Patterned liquid crystal photo-alignment device and method with phase compensation function

Abstract

The invention discloses a patterned liquid crystal photo-alignment device and method with a phase compensation function, and the device comprises an illumination assembly, a pattern miniature assembly, a focal length servo assembly, a motion control part, an orthogonal circularly polarized light interference assembly, a light path calibration monitoring assembly, and a phase compensation assembly. The polarization direction of the linearly polarized light formed by circularly polarized light interference is controlled by using the phase difference generated by the phase-type spatial light modulator, and the patterned liquid crystal light orientation can be realized by combining the property that the photosensitive material is sensitive to the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light.the device can be used under the condition of single projection, the two-dimensional workpiece platform moves to complete any liquid crystal light orientation in any pixel space in the projection area, splicing of multiple breadths is completed through movement of the two-dimensional workpiece platform, and large-breadth liquid crystal light orientation can be achieved.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the field of alignment control of liquid crystals, in particular to a patterned liquid crystal photo-alignment device and method with phase compensation function. Background technique [0002] Liquid crystals are widely used in information display, optical and photonic devices and other fields. Many of these applications require liquid crystals to be arranged according to the designed orientation to achieve amplitude, phase, and polarization modulation of light. Therefore, the alignment control method of liquid crystals has become a research hotspot in academic and industrial production. [0003] At present, the orientation control method widely used in the industry is the rubbing orientation technology, which uses nylon and fibers to rub the orientation film in a specific direction to complete the alignment of liquid crystals, but it is prone to defects such as static electricity, dust, and damage to the film surface. [0004...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] At present, there are two main types of ways to realize light-controlled orientation, one is the need for masks, there are contact mask exposure, projection mask exposure and projection dynamic mask exposure, of which contact and projection mask exposure For different patterns, corresponding masks need to be made, which has the disadvantages of high production cost and low efficiency. However, the projected dynamic mask exposure based on the spatial light modulator DMD that has been reported so far cannot realize the formation of different selected areas under a single exposure. Different liquid crystal orientation patterns require multiple exposures, which also have problems such as low efficiency and difficulty in engraving; moreover, the above scheme needs to be combined with the rotation of the polarizer to change the polarization direction of light, which will also introduce a certain orientation error. Another type It is a holographic interference without a mask. It can only generate one-dimensional or two-dimensional periodic liquid crystal alignment patterns with a single orientation, and it is difficult to prepare complex patterns.

[0006] Specifically, the application number is: 201210225093.9, and the patent name is: A method and device for realizing arbitrary orientation control of liquid crystals by digital control micromirror array lithography. The deflection of the medium and micro mirrors is used to realize the dynamic mask function. Although this method can realize the orientation arrangement of the selected area of ​​the liquid crystal without changing the mask, it cannot realize the recording of the arbitrary orientation arrangement pattern of the selected area of ​​the liquid crystal in a single photo-controlled alignment process. The optical control orientation operation can only realize the recording of polarization patterns in a single direction. To realize the recording of polarization patterns in different directions in different selected areas, it is necessary to draw multiple design drawings and repeatedly load them to the DMD control chip to achieve different orientations in selected areas. It is necessary to rotate the polarizer once to control the polarization direction of light, resulting in low production efficiency and problems such as mechanical rotation errors

[0007] Specifically, the application number is: 201820881217.1, and the patent name is: a utility model patent for arbitrarily distributed photo-alignment devices with one exposure discloses a photo-controlled alignment technology based on LCOS dynamic masks, which is realized by controlling the phase delay of pixel units in LCOS. Dynamic light control orientation, although this method does not need to draw multiple design drawings and load them repeatedly to the LCOS control chip to achieve different orientations of selected areas, and does not need to rotate the polarizer every time it is loaded to control the polarization direction of light, it only needs to pass to LCOS Different voltages are applied to each pixel unit in the LCOS to produce the target phase delay, and a single loading can be achieved to complete different orientations of the selection area. The angle between the (slow) axes is strictly limited. If there is a certain deviation error, the final outgoing light will be elliptically polarized light

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