perpendicular to each other and arranging the two optical axes of the coated pattern polarizers perpendicular to each other and measuring the transmittance And the transmittance is a value measured by a spectrometer N & K or a JASCO apparatus.

The light-dividing element was specifically manufactured by the following method. First, a photo-alignment layer-forming composition prepared by dissolving a cinnamate photo-alignable compound on both sides of a TAC substrate in toluene solvent to have a solid concentration of 2 wt% was coated to a thickness of about 1,000 Å after drying, And dried in an oven for 2 minutes.

Then, a pattern mask in which stripe-shaped light transmitting portions having a width of 100 mu m and an interval of 445 mu m and light blocking portions alternately formed on the top and bottom and left and right were placed on the dried composition, A polarizing plate having two regions for transmitting different polarizations (polarized light orthogonal to the roll direction and polarized light parallel to the roll direction) was formed. Subsequently, ultraviolet rays (300 mW / cm ² ) were applied to the composition for forming a photo alignment film through the polarizing plate and the pattern mask for about 30 seconds while moving the substrate having the photo alignment film formed thereon at a speed of about 3 m / And the alignment treatment was carried out. Subsequently, a polarizing composition containing a dichroic dye (G241, Nagase) dye and a polymerizable liquid crystal compound (LC242, manufactured by BASF) in a ratio of 1:20 parts by weight was coated on the oriented layer having been subjected to orientation treatment so as to have a dry thickness of about 1 mu m And aligned in the alignment layer in the lower alignment layer, followed by irradiation with ultraviolet rays (300 mW / cm ² ) for about 10 seconds to crosslink and polymerize the liquid crystal to form the coated pattern polarizer.

Next, stripe-shaped light transmitting portions and light blocking portions each having a width of 545 mu m were placed on the upper side of the dried photo-orientable composition existing on the other surface of the TAC substrate on which the coating pattern polarizer was not formed, , And a polarizing plate having two regions for transmitting different polarizations (polarized light at 45 degrees in the roll direction and 135 degrees in the roll direction) was formed on the top of the pattern mask. A liquid crystal composition containing a horizontally alignable liquid crystal compound capable of forming a 1/4 wavelength plate on the alignment layer was applied to a dry thickness of about 1 mu m to form an alignment layer, After orientation in accordance with the orientation, ultraviolet rays (300 mW / cm ² ) were irradiated for about 10 seconds to cross-link and polymerize the liquid crystal to prepare a phase retardation layer.

The light splitting element of Example 1 can form a transmissive region with a transmittance of 55.6% in the first region of the coated patterned polarizer and a transmissivity of 3.2% in the second region (due to a coating thickness deviation of 5% The transmittance deviation may represent a maximum of 3.7% to a minimum of 2.7%). It can be seen from this that the BS (Black Stripe) region can be formed at the boundary between the R region and the L region of the phase retardation layer in the light splitting element of Example 1.

In addition, the blocking region (BS region) of Embodiment 1 can be formed within an error range of +/- 1 占 퐉 with respect to a design value of 100 占 퐉. Considering the positional accuracy according to the error range, The effective viewing angle increase in the vertical direction is about 22 degrees (about 10 degrees in the upward direction and about 10 degrees in the downward direction) because the uniform BS region can be formed, and in the case of Embodiment 1, So that there is no deviation in brightness by position.

In this case, the viewing angle is a range of angles at which the L signal generated in the image generating area of the stereoscopic image display device can be transmitted to the observer without passing through the L area of the light dividing device and also the R area, The R signal generated in the image generating region of the light dividing element can be transmitted through the R region of the light splitting element and the L region can be transmitted to the observer without transmitting, And can be measured by a known luminance measuring apparatus capable of measuring.

Comparative Example  One

Instead of forming the pattern polarizer in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the phase retardation layer in which the L region and the R region were formed on the polarizer having the absorption axis formed in one direction in the same manner as in Example 1, (BK4670, Assault) and a photoinitiator (Irg 819, manufactured by Ciba) using a carbon black on the boundary surface between the R region and the R region was applied by ink jetting in a stripe shape having a width of 100 mu m and a period of 554 mu m Followed by UV curing to form a black stripe, whereby a light-dividing element of Comparative Example 1 was produced.

