Patent ID: 8394487

Claim:
A birefringent pattern builder, comprising: an optically anisotropic layer containing a polymer having unreacted reactive groups; and a glass sheet, polyimide, polyether sulfone, heat-resistant polycarbonate, or polyethylene naphthalate as a support, and a functional layer provided on the optically anisotropic layer, wherein the functional layer contains only one of either a radical polymerization initiator or a cationic polymerization initiator, for starting a polymerization reaction of the unreacted reactive group, wherein the optically anisotropic layer is produced by the method comprising at least steps [1] and [2] in this order; [1] coating and drying a solution containing a liquid crystalline compound at least having a radically reactive group and a cationically reactive group, above one side of the support; and [2] reacting only one of the radically reactive group or the cationically reactive group by applying heat or irradiating ionizing radiation, wherein the solution containing a liquid crystalline compound contains only one of either a radical polymerization initiator or a cationic polymerization initiator; and when the polymerization initiator of the optically anisotropic layer is the cationic polymerization initiator, then the polymerization initiator of the functional layer is the radical polymerization initiator, and when the polymerization initiator of the optically anisotropic layer is the radical polymerization initiator, then the polymerization initiator of the functional layer is the cationic polymerization initiator.