Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising an alignment-controlling film formed by applying an aqueous solution containing one part by weight of polyvinyl alcohol and 2 to 4 parts by weight of titanium alkoxide to a substrate surface, followed by heating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device containing an electrode substrate, a circuit substrate, and a flat-type back light, which incorporates a guide apparatus consisting of several guide members for guiding the back light onto the back surface of the electrode substrate, in which the guide members provide grooves with tapered ends and a narrowed shape at one end, but a wide juncture portion for connecting the guide members together. The edges of the back light unit fit in the grooves. Stopper members are provided facilitate connection to the electrode substrate; and fixing members are provided to secure the guide members to the circuit substrate.

Abstract: A focusing screen for observing an image formed by an objective lens is constructed of a liquid crystal layer, having a dynamic scattering effect, sandwiched between a pair of parallel transparent electrodes. At least one of the transparent electrodes is divided into a plurality of discrete parts. The discrete electrode parts are connected as independent groups through a switch mechanism to a driving circuit. The switch mechanism permits one or more of the groups to act as different elements in response to an applied voltage, depending on the F value of the lens. Accordingly, the scattering degree of the focusing screen varies as a function of the F value and not the applied voltage.

Abstract: Liquid crystal eyeglasses include a detector for detecting a physical quantity which varies with the temperature of the liquid crystal, the orientation of molecules of the liquid crystal or a change in the refractive index of the liquid crystal. The voltage applied to the liquid crystal is controlled in accordance with an output signal from the detector, thus compensating for a change in the refractive index of the liquid crystal which is attributable to a temperature change and maintaining the refractive index constant.

Abstract: An instrument panel cluster includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of liquid crystal subassemblies secured thereto, each of which includes a columnar terminal block with a beam configured light pipe cantilevered from one side of the block to locate the free end of the beam at a light source on the printed circuit board to direct light therefrom across the planar extent of an illuminating surface on the beam for backlighting a liquid crystal display; and wherein the liquid crystal display and light pipe are configured to be releasably connected to the terminal block by a spring clip means that biases the liquid crystal display against an elastomeric connector supported by the terminal block to electrically connect the liquid crystal display to a printed circuit board and thereby enabling the light pipe and liquid crystal display to be interconnected and preassembled for testing and adjustment of the light pipe with respect to the liquid crystal display prior to final assembly of an instrument pane

Abstract: The nematic liquid crystal cell weakly doped by a chiral solute and of the electrically controlled birefringence type. Doping is such that the resulting cholesteric liquid crystal twist exceeds approximately twice the thickness of the liquid crystal coating and is less than approximately 8 times said thickness. Moreover, one of the sides of the cell is to be exposed to incident light and at least on said side, the cell comprises an advantageously linear polarizer. Application to the production of displays for moving images or pictures.

Abstract: A color sequential illumination system for a liquid crystal light valve is disclosed. The invention operates with no moving parts and provides for the sequential illumination of a light valve with at least two beams of different colors. The rate is fast enough that the colors fuse together and the viewer sees a composite color image. The system includes a prepolarizer and dichroics for providing a first beam along a first optical path having a first color and a first polarization state and a second beam along a second optical path having a second color and said first polarization state. An optical switch is provided for selectively transmitting the first and second beams by sequentially changing the polarization state of each. Associated optical components are provided for directing the first and second beams onto the liquid crystal light valve.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device is by disposing between a pair of substrates a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition showing a phase transition series of isotropic.fwdarw.chiral nematic phase (N.sup.*).fwdarw.chiral smectic C phase on temperature decrease. The alignment state of the liquid crystal is improved by forming alignment control films of mutually different materials on the pair of substrates. The alignment state is improved especially when the liquid crystal composition is formulated to show a helical pitch in N.sup.* phase which exceeds three times the spacing between the pair of substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element comprising a pair of substrates, a pair of electrodes provided on the respective substrates, at least one of which is transparent and a liquid crystal layer disposed between said substrates, the liquid crystal layer comprising a nematic liquid crystal, which exhibits a positive dielectric constant anisotropy and contains an optically active substance, the liquid crystal moleccule orientation direction in the liquid crystal layer is twisted in the range of 200.degree. to 250.degree. from the one substrate surface toward the other substrate surface so as to form a helical structure therein. A polyimide orientation film is provided between the electrodes and the liquid crystal layer. The polyimide orientation film is one made of a polyimide prepared by reacting a diamine compound having a long-chain hydrocarbon group or a diamine compound having a trifluoromethyl group with a tetracarboxylic dianhydride and causes a pretilt angle of at least 3.degree.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal device, liquid crystal molecules are twisted at a predetermined angle .theta. within the range of 180.degree. to 360.degree. between a pair of substances. Molecular alignment films are formed on the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates such that an angle .alpha. between the axes of the adjacent liquid crystal molecules falls within the range of 0.degree. to 40.degree.. A liquid crystal composition having a twist abilities falling within the range of .theta.-(2500/.theta.)+.sqroot..alpha. (degrees) to .theta.-(12500/.theta.)+.sqroot..alpha. (degrees) is filled between the substrates, thereby eliminating a memory phenomenon and alignment defects such as reverse twisting alignment defects and at the same time improving multiplexing drive characteristics.

