WO2023276579A1 - 照明装置 - Google Patents
照明装置 Download PDFInfo
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- WO2023276579A1 WO2023276579A1 PCT/JP2022/022908 JP2022022908W WO2023276579A1 WO 2023276579 A1 WO2023276579 A1 WO 2023276579A1 JP 2022022908 W JP2022022908 W JP 2022022908W WO 2023276579 A1 WO2023276579 A1 WO 2023276579A1
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- light
- liquid crystal
- polarizing plate
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Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V9/00—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters
- F21V9/14—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters for producing polarised light
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V9/00—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters
- F21V9/20—Dichroic filters, i.e. devices operating on the principle of wave interference to pass specific ranges of wavelengths while cancelling others
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
- G02B5/30—Polarising elements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
- G02B5/30—Polarising elements
- G02B5/3016—Polarising elements involving passive liquid crystal elements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
- F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
- F21Y2115/30—Semiconductor lasers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a lighting device capable of switching the intensity distribution of emitted light.
- a ranging method using a technology called LiDAR Light Detection And Ranging
- This distance measurement method is called TOF (Time of Flight)
- a pulsed laser beam is emitted from a laser light source and the laser beam reflected by the object is measured by a light receiving element. From the time from the emission of laser light from the laser light source to the light reception by the light receiving element, the phase shift is detected and the distance to the object is measured.
- the position of the object can also be detected by two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally scanning the laser beam.
- a two-dimensional dot light source that emits light (dot light) in the form of a large number of two-dimensionally arranged dots, called a structured light, is used, for example, for face authentication and gesture recognition.
- a mobile electronic device such as a smart phone uses a two-dimensional dot light source to authenticate a user's face.
- dot light arranged two-dimensionally is projected onto a measurement target, and light reflected from the target is received by a light receiving element.
- the distance to the object and the unevenness of the surface of the object are detected from the interval and dot arrangement (dot pattern) of the received dot light with respect to the irradiated dot light, and face authentication and the like are performed.
- the object It is possible to accurately measure the distance to an object, detect the position, and recognize the three-dimensional shape of the object to be measured.
- Patent Document 1 discloses a pair of substrates each having an electrode, a liquid crystal layer provided between the pair of substrates and containing a liquid crystal material, and a sealing material arranged to surround the liquid crystal layer. and an alignment control layer disposed within a region surrounded by the sealing material and disposed between one or both of the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer so as to be in contact with the liquid crystal layer, wherein the alignment control layer comprises: A liquid crystal material that aligns liquid crystal molecules in a horizontal direction with respect to a pair of substrates, and contains a polymer obtained by polymerizing at least one kind of monomer, so that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a horizontal direction with respect to the pair of substrates.
- the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules rotates periodically in at least one direction, and switching between a diffractive state and a transparent state is performed by applying a voltage to a pair of electrodes on a pair of substrates.
- a liquid crystal grating is described that is capable of
- liquid crystal diffraction element while light is incident on the liquid crystal diffraction element, voltage application to the electrodes is switched to switch the liquid crystal layer between a transparent state and a diffraction state. can switch between a single light source and a two-dimensional dot light source.
- An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art. to provide.
- the lighting device of the present invention has the following configuration. [1] including a light source, polarization control means, and a polarizing plate,
- the polarization control means switches the light emitted from the light source to at least two different polarization states and causes the light to enter the polarizing plate,
- the polarizing plate has two or more regions in the in-plane direction in which the polarization state of the transmitted light is different, and one or more of the regions are periodically arranged, and the polarizing plate functions as a diffraction grating. lighting equipment.
- an illumination device (light irradiation device) with a simple configuration that can switch the intensity distribution of emitted light.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of the lighting device of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of a liquid crystal cell.
- FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of a (diffraction grating) polarizing plate.
- FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the action of the lighting device shown in FIG.
- FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the action of the lighting device shown in FIG.
- a numerical range represented by “to” means a range including the numerical values before and after “to” as lower and upper limits.
- (meth)acrylate means “either or both of acrylate and methacrylate”.
- the term “identical” includes the margin of error generally accepted in the technical field.
- the error range generally accepted in the technical field is included, for example, 99% or more, 95% or more, or 90% or more shall be included.
- FIG. 1 conceptually shows an example of the lighting device of the present invention.
- the illumination device 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a light source 12 , a polarizer 14 , a liquid crystal cell 16 and a polarizing plate 18 .
- the polarizer 14 and the liquid crystal cell 16 constitute polarization control means in the present invention, and are arranged in the order of the polarizer 14 and the liquid crystal cell 16 from the light source 12 .
- the polarizer 14 and the liquid crystal cell 16 that is, the polarization control means, switch the light emitted from the light source 12 into at least two different polarization states and make the light incident on the polarizer 18 .
- the polarizer 14 and the liquid crystal cell 16 switch the light emitted from the light source 12 to either of two types of linearly polarized light that are orthogonal to each other, and cause the light to enter the polarizing plate 18 .
- the polarizing plate 18 has two or more types of regions in the plane in which the polarization state of the transmitted light is different, and functions as a diffraction grating (diffraction element) in which the one or more types of regions are periodically arranged. is.
- the polarizing plate 18 has first regions 18a in which the dichroic substance is horizontally aligned in one direction and second regions 18b in which the dichroic substance is vertically aligned, which are alternately arranged in the plane (plane direction). , it has a periodic structure like a checkerboard pattern arranged two-dimensionally in an orthogonal direction.
- the polarizing plate 18 is also referred to as a diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 in order to distinguish between the polarizing plate 18 and the polarizing element 14 constituting the polarization control means.
- the liquid crystal cell 16 switches the polarization state of light incident on the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 .
- the illumination device 10 of the present invention has a single light source that emits one light on the left side and two light sources on the right side, as shown in the lower part of FIG. It can be switched to a two-dimensional dot light source that emits light in the form of a large number of dots arranged dimensionally. This point will be described in detail later.
- the light source 12 is not limited, and various known light sources can be used.
- the light source 12 include light bulbs such as mercury lamps and halogen lamps, fluorescent lamps, and lasers such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and semiconductor lasers. Among them, LEDs and semiconductor lasers are preferably used.
- the wavelength of the light emitted by the light source 12 is also not limited, and may be visible light or non-visible light such as infrared rays and ultraviolet rays.
- the emitted light may be white light, red light, green light, or blue light.
- infrared rays are preferably used as the light emitted by the light source 12 .
- the light emitted by the light source 12 may be unpolarized or polarized. In the lighting device 10 of the illustrated example, the light source 12 emits non-polarized light as an example.
- the light source 12 preferably emits light with high directivity.
- the light source 12 preferably emits light with a spread angle (beam spread angle) of 15° or less, more preferably 5° or less, and preferably 3° or less. is more preferable, and it is particularly preferable to emit parallel light (collimated light).
- the spread angle of light is an angle (full width at half maximum angle) from the maximum radiation intensity of light emitted from a light source to half the maximum radiation intensity.
- the illumination device 10 functions as a single light source and a two-dimensional dot light source by using polarization control means and a diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 that functions as a diffraction grating.
- a lens element for condensing the light emitted from the light source 12 and increasing the directivity of the light is provided between the light source 12 and the polarization control means.
- lens elements There are no restrictions on lens elements, and various optical elements that can collect diffused light and bring it closer to parallel light can be used. Specific examples of lens elements include convex lenses, collimator lenses, and beam collimators.
- Light emitted from the light source 12 first enters the polarizer 14 and becomes linearly polarized light in one direction.
- the polarizer 14 converts the light emitted from the light source 12 into linearly polarized light in the same direction as the horizontal alignment direction of the dichroic substance in the first region 18a of the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18, which will be described later.
- polarizer 14 a known polarizer (linear polarizer) can be used as long as it converts light into specific linear polarization.
- polarizer 14 may be absorptive or reflective.
- an iodine-based polarizer, a dye-based polarizer using a dichroic dye, a polyene-based polarizer, a film obtained by stretching a dielectric multilayer film, a wire-grid polarizer, a prism-type polarizer, or the like. are exemplified.
- a general absorption linear polarizer a polarizing plate 02 with a single-sided protective film (iodine-based polarizer) described in International Publication No. 2015/166991, and described in JP-A-2019-120949.
- organic dichroic dye-based polarizers and the like.
- the liquid crystal cell 16 is a known liquid crystal cell in which a liquid crystal layer is provided between substrates having uniform planar electrodes (solid electrodes), and birefringence change is induced by application of a voltage through the electrodes.
- the liquid crystal layer does not have an alignment pattern of the liquid crystal compound, and the liquid crystal compound is uniformly aligned.
- Application of a voltage uniformly induces a change in birefringence over the entire surface of the cell.
- the liquid crystal cell 16 changes the polarization state of the linearly polarized light transmitted through the polarizer 14 as necessary, and switches the transmitted linearly polarized light into two different polarization states.
- the liquid crystal cell 16 transmits the linearly polarized light emitted by the polarizer 14 as it is, and acts as a ⁇ /2 wavelength plate to transmit the linearly polarized light emitted by the polarizer 14 at an angle of 90°. Toggles between rotating and transparent state.
- the liquid crystal cell 16 (polarization control means) directs the transmitted light, that is, the light incident on the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 to a straight line in the same direction as the horizontal alignment direction of the dichroic substance in the first region 18 a of the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 . Switch between polarization and a linear polarization orthogonal to this linear polarization.
- liquid crystal cell 16 various known materials can be used as long as they exhibit the above-described actions, and a preferred example is the liquid crystal cell 100 shown in FIG.
- the liquid crystal cell 100 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a pair of substrates, that is, a first substrate 110 and a second substrate 120, and a liquid crystal layer 130 held between the pair of substrates. This liquid crystal cell 100 does not have a pixel structure.
- the first substrate 110 is formed using an insulating substrate 111 having optical transparency such as glass.
- the first substrate 110 includes a first common electrode 113 and an alignment film 114 on one main surface of an insulating substrate 111 .
- the first common electrode 113 is a so-called solid electrode provided uniformly over the entire main surface of the insulating substrate 111 .
- the first common electrode 113 is made of an electrically conductive material having optical transparency, such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide).
- the alignment film 114 is arranged so as to cover the entire main surface of the insulating substrate 111 and is made of a material having optical transparency.
- the main surface is the maximum surface of the sheet (plate, film, layer), that is, both sides in the thickness direction.
- the second substrate 120 is configured similarly to the first substrate 110, and includes a second common electrode 122, an alignment film 123, and the like on one main surface of an insulating substrate 121 having optical transparency such as glass.
- the second common electrode 122 is likewise provided uniformly over the entire main surface of the insulating substrate 121, and is formed of a conductive material having optical transparency, such as ITO.
- the alignment film 123 is also arranged so as to cover the entire main surface of the insulating substrate 121, and is made of a material having optical transparency.
- the retardation value of the liquid crystal cell when no voltage is applied can be controlled by controlling the alignment of one alignment film and the other alignment film.
