Abstract: The present invention provides an optical element capable of improving the adhesive property between a refractive index anisotropic layer and an alignment property providing layer for. providing alignment property to the refractive index anisotropic layer and further improving the endurance of each of the layers. An optical element 10 has an alignment property providing layer 12 laminated on a transparent base material 11 and a refractive index anisotropic layer 13 laminated on the layer 12. The layer 12 is an alignment layer having alignment limiting force for providing alignment property to the layer 13, and is made of an alignment layer composition capable of expressing the alignment limiting force. The layer 13 is a liquid crystal layer formed by curing (polymerizing) a liquid crystal composition comprising a polymerizable liquid crystal material. A monomer or oligomer having one or more functional groups, together with a polymer, is incorporated into the alignment layer composition.

Abstract: An optical film is disclosed having minimal curl, minimal coating unevenness and no cracks. The optical film is obtained by casting a dope comprising a cellulose ester and a non-chlorinated solvent on a metal support, the cellulose ester having a total acyl substitution degree of 2.6 to 2.85 and having a ratio of a weight-average molecular weight to a number-average molecular weight of 1:1 to 3:1; drying the cast dope on the metal support so as to obtain a cellulose ester film; peeling the cellulose ester film from the metal support; further drying the cellulose ester film while providing a longitudinal stretch or a lateral stretch to the cellulose ester film; and providing a metal oxide layer on the cellulose ester film.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus and a process for producing a marking on a substrate. Substrates marked in that way are applied to documents such as for example credit cards, personal identity cards or banknotes as security features to provide protection from forgery. Embodiments of those security features have diffractive or holographic structures. The production of the markings was hitherto effected by shaping from a mold. A change in the marking is possible by changing the mole, which is time-consuming. The new apparatus and the new process are intended to permit the production of individualized markings on a substrate, at a low level of apparatus expenditure.

Abstract: A method for creating an integrated linear polarizer is provided. An electro-optical component is fabricated and may include a bottom electrode, a bottom cladding layer, side cladding features, an electro-optic polymer layer, a top cladding layer, and a top electrode. After fabrication, the electro-optical component is poled to create or enhance polarization properties of the electro-optic polymer layer. The electro-optical component may be heated to at least a first threshold temperature. An electric field may then be applied to the electro-optical component. In the presence of the electric field, the electro-optical component may be cooled to at or below a second threshold temperature that is less than the first threshold temperature. Once the electro-optical component has cooled to the second threshold temperature, the electric field may be removed.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus and a process for producing a marking on a substrate. Substrates marked in that way are applied to documents such as for example credit cards, personal identity cards or banknotes as security features for affording protection from forgery. Embodiments of these security features have diffractive or holographic structures. Production of the markings is produced by shaping from a mold. A change in the configuration of the marking is possible by changing the mold, which is time-consuming. The new apparatus and the new process are intended to permit the production of individualised markings on a substrate at a low level of apparatus expenditure.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed, for forming a wafer into a complex, curved shape, for use in an optical part. The method includes a step of moving the wafer into contact with a molding surface having a predetermined non-cylindrical, aspheric curved shape, to form the wafer into a corresponding shape. The step of moving is sufficient, by itself, to form the wafer into the desired non-cylindrical, aspheric curved shape, without the need for additional forming steps.

Abstract: A method of making an optical film includes calendering at least one polymeric material and stretching the at least one polymeric material along a downweb (MD) direction, thereby creating birefringence in the polymeric material. A roll of optical film includes an oriented optical film characterized by an effective orientation axis, the oriented optical film including a birefringent polymeric material, the optical film having a width of greater than 0.3 m, a thickness of at least 200 microns and a length a length of at least 10 m, wherein the effective orientation axis is aligned along the length of the optical film.

Abstract: A display element includes a display substrate that comprises a liquid crystal; and a plurality of diffraction gratings having different diffraction modes, arranged in regions of the single display substrate that are different from one another.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of an optical film provided with a convexoconcave structure, comprises the steps of: coating a resin solution including a first resin solved by a solvent onto an endless or roll-like mold provided with a convexoconcave structure, and forming a resin solution layer on the mold; laminating a film substrate onto the resin solution layer to make a laminated film before the solvent in the resin solution layer is completely dried, the film substrate including a second resin, which is capable of absorving the solution or is soluble by the solvent; and peeling the laminated film from the mold before the solvent in the laminated film is completely dried.

