Abstract: An electrically suppressed helix (ESH) ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) display cell with fast response includes: a liquid crystal layer, disposed between two transparent substrates, wherein helix pitch of chiral smectic liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer is less than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer; at least one polarizer; and a voltage source, configured to apply electrical driving voltage pulses to electrodes of the display cell with amplitude greater than a critical voltage for helix unwinding of the chiral smectic liquid crystals.

Abstract: A liquid crystal Fresnel lens is provided. The liquid crystal Fresnel lens includes a liquid crystal cell and two polarizers. The liquid crystal cell includes: two transparent substrates having conducting layers disposed thereon with alignment layers, wherein an alignment pattern formed by the alignment layers are configured to provide multiple alignment domains in a Fresnel zones pattern, and wherein an easy axis of adjacent alignment domains are oriented at an angle relative to one another; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer disposed between the two transparent substrates, wherein the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer has a planar surface orientation and smectic layers perpendicular to the two transparent substrates. The liquid crystal cell is disposed between the two polarizers.

Abstract: A composite photoalignment layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules includes: a monomeric material; a photoinitiator or a thermal initiator; and an azo dye material. A method for preparing a composite photoalignment layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules includes: mixing, in solution form, a monomeric material, a photoinitiator or a thermal initiator, and an azo dye material; coating the mixed solution onto a substrate to form a thin film; exposing the thin film to polarized light; and, with a thermal initiator, heating the thin film to polymerize the monomeric material and form a solid thin film.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal photo-alignment layer that is composed of polymer stabilized azo dyes is provided, where a polymer network is introduced in the photo-alignment layer for stabilization. The photo-alignment layer is realized based on a two-step irradiation to first achieve molecule alignment to form the photo-alignment layer and then stabilize this layer. To realize the photo-alignment layer, a pre-determined surface of the substrate is first coated with a film of mixture. The mixture comprises an azo dye and a monomer preferably mixed in an optimal concentration of 0.67 wt/wt. The azo dye and the monomer have light-absorption peaks at different wavelengths such that photo-alignment of the azo-dye molecules and stabilization of the photo-alignment layer by polymerization of the monomer are achievable by two separate exposures of light to the film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell structure is provided. The liquid crystal cell structure includes: two polarizers; and a liquid crystal diffractive light modulating cell placed between the two polarizers. The cell includes: two transparent substrates treated by photoalignment; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer disposed between the two transparent substrates with current conducting layers, the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer comprising ferroelectric liquid crystals. The two transparent substrates treated by photoalignment are configured to provide multiple alignment domains in the ferroelectric liquid crystals with a planar surface orientation. Adjacent domains of the multiple alignment domains are oriented at an angle with respect to each other.

Abstract: An electrically suppressed helix (ESH) ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) display cell with fast response includes: a liquid crystal layer, disposed between two transparent substrates, wherein helix pitch of chiral smectic liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer is less than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer; at least one polarizer; and a voltage source, configured to apply electrical driving voltage pulses to electrodes of the display cell with amplitude greater than a critical voltage for helix unwinding of the chiral smectic liquid crystals.

Abstract: A polymer film with aligned geometrically anisotropic nanostructures includes: an alignment layer; and a mixture of liquid crystal polymer and geometrically anisotropic nanostructures. Methods for aligning geometrically anisotropic nanostructures and for optically manipulating geometrically anisotropic nanostructures are also provided.

Abstract: A field sequential color (FSC) ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) display cell, part of an FSC display, is provided. The FSC FLC display cell includes: two polarizers; an FLC layer, positioned between the two polarizers, the FLC layer comprising FLCs with helix pitch less than the thickness of the FLC layer; and a voltage source, configured to apply an electrical driving voltage to the FLC layer, the electrical driving voltage applied to the FLC layer having an amplitude greater than a threshold voltage for helix unwinding, and wherein the voltage source is further configured to apply electrical driving voltages to light emitting diodes (LEDs) of the FSC display to illuminate pixels of the FSC display. The pixels are illuminated in an FSC manner. The FLC layer is configured to provide a defect-free layer of FLC under the electrical driving voltage applied to the FLC layer.