- One alignment film is, for example, the alignment film 114 on the first substrate 110 side
- the other alignment film is, for example, the alignment film 123 on the second substrate 120 side.
- both the alignment film 114 and the alignment film 123 are horizontal alignment films, and by arranging the alignment directions in parallel, a liquid crystal cell in which the liquid crystal molecules are homogeneously aligned can be configured.
- the liquid crystal molecules 131 are in bend alignment when a relatively low level voltage Va (for example, 0 V) is applied to the liquid crystal layer 130.
- Va for example, 0 V
- the liquid crystal layer 130 has a retardation amount Rea in the in-plane direction and a retardation amount Rtha in the thickness direction.
- Vb relatively high level voltage
- the liquid crystal molecules 131 are aligned substantially perpendicularly to the substrates except near the alignment film 123. . Therefore, the liquid crystal layer 130 is less affected by the retardation caused by the liquid crystal molecules 131 in the in-plane direction.
- the liquid crystal layer 130 has a retardation amount Reb (Rea>Reb), and the influence of the retardation due to the liquid crystal molecules 131 in the thickness direction increases, resulting in a retardation amount Rthb (Rtha ⁇ Rthb).
- the polarization control means is not limited to the configuration using the polarizer 14 and the liquid crystal cell 16 described above. That is, in the present invention, if the polarization control means can switch the light emitted from the light source 12 into two or more types of linearly polarized light with different states and enter the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 (the polarizing plate in the present invention), various kinds of things can be used. Available.
- the polarizer 14 is not necessary, and the liquid crystal cell 16 alone may constitute the polarization control means.
- the polarization control means a polarizer (linear polarizer) and a polarizer rotating means are used, and by rotating the polarizer around a rotation axis provided in the center of the plane, linearly polarized light is transmitted through the polarizer.
- a configuration for switching the direction of is also available.
- a rotating means for the light source is provided to rotate the light source about the optical axis, thereby switching the direction of the linearly polarized light incident on the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18. Configurations are also available.
- the (diffraction grating) polarizing plate 18 functions as a diffraction grating having two or more types of regions in the plane in which the polarization states of the transmitted light are different, and one or more types of regions being periodically arranged. It is.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 has, as conceptually shown in FIG.
- the second regions 18b in which the colored substances are vertically aligned are alternately arranged two-dimensionally in the orthogonal direction and have a periodic structure like a checkerboard pattern.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 functions as a diffraction grating by having a periodic structure in which the first regions 18a and the second regions 18b are arranged periodically.
- the horizontal orientation indicates a state in which the dichroic substance (absorption axis of the dichroic substance) is oriented parallel to the surface of the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 .
- the horizontal orientation includes not only the case of being completely parallel to the surface of the diffraction grating polarizer 18 but also the angle range of ⁇ 5° with respect to the direction horizontal to the surface of the diffraction grating polarizer 18 .
- vertical alignment indicates a state in which the dichroic substance (absorption axis of the dichroic substance) is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18. .
- the vertical orientation is not limited to being completely perpendicular to the surface of the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18, but also ⁇ 5° with respect to the direction perpendicular to the surface of the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 (perpendicular to the surface). Includes angular range.
- the terms horizontal and vertical are not limited to the dichroic substance and the diffraction grating polarizing plate, but also apply to the positional relationship between two other substances (members).
- the orientation direction (horizontal orientation direction) of the dichroic substance in the first region 18a of the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 is defined as the x direction, and the direction orthogonal to the x direction is defined as the y direction.
- a direction perpendicular to the xy direction, that is, a direction perpendicular to the surface of the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 is defined as the z direction.
- the first region 18a is a region in which the dichroic substance is horizontally aligned in the x direction. That is, the first region 18a is a region having an absorption axis in the x direction. Therefore, the first region 18a absorbs and does not transmit linearly polarized light in the x-direction, and transmits linearly polarized light in the orthogonal y-direction to the first region 18a.
- the second region 18b of the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 is a region in which the dichroic material is vertically aligned.
- the second region 18b is a region that does not have an absorption axis in the in-plane direction of the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 but has an absorption axis in the vertical direction (z direction). Therefore, the second region 18b transmits both linearly polarized light in the x direction and linearly polarized light in the orthogonal y direction without absorbing it.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 is composed of the first region 18a that transmits linearly polarized light in the y direction and the second region 18b that transmits linearly polarized light in both the x and y directions. It has two regions in which the polarization state of transmitted light differs according to the polarization state.
- the absorption axis is, specifically, the angle of inclination (polar angle) and the direction of inclination (azimuth angle) with respect to the normal direction of the film (film-like (sheet-like) optical element). It means the direction in which the transmittance is the highest at a wavelength of 550 nm when the transmittance is measured, and means, for example, the average value in the longitudinal direction of the oriented dichroic substance.
- the tilt angle with respect to the normal direction of the film and the transmittance obtained by changing the tilt direction can be measured using, for example, AxoScan OPMF-1 (manufactured by Optoscience).
- the liquid crystal cell 16 that is, the polarization control means, switches the light incident on the diffraction grating polarizer 18 between linearly polarized light in the x direction and linearly polarized light in the y direction.
- the x-direction linearly polarized light is linearly polarized light in the same direction as the horizontal alignment direction of the dichroic substance in the first region 18 a of the diffraction grating polarizer 18 .
- Linearly polarized light in the y direction is linearly polarized light in a direction orthogonal to the x direction.
- the liquid crystal cell 16 converts the light incident on the diffraction grating polarizer 18 into linearly polarized light in the y direction, as conceptually shown on the left side of FIG.
- the area also transmits this linearly polarized light. That is, when the y-direction linearly polarized light Ly is incident, the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 acts as a transparent plate.
- the light emitted from the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18, that is, the light emitted from the illumination device 10 was emitted from the light source 12, which is a point light source, as conceptually shown on the left side of FIG. 1 and the left side of FIG. It becomes one light like light. Therefore, when the liquid crystal cell 16 converts the light incident on the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 into linearly polarized light Ly in the y direction, the illumination device 10 becomes a single light source that emits one light beam.
- the liquid crystal cell 16 converts the light incident on the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 into linearly polarized light Lx in the x direction
- this linearly polarized light is converted into a third light as conceptually shown on the right side of FIG.
- Light is blocked in the first region 18a and transmitted only through the second region 18b.
- the first regions 18a and the second regions 18b are arranged in two-dimensional directions orthogonal to each other like a checkerboard pattern.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 has a periodic structure in which the light shielding portions and the light transmitting portions are periodically arranged two-dimensionally.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 functions as a diffraction grating.
- the linearly polarized light Lx in the x direction is transmitted through the second region 18b, which is a transmission portion.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 has a periodic structure in which light shielding portions (first regions 18a) and transmitting portions are alternately arranged. Therefore, the linearly polarized light in the x direction is diffracted when passing through the transmissive portion, that is, the second region 18b.
- the linearly polarized light (diffracted light) transmitted through the transmitting portions and diffracted interferes with each other with the linearly polarized light transmitted through the adjacent transmitting portions to become interference light.
- the arrangement of dot light is different from the arrangement pattern of the light shielding portion and the transmitting portion, that is, the first region 18a and the second region 18b.
- the arrangement of the emitted dot light may be regular or irregular.
- the arrangement of the first regions 18a and the second regions 18b corresponding to the desired arrangement of dot light may be obtained by using, for example, a computer generated hologram.
- the illumination device of the present invention has a plurality of types of regions with different polarization states of transmitted light, and the (diffraction grating) polarizing plate functioning as a diffraction grating in which one or more regions are arranged periodically. and polarization control means for switching the light emitted from the light source into a plurality of different polarization states and making the light incident on the polarizing plate.
- polarization control means for switching the light emitted from the light source into a plurality of different polarization states and making the light incident on the polarizing plate.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 has the first region 18a in which the dichroic substance is horizontally aligned in one direction and the second region 18b in which the dichroic substance is vertically aligned, arranged in a checkered pattern. have a configuration.
- a diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 can be produced, for example, by forming an alignment film on a support and forming a light absorption anisotropic film using a dichroic substance on the alignment film. That is, in this example, the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 is a laminate of a support, an alignment film, and an anisotropic light absorption film. This laminate may optionally have a polymer film such as a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film acting as an oxygen blocking layer and/or a dye diffusion preventing layer on the surface of the support.
- PVA polyvinyl alcohol
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 is not limited to this configuration.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 may be formed of only the light absorption anisotropic film by removing the support and the alignment film from the laminate.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 may be formed with an alignment film and an anisotropic light absorption film by peeling off the support from the laminate.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 may be formed by attaching another supporting substrate to the light absorption anisotropic film obtained by separating the support and the alignment film.
- the support various known materials can be used as long as they have sufficient light transmittance for the corresponding light.
- the support can be a polymer film (for example, a polarizer protective film, etc.), a glass substrate, or the like.
- polymer films and glass substrates with a thickness of 100 ⁇ m or less are preferably used.
- polymer constituting the polymer film include, for example, cellulose-based polymers; acrylic polymers having acrylic acid ester polymers such as polymethyl methacrylate and lactone ring-containing polymers; thermoplastic norbornene-based polymers; Polymers; Polyester-based polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate; Styrene-based polymers such as polystyrene and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymers (AS resins); Polyolefin-based polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene and ethylene-propylene copolymers; Vinyl chloride amide-based polymers such as nylon and aromatic polyamide; imide-based polymers; sulfone-based polymers; polyethersulfone-based polymers; polyetheretherketone-based polymers; polyphenylene sulfide-based polymers; vinylidene chloride-based polymers; vinyl butyral-based polymer; arylate-based polymer; polyoxy
- Cellulosic polymers typified by triacetyl cellulose can be preferably used as the support.
- the cellulosic polymer is also referred to as "cellulose acylate".
- the support it is also preferable to use an acrylic polymer from the viewpoint of workability and optical performance.
- acrylic polymers include polymethyl methacrylate and lactone ring-containing polymers described in paragraphs [0017] to [0107] of JP-A-2009-98605.
- Cellulose-based polymers or polyester-based polymers can be preferably used in embodiments using peelable polymer films.
- the support is preferably transparent to the corresponding light.
- transparent as used in the present invention means that the corresponding light transmittance is 60% or more.
- the corresponding light transmission is preferably 80% or more, more preferably 90% or more.
- the thickness of the support is not particularly limited, it is preferably 40 ⁇ m or less because the thickness of the optical laminate can be reduced.
- the lower limit is not particularly limited, it is usually 5 ⁇ m or more.
- the alignment film examples include a photo-alignment film and a rubbing treatment alignment film. Among them, a photo-alignment film is preferable.
- a photo-alignment film examples described in paragraphs [0018] to [0078] of WO2020/179864 can be used.
- the photo-alignment film contains a photo-alignment compound.
- a photo-alignment compound is a compound having a photo-alignment group.
