Sharp Display Technology Corporation

Hiroaki Asagi

Kiyoshi Minoura

Daisuke Minami

Yasuhiro Haseba

Naru Usukura

Provided is a liquid crystal element sequentially including: a first substrate; a first weak anchoring horizontal alignment film; a liquid crystal layer containing dual-frequency liquid crystal molecules; a second weak anchoring horizontal alignment film; and a second substrate. At least one of the first substrate or the second substrate includes a comb-teeth electrode for electric field generation in the liquid crystal layer. The dual-frequency liquid crystal molecules are twist-aligned between the first and second substrate with voltage applied and with no voltage applied. A direction of twist of the dual-frequency liquid crystal molecules with voltage applied and that with no voltage applied are the same. An alignment direction of dual-frequency liquid crystal molecules in a center of the liquid crystal layer in a thickness direction is orthogonal or parallel to an extension direction of the comb-teeth electrode.

Liquid crystal element and head mounted display

Provided is an optical element including: a liquid crystal cell including a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate; and a quarter-wave film. The liquid crystal layer contains liquid crystal molecules twist-aligned. The liquid crystal cell includes electrodes. The electrodes are disposed to enable switching between a first state and a second state by application of voltage to the liquid crystal layer. The switching between the first state and the second state controls a polarization state of light incident on the liquid crystal cell. Circularly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal cell is converted to first linearly polarized light in the first state while converted to second linearly polarized light in the second state. Linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal cell is converted to first circularly polarized light in the first state while converted to second circularly polarized light in the second state.

Optical element, varifocal element, and head mounted display

Provided is an optical element including: a first liquid crystal cell including first liquid crystal molecules and a first electrode; and a second liquid crystal cell including second liquid crystal molecules and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes disposed to enable switching between a first state twist-aligning the second liquid crystal molecules and vertically aligning the first liquid crystal molecules and a second state twist-aligning the first liquid crystal molecules and vertically aligning the second liquid crystal molecules. Alignment directions of the second liquid crystal molecules near a third substrate and the second liquid crystal molecules near a fourth substrate in the first state are respectively at azimuthal angles resulting from a ¼ turn in the same direction of azimuthal angles of alignment directions of the first liquid crystal molecules near the first substrate and the first liquid crystal molecules near the second substrate in the second state.

Optical element, varifocal element and head mounted display

Provided is a liquid crystal lens including: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer held between the first substrate and the second substrate and containing liquid crystal molecules. The first substrate includes a Fresnel lens and a first electrode sequentially toward the liquid crystal layer. The second substrate includes a second electrode. The Fresnel lens includes a Fresnel-shaped part including annular lens surfaces in a concentric circle pattern and a flat part including a flat surface that extends in a radial direction of the concentric circle and intersects at least one of the annular lens surfaces. The annular lens surfaces are on a liquid crystal layer-facing surface of the Fresnel-shaped part and defines an uneven surface. The flat surface is on the liquid crystal layer-facing surface of the flat part.

Growing community of inventors

Kameyama, Japan

Hiroaki Asagi