Abstract: Anti-glare film including anti-glare layer. The anti-glare film is obtained by coating or casting a liquid compositions containing a polymer, a curable resin precursor, and a solvent on a transparent plastic film, evaporating the solvent, forming a phase separation structure by spinodal decomposition, and curing the curable resin precursor by irradiation with light. The disclosed anti-glare film prevents reflection of surrounding scenery and dazzle in a display surface.

Abstract: There are provided a thin wire grid polarizer having a high transmittance, a high quenching ratio and a high degree of polarization, and a method for producing the same at low costs. A fluoridated polyimide thin film 12, a hydrophilic thin film 13 and a hydrophobic thin film 14 are sequentially stacked on a glass substrate 11 to be pressed by a die 1 from the side of the hydrophobic thin film 14 to transfer the fine pattern of groove forming protrusions 3 of the die 1 to the hydrophobic thin film 14 and hydrophilic thin film 13 by the nano-imprinted lithography technique, and then, metal fine wires are caused to grow by plating.

Abstract: An impact strength synthetic resin lens is provided in which transparency of a synthetic resin lens material of a polyurethane and releasability are improved to improve productivity and no stria are produced. The impact strength synthetic resin lens is manufactured by casting and curing a polyurethane resin composition which a polyurethane resin composition for molding optical lenses, comprising, as essential components, a prepolymer obtained by reacting an alicyclic polyisocyanate having two or more isocyanate groups with a polyol having two or more hydroxy groups, an internal mold lubricant and a decolored aromatic diamine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polarizing film or a polarizer that has an elastic modulus of at most about 3500 N/mm2 and suppresses occurrence of warping, the polarizing film is obtained by adsorbing a dichroic material in a polyvinyl alcohol-based film 20 ?m in thickness and stretching the tilin. The polarizing film has a transmittance of at least 43% and a polarization degree of at least 98%. A transparent protective layer is laminated on at least one surface of the polarizing film to form a polarizing plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible wire grid polarizer used in a visible ray band and a fabricating method thereof. The present invention includes the steps of forming a non-adhesive layer on an inner area of a lower substrate, forming a flexible polymer substrate on the lower substrate including the non-adhesive layer, forming a thin metal layer on the flexible polymer substrate, forming a metal grid pattern by etching the thin metal layer, dicing a wafer staying within a boundary of the non-adhesive layer on the lower substrate, and separating the lower substrate including the non-adhesive layer from the diced wafer to complete the flexible wire grid polarizer.

Abstract: A magneto-optical liquid crystal display responds to the direction of a provided magnetic field. Display alternatives include a compass-like dial indication of direction, numeric values, and complex pixilated images. By providing a variable magnetic field, the display may be used as a non-contact remote analog gauge or digital indicator.

Abstract: A method of producing a polarizing plate, including the step of laminating a pair of curled protective sheets onto opposite surfaces of a polarizer respectively so that respective curling directions of the pair of curled protective sheets are reverse to each other, wherein the laminating index of the pair of protective sheets is selected to be not higher than 60 in order to restrain the polarizing plate from being curled.

Abstract: A radiation curable composition comprises a heterocyclic acrylate or heterocyclic methacrylate. The composition is curable to make an optical management article such as an optical management coating on a substrate. A method of making an optical management article, comprises forming a radiation curable composition comprising the heterocyclic acrylate or heterocyclic methacrylate on a substrate and curing the composition to form the optical management article.

Abstract: There is described a method for forming lenses having substantially no optical power. The method includes forming, via in situ polymerization, a layer of non-uniform thickness of an optically clear, high scratch-resistant polymeric material on the convex surface of the lens. The lenses provided by the method are characterized by having maximum thickness in the central region of the lens and gradually diminishing thickness radially towards the periphery of the lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of water soluble melanin in solid plastic films of polyvinyl alcohol to be used in conjunction with other plastics to make laminated sheets or lenses. Such laminates will be used as filters to protect against photochemical damage from electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: Optical-quality polarized parts and methods for manufacturing the optical parts are disclosed. The optical-quality polarized parts comprise a high impact, lightweight, high optical quality polyurethane construct and a polarizer bonded to the construct. The construct may be a lens substrate wherein the polarizer is integrally bonded at or near the front surface of the lens substrate. A sidefill gasket may be used to support and position the polarizer within a mold cavity for reproducibly forming the optical part. The polarizer may comprise a polyethylene terephthalate film or a laminated polyvinyl alcohol film or wafer. The polarized optical part has improved impact resistance over conventional thermoset resin parts, as well as better optical properties than similarly impact-resistant polycarbonate constructs.