- the “photo-alignment group” refers to a group having a photo-alignment function that induces rearrangement or an anisotropic chemical reaction by irradiation with anisotropic light (e.g., plane polarized light).
- a photo-orienting group that undergoes at least one of dimerization and isomerization by the action of light is preferred from the viewpoint of excellent alignment uniformity and good thermal or chemical stability.
- Photoalignable groups that dimerize under the action of light include, for example, cinnamic acid derivatives (M. Schadt et al., J.
- the coating liquid for a photo-alignment film containing the above-described photo-alignment compound is applied, and the formed coating film is irradiated with polarized light or non-polarized light from an oblique direction to the coating film surface.
- a method of irradiation can be mentioned.
- the polarized light for irradiation is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include linearly polarized light, circularly polarized light, and elliptically polarized light, with linearly polarized light being preferred.
- the “oblique direction” in which non-polarized light is irradiated is not particularly limited as long as it is a direction inclined at a polar angle ⁇ (0 ⁇ 90°) with respect to the normal direction of the coating film surface, depending on the purpose.
- ⁇ is preferably 20 to 80°.
- the wavelength of polarized light or non-polarized light is not particularly limited as long as it is light to which the photo-orientation group is sensitive.
- the coating film formed by applying the coating liquid for photo-alignment film is irradiated with polarized light or non-polarized light from an oblique direction to the coating film surface, thereby regulating the alignment in the horizontal direction. To obtain a photo-alignment film having power.
- the photo-alignment film having alignment control force in the horizontal direction is irradiated with non-polarized light from an arbitrary direction.
- the alignment regulating force is lost.
- an alignment film is formed which has a region having alignment control force in the horizontal direction and a region having no alignment force.
- a composition for forming a light absorption anisotropic film containing a dichroic substance and a vertical alignment agent is applied on such an alignment film, a region having alignment control force in the horizontal direction of the alignment film is formed.
- the dichroic substance is horizontally aligned in one direction on the upper surface, and the dichroic substance is vertically aligned by the function of the vertical alignment agent on the region where the alignment film has no alignment control force.
- the light absorption anisotropic film contains a dichroic material.
- Dichroic substances are not particularly limited, and visible light absorbing substances (dichroic dyes, dichroic azo compounds), optical substances (fluorescent substances, phosphorescent substances), ultraviolet absorbing substances, infrared absorbing substances, nonlinear optical substances, carbon Nanotubes, inorganic substances (for example, quantum rods), and the like, and conventionally known dichroic substances (dichroic dyes) can be used.
- a particularly preferred dichroic substance is a dichroic azo dye compound.
- the dichroic azo dye compound is not particularly limited, and conventionally known dichroic azo dyes can be used, but the compounds described below are preferably used.
- a dichroic azo dye compound means a dye having different absorbance depending on the direction.
- the dichroic azo dye compound may or may not exhibit liquid crystallinity.
- the dichroic azo dye compound When the dichroic azo dye compound exhibits liquid crystallinity, it may exhibit nematicity or smecticity.
- the temperature range showing the liquid crystal phase is preferably room temperature (approximately 20° C. to 28° C.) to 300° C., and more preferably 50 to 200° C. from the viewpoint of handleability and production suitability.
- the light absorption anisotropic film contains at least one dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the range of 560 nm or more and less than 700 nm, and and at least one dye compound having an absorption wavelength.
- a dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 560 nm or more and less than 700 nm is also referred to as "first dichroic azo dye compound” for convenience.
- the dye compound having the maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 455 nm or more and less than 560 nm is also referred to as "second dichroic azo dye compound” for convenience.
- three or more dichroic azo dye compounds may be used in combination. and at least one dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 380 nm or more and less than 455 nm.
- the dichroic substance may have a polymerizable group, and particularly the dichroic azo dye compound may have a polymerizable group.
- the polymerizable group include (meth)acryloyl groups, epoxy groups, oxetanyl groups, and styryl groups, among which (meth)acryloyl groups are preferred.
- the anisotropic light absorption film is an anisotropic light absorption film formed using a composition for forming an anisotropic light absorption film containing a dichroic substance having a polymerizable group. good too. In such an anisotropic light absorption film, the dichroic substance is fixed by reaction of the polymerizable groups possessed by the dichroic substance.
- the light absorption anisotropic film may contain a liquid crystal compound in addition to the dichroic substance.
- the dichroic substance can be aligned with a high degree of alignment.
- the liquid crystal compound it is possible to use either a low-molecular-weight liquid crystal compound or a high-molecular-weight liquid crystal compound, and it is also preferable to use both together.
- the term "low-molecular-weight liquid crystal compound” refers to a liquid crystal compound having no repeating unit in its chemical structure.
- highly crystalline compound refers to a liquid crystal compound having repeating units in its chemical structure.
- the liquid crystal compound is preferably a polymer liquid crystal compound containing a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1L) (hereinafter also referred to as “repeating unit (1L)”) from the viewpoint of better alignment.
- P1 represents the main chain of the repeating unit
- L1 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group
- SP1 represents a spacer group
- M1 represents a mesogenic group
- T1 represents a terminal group.
- main chain of the repeating unit represented by P1 include groups represented by the following formulas (P1-A) to (P1-D).
- a group represented by the following formula (P1-A) is preferable from the viewpoint of diversity and ease of handling.
- R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. represents an alkoxy group.
- the alkyl group may be a linear or branched alkyl group, or may be an alkyl group having a cyclic structure (cycloalkyl group).
- the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is preferably 1 to 5.
- the group represented by formula (P1-A) is preferably one unit of the partial structure of poly(meth)acrylic acid ester obtained by polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid ester.
- the group represented by formula (P1-B) is preferably an ethylene glycol unit formed by ring-opening polymerization of an epoxy group of a compound having an epoxy group.
- the group represented by formula (P1-C) is preferably a propylene glycol unit formed by ring-opening polymerization of an oxetane group of a compound having an oxetane group.
- the group represented by formula (P1-D) is preferably a siloxane unit of polysiloxane obtained by condensation polymerization of a compound having at least one of an alkoxysilyl group and a silanol group.
- the compound having at least one of an alkoxysilyl group and a silanol group includes a compound having a group represented by the formula SiR 4 (OR 5 ) 2 —.
- R 4 has the same definition as R 4 in formula (P1-D), and each of a plurality of R 5 independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
- L1 is a single bond or a divalent linking group.
- Divalent linking groups represented by L1 include -C(O)O-, -O-, -S-, -C(O)NR 3 -, -SO 2 -, and -NR 3 R 4 - is mentioned.
- R 3 and R 4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
- P1 is a group represented by formula (P1-A)
- L1 is preferably a group represented by -C(O)O- from the viewpoint of better orientation.
- P1 is a group represented by formulas (P1-B) to (P1-D)
- L1 is preferably a single bond from the viewpoint of better orientation.
- the spacer group represented by SP1 is at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxyethylene structure, an oxypropylene structure, a polysiloxane structure and an alkylene fluoride structure, from the viewpoints of easy liquid crystallinity and availability of raw materials. It preferably contains a seed structure.
- the oxyethylene structure represented by SP1 is preferably a group represented by *--(CH 2 --CH 2 O) n1 --*.
- n1 represents an integer of 1 to 20
- * represents the bonding position with L1 or M1 in the above formula (1L).
- n1 is preferably an integer of 2 to 10, more preferably an integer of 2 to 4, and even more preferably 3, from the viewpoint of better orientation.
- the oxypropylene structure represented by SP1 is preferably a group represented by *--(CH(CH 3 )--CH 2 O) n2 --* from the viewpoint of better orientation.
- n2 represents an integer of 1 to 3
- * represents the bonding position with L1 or M1.
- the polysiloxane structure represented by SP1 is preferably a group represented by *-(Si(CH 3 ) 2 -O) n3 -* from the viewpoint of better orientation.
- n3 represents an integer of 6 to 10 * represents the bonding position with L1 or M1.
- alkylene fluoride structure represented by SP1 is preferably a group represented by *-(CF 2 -CF 2 ) n4 -* from the viewpoint of better orientation.
- n4 represents an integer of 6 to 10
- * represents the bonding position with L1 or M1.
- the mesogenic group represented by M1 is a group showing the main skeleton of liquid crystal molecules that contributes to liquid crystal formation.
- Liquid crystal molecules exhibit liquid crystallinity, which is an intermediate state (mesophase) between a crystalline state and an isotropic liquid state.
- the mesogenic group is preferably, for example, a group having at least one cyclic structure selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbon groups, heterocyclic groups and alicyclic groups.
- the mesogenic group preferably has an aromatic hydrocarbon group, more preferably 2 to 4 aromatic hydrocarbon groups, and 3 aromatic hydrocarbon groups from the viewpoint of better orientation. is more preferred.
- the mesogenic group the following formula (M1-A) or the following formula (M1-B ) is preferable, and a group represented by formula (M1-B) is more preferable.
- A1 is a divalent group selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbon groups, heterocyclic groups and alicyclic groups. These groups may be substituted with an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, or an alkoxy group.
- the divalent group represented by A1 is preferably a 4- to 6-membered ring. Also, the divalent group represented by A1 may be monocyclic or condensed. * represents the binding position with SP1 or T1.
- the divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group represented by A1 includes a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, a fluorene-diyl group, an anthracene-diyl group and a tetracene-diyl group.
- a phenylene group or a naphthylene group is preferred, and a phenylene group is more preferred, from the viewpoint of properties and the like.
- the divalent heterocyclic group represented by A1 may be either aromatic or non-aromatic, but from the viewpoint of further improving the degree of orientation, it is preferably a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group.
- Atoms other than carbon constituting the divalent aromatic heterocyclic group include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom and an oxygen atom.
- the aromatic heterocyclic group has a plurality of non-carbon ring-constituting atoms, these may be the same or different.
- a1 represents an integer of 1-10. When a1 is 2 or more, multiple A1s may be the same or different.
- A2 and A3 are each independently a divalent group selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbon groups, heterocyclic groups and alicyclic groups.
- a2 represents an integer of 1 to 10, and when a2 is 2 or more, multiple A2 may be the same or different, and multiple A3 may be the same or different.
- a plurality of LA1 may be the same or different. From the viewpoint of better orientation, a2 is preferably an integer of 1 or more, more preferably 2.
- LA1 is a divalent linking group.
- each of the plurality of LA1 is independently a single bond or a divalent linking group, and at least one of the plurality of LA1 is a divalent linking group.
- a2 is 2 or more, each of the plurality of LA1 is independently a single bond or a divalent linking group, and at least one of the plurality of LA1 is a divalent linking group.
- a2 is 2, it is preferable that one of the two LA1s is a divalent linking group and the other is a single bond from the viewpoint of better orientation.
