Patent ID: 8643822
Filing Date: 2014-02-04
Classification: B29D,G02B,G02F,G03H,G11B

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating an optical element comprising: a) coating a substrate with a linearly photopolymerizable polymer layer; b) irradiating the linearly photopolymerizable polymer layer with linearly polarized ultra-violet light at an oblique angle; c) coating a layer of liquid crystal material on a surface of the irradiated linearly photopolymerizable polymer layer; wherein an out-of-plane tilt angle of liquid crystal directors in the liquid crystal material is dependent on a total dose of the linearly polarized ultra-violet light; and wherein the linearly polarized ultra-violet light is selected to induce the out-of-plane tilt angle of the liquid crystal directors in the liquid crystal material to vary across a surface of the liquid crystal material layer; and d) irradiating the layer of liquid crystal material to form a liquid crystal polymer film, the liquid crystal polymer film including a plurality of liquid crystal directors aligned parallel to a first plane, the first plane perpendicular to a surface of the liquid crystal polymer film.