Liquid Crystal Optical Element With Segmented Convex Body Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal optical elements face challenges in preventing light guiding loss, where light leaks to the outside due to improper alignment and reflective surface angles.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal optical element is designed with a transparent substrate, an alignment control layer featuring convex bodies arranged in alternating pitches, and a liquid crystal layer with cholesteric liquid crystals. The liquid crystal layer has reflective surfaces inclined at different angles in each alignment area, optimizing the helical pitch and reflective surface angles to minimize light leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a liquid crystal optical element uses a conventional alignment control layer with uniform pitch convex bodies, then the manufacturing process is simple, but light guiding loss occurs due to improper alignment and reflective surface angles
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment control layer is segmented into multiple regions, each with convex bodies arranged at different pitches. This segmentation allows different regions to control light at different angles, preventing light guiding loss by ensuring that reflected light remains within the total reflection range, thus improving light guiding efficiency without requiring complex external alignment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the alignment control layer are assigned different local qualities through varying convex body pitches. The first pitch in the first region and the second pitch in the second region create different alignment directions for liquid crystal molecules, which in turn create reflective surfaces at different angles. This local quality variation optimizes light reflection in each region to prevent light leakage
2Reliability
If the liquid crystal layer uses a single reflective surface angle, then the device structure is simple, but light leaks to the outside due to improper alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid crystal layer is segmented into multiple areas corresponding to different regions of the alignment control layer. Each area develops reflective surfaces at different angles determined by the underlying convex body pitch, creating a segmented reflection pattern that collectively prevents light guiding loss across the entire device
Solution Approach 2:
Different areas of the liquid crystal layer are assigned different local reflective properties through the varying pitch configurations in the alignment control layer. This creates locally optimized reflection angles that ensure light remains within the total reflection range for each specific area, improving overall light containment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed design effectively prevents light guiding loss by optimizing the alignment of convex bodies and the angles of reflective surfaces within the liquid crystal layer, ensuring that light is efficiently guided and reflected without leakage.
Implementation Method 1
In liquid crystal optical elements in which light is guided while repeating total reflection inside a transparent substrate, the prevention of a light guiding loss in which light leaks to the outside is required
Implementation Method 2
The liquid crystal layer has a first liquid crystal area which overlaps the first alignment area and which has a first reflective surface inclining at a first angle relative to the first main surface
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical element includes a transparent substrate having a first main surface, an alignment control layer having a plurality of convex bodies, and a liquid crystal layer having a cholesteric liquid crystal. The alignment control layer has a first alignment area in which the convex bodies are arranged at a first pitch, and a second alignment area in which the convex bodies are arranged at a second pitch. The second pitch is less than the first pitch. The liquid crystal layer has a first liquid crystal area which overlaps the first alignment area, and a second liquid crystal area which overlaps the second alignment area.