- Terminal groups represented by T1 include a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkylthio group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, alkoxycarbonyloxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms (ROC(O)-: R is an alkyl group), acyloxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, acylamino group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms , alkoxycarbonylamino group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, sulfonylamino group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, sulfamoyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, carbamoyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, sulfinyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, carbon Examples include urei
- Examples of the (meth)acryloyloxy group-containing group include -LA (L represents a single bond or a linking group. Specific examples of the linking group are the same as L1 and SP1 described above. A is (meth) represents an acryloyloxy group).
- the content of the repeating unit (1L) is preferably 20 to 100% by mass with respect to 100% by mass of the total repeating units of the polymer liquid crystal compound, from the viewpoint of better alignment.
- the terminal group represented by T1 in one (repeating unit A) is an alkoxy group
- the terminal group represented by T1 in the other (repeating unit B) is an alkoxy group, from the viewpoint of better orientation.
- the terminal group represented by T1 in the repeating unit B is preferably an alkoxycarbonyl group, a cyano group, or a (meth)acryloyloxy group-containing group from the viewpoint of better orientation, an alkoxycarbonyl group, or a cyano more preferably a group.
- the ratio (A/B) between the content of the repeating unit A in the total mass of the polymer liquid crystal compound and the content of the repeating unit B in the total mass of the polymer liquid crystal compound is 50 from the viewpoint of better orientation. /50 to 95/5, more preferably 60/40 to 93/7, even more preferably 70/30 to 90/10.
- the polymer liquid crystal compound may have a repeating unit having no mesogenic group together with the repeating unit (1L).
- Repeating units having no mesogenic group include repeating units in which M1 in formula (1L) is a single bond.
- the polymer liquid crystal compound has a repeating unit that does not have a mesogenic group, it is preferably more than 0% by mass and 30% by mass or less with respect to 100% by mass of all repeating units possessed by the polymer liquid crystal compound, from the viewpoint of better alignment. , and more preferably more than 10% by mass and 20% by mass or less.
- the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymer liquid crystal compound is preferably 1,000 to 500,000, more preferably 2,000 to 300,000, from the viewpoint of better alignment. If the Mw of the polymer liquid crystal compound is within the above range, the polymer liquid crystal compound can be easily handled.
- the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymer liquid crystal compound is preferably 10,000 or more, more preferably 10,000 to 300,000.
- the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymer liquid crystal compound is preferably less than 10,000, preferably 2,000 or more and less than 10,000.
- the weight average molecular weight and number average molecular weight in the present invention are values measured by a gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method.
- the light absorption anisotropic film preferably contains a surfactant.
- a surfactant By containing a surfactant, the smoothness of the coating surface is improved, the degree of orientation is further improved, and repelling and unevenness are suppressed, thereby improving in-plane uniformity.
- a dichroic dye compound and a liquid crystal compound may be used to make them horizontal on the coating surface side (horizontal alignment agent), or may be made vertical (vertical alignment agent). good too.
- horizontal alignment agent horizontal alignment agent
- vertical alignment agent vertical alignment agent
- a step of applying a composition for forming a light absorption anisotropic film containing a dichroic substance and a liquid crystal compound onto an alignment film to form a coating film (hereinafter referred to as " and a step of orienting the liquid crystalline component contained in the coating film (hereinafter also referred to as an "orientation step") in this order.
- the liquid crystalline component is a component containing not only the liquid crystal compound described above but also a dichroic substance having liquid crystallinity when the dichroic substance described above has liquid crystallinity.
- the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic film contains the dichroic substance and the liquid crystal compound described above.
- the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic film may contain a surfactant, a polymerization initiator, a solvent, and the like.
- specific examples of the method of applying the light-absorbing anisotropic film-forming composition include a roll coating method, a gravure printing method, a spin coating method, a wire bar coating method, an extrusion coating method, Known methods such as a direct gravure coating method, a reverse gravure coating method, a die coating method, a spray method, and an inkjet method can be used.
- the alignment step is a step of orienting the liquid crystalline component contained in the coating film. Thereby, a light absorption anisotropic film is obtained.
- the orientation step may include drying. Components such as the solvent can be removed from the coating film by the drying treatment.
- the drying treatment may be performed by a method of leaving the coating film at room temperature for a predetermined time (for example, natural drying), or by a method of heating and/or blowing air.
- the liquid crystalline component contained in the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic film may be oriented by the above coating film forming step or drying treatment.
- the coating film is dried to remove the solvent from the coating film, thereby obtaining the anisotropic light absorption.
- a coated film, that is, a light absorption anisotropic film is obtained.
- the transition temperature of the liquid crystalline component contained in the coating film to the liquid crystal phase is preferably 10 to 250° C., more preferably 25 to 190° C., from the standpoint of production suitability.
- the orientation step preferably includes heat treatment. As a result, the liquid crystalline component contained in the coating film can be oriented, so that the coating film after heat treatment can be suitably used as a light absorption anisotropic film.
- the heat treatment is preferably from 10 to 250° C., more preferably from 25 to 190° C., from the standpoint of suitability for production.
- the heating time is preferably 1 to 300 seconds, more preferably 1 to 60 seconds.
- a step of curing the light absorption anisotropic film may be performed after the alignment step.
- this step is also referred to as a "curing step".
- the curing step is performed by heating and/or light irradiation (exposure), for example, when the light absorption anisotropic film has a crosslinkable group (polymerizable group).
- the curing step is preferably carried out by light irradiation.
- the diffraction grating polarizer 18 alternately has the first regions 18a in which the dichroic substance is horizontally aligned in one direction and the second regions 18b in which the dichroic substance is vertically aligned in a checkered pattern. It has a configuration in which it is arranged two-dimensionally.
- the arrangement pattern of the first regions 18a and the second regions 18b has a periodic arrangement pattern that functions as a diffraction grating, that is, a periodic structure
- various other arrangement patterns can be used. It is possible.
- a striped arrangement pattern is exemplified.
- a so-called sea-island configuration in which only the first regions 18a are arranged periodically one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally and all other regions are the second regions 18b can be used.
- a plurality of circular (substantially circular) first regions 18a are periodically formed in a polka dot pattern, and a plurality of square (substantially square) first regions 18a are periodically formed.
- a formed grid pattern or the like is exemplified.
- a possible interval (period) may be set as appropriate.
- the arrangement interval between the first regions 18a and the second regions 18b is preferably 50 ⁇ m or less, more preferably 30 ⁇ m or less, and even more preferably 20 ⁇ m or less.
- the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 is formed by periodically arranging first regions 18a in which dichroic substances are horizontally aligned and second regions 18b in which dichroic substances are vertically aligned.
- the (diffraction grating) polarizing plate is not limited to this. That is, in the present invention, the polarizing plate has two or more regions in the in-plane direction in which the polarization state of the transmitted light is different, and one or more of the regions are periodically arranged to function as a diffraction grating. If so, various configurations are available.
- the illumination device of the present invention switches the polarized light incident on the polarizing plate (diffraction grating polarizing plate) to switch between blocking and transmitting the incident polarized light in a plurality of regions arranged on the polarizing plate. .
- the illumination device of the present invention switches between a state in which the polarizing plate acts as a diffraction grating and a state in which it does not act, or further switches between states in which it acts as a different diffraction grating.
- the illumination device of the present invention thereby switches the intensity distribution of the emitted light.
- the polarizing plate (diffraction grating polarizing plate) has a region that transmits the polarized light and a region that blocks the polarized light, depending on the polarization state of the incident light. and the one or more regions are arranged periodically, various configurations are available.
- the dichroic substance in the second region 18b is An example is a polarizing plate that is melted to make this region an isotropic region, that is, in the same state as an optical blank.
- the dissolution method of the dichroic substance in the second region 18b is a method of thermal exposure using a heat shielding mask, and a method of ultraviolet exposure (UV exposure) using a light shielding mask.
- UV exposure ultraviolet exposure
- a double bond group (acrylic group, methacrylic group, etc.) is sterically crosslinked with a photoradical polymerization initiator to form a solvent-soluble is exemplified.
- a polarizing plate a configuration in which a region similar to the first region 18a in which a dichroic substance is horizontally aligned is formed on the entire surface and a region corresponding to the second region 18b is perforated can be used.
- a configuration using a cholesteric liquid crystal layer in which a cholesteric liquid crystal phase is fixed is exemplified.
- a polarizing plate having regions made of a cholesteric liquid crystal layer and isotropic regions, in which at least the regions made of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer are periodically arranged is exemplified.
- a cholesteric liquid crystal phase selectively reflects circularly polarized light in a predetermined wavelength range and in a predetermined rotation direction, and transmits other light.
- the point light source and the two-dimensional dots can be obtained in the same manner as above.
- a known method can be used as the polarization control means for switching the light incident on the polarizing plate between circularly polarized light and linearly polarized light.
- a linear polarizer and an IPS (In-Plane-Switching) type liquid crystal cell are used, and the direction of the slow axis in the plane of the liquid crystal cell is not the direction in which the retardation becomes ⁇ / 4.
- a configuration is exemplified in which the light incident on the polarizing plate is switched between circularly polarized light and linearly polarized light by switching the direction.
- polarizing plate a polarizing plate having a wire grid patterned so that the polarization state of transmitted light differs in each region can also be used. Also, the polarizing plate may block light by reflecting it instead of by absorbing it.
- the polarization control means causes light of two different polarization states to enter the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18, and the diffraction grating polarizing plate 18 has the first region 18a and the second region 18a having different transmission states of transmitted light.
- the region 18b has two types of regions, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, in the illumination device of the present invention, the polarization control means makes light with three or more different polarization states enter the polarizing plate, and/or the polarizing plate has three or more different light transmission states with different transmission states. It may have a region.
- the illumination device of the present invention has a configuration in which the polarization control means causes light of three different polarization states to enter the polarizing plate, and the polarizing plate has three regions in which the transmission states of the transmitted light are different from each other.
- the state of a single light source that emits a single beam of light similar to the light emitted by the light source 12 and the first two-dimensional dot that emits dot light composed of a large number of points arranged two-dimensionally It is also possible to switch between the state of the light source and the state of the second two-dimensional dot light source that emits dot light with an arrangement different from that of the first two-dimensional dot light source.
- the obtained coating film was irradiated with linearly polarized ultraviolet rays (illuminance of 4.5 mW/cm 2 , cumulative irradiation amount of 300 mJ/cm 2 ) using a polarized ultraviolet exposure device (first light irradiation), and A photo-alignment film having an alignment control force was produced.
- the obtained photo-alignment film is irradiated with non-polarized ultraviolet rays (illuminance of 4.5 mW/cm 2 , cumulative irradiation dose of 2000 mJ/cm 2 ) through a photomask from a direction perpendicular to the film surface (second Second light irradiation), a photo-alignment film having a pattern-exposed photo-alignment film was produced.
- the mask pattern of the photomask was a checkered mask pattern with a lattice size of 20 ⁇ m on one side.
