The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 12, 1999
Hiroshi Suganuma, Ibaraki, JP;
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
It is the object of the present invention to provide an optical element for controlling the polarization state spatially by using a liquid crystal and a method for manufacturing the same, and to provide an optical apparatus for correcting the polarization state in conformity with a particular purpose and method for manufacturing the same. The optical element for controlling the polarization state of light spatially by modifying directions of orientation of liquid crystal molecules caused by an oriented film and the optical apparatus by the use of the optical element are described. Orientation which is realized in the aforesaid oriented film for liquid crystal molecules is controlled by light irradiation with ultraviolet light etc. In irradiation, used is either of two methods: one method in which light irradiation is performed while the polarization state is being changed by using masks; the other method in which light irradiation is performed while the oriented film is being moved relative to the light irradiating means.