Abstract: An improved electrode assembly is disclosed herein especially for use in a matrix type liquid crystal display panel, which assures exact alignment of picture elements and increased yield of manufacture regardless of disalignment between scanning electrodes and signal electrodes in the electrode assembly. The display panel includes a first support carrying a plurality of the scanning electrodes, a second support carrying a plurality of the signal electrodes and disposed to face the first support and a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between the first and second supports. The signal electrodes are divided into an upper block and a lower block and the scanning electrodes are used in common for the upper and lower blocks. Pursuant to the present invention, the width of division between the upper and lower blocks of the signal electrodes is smaller than the spacing of the scanning electrodes.

Abstract: High-tilt (e.g., 5.degree.-85.degree.) can be achieved by chemical treatment of the interior surfaces of a liquid crystal device. Illustratively, the treatment entails applying a combination of surface coupling agents one of which alone would cause the LC director to make and angle .alpha..sub.1 (e.g., .alpha..sub.1 =0.degree.; homogeneous alignment) with the surface and another of which alone would yield .alpha..sub.2 (e.g., .alpha..sub.2 =90.degree., homeotropic alignment), but together they produce .alpha..sub.3 different from .alpha..sub.1 and .alpha..sub.2.

Abstract: A method of creating memory effect in an optically responsive film containing smectic liquid crystal microdroplets dispersed in a polymeric film by first heating it to a higher temperature such that the structure of the liquid crystal is transformed into an isotropic phase, and then cooling the liquid crystal from that higher temperature in an electric field of sufficient intensity such that the liquid crystal microdroplets remain in an aligned state of the smectic phase for a sufficiently long period of time.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a sandwich structure of support plates with a layer of liquid crystal filled therebetween. One support plate has an array of thin film transistors and thin film capacitors both formed thereon, while the other support plate has a counter electrode formed thereon. One of a pair of electrodes of each thin film capacitor on the one support plate is offset from the counter electrode at any area other than area where they form an effective capacitance element, the other the area where they form an effective capacitance element, the other capacitor electrodes serving as display electrodes.

Abstract: A display comprising optical means for presenting an absence of light over a controlled viewing angle and means for selectively scattering or transmitting light in response to a prescribed input to effect a display of information within said viewing angle.

Abstract: An optical system contains a liquid crystal cell (1), to the liquid crystal layer (11) of which an E-field can be applied transversely to the plane of the layer. A light source (3) sends to the liquid crystal cell (1) a beam of rays parallel to the field direction. The liquid crystal is in the form of a chiral, optically isotropic phase ("blue phase"). This phase has a field-dependent optical density for the incident light and is matched to the light wavelength such that no selective reflection takes place. Such a cell is also optically isotropic in the presence of an E-field, switches rapidly and requires no interface orientation. Its preferred fields of use are: intensity modulation of light of a given wavelength, or as a phase grid in a schlieren-optical system, an etalon in a laser, or a light switch.

Abstract: A new type of display unit is provided. A light emitting body such as a fluorescent lamp is disposed behind an elongated display panel. The middle section of the fluorescent lamp extends parallel to the elongated display panel to face it from end to end. The opposite ends of the lamp are bent if necessary.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a light signal generator which comprises an exposure light source and a light-path switching means capable of interrupting the transmission of light rays at arbitrary portions of the cross-sectional area of the path of the light rays emitted from the light source, and an image-bearing member so disposed as to be illuminated with light signals from said light signal generator, wherein the light signal generator comprises: the light-path switching means which in turn comprises scanning lines, data lines and a ferroelectric liquid crystal material having an operational temperature range in which the ferroelectric liquid crystal material behaves as a ferroelectric liquid crystal and driven by selective application of signals to the scanning lines and the data lines so as to assume either one of light-transmitting state and light-interrupting state, and temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the liquid crystal material within the operational temperature

Abstract: An optical modulation device comprises a liquid crystal having bistability between a pair of parallel base plates oppositely spaced from each other. A plurality of structural members having side walls are arranged at a substantially equal interval between the pair of parallel base plates so as to be in contact with at least one of them. Further, side walls of the plurality of structural members are treated for horizontal orientation in parallel with the extending direction of the structural members, and have a wall effect for orienting liquid crystal molecules in the direction of the horizontal orientation treatment.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, display electrodes are arranged in a matrix form, gate and source buses are provided for each row and column of the display electrodes, and a pixel driving composite transistor is connected between each display electrode and the gate and source buses for driving the display electrode. Source-drain electrode pairs opposite in the direction of arrangement, which are equal in number, are provided for each transistor, and a common semiconductor layer and a common gate electrode are provided for all the source and drain electrodes to form an even number of thin film transistors connected in parallel to one another, thereby constituting the composite transistor for driving a pixel.