- a composition F1 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic film having the following composition was continuously applied with a wire bar to form a coating layer F. Then, the coating layer F was heated at 140° C. for 15 seconds and cooled to room temperature (23° C.). It was then heated at 75° C. for 60 seconds and cooled again to room temperature. After that, an anisotropic light absorption film was formed by irradiating ultraviolet rays for 2 seconds under irradiation conditions of an illuminance of 200 mW/cm 2 using an LED lamp (center wavelength of 365 nm).
- a laminate was produced in which the TAC substrate (transparent support), the PVA polymer film, the photo-alignment film, and the light absorption anisotropic film were arranged adjacent to each other in this order.
- the film thickness of the light absorption anisotropic film was 2.0 ⁇ m.
- Dichroic substance C-1 (maximum absorption wavelength: 570 nm)
- Dichroic substance M-1 (maximum absorption wavelength: 466 nm)
- Dichroic substance Y-1 (maximum absorption wavelength: 417 nm)
- Liquid crystal compound L-2 (in the following formula, the numerical value represents the mass ratio)
- the direction of the absorption axis was detected for the produced laminate.
- the absorption axis is the direction with the highest transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm when the transmittance is measured by changing the tilt angle and the tilt direction with respect to the normal direction of the film. is the average value along the longitudinal axis of the molecule of the dichroic substance.
- the transmittance was measured by changing the tilt angle and tilt direction using AxoScan OPMF-1 (manufactured by Optoscience) to detect the direction of the absorption axis.
- this laminate is the (diffraction grating) polarizing plate of the present invention, which periodically has regions in which the dichroic substance is vertically aligned and regions in which the dichroic substance is horizontally aligned. confirmed.
- Two glass substrates were used as insulating substrates, and a common electrode and an alignment film were formed in this order on the surfaces of both glass substrates.
- ITO was used to form a solid electrode uniformly provided over the entire main surface of the glass substrate.
- the alignment film was a horizontal alignment film made of translucent polyimide resin. A translucent spacer having a predetermined height was provided on one of the alignment films.
- the glass substrates on which the common electrode and the alignment film were formed were opposed to each other on the alignment film side, and the alignment films were held with a constant gap (gap) by spacers.
- the edge of the insulating substrate was sealed with a sealing material, and the pair of glass substrates were fixed. After filling the gap formed between the alignment films with a liquid crystal material, the gap was hermetically sealed to obtain a liquid crystal cell.
- a terminal was provided to the common electrode of the liquid crystal cell thus produced, and a predetermined voltage could be applied by connecting it to a driving circuit.
- the liquid crystal material in the cell when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal material in the cell has a predetermined alignment state due to the alignment control force of the alignment film within the gap when no voltage is applied.
- Liquid crystal molecules were oriented in the thickness direction.
- the in-plane retardation Re(550) was 279 nm when no voltage was applied, and the in-plane retardation was 0 nm when voltage was applied.
- a polyvinyl alcohol linear polarizer (a polarizer prepared by stretching polyvinyl alcohol to which iodine was adsorbed) and a liquid crystal cell were laminated to constitute a polarization control means.
- an illumination device was manufactured by arranging the light source, the polarization control means and the (diffraction grating) polarizing plate in this order.
- the polarization control means was arranged with the linear polarizer on the light source side.
- the polarizing plate was arranged with the TAC base material facing the polarization control means side.
- It can be suitably used for various purposes, such as a device that can switch between a distance measuring device and an authentication device.
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Abstract
Description
この測距方法は、TOF(Time of Flight)と呼ばれており、例えば、レーザ光源からパルス状にレーザ光を出射して、対象物によって反射されたレーザ光を受光素子で測定する。このレーザ光源からのレーザ光の出射から受光素子による受光までの時間から、位相のズレを検出して、対象物までの距離を測定する。また、レーザ光を二次元的または三次元的に走査することで、対象物の位置も検出できる。
二次元ドット光源を用いる認証等では、測定対象に二次元に配列されたドット光を投影して、対象物からの反射光を受光素子で受光する。照射したドット光に対する、受光したドット光の間隔およびドット配列(ドットパターン)の変化から、対象物までの距離および対象物の表面の凹凸等を検出して、顔認証等を行う。
[1] 光源と、偏光制御手段と、偏光板とを含み、
偏光制御手段は、光源が出射した光を、少なくとも2種の異なる偏光状態に切り替えて、偏光板に入射させるものであり、
偏光板は、透過した光の偏光状態が異なる2種以上の領域を面内方向に有し、領域の1種以上が周期的に配置され、回折格子として機能する偏光板であることを特徴とする照明装置。
[2] 偏光板が、吸収軸の方向が互いに異なる2種以上の領域を有する、[1]に記載の照明装置。
[3] 偏光制御手段が、偏光板よりも光源側に配置され、光源側から、偏光子と、液晶セルとを、この順番で有する、[1]または[2]に記載の照明装置。
[4] 偏光板の1種以上の領域が、二色性物質を含む、[1]~[3]のいずれかに記載の照明装置。
[5] 二色性物質を含む領域の1種以上が、二色性物質を水平配向した領域である、[4]に記載の照明装置。
[6] 二色性物質を含む領域の1種以上が、二色性物質を垂直配向した領域である、[4]または[5]に記載の照明装置。
本明細書において、「(メタ)アクリレート」は、「アクリレートおよびメタクリレートのいずれか一方または双方」の意味で使用される。
本明細書において、「同一」は、技術分野で一般的に許容される誤差範囲を含むものとする。また、本明細書において、「全部」、「いずれも」および「全面」などというとき、100%である場合のほか、技術分野で一般的に許容される誤差範囲を含み、例えば99%以上、95%以上、または90%以上である場合を含むものとする。
図1に示す照明装置10は、光源12と、偏光子14と、液晶セル16と、偏光板18とを有する。偏光子14および液晶セル16は、本発明における偏光制御手段を構成するものであり、光源12から、偏光子14および液晶セル16の順番で配置される。
また、偏光板18は、透過した光の偏光状態が異なる2種以上の領域を面内に有し、1種以上の領域が周期的に配置される、回折格子(回折素子)として機能するものである。図示例において、偏光板18は、二色性物質を一方向に水平配向した第1領域18aと、二色性物質を垂直配向した第2領域18bとが、面内(面方向)で、交互に、直交する方向に二次元的に配列された、市松模様のような周期構造を有する。