Abstract: A 2D/3D switchable liquid crystal lens device includes: a polarization-dependent lens array, configured to provide a focusing effect for impinging light having a first plane of polarization of the impinging light and to provide no focusing effect for impinging light have a second plane of polarization orthogonal to the first plane of polarization; a switchable polarization rotating stage, comprising bi-stable liquid crystals, wherein the switchable polarization rotating stage is configured to output light having the first plane of polarization to the polarization-dependent lens array while the bi-stable liquid crystals are in a first state, and to output light having the second plane of polarization to the polarization-dependent lens array while the bi-stable liquid crystals are in a second state; and a driving system, configured to switch the bi-stable liquid crystals of the switchable polarization rotating stage between the first state and the second state.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically suppressed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal (ESHFLC) cell with polymer stabilization. The cell has a liquid crystal (LC) material that is a mixture comprising a monomer, a photo-initiator and a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) where a polymer network has been established at a certain temperature to achieve constraints of ESHFLC electro-optical mode. The resultant mixture is characterized by a helix pitch less than and comparable to a FLC layer thickness of the cell, and provides a selective reflection in an UV region. The concentration of the monomer in the pure FLC mixture has also been optimized for the phase diagram, scattering and the tilt angle. The resultant mixture, i.e. the polymer stabilized ESHFLC cell, follows all constraints of the ESHFLC electro-optical mode and shows electro-optical characteristics similar to a typical ESHFLC cell.

Abstract: A liquid crystal Fresnel lens is provided. The liquid crystal Fresnel lens includes a liquid crystal cell and two polarizers. The liquid crystal cell includes: two transparent substrates having conducting layers disposed thereon with alignment layers, wherein an alignment pattern formed by the alignment layers are configured to provide multiple alignment domains in a Fresnel zones pattern, and wherein an easy axis of adjacent alignment domains are oriented at an angle relative to one another; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer disposed between the two transparent substrates, wherein the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer has a planar surface orientation and smectic layers perpendicular to the two transparent substrates. The liquid crystal cell is disposed between the two polarizers.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal photo-alignment layer that is composed of polymer stabilized azo dyes is provided, where a polymer network is introduced in the photo-alignment layer for stabilization. The photo-alignment layer is realized based on a two-step irradiation to first achieve molecule alignment to form the photo-alignment layer and then stabilize this layer. To realize the photo-alignment layer, a pre-determined surface of the substrate is first coated with a film of mixture. The mixture comprises an azo dye and a monomer preferably mixed in an optimal concentration of 0.67 wt/wt. The azo dye and the monomer have light-absorption peaks at different wavelengths such that photo-alignment of the azo-dye molecules and stabilization of the photo-alignment layer by polymerization of the monomer are achievable by two separate exposures of light to the film.

Abstract: A field sequential color (FSC) ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) display cell, part of an FSC display, is provided. The FSC FLC display cell includes: two polarizers; an FLC layer, positioned between the two polarizers, the FLC layer comprising FLCs with helix pitch less than the thickness of the FLC layer; and a voltage source, configured to apply an electrical driving voltage to the FLC layer, the electrical driving voltage applied to the FLC layer having an amplitude greater than a threshold voltage for helix unwinding, and wherein the voltage source is further configured to apply electrical driving voltages to light emitting diodes (LEDs) of the FSC display to illuminate pixels of the FSC display. The pixels are illuminated in an FSC manner The FLC layer is configured to provide a defect-free layer of FLC under the electrical driving voltage applied to the FLC layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an approach by which low-performing turbines may be identified from among a plurality of wind turbines, such as may be present at a wind power plant. In accordance with one embodiment, low-performing turbines are identified from among pairs of turbines and based upon a comparison of the observed and expected performance of the turbines within each pair.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an approach by which low-performing turbines may be identified from among a plurality of wind turbines, such as may be present at a wind power plant. In accordance with one embodiment, low-performing turbines are identified from among pairs of turbines and based upon a comparison of the observed and expected performance of the turbines within each pair.