Patent ID: 7011914
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. A method of producing a circular polarization controlling optical element, the method comprising: a liquid-crystal-layer-forming step of forming, on a substrate having aligning power, an active-radiation-curing liquid crystal layer having cholesteric regularity, the liquid crystal layer containing a polymerizable chiral agent and a polymerizable liquid crystalline material capable of developing nematic regularity; a semi-cured-cholesteric-layer-forming step of forming a semi-cured cholesteric layer by applying active radiation with a predetermined radiant intensity to the liquid crystal layer; and a wave-range-broadening step of broadening a selective reflection wave range of the semi-cured cholesteric layer by curing the semi-cured cholesteric layer with a curing rate gradient being formed in the semi-cured cholesteric layer between a substrate-side surface and a surface opposite to the substrate-side surface.