以下の説明では、偏光制御手段を構成する偏光子14と、偏光板18とを区別するために、偏光板18を回折格子偏光板18ともいう。
この点に関しては、後に詳述する。
光源12としては、一例として、水銀灯およびハロゲンランプ等の電球、蛍光灯、ならびに、LED(Light Emitting Diode)および半導体レーザなどのレーザ等が例示される。
中でも、LEDおよび半導体レーザ等は、好適に用いられる。
さらに、光源12が出射する光は、無偏光でも偏光でもよい。図示例の照明装置10において、光源12は、一例として、無偏光を出射する。
具体的には、光源12は、広がり角(ビーム広がり角)が15°以下の光を出射するのが好ましく、5°以下の光を出射するのがより好ましく、3°以下の光を出射するのがさらに好ましく、平行光(コリメート光)を出射するのが特に好ましい。
なお、光の広がり角とは、光源が射出した光の放射強度最大値から放射強度が最大値の半分になる角度(半値全幅角度)である。
レンズ素子には制限はなく、拡散光を集光して、平行光に近づけることができる光学素子が、各種、利用可能である。レンズ素子としては、具体的には、凸レンズ、コリメートレンズ、および、ビームコリメータ等が例示される。
図示例において、偏光子14は、一例として、光源12が出射した光を、後述する回折格子偏光板18の第1領域18aにおける二色性物質の水平配向方向と同方向の直線偏光とする。
偏光子14としては、ヨウ素系偏光子、二色性色素を利用した色素系偏光子、ポリエン系偏光子、誘電体多層膜を延伸したフィルム、ワイヤーグリッド型偏光子、および、プリズム型偏光子等が例示される。例えば、一般的な吸収型の直線偏光子として、国際公開第2015/166991号に記載される、片面保護膜付偏光板02(ヨウ素系偏光子)、および、特開2019-120949号公報に記載される、有機二色性色素系偏光子等が例示される。
液晶セル16は、一様な面状の電極(ベタ電極)を有する基板の間に、液晶層を設けた、公知の液晶セルで、電極による電圧の印加によって、複屈折変化を誘起する。図示例の液晶セル16は、液晶層が液晶化合物の配向パターンを有さない、液晶化合物が一様配向されたものであり、電圧印加によって、セル全面に一様に複屈折変化を誘起する。
図示例の照明装置10では、液晶セル16は、偏光子14が出射した直線偏光を、そのまま透過させる状態と、λ/2波長板として作用して、偏光子14が出射した直線偏光を90°回転して透過させる状態とを切り替える。
すなわち、液晶セル16(偏光制御手段)は、透過光すなわち回折格子偏光板18に入射させる光を、回折格子偏光板18の第1領域18aにおける二色性物質の水平配向方向と同方向の直線偏光と、この直線偏光と直交する直線偏光とに切り替える。
第1共通電極113は、絶縁基板111の主面全体に一様に設けられた、いわゆるベタ電極である。この第1共通電極113は、例えばITO(Indium Tin Oxide)などの光透過性を有する導電性部材によって形成されている。配向膜114は、絶縁基板111の主面全体を覆うように配置され、光透過性を有する材料によって形成されている。
なお、主面とは、シート状物(板状物、フィルム、層)の最大面であり、すなわち、厚さ方向の両面である。
従って、第2共通電極122は、同様に、絶縁基板121の主面全体に一様に設けられており、例えばITOなどの光透過性を有する導電性部材によって形成されている。配向膜123も、同様に絶縁基板121の主面全体を覆うように配置され、光透過性を有する材料によって形成されている。
一例として、配向膜114および配向膜123の両方を水平配向膜とし、その配向方向を平行に配置することで、液晶分子がホモニジアス配向した液晶セルを構成できる。
これに対して、液晶層130に比較的高レベルの電圧Vb(Va<Vb)を印加した状態では、液晶分子131は、配向膜123付近を除いて基板に対して略垂直に配列している。このため、液晶層130は、面内方向における液晶分子131によるレターデーションの影響が緩和される。その結果、液晶層130は、レターデーション量Reb(Rea>Reb)を有すると共に、厚さ方向における液晶分子131によるレターデーションの影響が増し、レターデーション量Rthb(Rtha<Rthb)を有する。
このように液晶セル100(液晶層130)の位相差を制御することにより、入射した偏光を制御して出射できる。
また、偏光制御手段としては、偏光子(直線偏光子)および偏光子の回転手段とを用い、偏光子を面内の中心に設けた回転軸で回転することにより、偏光子を透過する直線偏光の方向を切り替える構成も利用可能である。
さらに、光源12が直線偏光を出射するものである場合には、光源の回転手段を設け、光源を光軸を中心に回転させることによって、回折格子偏光板18に入射する直線偏光の方向を切り替える構成も利用可能である。
本発明において、(回折格子)偏光板は、透過した光の偏光状態が異なる2種以上の領域を面内に有し、1種以上の領域が周期的に配置される、回折格子として機能するものである。
回折格子偏光板18は、このように第1領域18aと第2領域18bとを周期的に配置した周期構造を有することによって、回折格子として機能する。
他方、本発明において、垂直配向とは、二色性物質(二色性物質の吸収軸)が、回折格子偏光板18の表面に対して、垂直方向すなわち直交する方向に配向された状態を示す。ただし、垂直配向とは、回折格子偏光板18の表面に対して完全に垂直である場合のみならず、回折格子偏光板18の表面に垂直な方向(表面の垂線)に対して±5°の角度範囲を含む。
なお、本発明において、この水平および垂直という表現は、二色性物質と回折格子偏光板とに限らず、これ以外の2つの物質(部材)の位置関係においても、同様である。
これに対して、回折格子偏光板18の第2領域18bは、二色性物質を垂直配向した領域である。すなわち、第2領域18bは、回折格子偏光板18の面内方向には吸収軸を有さず、垂直方向(z方向)に吸収軸を有する領域である。従って、第2領域18bは、x方向の直線偏光が入射した場合も、直交するy方向の直線偏光が入射した場合も、共に、吸収せずに透過する。
以上のように、回折格子偏光板18は、y方向の直線偏光を透過する第1領域18aと、x方向およびy方向の両方の直線偏光を透過する第2領域18bとの、入射する光の偏光状態に応じて、透過する光の偏光状態が異なる2つの領域を有する。
なお、吸収軸とは、具体的には、フィルム(フィルム状(シート状)の光学素子)の法線方向に対する傾き角度(極角)および傾き方向(方位角)を、種々、変化させて透過率を測定した際に、波長550nmにおいて最も透過率の高い方向のことであり、例えば、配向した二色性物質の長軸方向の平均値を意味する。フィルムの法線方向に対する傾き角度および傾き方向を変化させた透過率は、例えば、AxoScan OPMF-1(オプトサイエンス社製)を用いて測定することができる。
x方向の直線偏光とは、回折格子偏光板18の第1領域18aにおける二色性物質の水平配向方向と同方向の直線偏光である。y方向の直線偏光とは、x方向と直交する方向の直線偏光である。
その結果、回折格子偏光板18から出射する光、すなわち、照明装置10の出射光は、図1下段の左側および図5の左側に概念的に示すように、点光源である光源12が出射した光と同様の1本の光となる。
従って、液晶セル16が、回折格子偏光板18に入射する光をy方向の直線偏光Lyにした状態では、照明装置10は、1本の光を出射する単光源となる。
上述のように、回折格子偏光板18において、第1領域18aと第2領域18bは、市松模様のように、直交する二次元方向に配列されている。
従って、x方向の直線偏光を入射されると、回折格子偏光板18は、遮光部と透過部とを周期的に二次元的に配列してなる、周期構造を有する状態となる。その結果、x方向の直線偏光Lxが入射された場合には、回折格子偏光板18は、回折格子として機能する。
回折格子偏光板18は、透過部を透過して回折された直線偏光(回折光)は、隣接する透過部を透過した直線偏光同士で干渉して干渉光となり、さらに、隣接する干渉光同士が干渉して、干渉光によるドットパターンを形成したような状態となる。
その結果、回折格子偏光板18から出射する光、すなわち、照明装置10の出射光は、図5の右側に概念的に示すように、二次元的に配列された多数の光の点のようになる。
従って、液晶セル16が、回折格子偏光板18に入射する光をx方向の直線偏光Lxにした状態では、照明装置10は、二次元的に配列された多数の点からなるドット光を出射する二次元ドット光源となる。
また、出射するドット光の配列は、規則的でも、不規則でもよい。所望するドット光の配列に応じた第1領域18aおよび第2領域18bの配列は、例えば、計算機ホログラムを利用して得ればよい。
すなわち、本発明によれば、液晶セルにおける液晶化合物の配向のパターニングを不要にして、簡易な構成で、出射光の強度分布の切り替えが可能な照明装置が提供される。
このような回折格子偏光板18は、一例として、支持体の上に配向膜を形成し、この配向膜に、二色性物質を用いた光吸収異方性膜を形成することで作製できる。
すなわち、本例においては、回折格子偏光板18は、支持体と、配向膜と、光吸収異方性膜との積層体となる。なお、この積層体には、必要に応じて、支持体の表面に、酸素遮断層および/または色素拡散防止層等として作用するポリビニルアルコール(PVA(polyvinyl alcohol))膜などのポリマー膜を有してもよい。
一例として、回折格子偏光板18は、積層体から支持体および配向膜を剥離して、光吸収異方性膜のみで形成してもよい。あるいは、回折格子偏光板18は、積層体から支持体を剥離して、配向膜と光吸収異方性膜とで形成してもよい。さらに、支持体と配向膜を剥離した光吸収異方性膜に、別の支持基材を貼着して、回折格子偏光板18としてもよい。
一例として、支持体は、ポリマーフィルム(例えば、偏光子保護フィルムなど)およびガラス基材等を用いることができる。フレキシブル性が求められる用途では、ポリマーフィルムおよび100μm以下のガラス基材等が好ましく用いられる。
ポリマーフィルムを構成するポリマーとしては、具体的には、例えば、セルロース系ポリマー;ポリメチルメタクリレート、ラクトン環含有重合体等のアクリル酸エステル重合体を有するアクリル系ポリマー;熱可塑性ノルボルネン系ポリマー;ポリカーボネート系ポリマー;ポリエチレンテレフタレートおよびポリエチレンナフタレート等のポリエステル系ポリマー;ポリスチレンおよびアクリロニトリル・スチレン共重合体(AS樹脂)等のスチレン系ポリマー;ポリエチレン、ポリプロピレンおよびエチレン・プロピレン共重合体等のポリオレフィン系ポリマー;塩化ビニル系ポリマー;ナイロンおよび芳香族ポリアミド等のアミド系ポリマー;イミド系ポリマー;スルホン系ポリマー;ポリエーテルスルホン系ポリマー;ポリエーテルエーテルケトン系ポリマー;ポリフェニレンスルフィド系ポリマー;塩化ビニリデン系ポリマー;ビニルアルコール系ポリマー;ビニルブチラール系ポリマー;アリレート系ポリマー;ポリオキシメチレン系ポリマー;エポキシ系ポリマー;ならびに、これらのポリマーを混合したポリマーが挙げられる。
また、支持体としては、加工性および光学性能の観点から、アクリル系ポリマーを用いるのも好ましい。
アクリル系ポリマーとしては、ポリメチルメタクリレートや、特開2009-98605号公報の段落[0017]~[0107]に記載されるラクトン環含有重合体等が挙げられる。
ここで、本発明でいう「透明」とは、対応する光の透過率が60%以上であることを示す。対応する光の透過率は、好ましくは80%以上であり、より好ましくは90%以上である。
なかでも、光配向膜が好ましい。光配向膜としては、国際公開第2020/179864号の[0018]~[0078]段落に記載した例を用いることができる。
光配向化合物とは、光配向性基を有する化合物である。
ここで、「光配向性基」とは、異方性を有する光(例えば、平面偏光など)の照射により、再配列または異方的な化学反応が誘起される光配向機能を有する基をいい、配向の均一性に優れ、熱的安定性または化学的安定性も良好となる点から、光の作用により二量化および異性化の少なくとも一方が生じる光配向性基が好ましい。
光の作用により二量化する光配向性基としては、例えば、桂皮酸誘導体(M. Schadt et al., J. Appl. Phys., vol. 31, No. 7, page 2155 (1992))、クマリン誘導体(M. Schadt et al., Nature., vol. 381, page 212 (1996))、カルコン誘導体(小川俊博他、液晶討論会講演予稿集,2AB03(1997))、マレイミド誘導体、および、ベンゾフェノン誘導体(Y. K. Jang et al., SID Int. Symposium Digest, P-53(1997))からなる群から選択される少なくとも1種の誘導体の骨格を有する基が挙げられる。
