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:
May. 29, 2007
Filed:
Jul. 30, 2003
Keiko Tazaki, Tokyo-To, JP;
Koji Ishizaki, Tokyo-To, JP;
Keiko Tazaki, Tokyo-To, JP;
Koji Ishizaki, Tokyo-To, JP;
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An optical element including: an alignment substrate; a liquid crystal layer formed on the alignment substrate, made by forming and curing a film of a liquid crystalline material; and a protective layer having high hardness, formed on the liquid crystal layer. The protective layer is for protecting the liquid crystal layer from being deformed by externally exerted forces. Preferably, the protective layer has a modulus of elasticity (=(elastic deformation)/(total deformation)) of 0.6 or more and a plastic deformation of 0.5 μm or less as determined by pushing an indenter into the protective layer with a test force of 2 mN in accordance with the universal hardness test method. The optical element has the advantages that the film thickness distribution of the liquid crystal layer remains uniform even when forces are externally exerted to the optical element in the process of production of the optical element or in the course of incorporation of the optical element in a liquid crystal display, and that the optical element can maintain its high displaying quality even when incorporated in a liquid crystal display.