Abstract: A liquid crystal composition, comprising a main chain-type mesomorphic polymer and a mesomorphic monomer and showing a smectic phase including a plurality of molecular layers, wherein a linkage of a covalent bond is present between adjacent molecular layers among the plurality molecular layers. Because of the presence of the covalent bond linkage between the molecular layers, the elastic energy of the liquid crystal per se relating to the elastic energy between the smectic liquid crystal molecular layers can be controlled to provide a uniform alignment. The mesomorphic polymer preferably has a structure represented by the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein A denotes a terminal flexible chain group, M denotes a mesogen group, F denotes a spacer flexible chain group, x is 0 or 1, B denotes an ester bond group, ether bond group, thioester bond group, dimethylsiloxane bond group or thioether bond group, and y is 1-200.

Abstract: Provided an image forming method comprising the steps of;forming electric charges on a recording layer by charging the recording medium comprising a conductive substrate and, provided thereon a photoconductive layer and a recording layer containing a polymeric liquid crystal compound, in this order;irradiating, after the step of charging, said recording medium with a light corresponding to an image information to move electric charges to said photoconductive layer; andwriting said image information by means of changing a birefringence of the recording layer caused by said movement of electric charges.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 independently denote methyl group or a mesomorphic residual group, at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 being a mesomorphic residual group having an optically active group of the formula below as a terminal flexible group: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.4 is an alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms; n is an integer of 0-10; m is an integer of 1-10; and L is an integer of 1-100. The mesomorphic compound is usable for constituting a liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal device having a large picture area and capable of showing an improved switching characteristic and a good impact resistance.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by (a) a pair of base plates each having an orientation control film thereon, and (b) a liquid crystal composition interposed between the base plates. The liquid crystal composition comprises at least two liquid crystal compounds including at least one liquid crystal compound which has a temperature range in which it shows cholesteric phase. The liquid crystal composition has a temperature range in which it shows cholesteric phase and is placed in chiral smectic phase which has been formed through cholesteric phase on temperature decrease. The liquid crystal composition comprises liquid crystal molecules having long axes forming a pre-tilt in the chiral smectic phase.

Abstract: An electrophotographic system is constituted by an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charger for charging the photosensitive member to a potential, and an illuminator for illuminating the charged photosensitive member with a light beam to form an electrostatic image thereon. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a potential-exposure energy characteristic providing an induction energy and a gamma valve varying depending on an electric field intensity induced by the charged potential. The electrophotographic system further includes a controller for controlling the charged potential on the photosensitive member corresponding to resolution and gradation data of an original, so as to optimally reproduce the resolution and gradation, as desired, of the original.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes, as an arrangement for discriminating a specific image with high precision, first illumination means for illuminating an object image so as to perform a normal reading operation, second illumination means for illuminating the object image with light having characteristics different from those of the light from the first illumination means so as to discriminate whether or not the object image is a specific image, and means for adjusting the quantity of light emitted from the first and second illumination means.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by (a) a pair of base plates each having an orientation control film thereon, and (b) a liquid crystal composition interposed between the base plates. The liquid crystal composition comprises at least two liquid crystal compounds including at least one liquid crystal compound which has a temperature range in which it shows cholesteric phase. The liquid crystal composition has a temperature range in which it shows cholesteric phase and is placed in chiral smectic phase which has been formed through cholesteric phase on temperature decrease. The liquid crystal composition comprises liquid crystal molecules having long axes forming a pre-tilt in the chiral smectic phase.

Abstract: A chain polymeric liquid crystal compound having a structure expressed by the following general formula [I] as a flexible spacer and a chain polymeric liquid crystal copolymer compound, a polymeric liquid crystal composition containing at least one of their compounds and at least any one of a polymeric compound, a polymeric liquid crystal compound, a low molecular weight liquid crystal compound and a low molecular weight liquid crystal compound, a polymeric liquid crystal device which uses the same, and an apparatus and a method which use the polymeric liquid crystal device: ##STR1## (where X is --O--, --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --O--CH.sub.2 --, ##STR2## Y is --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- (n=1 to 18), Z is a halogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, and * is an asymmetric carbon atom).

Abstract: A specified original that is not supposed to be copied is marked with a pattern that is formed by infrared reflected light. A copying apparatus includes a detecting unit for detecting the pattern and determines that an original is the specified original in accordance with the detection by the detecting unit. A copying operation is controlled in accordance with the determination of whether the original is the specified original that is not supposed to be copied.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device for controlling scattering of light beams incident upon a liquid crystal layer so as to modulate the light beams includes: a first lens array having lenses corresponding to the liquid crystal layer, the lenses causing the light beams transmitted from the liquid crystal layer, the lenses causing the light beams transmitted from the liquid crystal layer to travel toward a focal plane; a mask for shielding scattered light transmitted from the first lens array as well as allowing non-scattered light to pass through, the mask having a plurality of aperture portions which are formed along the focal plane to correspond to the lenses of the first lens array so as to allow non-scattered light transmitted from corresponding lenses to pass through; and a second lens array having lenses arranged to correspond to the aperture portions of the mask, the lenses substantially collimating the non-scattered light transmitted from corresponding aperture portions of the mask.