一方、光の作用により異性化する光配向性基としては、例えば、アゾベンゼン化合物(K. Ichimura et al.,Mol.Cryst.Liq.Cryst .,298,221(1997))、スチルベン化合物(J.G.Victor and J.M.Torkelson,Macromolecules,20,2241(1987))、スピロピラン化合物(K. Ichimura et al., Chemistry Letters, page 1063 (1992);K.Ichimura et al., Thin Solid Films, vol. 235, page 101 (1993))、桂皮酸化合物(K.Ichimura et al.,Macromolecules,30,903(1997))、および、ヒドラゾノ-β-ケトエステル化合物(S. Yamamura et al., Liquid Crystals, vol. 13, No. 2, page 189 (1993))からなる群から選択される少なくとも1種の化合物の骨格を有する基が挙げられる。
照射する偏光は特に限定されず、例えば、直線偏光、円偏光、および、楕円偏光が挙げられ、直線偏光が好ましい。
また、非偏光を照射する「斜め方向」とは、塗布膜表面の法線方向に対して極角θ(0<θ<90°)傾けた方向である限り、特に限定されず、目的に応じて適宜選択できるが、θが20~80°が好ましい。
偏光または非偏光における波長としては、光配向性基が感光する光であれば特に限定されず、例えば、紫外線、近紫外線、および、可視光線が挙げられ、250~450nmの近紫外線が好ましい。
具体的には、まず、光配向膜用塗布液を塗布して形成される塗布膜に対して、偏光または塗布膜表面に対して斜め方向から非偏光を照射することにより、水平方向に配向規制力を持った光配向膜を得る。
次に、所定のパターンを有するマスクを介して、水平方向に配向規制力を持った光配向膜に対して任意の方向から非偏光を照射する。非偏光が照射された配向膜の領域においては、配向規制力がなくなる。結果として、水平方向に配向規制力を持った領域と、配向力を持たない領域とを有する配向膜が形成される。後述するように、このような配向膜上に、二色性物質および垂直配向剤を含む光吸収異方性膜形成用組成物を塗布すると、配向膜の水平方向に配向規制力を持った領域上においては二色性物質が一方向に水平配向し、配向膜の配向規制力を持たない領域上においては垂直配向剤の機能によって二色性物質が垂直配向する。
二色性物質は、特に限定されず、可視光吸収物質(二色性色素、二色性アゾ化合物)光物質(蛍光物質、燐光物質)、紫外線吸収物質、赤外線吸収物質、非線形光学物質、カーボンナノチューブ、および、無機物質(例えば量子ロッド)などが挙げられ、従来公知の二色性物質(二色性色素)を使用することができる。
二色性アゾ色素化合物は、特に限定されず、従来公知の二色性アゾ色素を使用することができるが、後述の化合物が好ましく用いられる。
二色性アゾ色素化合物は、液晶性を示してもよいし、液晶性を示さなくてもよい。
二色性アゾ色素化合物が液晶性を示す場合には、ネマチック性またはスメクチック性のいずれを示してもよい。液晶相を示す温度範囲は、室温(約20℃~28℃)~300℃が好ましく、取扱い性および製造適性の観点から、50~200℃であることがより好ましい。
本発明においては、3種以上の二色性アゾ色素化合物を併用してもよく、例えば、光吸収異方性膜を黒色に近づける観点から、第1の二色性アゾ色素化合物と、第2の二色性アゾ色素化合物と、波長380nm以上455nm未満の範囲に極大吸収波長を有する少なくとも1種の色素化合物とを併用することが好ましい。
重合性基としては、具体的には、例えば、(メタ)アクリロイル基、エポキシ基、オキセタニル基、および、スチリル基などが挙げられ、中でも、(メタ)アクリロイル基が好ましい。
後述するように、光吸収異方性膜としては、重合性基を有する二色性物質を含む光吸収異方性膜形成用組成物を用いて形成される光吸収異方性膜であってもよい。このような光吸収異方性膜においては、二色性物質が有する重合性基が反応して、二色性物質が固定されている。
液晶化合物としては、低分子液晶化合物および高分子液晶化合物のいずれを用いることも可能であり、両方を併用することも好ましい。ここで、「低分子液晶化合物」とは、化学構造中に繰り返し単位を有さない液晶化合物のことをいう。また、「高分晶性化合物」とは、化学構造中に繰り返し単位を有する液晶化合物のことをいう。
式(P1-A)で表される基は、(メタ)アクリル酸エステルの重合によって得られるポリ(メタ)アクリル酸エステルの部分構造の一単位であることが好ましい。
式(P1-B)で表される基は、エポキシ基を有する化合物のエポキシ基を開環重合して形成されるエチレングリコール単位であることが好ましい。
式(P1-C)で表される基は、オキセタン基を有する化合物のオキセタン基を開環重合して形成されるプロピレングリコール単位であることが好ましい。
式(P1-D)で表される基は、アルコキシシリル基およびシラノール基の少なくとも一方の基を有する化合物の縮重合によって得られるポリシロキサンのシロキサン単位であることが好ましい。ここで、アルコキシシリル基およびシラノール基の少なくとも一方の基を有する化合物としては、式SiR4(OR5)2-で表される基を有する化合物が挙げられる。式中、R4は、式(P1-D)におけるR4と同義であり、複数のR5はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子または炭素数1~10のアルキル基を表す。
L1が表す2価の連結基としては、-C(O)O-、-O-、-S-、-C(O)NR3-、-SO2-、および、-NR3R4-などが挙げられる。式中、R3およびR4はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、置換基を有していてもよい炭素数1~6のアルキル基を表す。
P1が式(P1-A)で表される基である場合には、配向度がより優れる観点から、L1は-C(O)O-で表される基が好ましい。
P1が式(P1-B)~(P1-D)で表される基である場合には、配向度がより優れる観点から、L1は単結合が好ましい。
ここで、SP1が表すオキシエチレン構造は、*-(CH2-CH2O)n1-*で表される基が好ましい。式中、n1は1~20の整数を表し、*は、上記式(1L)中のL1またはM1との結合位置を表す。n1は、配向度がより優れる観点から、2~10の整数であることが好ましく、2~4の整数であることがより好ましく、3であることがさらに好ましい。
また、SP1が表すオキシプロピレン構造は、配向度がより優れる観点から、*-(CH(CH3)-CH2O)n2-*で表される基が好ましい。式中、n2は1~3の整数を表し、*はL1またはM1との結合位置を表す。
また、SP1が表すポリシロキサン構造は、配向度がより優れる観点から、*-(Si(CH3)2-O)n3-*で表される基が好ましい。式中、n3は6~10の整数を表し、*はL1またはM1との結合位置を表す。
また、SP1が表すフッ化アルキレン構造は、配向度がより優れる観点から、*-(CF2-CF2)n4-*で表される基が好ましい。式中、n4は6~10の整数を表し、*はL1またはM1との結合位置を表す。
メソゲン基としては、例えば、芳香族炭化水素基、複素環基、および脂環式基からなる群より選択される少なくとも1種の環状構造を有する基が好ましい。
メソゲン基は、配向度がより優れる観点から、芳香族炭化水素基を有するのが好ましく、2~4個の芳香族炭化水素基を有するのがより好ましく、3個の芳香族炭化水素基を有するのがさらに好ましい。
A1で表される2価の基は、4~6員環であることが好ましい。また、A1で表される2価の基は、単環でも、縮環であってもよい。
*は、SP1またはT1との結合位置を表す。
2価の芳香族複素環基を構成する炭素以外の原子としては、窒素原子、硫黄原子および酸素原子が挙げられる。芳香族複素環基が炭素以外の環を構成する原子を複数有する場合、これらは同一であっても異なっていてもよい。
式(M1-B)中、a2は1~10の整数を表し、a2が2以上である場合には、複数のA2は同一でも異なっていてもよく、複数のA3は同一でも異なっていてもよく、複数のLA1は同一でも異なっていてもよい。a2は、配向度がより優れる観点から、1以上の整数であることが好ましく、2であることがより好ましい。
式(M1-B)中、a2が1である場合には、LA1は2価の連結基である。a2が2以上である場合には、複数のLA1はそれぞれ独立に、単結合または2価の連結基であり、複数のLA1のうち少なくとも1つが2価の連結基である。a2が2である場合、配向度がより優れる観点から、2つのLA1のうち、一方が2価の連結基であり、他方が単結合であることが好ましい。
上記繰り返し単位BにおいてT1が表す末端基は、配向度がより優れる観点から、アルコキシカルボニル基、シアノ基、または、(メタ)アクリロイルオキシ基含有基であることが好ましく、アルコキシカルボニル基、または、シアノ基であることがより好ましい。
高分子液晶化合物全質量中の上記繰り返し単位Aの含有量と高分子液晶化合物全質量中の上記繰り返し単位Bの含有量との割合(A/B)は、配向度がより優れる観点から、50/50~95/5であることが好ましく、60/40~93/7であることがより好ましく、70/30~90/10であることがさらに好ましい。
高分子液晶化合物がメソゲン基を有しない繰り返し単位を有する場合、配向度がより優れる観点から、高分子液晶化合物が有する全繰り返し単位100質量%に対して、0質量%超30質量%以下が好ましく、10質量%超20質量%以下がより好ましい。
特に、塗布時のクラック抑制の観点から、高分子液晶化合物の重量平均分子量(Mw)は、10000以上が好ましく、10000~300000がより好ましい。
また、配向度の温度ラチチュードの観点から、高分子液晶化合物の重量平均分子量(Mw)は、10000未満が好ましく、2000以上10000未満が好ましい。
ここで、本発明における重量平均分子量および数平均分子量は、ゲル浸透クロマトグラフ(GPC)法により測定された値である。
・溶媒(溶離液):N-メチルピロリドン
・装置名:TOSOH HLC-8220GPC
・カラム:TOSOH TSKgelSuperAWM-H(6mm×15cm)を3本接続して使用
・カラム温度:25℃
・試料濃度:0.1質量%
・流速:0.35mL/min
・校正曲線:TOSOH製TSK標準ポリスチレン Mw=2800000~1050(Mw/Mn=1.03~1.06)までの7サンプルによる校正曲線を使用
界面活性剤を含むことにより、塗布表面の平滑性が向上し、配向度が更に向上したり、ハジキおよびムラを抑制して、面内の均一性が向上したりする効果が見込まれる。
界面活性剤としては、二色性色素化合物と液晶化合物を塗布表面側で水平にさせるもの(水平配向剤)を使用してもよく、あるいは、垂直にさせるもの(垂直配向剤)を使用してもよい。例えば、国際公開第2016/009648号の[0155]~[0170]段落に記載されている化合物、特開2011-237513号公報の[0253]~[0293]段落に記載の化合物(水平配向剤)、および、国際公開第2019/235355号の[0071]~[0097]段落に記載の化合物(垂直配向剤)を用いることができる。
なお、液晶性成分とは、上述した液晶化合物だけでなく、上述した二色性物質が液晶性を有している場合は、液晶性を有する二色性物質も含む成分である。
光吸収異方性膜形成用組成物は、界面活性剤、重合開始剤、および、溶媒などを含んでいてもよい。
配向工程は、乾燥処理を有していてもよい。乾燥処理によって、溶媒などの成分を塗布膜から除去することができる。乾燥処理は、塗布膜を室温下において所定時間放置する方法(例えば、自然乾燥)によって行われてもよいし、加熱および/または送風する方法によって行われてもよい。
ここで、光吸収異方性膜形成用組成物に含まれる液晶性成分は、上述した塗布膜形成工程または乾燥処理によって、配向する場合がある。例えば、光吸収異方性膜形成用組成物が溶媒を含む塗布液として調製されている態様では、塗布膜を乾燥して、塗布膜から溶媒を除去することで、光吸収異方性を持つ塗布膜、すなわち光吸収異方性膜が得られる。
配向工程は、加熱処理を有することが好ましい。これにより、塗布膜に含まれる液晶性成分を配向させることができるため、加熱処理後の塗布膜を光吸収異方性膜として好適に使用できる。
加熱処理は、製造適性の面から10~250℃が好ましく、25~190℃がより好ましい。また、加熱時間は、1~300秒が好ましく、1~60秒がより好ましい。
硬化工程は、例えば、光吸収異方性膜が架橋性基(重合性基)を有している場合には、加熱および/または光照射(露光)によって実施される。このなかでも、硬化工程は光照射によって実施されることが好ましい。
本発明において、第1領域18aと第2領域18bとの配列パターンは、回折格子として機能する周期的な配列パターンすなわち周期構造を有するものであれば、これ以外にも、各種の配列パターンが利用可能である。
市松模様状以外の第1領域18aと第2領域18bとの配列パターンとしては、一例として、ストライプ状の配列パターン等が例示される。
