Abstract: An LC display comprises in order (a) a light source, (b) a transparent polymeric film bearing on the light exit surface of the film an array of close-packed convex microlenses having a distribution of sizes and oriented in one direction, whereby the light output is preferentially spread in a desired direction, and (c) an LC panel. A related process and film are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a display comprising a light source and a light redirecting polymeric film containing a structured surface on at least one side of the film and bearing a discontinuous population of adherent beads bonded to the structured surface.

Abstract: A display comprises a light source and a light redirecting polymeric film containing a structured surface on at least one side of the film and bearing a polymeric coating over at least part of the structured surface wherein the coating exhibits a variable thickness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating a second peak wavelength of reflected light from a cholesteric liquid crystal having a first peak wavelength of reflected light comprising by exposing or conditioning the cholesteric liquid crystal to a high temperature or a high humidity. The invention also relates to an electrically modulated imaging layer and a display containing a liquid crystal material that has conditioned and unconditioned forms, wherein the unconditioned form of liquid crystal material reflects a first wavelength of light and wherein the conditioned form of liquid crystal material reflects a second wavelength of light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high contrast reflective display comprising at least one substrate, at least one electrically conductive layer and at least one close-packed, ordered monolayer of domains of electrically modulated material in a fixed, preferably crosslinked, polymer matrix and a method of making the same.

Abstract: A display sheet comprising a substrate carrying layers of material; including a polymer-dispersed chiral-nematic liquid-crystal layer having a first high reflection state within the visible light spectrum and a second less-reflective state in said spectrum, said states being changeable by an electric field, which states can be maintained in the absence of an electric field; a first transparent conductor disposed over said polymer-dispersed chiral-nematic liquid-crystal layer; and a second conductor, wherein said imaging layer is substantially a monolayer of said domains comprises a mixture of at least two differently reflecting liquid crystal materials, in which the ? maximums of the two materials are separated by 100 to 250 nm.

Abstract: A light redirecting film comprises a light exit surface bearing (a) optical elements and (b) an optical modification layer containing microbeads and a binder disposed over the optical elements wherein said light redirecting film has an optical gain of at least 1.20.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high contrast reflective display comprising a substrate, at least one electronically modulated imaging layer, wherein the electronically modulated imaging layer comprises a uniformly thick, close-packed, ordered monolayer of domains of electrically modulated material in a fixed polymer matrix, at least one barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is conductive in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, and at least one electrically conductive layer. The invention also relates to a method of making the display with a barrier layer comprising anisotropic particles and orienting the anisotropic conductor to produce a barrier layer conductive in a direction perpendicular to the substrate.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprises: (a) at least one light source; (b) a light guide for accepting light from the at least one light source and for guiding the light using total internal reflection, the light guide having a top surface; (c) a light extracting film having an input surface optically coupled with the top surface and an output surface for providing light, wherein the input surface comprises a plurality of features which are optically coupled to the top surface of the light guide, such features having: (i) a first side comprising two or more planar segments; and (ii) a second side comprising two or more planar segments, and wherein either the length of at least some of the features is less than the width of the film or the first and second sides intersect at an apex.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprises: (a) at least one light source; (b) a light guide for accepting light from the at least one light source and for guiding the light using total internal reflection, the light guide having a top surface; (c) a light extracting film having an input surface optically coupled with the top surface and an output surface for providing light, wherein the input surface comprises a plurality of features which are optically coupled to the top surface of the light guide, each feature having: (i) a first side comprising two or more planar segments; and (ii) a second side comprising two or more planar segments, and wherein the first and second sides intersect at an apex.

Abstract: A display formed by skiving with a skiving device including at least one nozzle tip and at least one roller is described. The display has skives that are clean and neat, and has no damage to layers underlying the skived areas.

Abstract: A method of making a liquid-crystal sheet material, useful for displays, having polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystals, comprising the steps of providing a emulsion comprising dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal domain and a solution comprising gelatin and a hardening agent, coating said emulsion onto a substrate; and drying said emulsion to form polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal domains dispersed in a continuous matrix comprising hardened gelatin. The invention is also directed to a display having an imaging layer comprising domains of polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid-crystal material dispersed in a continuous matrix comprising hardened gelatin, said imaging layer disposed between first and second conductors. The invention is advantageous in reducing sensitivity to temperature and/or high humidity, especially in thin displays or displays that are open to the environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a display and a method for making the display comprising a substrate, an electrically modulated imaging layer, a first transparent conductive layer, and a dark light absorbing layer comprising a binder and a blend of nonconductive colorants and conductive colorants, wherein the conductive colorant is present in an amount less than 25% by weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electro-optical imaging layer, a display utilizing the imaging layer and a method for making the same comprising a binder having dispersed therein at least two electrically modulated material domains of different uniform sizes, wherein the ratio of smallest to largest domain size for each of the electrically modulated material domains of different uniform sizes varies by no more than 1:2.

Abstract: A display sheet is disclosed comprising, a substrate, first transparent conductors, second conductors and, between first and second conductors, at least one imaging layer comprising a substantial monolayer of isolated domains of liquid-crystal material, dispersed in a continuous matrix, wherein said domains of liquid-crystal material comprises a mixture of at least two populations, a first population comprising a first liquid-crystal material having a first ?max within the infrared spectral region and a second population comprising a second liquid-crystal material having a second ?max within the visible spectral region. Alternately, the imaging layer can comprise a substantial monolayer of isolated domains of liquid-crystal material comprising a population of domains comprising a liquid-crystal material having a ?max between 700 and 800 and having a half-peak width that extends into both the visible spectrum region and the infrared spectral region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bistable polymer dispersed liquid crystal display comprising a support, at least one patterned first conductor layer having thereon at least one dried imaging layer comprising a substantial monolayer of isolated domains of liquid crystal material dispersed in a continuous polymer matrix, wherein said dried imaging layer further comprises at least one absorber colorant, and wherein said isolated domains have a size distribution such that the coefficient of variation (cv) is less than 0.35.

Abstract: A skiving device including at least one nozzle tip and at least one roller is described, as well as methods of using the skiving device. Skives made with the skiving device are clean, neat, and do not damage underlying layers.

Abstract: A light modulating layer formed by providing an emulsion having electro-optical fluid in a gelatin solution, heating the emulsion to reduce the viscosity of the emulsion and coating the heated emulsion on a substrate, lowering the temperature of the coated emulsion to change the state of the coated emulsion from a liquid to a gel state, and drying the coating, while in the high viscosity state, to form a layer of polymer-dispersed domains of electro-optical material.

Abstract: A light modulating layer formed by providing an emulsion having electro-optical fluid in a gelatin solution, heating the emulsion to reduce the viscosity of the emulsion and coating the heated emulsion on a substrate, lowering the temperature of the coated emulsion to change the state of the coated emulsion from a liquid to a gel state, and drying the coating, while in the high viscosity state, to form a layer of polymer-dispersed domains of electro-optical material.