Abstract

Manufacture of a birefringent liquid crystal cell is performed as follows. A layer of isotropic material having an outer surface which is shaped with a surface relief structure and is provided with a liquid crystal alignment property is formed. A flexible sheet having an outer surface provided with a liquid crystal alignment property is formed. A curable birefringent liquid crystal material is applied to one or both of the layer of isotropic material and the flexible sheet. The flexible sheet is applied over the layer of isotropic material with the outer surfaces of the layer of isotropic material and the flexible sheet facing one another with the liquid crystal material therebetween, thereby to form a liquid crystal cell. The liquid crystal material is cured and the flexible sheet is removed from the liquid crystal cell.

IPC Classes  ?

• G02B 3/00 - Simple or compound lenses
• G02B 5/02 - Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• G02B 5/30 - Polarising elements
• G02B 27/22 - Other optical systems; Other optical apparatus for producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects

Abstract

A lens element comprising: a rear substrate having a front surface provided with a surface relief having a plurality of zones each capable of providing a lens effect; a front substrate disposed in front of the rear substrate and having a rear surface provided with a surface relief having a plurality of zones each capable of providing a lens effect, the zones of the surface reliefs provided on the rear substrate and the front substrate having the same spatial arrangement over the area of the lens element; and solid or liquid, isotropic, intermediate material disposed between the front surface of the rear substrate and the rear surface of the front substrate, the intermediate material having a refractive index different from the refractive index of each of the rear substrate and the front substrate. This construction reduces the degree of Fresnel reflection which would otherwise degrade the optical performance.

IPC Classes  ?

• G02B 3/00 - Simple or compound lenses
• G02B 27/22 - Other optical systems; Other optical apparatus for producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects
• G03B 21/62 - Translucent screens