あるいは、第1領域18aのみが一次元的または二次元的に周期的に配列され、それ以外の領域が全て第2領域18bである、いわゆる海島のような構成も利用可能である。一例として、円形状(略円形状)の第1領域18aが、複数、周期的に形成された水玉模様状、および、四角形状(略四角形状)の第1領域18aが、複数、周期的に形成された格子模様状等が例示される。
る第1領域18aおよび第2領域18bの配列間隔は、50μm以下が好ましく、30μm以下がより好ましく、20μm以下が、さらに好ましい。
すなわち、本発明において、偏光板は、透過した光の偏光状態が異なる2種以上の領域を面内方向に有し、領域の1種以上が周期的に配置される、回折格子として機能するものであれば、各種の構成が利用可能である。
本発明の照明装置は、これにより、出射光の強度分布を切り替える。
従って、本発明の照明装置において、偏光板(回折格子偏光板)は、光が入射した際に、その光の偏光状態に依存して、この偏光を透過する領域と、この偏光を遮光する領域とを有し、かつ、1以上の領域が周期的に配列されれば、各種の構成が利用可能である。
第2領域18bの二色性物質の溶解方法は、遮熱マスクを用いる熱露光による方法、および、遮光マスクを用いる紫外線露光(UV露光)で、露光部と非露光部との間に溶剤溶解性の差異を生じさせる方法等の公知の方法が、各種、利用可能である。露光部と非露光部との間で溶剤溶解性の際を生じさせる方法としては、例えば、二重結合基(アクリル基およびメタクリル基等)を光ラジカル重合開始剤で立体架橋させ、溶剤溶解性を低下させる方法が例示される。
また、偏光板としては、全面に二色性物質を水平配向した第1領域18aと同様な領域を形成し、第2領域18bに対応する領域を穴開け加工した構成も利用可能である。
周知のように、コレステリック液晶相は、所定の波長域の、所定の旋回方向の円偏光を選択的に反射し、それ以外の光を透過する。従って、偏光制御手段によって、偏光板に入射する光を、コレステリック液晶層が選択的に反射する円偏光と、直線偏光とに切り替えることにより、先と同様にして、点光源と二次元的なドット光源など、出射光の強度分布を切り替えられる。
なお、偏光板に入射する光を、円偏光と、直線偏光とに切り替える偏光制御手段としては、公知の方法が利用可能である。一例として、直線偏光子と、IPS(In-Plane-Switching)方式の液晶セルとを用い、液晶セルの面内で、遅相軸の方向を、位相差がλ/4になる方向と、ならない方向とに切り替えることで、偏光板に入射する光を、円偏光と直線偏光とに切り替える構成が例示される。
また、偏光板は、光を吸収することで遮光するのではなく、反射することで遮光するものであってもよい。
すなわち、本発明の照明装置は、偏光制御手段が互いに異なる3種以上の偏光状態の光を偏光板に入射し、および/または、偏光板が、透過光の透過状態が互いに異なる3種以上の領域を有するものであってもよい。
例えば、本発明の照明装置は、偏光制御手段が互いに異なる3種の偏光状態の光を偏光板に入射し、かつ、偏光板が、透過光の透過状態が互いに異なる3種の領域を有する構成とすることで、光源12が出射した光と同様の1本の光を出射する単光源の状態と、二次元的に配列された多数の点からなるドット光を出射する第1の二次元ドット光源の状態と、第1の二次元ドット光源とは異なる配列のドット光を出射する第2の二次元ドット光源の状態とを切り替えるようにしてもよい。
<<偏光板の作製>>
<支持体の作製>
支持体として厚さ40μmのTAC基材(富士フイルム社製、TG40)を用意した。このTAC基材の上に、下記の組成のポリマー塗布液を#8のワイヤーバーで連続的に塗布した。その後、100℃の温風で2分間乾燥することにより、TAC基材上に厚さ0.8μmのポリビニルアルコール膜が形成された支持体を得た。
なお、変性ポリビニルアルコールは、固形分濃度が4質量%となるように下記ポリマー塗布液を調製した。
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
ポリマー塗布液の組成
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
・下記の変性ポリビニルアルコール
・水 70質量部
・メタノール 30質量部
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
下記構造の光配向材料E-1の1質量部に、ブトキシエタノール41.6質量部、ジプロピレングリコールモノメチル41.6質量部、および、純水15.8質量部を加え、得られた溶液を0.45μmメンブレンフィルターで加圧ろ過することで光配向膜用塗布液を調製した。
次いで、得られた光配向膜用塗布液を、作製した支持体上に塗布し、60℃で1分間乾燥した。その後、得られた塗布膜に、偏光紫外線露光装置を用いて直線偏光紫外線(照度4.5mW/cm2、積算照射量300mJ/cm2)を照射し(第一の光照射)、水平方向に配向規制力を持つ光配向膜フィルムを作製した。
次いで、得られた光配向膜フィルムに対し、フィルム面に対して垂直方向からフォトマスクを介し、非偏光紫外線(照度4.5mW/cm2、積算照射量2000mJ/cm2)を照射する(第二の光照射)ことにより、パターン露光された光配向膜を有する光配向膜フィルムを作製した。
なお、フォトマスクのマスクパターンは、一辺の格子サイズが20μmの市松模様状のマスクパターンとした。
得られたパターン露光された光配向膜フィルムの光配向膜上に、下記組成の光吸収異方性膜形成用組成物F1をワイヤーバーで連続的に塗布し、塗布層Fを形成した。
次いで、塗布層Fを140℃で15秒間加熱し、塗布層Fを室温(23℃)になるまで冷却した。
次いで、75℃で60秒間加熱し、再び室温になるまで冷却した。
その後、LED灯(中心波長365nm)を用いて照度200mW/cm2の照射条件で紫外線を2秒間照射することにより、光吸収異方性膜を形成した。これにより、TAC基材(透明支持体)、PVAポリマー膜、光配向膜、および、光吸収異方性膜を、この順に隣接して備える積層体を作製した。
なお、光吸収異方性膜の膜厚は2.0μmであった。
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
・下記二色性物質C-1 0.65質量部
・下記二色性物質M-1 0.15質量部
・下記二色性物質Y-1 0.52質量部
・下記液晶化合物L-1 2.68質量部
・下記液晶化合物L-2 1.15質量部
・重合開始剤
IRGACUREOXE-02(BASF社製) 0.17質量部
・下記界面活性剤S-1 0.018質量部
・下記界面活性剤S―2 0.002質量部
・シクロペンタノン 92.14質量部
・ベンジルアルコール 2.36質量部
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
上述のように、吸収軸とは、フィルムの法線方向に対する傾き角度および傾き方向を変化させて透過率を測定した際に、波長550nmにおいて最も透過率の高い方向のことであり、例えば、配向した二色性物質の分子の長軸方向の平均値である。
本例においては、傾き角度および傾き方向を変化させた透過率の測定を、AxoScan OPMF-1(オプトサイエンス社製)を用いて行い、吸収軸の方向を検出した。
その結果、光吸収異方性膜に、吸収軸が配向膜フィルムの表面に平行である領域Aと、吸収軸が配向膜フィルムの表面に垂直である領域Bとが、光配向膜を露光したフォトマスクのマスクパターン(市松模様)に応じて形成されていることが確認できた。
すなわち、この積層体は、二色性物質が垂直配向された領域と、二色性物質が水平配向された領域とを、周期的に有する、本発明における(回折格子)偏光板であることが確認された。
絶縁基板として2枚のガラス基板を用い、両ガラス基板の表面に、共通電極および配向膜を、この順に形成した。共通電極は、ITOを用いて、ガラス基板の主面全体に一様に設けたベタ電極を形成した。配向膜は、ポリイミド系樹脂透光樹脂の水平配向膜とした。
一方の配向膜上に、所定の高さを有する透光性のスペーサを設けた。
共通電極および配向膜を形成したガラス基板を、互いの配向膜側で相対するように向い合せ、スペーサによって、配向膜同士が一定のギャップ(間隙)で保持されるようにした。さらに、絶縁基板の辺縁部をシーリング材でシールすると共に、一対のガラス基板を固定した。
配向膜間に形成されたギャップに液晶材料を充填した後、ギャップを気密に封止し、液晶セルを得た。作製した液晶セルの共通電極に端子を設け、駆動回路と接続することにより所定の電圧を印加できるようにした。
電圧無印加時の面内レターデーションRe(550)は279nm、電圧印加時の面内レターデーションは0nmであった。
ポリビニルアルコール直線偏光子(ポリビニルアルコールにヨウ素を吸着させ、延伸して作製した偏光子)と、液晶セルとを積層して、偏光制御手段を構成した。
また、光源として、緑色レーザーポインタ(λ=532nm)を用いた。
さらに、光源、偏光制御手段および(回折格子)偏光板を、この順番で配置することで、照明装置を作製した。なお、偏光制御手段は、直線偏光子を光源側にして配置した。また、偏光板は、TAC基材を偏光制御手段側にして配置した。
光源を点灯して、偏光制御手段の液晶セルへの電圧の印加のonおよびoffを行うことにより、光源が出射した光と同様の1本の光を出射する単光源の状態と、二次元的に配列された多数の点からなるドット光を出射する二次元ドット光源との状態とを切り替えることができた。
以上の結果より、本発明の効果は明らかである。
12 光源
14 偏光子
16 液晶セル
18 (回折格子)偏光板
18a 第1領域
18b 第2領域
100 液晶セル
110 第1基板
111 絶縁基板
113 第1共通電極
114 配向膜
120 第2基板
121 絶縁基板
122 第2共通電極
123 配向膜
130 液晶層
Claims (6)
- 光源と、偏光制御手段と、偏光板とを含み、
前記偏光制御手段は、前記光源が出射した光を、少なくとも2種の異なる偏光状態に切り替えて、前記偏光板に入射させるものであり、
前記偏光板は、透過した光の偏光状態が異なる2種以上の領域を面内方向に有し、前記領域の1種以上が周期的に配置され、回折格子として機能する偏光板であることを特徴とする照明装置。 - 前記偏光板が、吸収軸の方向が互いに異なる2種以上の前記領域を有する、請求項1に記載の照明装置。
- 前記偏光制御手段が、前記偏光板よりも前記光源側に配置され、前記光源側から、偏光子と、液晶セルとを、この順番で有する、請求項1または2に記載の照明装置。
- 前記偏光板の1種以上の前記領域が、二色性物質を含む、請求項1または2に記載の照明装置。
- 前記二色性物質を含む領域の1種以上が、前記二色性物質を水平配向した領域である、請求項4に記載の照明装置。
- 前記二色性物質を含む領域の1種以上が、前記二色性物質を垂直配向した領域である、請求項4に記載の照明装置。
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Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JPH0336522A (ja) * | 1989-06-13 | 1991-02-18 | General Motors Corp <Gm> | 表示装置及び着色像の生成方法 |
JPH04232994A (ja) * | 1990-06-08 | 1992-08-21 | General Motors Corp <Gm> | 反対色を用いるマルチカラー表示方法及び表示デバイス |
JPH10160932A (ja) * | 1996-11-27 | 1998-06-19 | Sharp Corp | 偏光素子およびその製造方法 |
JP2006091871A (ja) * | 2004-09-24 | 2006-04-06 | Sharp Corp | プライバシーを保護するため表示を混乱させるパターン化された電極のあるゲストホスト液晶層 |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JPH0336522A (ja) * | 1989-06-13 | 1991-02-18 | General Motors Corp <Gm> | 表示装置及び着色像の生成方法 |
JPH04232994A (ja) * | 1990-06-08 | 1992-08-21 | General Motors Corp <Gm> | 反対色を用いるマルチカラー表示方法及び表示デバイス |
JPH10160932A (ja) * | 1996-11-27 | 1998-06-19 | Sharp Corp | 偏光素子およびその製造方法 |
JP2006091871A (ja) * | 2004-09-24 | 2006-04-06 | Sharp Corp | プライバシーを保護するため表示を混乱させるパターン化された電極のあるゲストホスト液晶層 |
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