Abstract: A transparent heat-resistant resin optical materials having excellent heat resistance and dynamic characteristics, having negative birefringence and exhibiting a high refractive index and a high Abbe number, especially optical compensating members such as films, sheets and retardation films for LCD display element. The transparent heat-resistant resin optical material is made of a copolymer containing a specific olefin residue unit and a specific N-phenyl-substituted maleimide residue unit and having a weight average molecular weight, as reduced into standard polystyrene, of from 5×103 to 5×106, the transparent heat-resistant resin optical material exhibiting negative birefringence; and a retardation film having a relationship of three-dimensional refractive indexes of nz?ny>nx, nz>ny?nx, or nz>nx?ny.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solution to the needs described above through a method for forming multiply patterned optical articles. The method comprises providing a micromold having a pre-patterned surface structure, disposing a photorecording medium comprising a matrix precursor and a photoactive monomer on a holder surface, moving the micromold to the photorecording medium on the holder surface such that the pre-patterned surface structure contacts the photorecording medium, wherein the photorecording medium conforms to the pre-patterned surface structure of the micromold, at least partially curing the photorecording medium adherent while the micromold pre-patterned surface structure contacts the photorecording medium, and further patterning the photorecording medium by irradiating the photorecording medium with laser light to polymerize the photoactive monomer.

Abstract: A polarizing element having excellent scattering and polarizing properties is made from a stretched sheet composed of a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. The element has continuous and dispersed phases including different resins, and the refractive index differential between the continuous and dispersed phases along the stretched direction of the sheet differs from that perpendicular to the stretched direction. Incident light with a polarization state for which the refractive index differential is smaller is transmitted through the polarizing element, and incident light with a polarization state for which the refractive index differential is larger is scattered by the polarizing element. The continuous phase and the dispersed phase are bonded to each other substantially free from voids between their phases.

Abstract: The present invention provides polarizing devices and illumination devices that include the polarizing devices. The polarizing devices and illumination devices can be advantageously used in a wide variety of applications, such as in liquid crystal displays. Polarizing devices provided by the present invention include those having an isotropic waveguiding layer with a refractive index ni and an anisotropic separating layer having an anisotropic region with principal refractive indices nx and ny, wherein nx>ny and wherein ni is substantially smaller than nx and substantially larger than ny. An example of a further polarizing device provided by the present invention is one having a waveguiding layer and a separating layer, wherein the separating layer includes a form birefringent region.

Abstract: A micro-shape transcription method has preparing a mold having a transcription face on which a concavo-convex pattern is formed, pressing the transcription face against a base material softened by heating, then forcibly separating the mold from the base material to transcribe a reverse pattern of the concavo-convex pattern to the surface of the base material, wherein when assuming a temperature for pressing the mold against the base material as T1 (° C.), a temperature for separating the mold from the base material as T2 (° C.), thermal expansion coefficients of the mold and the base material as ?a and ?b, and the maximum distance between the transcription center of the transcription face and the concavo-convex pattern as d (mm), the following relations (1) and (2): T1?T2 ??(1) |?a??b|·(T1?T2)·d?4×10?2 ??(2) are simultaneously satisfied.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting biomolecular interactions. The use of labels is not required and the methods can be performed in a high-throughput manner. The invention also provides optical devices useful as narrow band filters.

Abstract: There is provided an optical module capable of improving assembling efficiency and reducing the number of parts to reduce production costs, and an optical connector having the same. The optical module has a holder 3, a lens 12 and a diffraction grating 13 for damping the quantity of light. The holder 3, the lens 12 and the diffraction grating 13 are formed of a resin material so as to be integrated with each other. The diffracting grating 13 is designed to prevent high-order diffracted light beams from being coupled with an optical fiber 8.

Abstract: A polarizing plate used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display with suppressed irregularity in brightness, a method of manufacturing the same, and a liquid crystal display using the same, are provided. The polarizing plate is formed having a laminate of a polarizing film and a transparent protective layer provided on at least one surface of the polarizing film. By heat-treating and subsequently reheat-treating, the laminate has a shrinkage force of at most 8N/10 mm width when the laminate is further left at 60° C. for 1 hour, and furthermore, the laminate has a single hue value b of at most 4.6 NBS.

