Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. The markings provided on products can be textual and/or graphic. The techniques or processes can provide high resolution markings on surfaces that are flat or curved. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, the housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on the outer housing surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to 2,5-selenophene derivatives and 2,5-tellurophene derivatives, inter alia for use as components in liquid-crystal mixtures, and to liquid-crystal mixtures which comprise the compounds, and to liquid-crystal displays based on these mixtures. The invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds and to Se/Te-containing intermediates.

Abstract: A PCLC flake/fluid host suspension that enables dual-frequency, reverse drive reorientation and relaxation of the PCLC flakes is composed of a fluid host that is a mixture of: 94 to 99.5 wt % of a non-aqueous fluid medium having a dielectric constant value ?, where 1<?<7, a conductivity value ?, where 10?9>?>10?7 Siemens per meter (S/m), and a resistivity r, where 107>r>1010 ohm-meters (?-m), and which is optically transparent in a selected wavelength range ??; 0.0025 to 0.25 wt % of an inorganic chloride salt; 0.0475 to 4.75 wt % water; and 0.25 to 2 wt % of an anionic surfactant; and 1 to 5 wt % of PCLC flakes suspended in the fluid host mixture. Various encapsulation forms and methods are disclosed including a Basic test cell, a Microwell, a Microcube, Direct encapsulation (I), Direct encapsulation (II), and Coacervation encapsulation. Applications to display devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition includes 100 parts by mass of a nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy and 0.01 to 3 parts by mass of a polymerizable compound of general formula (I). On being irradiated with an energy ray, such as UV rays, the liquid crystal composition provides an LCD capable of high-speed response without undergoing reduction in reliability (voltage holding ratio). In formula (I), rings C1-3 are benzene, cyclohexane or naphthalene; M1-2 are hydrogen or methyl; Z1 is a direct bond, -L1-, -L1O—, etc.; Z4 is a direct bond, -L2-, —OL2-, etc.; at least one of Z1 and Z4 is not a direct bond; L1,2 are C1-C10 alkylene; when Z1?Z4, one or more hydrogen atoms of the rings C1, C2, and C3 are substituted; Z2 and Z3 are each a direct bond, an ester bond, etc.; p and q are each 0 or 1, provided that p+q?1.

Abstract: A cellulose ester film is provided and includes a polycondensate obtained from a diol and a dicarboxylic acid, and the polycondensate contains the following (1) and (2). (1) A dicarboxylic acid residue containing an aromatic dicarboxylic acid residue and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residue having an average carbon number of 4.0 to 5.0, in which a ratio of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid residue represented by the following equation is from 40% by mole to 95% by mole: The ratio of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid residue=[(the number of moles of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid residue)/((the number of moles of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid residue)+(the number of moles of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues))]×100. (2) An aliphatic diol residue having an average carbon number of 2.0 to 3.0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoplastic resin composition comprising a thermoplastic resin and aggregated particles of fibrous crystals. According to the thermoplastic resin composition, a molded articles which adequately reduce a defect in appearance can be obtained.

Abstract: A liquid crystal includes about 60 wt % to about 80 wt % of a first compound material, about 2 wt % to about 15 wt % of a second compound material, and a neutral compound material. The first compound material has a dielectric anisotropy of a first polarity, and the second compound material has a dielectric anisotropy of a second polarity.

Abstract: A coating liquid for forming a polarizing film comprising a lyotropic liquid crystal compound (A) exhibiting light absorption characteristics in a visible light region having a wavelength 400 nm or longer, a lyotropic liquid crystal compound (B) exhibiting no or low light absorption characteristics in the visible light region having a wavelength 400 nm or longer and a solvent dissolving the lyotropic liquid crystal compound (A) and the lyotropic liquid crystal compound (B).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an illuminator and a liquid crystal panel for performing displaying by using light which is emitted from the illuminator. The liquid crystal panel includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer provided between the pair of substrates, and a pair of alignment films provided on sides of the pair of substrates facing the liquid crystal layer. At least one of the alignment films is a photo-alignment film which is imparted with an orientation regulating force through a photo-alignment treatment, and the illuminator includes a light source causing primary generation of at least blue light, among other light which is used for displaying.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel mesogenic dimeric compounds which are especially suitable for use in birefringent films with negative optical dispersion, to novel liquid crystal (LC) formulations and polymer films comprising them, and to the use of the dimers, formulations and films in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices.