Abstract: A nonlinear optical material comprises a solid solution of an organic guest compound having an electron donative group or an electron attractive group. The organic guest compound is contained in the nonlinear optical material preferably an oriented form through orientation under melting by application of a DC electric field. The guest compound is preferably a para-di-substituted benzene derivative represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein A is an electron donative group and B is an electron attractive group.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to reduce the apparatus scale by simplifying the arrangement of an image reading apparatus for radiating light including both visible and non-visible components, and detecting light obtained from a predetermined image, and provides an image reading apparatus which has illumination means for simultaneously radiating both light including a visible component and light including a non-visible component, and detection means for detecting light obtained from a predetermined image in accordance with the light radiated from the illumination means, including filter means which can be switched in accordance with whether the visible or non-visible component is radiated from the illumination means onto the predetermined image, and control means for controlling a switching operation of the filter means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymeric liquid-crystal compound having a repeating unit represented by Formula (I) ##STR1## wherein U represents a polymer main chain; V represents --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --, --((CH.sub.2).sub.2 --O).sub.m -- or --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --((CH.sub.2).sub.2 --O).sub.p --, one or more of methylene hydrogen atoms of which may be substituted with an alkyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an amino group or a carbonyl group, and m, n and p each represents an integer of 0 to 30; W represents a single bond, --O--, --OCO--, --COO--, --CONR.sup.1 --, --CO-- or --NR.sup.1, where R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; X represents two or more rings of a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic ring or aromatic ring of benzene ring, heteroaromatic ring or condensed ring, which rings are bonded through a single bond, --O--, --OCO--, --COO--, --(CH.sub.2).sub.q --, --N.dbd.N--, --(CH.dbd.CH).sub.q --, --CH.dbd.N--, --(C.tbd.C).sub.q --, --CONR.sup.1 --, --(CO).sub.q --, or --NR.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by (a) a pair of base plates each having an orientation control film thereon, and (b) a liquid crystal composition interposed between the base plates. The liquid crystal composition comprises at least two liquid crystal compounds including at least one liquid crystal compound which has a temperature range in which it shows cholesteric phase. The liquid crystal composition has a temperature range in which it shows cholesteric phase and is placed in chiral smectic phase which has been formed through cholesteric phase on temperature decrease. The liquid crystal composition comprises liquid crystal molecules having long axes forming a pre-tilt in the chiral smectic phase.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by (a) a pair of base plates each having an orientation control film thereon, and (b) a liquid crystal composition interposed between the base plates. The liquid crystal composition comprises a mixture including at least one liquid crystal compound which has a temperature range in which it shows chiral smectic phase and at least one optically active substance which does not have a temperature range in which it shows chiral smectic phase. The liquid crystal composition has a temperature range in which it shows cholesteric phase and is placed in chiral smectic phase which has been formed through cholesteric phase on temperature decrease. The liquid crystal composition comprises liquid crystal molecules having long axes forming a pre-tilt in the chiral smectic phase.

Abstract: An optical modulation device is constituted by a polarizer; a first film forming a first state and a second state depending on an electric field applied thereto, the first state causing birefringence and the second state not causing birefringence respectively of polarized light from the polarizer, the first film having a thickness set for functioning as a halfwave plate in its first state; and a second film not causing birefringence of light having passed through the second state of the first film but causing birefringence of light having passed through the first state of the first film, the second film having a thickness set for functioning as quarter wave plate or a halfwave plate when the first film is set in its first state.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a display layer between a pair of electrode plates. The display layer comprises a mesomorphic polymer and a low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound. The mesomorphic polymer may preferably be a main chain-type ferroelectric mesomorphic polymer having an ester linkage or a mesomorphic polymer derived from a polymerizable mesomorphic compound. The display layer may preferably comprise a ferroelectric mesomorphic polymer having a dielectric anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon. of -3.0 or below and a low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound incompatible with the mesomorphic polymer and having a positive dielectric anisotropy.

Abstract: Provided an image forming method comprising the steps of;forming electric charges on a recording layer by charging the recording medium comprising a conductive substrate and, provided thereon a photoconductive layer and a recording layer containing a polymeric liquid crystal compound, in this order;irradiating, after the step of charging, said recording medium with a light corresponding to an image information to move electric charges to said photoconductive layer; andwriting said image information by means of changing a birefringence of the recording layer caused by said movement of electric charges.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an invisible information recorded medium having an identification mark. In order to achieve the object, an invisible information recorded medium is provided having an identification mark recorded thereon, the identification mark being composed of a region having a high reflectance and a region having a low reflectance as compared with the reflectance of the medium in the same near infrared ray region.

Abstract: A specified original that is not supposed to be copied is marked with a pattern that is formed by infrared reflected light. A copying apparatus includes a detecting unit for detecting the pattern and determines that an original is the specified original in accordance with the detection by the detecting unit. A copying operation is controlled in accordance with the determination of whether the original is the specified original that is not supposed to be copied.