LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICAL SHUTTER

摘要

PURPOSE:To improve an optical island characteristics and high-speed responsiveness by specifying the product of the thickness and double refractive index of a liquid crystal layer, and specifying also the angle between the axis of absorption of polarization of a pair of polarizing plates sandwiching the liquid crystal layer and the optical axis of the liquid crystal molecules on the surface of the liquid crystal layer. CONSTITUTION:The liquid crystal layer 1 is sandwiched and homogeneously oriented by two sheets of substrates 2, the inside surfaces of which are rubbed in respectively opposite directions. Said layer is so formed as to be impressed with a voltage by a transparent electrode 3 and is further sandwiched by the polarizing plates 4. This liquid crystal shutter is formed by specifying the product between the thickness and double refractive index of the approximately homogeneously oriented liquid crystal layer 1 having positive dielectric anisotropy to >=180nm and <=400nm and specifying the angle between the axis of polarization or absorption of a pair of the polarizing plates 4 sandwiching the liquid crystal layer and the optical axis of the liquid crystal molecules on the surface of the liquid crystal layer 1 adjacent to the polarizing plates to >=30 deg. and <=60 deg.. The substantial contrast ratio is thereby obtd. and the liquid crystal shutter having the high-speed response is obtd.