In the case of Comparative Example 1, since the positional accuracy of the BS region is within about +/- 20 占 퐉 (compared with the design value of 100 占 퐉), vertical irregularity may occur. Considering the positional accuracy, the effective viewing angle increase in the up- , And as shown in Fig. 10, unevenness due to the position unevenness is generated, and the deviation of luminance by position tends to increase.

101: phase delay layer
1011 and 1012: first and second regions
102: pattern polarizing layer
1021 and 1022: first and second polarization regions
401: substrate layer
402a, 402b: first and second alignment films
601: Lower polarizer plate
801: Light source
802: Display panel
802R, 802L: UR and UL areas
802B: TC1 area
803A and 803B: first and second polarizing plates
804A, 804B: first and second substrates

Claims (21)

A phase delay layer disposed alternately along one direction and including a first region and a second region having different phase delay characteristics from each other; And a pattern polarizing layer disposed on the lower portion of the phase retardation layer and alternately disposed along the one direction and including first and second polarizing regions having light transmission axes formed in different directions from each other, . The light splitting element according to claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region have a quarter-wave phase delay characteristic. The light dividing element according to claim 1, wherein the slow axis of the first region and the slow axis of the second region are formed in different directions from each other. The light-dividing element according to claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region are a liquid crystal layer containing horizontally oriented polymerizable liquid crystal compound. The light dividing element according to claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region are arranged alternately adjacent to each other with a stripe shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the one direction. 2. The light dividing element according to claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region are arranged adjacent to each other in a lattice shape and alternately arranged. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first polarizing region is arranged so as to overlap with the first or second region when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the one direction, And is disposed so as to overlap the boundary of the second region. The light dividing element according to claim 1, wherein the pattern polarizing layer is a coating layer of a polarizing material. 9. The light-dividing element according to claim 8, wherein the polarizing material comprises a polymerizable liquid crystal compound and a dichroic dye. The light dividing element according to claim 1, wherein the angle formed by the light transmission axis of the first polarized region and the light transmission axis of the second polarized region is 70 degrees to 110 degrees. The light dividing element according to claim 1, wherein the line bisecting the angle formed by the slow axis of the first region and the slow axis of the second region and the light transmission axis of the first polarizing region are orthogonal or parallel to each other. The light dividing element according to claim 1, wherein a length measured in one direction of the second polarizing region is equal to or less than a length measured in the one direction of the first polarizing region. 2. The light-dividing element according to claim 1,
[Equation 1]
A + B / 3? L? A + 2B / 3
Wherein A is a length measured in one direction of a first polarizing region overlapping with a first region of the first polarizing region, B is a length measured in the one direction of the second polarizing region, L is a length Is the length measured in one direction of the region. 3. The light-dividing element according to claim 2,
[Equation 2]
C + B / 3? R? C + 2B / 3
C is a length measured in one direction of a second polarizing region overlapping with a second region of the first polarizing region, B is a length measured in the one direction of the second polarizing region, R is a length Is the length measured in one direction of the region. The light dividing element according to claim 1, further comprising a base layer, wherein a phase retardation layer and a pattern polarizing layer are sequentially formed on the base layer. 16. The light dividing element according to claim 15, further comprising an orientation film between the base layer and the phase retardation layer and between the phase retardation layer and the pattern polarization layer. The light dividing element according to claim 1, further comprising a base layer, wherein a phase retardation layer is formed on one surface of the base layer, and a pattern polarizing layer is formed on the other surface of the base layer. The light dividing element according to claim 17, further comprising an orientation film between the base layer and the phase retardation layer and between the base layer and the pattern polarization layer. The light dividing element according to claim 1, further comprising a lower polarizer located under the pattern polarizing layer. The light dividing element according to claim 19, wherein the light transmission axis of the lower polarizer and the light transmission axis of the first polarizing region are formed in a parallel direction. A stereoscopic image display device comprising: a display panel including a right eye and left eye signal generating areas capable of generating a right eye signal and a left eye signal; and a light dividing element according to claim 1 disposed on the display panel.

Images