Abstract: There is provided a reflective liquid crystal cell formed of a liquid crystal material disposed between first and second substrates. The first substrate is optically transparent and is formed with a coating of optically transparent and electrically conductive material on the side facing the liquid crystal material. The second substrate is formed with a plurality of coatings on the side facing the liquid crystal material. These coatings include in sequence a layer of metallic reflective material, a layer of electrically insulating material, a layer of na optically transparent and conductive material and a liquid crystal alignment layer.

Abstract: A metal induced lateral crystallization (MILC) poly-silicon material is produced by depositing a metal in a predefined pattern on amorphous silicon, and heat treating the silicon at a first temperature to form a MILC poly-Si material. The MILC poly-Si material is further heat treated at a second temperature higher than the first temperature to induce recrystallization. The second high temperature recrystallization step significantly enhances the material structure, and in particular the grain structure, of the poly-Si material with substantial benefits to the performance of semiconductor devices made therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention describes several embodiments of optical systems for the projection of images formed on reflective liquid crystal light valves. These light valves are capable of high resolution and very small sizes. The optical systems described are able to project these images with highly efficient utilization of light from an arc lamp source and are also very compact and easy to manufacture.

Abstract: The structure and construction of a bistable twisted nematic liquid crystal display with very long lifetime are disclosed. The two stable twist states in this display when no voltage is applied have almost infinite lifetimes and do not decay. These two stable twist states differ by a twist angle of 180°. New design conditions of this bistable twist structure are disclosed such that the contrast and the brightness are both optimized. This display can be operated in transmittive mode with two polarizes or in the reflective mode with one polarizer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystalline polyacetylene having a repeat structure of the formula 1

Abstract: The present invention provides the conditions for new bistable twisted nematic liquid crystal displays, in particular the necessary twist angles, liquid crystal retardation values, input and output polarizer angles, for both transmissive and reflective liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: An organic light emitting diode consisting of multiple organic layers, disposed between a transparent conducting anode and a metallic cathode. The anode is provided with a metal oxide layer to enhance the overall performance of the device, including higher power efficiency, lower voltage threshold and high current efficiency.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for preparing photo-patterned mono- or polychromatic, polarizing films. The polarizer can be pixelated into a number of small regions wherein some of the regions have one orientation of the principal neutral or color absorbing axis; and some other of the said regions have another orientation of the principal neutral or color absorbing axis. The axis orientation is determined by the polarization vector of actinic radiation and the multi-axes orientation is possible by a separated masked exposure. This polarizer can be placed on the interior substrate surface of the LCD cell.

Abstract: Three measuring methods and apparatus for determining the twist angle (&phgr;) and retardation value (d&Dgr;n) of any twisted nematic liquid crystal (LC) cell are disclosed. These methods make use of a monochromatic light source such as a laser beam. Twist angle and retardation values an be obtained by data fitting using data obtained by adjusting only the polarizes and the LC cell orientation. No retardation wave-plate is needed.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for preparing photo-patterned mono- or polychromatic, polarizing films. The polarizer can be pixelated into a number of small regions wherein some of the regions have one orientation of the principal neutral or color absorbing axis; and some other of the said regions have another orientation of the principal neutral or color absorbing axis. The axis orientation is determined by the polarization vector of actinic radiation and the multi-axes orientation is possible by a separated masked exposure. This polarizer can be placed on the interior substrate surface of the LCD cell.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystalline polyacetylene having a repeat structure of the formula 1

Abstract: There is provided a reflective liquid crystal cell formed of a liquid crystal material disposed between first and second substrates. The first substrate is optically transparent and is formed with a coating of optically transparent and electrically conductive material on the side facing the liquid crystal material. The second substrate is formed with a plurality of coatings on the side facing the liquid crystal material. These coatings include in sequence a layer of metallic reflective material, a layer of electrically insulating material, a layer of na optically transparent and conductive material and a liquid crystal alignment layer.

Abstract: An optical system for reflective mode light valve full color display, and more particularly a compact and highly optically efficient trichroic prism assembly (TPA), and a polarizing beam splitter (PBS). This TPA and PBS combination is placed between the objective lens and the LCD panel or other kind of reflective light valves to form a compact projection system.

Abstract: The structure and construction of a bistable twisted nematic liquid crystal display with very long lifetime are disclosed. The two stable twist states in this display when no voltage is applied have almost infinite lifetimes and do not decay. These two stable twist states differ by a twist angle of 180°. New design conditions of this bistable twist structure are disclosed such that the contrast and the brightness are both optimized. This display can be operated in transmittive mode with two polarizes or in the reflective mode with one polarizer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemical compositions of synthetic dyes and a fabrication process for the photo-induced alignment of liquid crystals. The compositions and methods of the invention are applicable to lateral field driven LCDs such as the In-plane Switching mode. A method of alignment using a multiple wavelengths light source is disclosed. This is a non-contact technique to align liquid crystals so that the particulates and static charges generated by the rubbing process can be eliminated. A synthetic dye film is exposed to a linearly polarized or non-polarized light. Due to photoisomerization, conformational molecular change occurs, and the isomer orientation is no longer random but becomes anisotropic. This in turn gives rise to a homogeneous anisotropic orientation of the liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: The present invention deals with liquid crystal displays where the incident light and reflected light going through the display are not specularly related. The incident light can be at a range of angles to the display while the reflected light, i.e. the viewing direction is at or nearly normal to the display. For such nonspecular liquid crystal displays, the polarizer angles, the input/output directors of the liquid crystal cell, and the liquid crystal cell retardation have to be specially optimized to obtain the best viewing effects. Conventional liquid crystal display modes do not work optimally in this nonspecular situation. We also disclose the new image-mode and shadow-mode nonspecular liquid crystal displays. Such displays have very bright background and are free from viewing glare common in most liquid crystal displays. The present invention applies to all twist angles, e.g. the 90° TN, the 120° and 150° HTN, the 180°, 240° and 270° STN displays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the contrast ratio of images generated on rear projection screens is disclosed. This invention provides a method of rejecting most of the scattered ambient light from both the front and the back of a rear projection screen. Polarizing films and retardation sheets are used to enhance the contrast and reject ambient light to decrease the dark state brightness in a rear projection system.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlling the grey-scale modulation of a reflective bistable cholesteric display by applying selected sequences of high and low pulses to modulate the cholesteric domain size and helical axis orientation. Non-mesogenic dopants may also be added to reduce the drive voltage.

Abstract: The present invention describes several embodiments of optical systems for the projection of images formed on reflective liquid crystal light valves. These light valves are capable of high resolution and very small sizes. The optical systems described are able to project these images with highly efficient utilization of light from an arc lamp source and are also very compact and easy to manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a polarizing material comprising exposing a layer of dichroic material to activating light illumination to provide an ordered structure with a distinguished absorption axis and thus photo-induce polarization, and fixing the induced polarization by polymerisation of the dichroic layer. The present invention also provides novel polarizing materials formed thereby. By selectively exposing regions of the dichroic material to differing activating radiation, different regions with different polarization axes can be created. The polarizing material can also be provided with a coating or coatings to alter the spectral response, and a stack formed of a plurality if dichroic layers may be provided.