Abstract: Polymerizable compositions comprising particularly useful for brightness enhancing films.

Abstract: The invention provides liquid crystalline blends, a device such as a photovoltaic cell using the blend and method thereof. A liquid crystalline blend comprises at least an electron donor and at least an electron acceptor with a weight or molar ratio in the range of from about 1:20 to about 20:1. Another liquid crystalline blend comprises at least an electron donor and at least an electron acceptor, wherein the electron donor, the electron acceptor, or both is (are) halo-substituted such as F-substituted. The donor or the electron acceptor can be excited by an electromagnetic radiation such as solar light to induce electron transfer between the donor and the acceptor. The photovoltaic cell is improved in that favorable molecular arrangement in the blend gives more interfaces between the donor and the acceptor and thus a viable path for dissociation and electrons and/or holes; as well as larger light-harvesting area toward the coming light.

Abstract: A composition for forming an alignment film used during formation of an alignment film with a droplet discharge method includes a solute, a first organic solvent and a second organic solvent. The solute includes an alignment film formation material. The first organic solvent dissolves the solute. The second organic solvent is for controlling surface tension. The first organic solvent includes a solvent having a lowest vapor pressure among all of solvent components in the composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds, characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the formula I in which R1, X1, L1-5 have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, and to the use thereof for electro-optical purposes, in particular TN monitor applications.

Abstract: The subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one characteristic of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding two characteristics thereof. The subject is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystalline polyester composition comprising a liquid crystalline polyester, a fibrous filler, a plate-like filler and a granular filler. The connector obtained using the liquid crystalline polyester composition has poor filling suppressed and is excellent in warp resistance and crack resistance.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline polyester blend composition includes 100 parts by weight of a liquid-crystalline polyester blend and 0.1-300 parts by weight of calcium titanate and/or barium titanate, wherein the liquid-crystalline polyester blend can be obtained by combining liquid-crystalline polyester (A) (LCP A) and liquid-crystalline polyester (B) (LCP B) such that the ratio by weight of (LCP A)/(LCP B) is 99/1 to 80/20, wherein LCP A and LCP B are as defined in the specification, provided that at least one of LCP A and LCP B includes one or two repeating units that come from corresponding minor copolymerizing components selected from aromatic diol, aromatic dicarboxylic acid, aromatic monocarboxylic acid and aromatic monohydroxy compound.

Abstract: A method for producing a fine structure includes: (a) forming a photosensitive film to cover a plurality of first convex portions formed in at least one surface of a substrate; (b) arranging liquid to cover the photosensitive film on the at least one surface of the substrate; (c) arranging a transparent parallel plate such that the parallel plate opposes the substrate via the liquid; (d) generating interference field by a laser beam to irradiate the interference field onto the photosensitive film via the parallel plate and the liquid; (e) removing the liquid and the parallel plate to develop the photosensitive film so as to form a photosensitive film pattern; and (f) etching the substrate using a mask of the photosensitive film pattern to form a plurality of fine convex portions smaller than the first convex portions on the at least one surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dielectrically positive liquid-crystalline media comprising a dielectrically positive component, component A, comprising a dielectrically positive compound of the formula I in which the parameters have the meaning indicated in the specification, and optionally a second dielectrically positive component, component B, comprising one or more dielectrically positive compounds having a dielectric anisotropy of great than 3, and optionally a dielectrically neutral component, component C, and to liquid-crystal displays containing these media, especially active-matrix displays and in particular TN, IPS and FFS displays.

Abstract: A pattern is formed by coating a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising a resin comprising acid labile group-containing recurring units and a photoacid generator onto a substrate, drying to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation through a phase shift mask including a lattice-like first shifter and a second shifter arrayed on the first shifter and consisting of lines which are thicker than the line width of the first shifter, PEB, developing to form a positive pattern, illuminating or heating the positive pattern to eliminate acid labile groups for increasing alkaline solubility and to induce crosslinking for imparting solvent resistance, coating a reversal film, and dissolving away the positive pattern in an alkaline wet etchant to form a pattern by way of positive/negative reversal.