Abstract: Holographic lines are formed directly on products by holding a holographic plate and a block under a lip on a frame and mounting the frame for limited movement within a recess in a mold half. As a mold cavity is filled, the frame, block and plate and heating tubes connected to the block move in the recess. As the product sets, springs push the frame, block and plate toward the shrinking product controlling the fine holographic lines. Lateral frame recesses receive bolt ends to limit frame travel. Partially withdrawing bolts and removing the tubes releases the frame for withdrawing the block and replacing the holographic plate.

Abstract: A data storage master disk and method of making a data storage master disk. The data storage disk master is for use in a data storage disk replication process. The data storage disk molding processes produces replica disks having a surface relief pattern with replica lands and replica grooves. The method includes providing a master substrate. The master substrate is at least partially covered with a layer of photosensitive material. A surface relief pattern having master lands and master grooves is recorded in the data storage disk master, including the steps of exposing and developing the photosensitive material. The exposing and developing of a specified thickness of photosensitive material is controlled to form master grooves extending down to a substrate interface between the master substrate and the layer of photosensitive material, such that the width of the master grooves at the substrate interface corresponds to a desired width of the replica lands.

Abstract: A composition containing 3,3?-thiobis(propane-1,2-dithiol) and one or more enic compounds which composition is photocurable and can give a cured product having a high refractive index and adequate hardness.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for pre-conditioning inserts for improved replication during injection molding. The pre-conditioned inserts provide improved bonding with the injection-material and improved replication of complex molding surfaces. The pre-conditioning of the inserts comprises placing the insert in position against the molding surface, followed by heat-soaking the insert. Heat-soaking can be accomplished using infrared energy, preferably broadband infrared energy or energy that is preferentially absorbed by the insert.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of an optical device includes an optical component housing operation S1 for housing a plurality of optical components in a casing body, an optical component positioning operation S2 for adjusting the positions of the optical components by shifting the optical components to position by positioning members at predetermined positions on an illumination optical axis of a light beam irradiated by a light source, and an optical component position fixing operation S3 for fixing the positions of the optical components on the casing body after the optical component positioning operation S2. The optical component housing operation further includes a positioning member inserting process for inserting the positioning members to holes on the casing body, an optical component housing process for housing the optical components in the casing body, and a positioning member abutting process by which the positioning members abut on the optical components.

Abstract: An optical device includes a substrate having a through hole formed therein, and an optical element mounted on the substrate with its optical section being placed to face the through hole, and a light transmissive member disposed at the through hole. Light transmissive under-fill material is provided between the substrate and the optical element and between the light transmissive member and the optical element.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed, for forming a wafer into a complex, curved shape, for use in an optical part. The method includes a step of moving the wafer into contact with a molding surface having a predetermined non-cylindrical, aspheric curved shape, to form the wafer into a corresponding shape. The step of moving is sufficient, by itself, to form the wafer into the desired non-cylindrical, aspheric curved shape, without the need for additional forming steps.

Abstract: Negative surface relief diffractive optical elements (218) are supported or formed at interior surfaces of injection molding molds (200, 916, 1002) for wireless communication device housing parts (502). Such injection molding molds are used to making housing parts that include integrally molded surface relief diffractive optical elements (504) e.g., holograms. Such diffractive optical elements can be used to convey information or for decorative effects. The negative surface relief holograms can be mechanically mounted or formed on the interior surfaces by exposing a resist on the interior surfaces to a holographic light field or a succession of laser interference patterns, and there after developing and using the resist as an etch mask.

Abstract: The wavefront aberrator of the present invention includes a pair of transparent windows, or plates, separated by a layer of monomers and polymerization initiator, including a broad class of epoxies. This monomer exhibits a variable index of refraction across the layer, resulting from controlling the extent of its curing. Curing of the epoxy may be made by exposure to light, such as ultraviolet light. The exposure to light may be varied across the surface of the epoxy to create a particular and unique refractive index profile.

Abstract: An inexpensive multi-layered holographic read-only memory having a large capacity is provided. In the memory in which single-mode slab waveguides are multi-layered, a periodic scattering center whose period approximately agrees with the period of the guided mode is provided in at least one of a core layer and a clad layer in each waveguide so that a guided wave in the waveguide is diffracted by the periodic scattering center to the outside of the waveguide and a holographic image is generated.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated optical isolator includes depositing a wire grid material on a magneto-optical substrate and depositing a resist film on the wire grid material. The method further includes bringing a mold with a wire grid pattern on contact with the resist film and compressing the mold and resist film together so as to emboss the wire grid pattern in the resist film. The method further includes transferring the wire grid pattern in the resist film to the wire grid material on the magneto-optical substrate by etching.

