Abstract: A relief structure alignment layer comprising a relief structure surface incorporating at least one indentation, the at least one indentation having an internal surface extending from the relief structure surface, wherein the relief structure alignment layer has a surface memory alignment layer arranged to impart a preferred liquid crystal director alignment to a liquid-crystal material in contact therewith as well as methods for configuring a liquid crystal material within a cell having a relief structure alignment layer by applying at least one of an electric field and a magnetic field and phoretic displays comprising at least on relief structure alignment layer.

Abstract: A phoretic display having a liquid crystal suspension medium and a relief structure alignment layer comprising a relief structure surface incorporating a plurality of indentations. The relief structure alignment layer is adapted to generate a preferred alignment of the liquid crystal suspension medium within the display by creating defects within the alignment of the liquid crystal director at the base of each indentation. The relief structure alignment layer provides a substantially planar liquid crystal director alignment in the vicinity of the internal surface of each indentation and a substantially homeotropic liquid crystal director alignment in the vicinity of the relief structure surface and in the bulk of the liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A phoretic display device comprising a plurality of electrophoretic or magnetophoretic cells, each having a phoretic particle dispersed within a suspension medium comprising a liquid crystal material. The phoretic cell is adapted to induce defects, sometimes known as disclinations, in the alignment of the liquid crystal material within the cell which act to exert a retentive force on the phoretic particle when within the region of influence of the defects. The configuration of the display introduces a threshold level in the electric or magnetic field required to move the phoretic particle between defects within the cell. Accordingly, the non-linear electro-optic or magneto-optic behaviour of the display facilitates matrix addressing of the cells therein. The display may comprise a plurality of prolate spheroid phoretic cells arranged in an encapsulant, the major (long) axis of each cell arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane of the display.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in one aspect to an image replication system comprising a light guide (2), a light source (8) arranged to direct emitted light into the first end (2a) of a light guide (2), a reflective spatial light modulator (6) and focussing means (16). In a preferred embodiment, the light guide (2) is in the form of an elongate glass rod having first and second parallel polygonal end faces (2a, 2b) which are parallel to the long axis of the rod, the rod having a uniform polygonal cross section along its length. The spatial light modulator (6) is optically coupled to the second end face (2b) of the light guide (2) and the focussing means (16) is arranged to receive light reflected back through the rod from the spatial light modulator (6), whereby to form multiple images of said spatial light modulator in an image plane (18).

Abstract: A photosensitive area 11, such as a photolithographic sheet, in an images plane is notionally subdivided in both dimensions to form contiguous (tiled) sub-areas. Variable illumination means 1,4 provides a selected pixellated light pattern, which is directed 8, 9, 10 to fill a selected one of the sub-areas so that pixels of said pattern are, at least 15 microns across at the sub-area, and control means are responsive to an input signal representative of an image conjointly to control the production and direction of the pixellated patterns so that an entire image is produced over all of the said sub-areas. As shown, the variable illumination means comprises a light source 2 with digital micro-mirror array deflector device 4, and the sub-area is selected by lens array 8 with a shutter 10 and polariser array 11. The latter may be replaced by a two-axis steering mirror and lens array.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal device a substrate (1) favors at least two stable or metastable differently directed liquid crystal alignments, and switching means for causing the liquid crystal material to switch between the alignments includes means arranged for optically irradiating said device. The latter may provide linearly polarized light (3) for inducing a torque on the liquid crystal to determine the alignment direction, and may optionally cooperate with a second energy supplying means such as an electric field (V) for assisting and switching. Alternatively, the alignment of the liquid crystal may be switched by a second energy supplying means such as an electric field, the light serving to produce heat to aid the switching. Either or both energy sources may be applied locally for switching of selected areas or pixels. Energy levels at the bistable substrate may be adjusted by the use of an oligomeric additive (slippery surface).

Abstract: The present invention relates, in one aspect to an image replication system comprising a light guide (2), a light source (8) arranged to direct emitted light into a first end (2a) of a light guide (2), a reflective spatial light modulator (6) and focussing means (16). In a preferred embodiment, the light guide (2) is in the form of an elongate glass rod having first and second parallel polygonal end faces (2a, 2b) which are parallel to the long axis of the rod, the rod having a uniform polygonal cross section along its length. The spatial light modulator (6) is optically coupled to the second end face (2b) of the light guide (2) and the focussing means (16) is arranged to receive light reflected back through the rod from the spatial light modulator (6), whereby to form multiple images of said spatial light modulator in an image plane (18).

Abstract: A photosensitive area 11, such as a photolithographic sheet, in an images plane is notionally subdivided in both dimensions to form contiguous (tiled) sub-areas. Variable illumination means 1,4 provides a selected pixellated light pattern, which is directed 8, 9, 10 to fill a selected one of the sub-areas so that pixels of said pattern are, at least 15 microns across at the sub-area, and control means are responsive to an input signal representative of an image conjointly to control the production and direction of the pixellated patterns so that an entire image is produced over all of the said sub-areas. As shown, the variable illumination means comprises a light source 2 with digital micro-mirror array deflector device 4, and the sub-area is selected by lens array 8 with a shutter 10 and polariser array 11. The latter may be replaced by a two-axis steering mirror and lens array.

Abstract: A photosensitive area 11, such as a photolithographic sheet, in an images plane is notionally subdivided in both dimensions to form contiguous (tiled) sub-areas. Variable illumination means 1,4 provides a selected pixellated light pattern, which is directed 8, 9, 10 to fill a selected one of the sub-areas so that pixels of said pattern are, at least 15 microns across at the sub-area, and control means are responsive to an input signal representative of an image conjointly to control the production and direction of the pixellated patterns so that an entire image is produced over all of the said sub-areas. As shown, the variable illumination means comprises a light source 2 with digital micro-mirror array deflector device 4, and the sub-area is selected by lens array 8 with a shutter 10 and polariser array 11 10. The latter may be replaced by a two-axis steering mirror and lens array.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in one aspect to an image replication system comprising a light guide (2), a light source (8) arranged to direct emitted light into the first end (2a) of a light guide (2), a reflective spatial light modulator (6) and focussing means (16). In a preferred embodiment, the light guide (2) is in the form of an elongate glass rod having first and second parallel polygonal end faces (2a, 2b) which are parallel to the long axis of the rod, the rod having a uniform polygonal cross section along its length. The spatial light modulator (6) is optically coupled to the second end face (2b) of the light guide (2) and the focussing means (16) is arranged to receive light reflected back through the rod from the spatial light modulator (6), whereby to form multiple images of said spatial light modulator in an image plane (18).

Abstract: In a liquid crystal device a substrate (1) favors at least two stable or metastable differently directed liquid crystal alignments, and switching means for causing the liquid crystal material to switch between the alignments includes means arranged for optically irradiating said device. The latter may provide linearly polarized light (3) for inducing a torque on the liquid crystal to determine the alignment direction, and may optionally cooperate with a second energy supplying means such as an electric field (V) for assisting and switching. Alternatively, the alignment of the liquid crystal may be switched by a second energy supplying means such as an electric field, the light serving to produce heat to aid the switching. Either or both energy sources may be applied locally for switching of selected areas or pixels. Energy levels at the bistable substrate may be adjusted by the use of an oligomeric additive (slippery surface).