	US 12,353,067 B2
	Liquid crystal device, optical system, spatial phase modulator, and method of manufacturing liquid crystal device
Yasuki Sakurai, Aichi (JP); Masashi Nishitateno, Aichi (JP); Koki Takatou, Yamaguchi (JP); and Masahiro Ito, Yamaguchi (JP)
Assigned to santec Holdings Corporation, Aichi (JP); and Sanyo-Onoda City Public University Corporation, Yamaguchi (JP)
Appl. No. 17/794,048
Filed by santec Holdings Corporation, Aichi (JP); and Sanyo-Onoda City Public University Corporation, Yamaguchi (JP)
PCT Filed Jul. 19, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/026990 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 20, 2022, PCT Pub. No. WO2023/002533, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 26, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0192527 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
Int. Cl. G02F 1/01 (2006.01); G02F 1/1343 (2006.01)

CPC G02F 1/0136 (2013.01) [G02F 1/134309 (2013.01); G02F 1/13439 (2013.01)]

11 Claims

1. An optical system comprising:

a light source;

a controller; and

a liquid crystal device, the liquid crystal device including:

a liquid crystal layer; and

an electrode layer configured to create an electric field in the liquid crystal layer,

wherein the liquid crystal device is configured to be controlled by the controller to phase-modulate a laser light inputted from the light source so as to generate phase-modulated light corresponding to an image to be created on a processing-target surface, and to output the laser light that is modulated as the phase-modulated light,

wherein a bifunctional hindered amine based organic compound is added to the liquid crystal mixture as the polymerization inhibitor,

wherein the bifunctional hindered amine based organic compound includes two functional groups coupled by a linking group including a carbon-to-carbon bond having a carbon number of 3 or less, and

wherein the optical system is configured to process the processing-target surface by radiating the phase-modulated light onto the processing-target surface.

10. A liquid-crystal-type spatial phase modulator comprising:

a transparent solid material layer configured to receive an input of light;

a transparent electrode layer disposed below the transparent solid material layer;

a first alignment film layer disposed below the transparent electrode layer;

a liquid crystal layer disposed below the first alignment film layer;

a second alignment film layer disposed below the liquid crystal layer;

a lower electrode layer disposed below the second alignment film layer; and

a silicon substrate disposed below the lower electrode layer,

wherein the transparent electrode layer is an indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent electrode layer,

wherein the first alignment film layer and the second alignment film layer are inorganic alignment film layers made of silicon oxide (SiOx), and

wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal composition that includes a liquid crystal mixture, to which a polymerization inhibitor for inhibiting radical polymerization caused by light action is added, and wherein a hindered amine based organic compound is added to the liquid crystal mixture as the polymerization inhibitor,

wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal composition in which a bifunctional hindered amine based organic compound is added to the liquid crystal mixture as the polymerization inhibitor

wherein the bifunctional hindered amine based organic compound includes two functional groups coupled by a linking group including carbon-to-carbon bond having carbon number 3 or less.

11. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device comprising:

creating a liquid crystal composition by adding, to a liquid crystal mixture, a hindered amine based organic compound as a polymerization inhibitor for inhibiting radical polymerization caused by light action, and

manufacturing the liquid crystal device that includes a liquid crystal layer having a property of inhibiting the radical polymerization by using the liquid crystal composition to form the liquid crystal layer,

wherein the liquid crystal layer includes the liquid crystal composition in which a bifunctional hindered amine based organic compound is added to the liquid crystal mixture as the polymerization inhibitor,

wherein the bifunctional hindered amine based organic compound includes two functional groups coupled by a linking group including a carbon-to-carbon bond having a carbon number of 3 or less, and

wherein the liquid crystal device is configured to phase-modulate a laser light inputted from a light source so as to generate phase-modulated light corresponding to an image to be created on a processing-target surface.