Abstract: An optical member comprising an at least one optical film, wherein an end face of the at least one optical film is covered with water-repellent materials, is useful to suppress occurrence of defects concerning the optical film, in particular, defects concerning polarizer, which are caused under an atmosphere with high temperature and high humidity.

Abstract: Difference in retardation between two points separated by 1 cm along the TD direction of a polyvinyl alcohol polymer film 6 is 5 nm or less. The length of a surface for drying a polyvinyl alcohol polymer film 6 is 3 m to 200 m, and the water content of the polyvinyl alcohol polymer film 6 when peeled after passing through the drying surface is 50% by weight or less, in film formation.

Abstract: A holographic image shrinkable film and the manufacture thereof is to spread a UV resin film on a shrinkable film; stick the UV resin film tightly against a metal wheel engraved with a holographic pattern, holographic film or separating type hot stamping film; illuminate the UV resin film with an UV lamp so as to harden the UV resin film instantly; and remove the harden UV resin film from the metal wheel, the holographic film, or separating type hot stamping film; the holographic pattern on the metal wheel or the holographic film is copied onto the UV resin film, or a separating type hot stamping film substrate is combined on the UV resin film. The manufacturing method according to the present invention is rather not dangerous, and a specialist is not need. Therefore, a mass production can be practiced to save production cost can be saved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating the light guide panel reduces the thickness of the stamper and fixes it firmly in place. The apparatus and method for fabricating the light guide panel according to the present invention has a stamper for forming patterns on the light guide panel and first and second side mold frames which are separable so as to hold the stamper in place during the formation of the light guide and so as to easily eject the finished light guide after it has formed and hardened.

Abstract: A process of producing an article having a surface provided with an optical diffraction grating such that the surface generates visible color when illuminated with diffuse white light. The process involves deforming a starting material to produce the article having the surface and, during the deforming step, impressing a diffraction relief pattern on the surface by a tool provided with a bearing surface having a corresponding surface relief pattern of parallel lines that contacts the surface of the article under pressure. While the diffraction relief patter is being impressed, the surface is caused to slide in a direction of movement relative to the bearing surface of the tool. The invention also relates to the article.

Abstract: There is described a method for depicting a predetermined diffraction structure on a substrate by scanning an electron beam onto the substrate. The method includes the steps of: measuring a contour of the substrate so as to detect height errors in surface heights in comparison with specified values of a surface height distribution of the substrate; adjusting a depicting mode for depicting each of diffraction gratings, which constitute the predetermined diffraction structure, in response to the height errors detected in the measuring step, so as to compensate for a phase change of diffracted light caused by each of the height errors corresponding to each of the diffraction gratings; and depicting each of the diffraction gratings by scanning the electron beam onto the substrate, according to the depicting mode adjusted in the adjusting step. The depicting mode represents each spacing between the diffraction gratings or a dose of the electron beam.

Abstract: Process and device for producing moulded parts from plastic

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of realizing an optical function on a component of a motor vehicle indicating or lighting device. This method is more particularly suited to producing a mask for a headlamp or light and/or to treating reflective surfaces. The method comprises a step of forming said component in a predetermined material and a step of exposing at least one surface of said component to laser radiation.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a polarization element which has a high reliability and is easy to manufacture. The manufacturing method includes the steps of forming a fine metal particle dispersed product including a plurality of dispersed fine metal particles on a surface of the transparent substrate using a sol-gel method, drawing the fine metal particle dispersed product together with the transparent substrate while heating both, and cutting the drawn fine metal particle dispersed product and transparent substrate. The forming step includes the steps of coating a sol coating liquid on the surface of the transparent substrate, heat-treating the coated sol coating liquid, and sintering the heat-treated sol coating liquid. The sol coating liquid includes a disperse liquid containing an organic silicon compound as a main component and a metal salt dispersed in the disperse liquid for forming the fine metal particles.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a substrate having a dopant of a first polarity, a first semiconducting structure including a dopant of a second polarity disposed over the substrate, and having substantially planar top and side surfaces. The semiconductor device includes a first junction, formed between the first semiconducting structure and the substrate, having an area wherein at least one lateral dimension is less than about 75 nanometers.

Abstract: A method of producing holographic iridescent film includes the steps of applying an adhesion coating upon a corona or plasma treated iridescent film, holographically embossing the adhesion coating, thermosetting the holographically embossed adhesion coating, and applying a high-resolution index (HRI) coating to the thermo-set holographically embossed adhesion coating.