Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal lens with a variable focal length. The gradient profile of the liquid crystals molecules that causes the gradient profile of the refractive index is achieved by inducing non-uniformly distributed anchoring energy and an external electric or magnetic field applied to the liquid crystal layer. Unlike existing electrically controlled liquid crystal lens, the external electric or magnetic field has a uniform spatial distribution within the liquid crystal layer. The focal length of the liquid crystal lens is controlled via the non-uniformly distributed anchoring energy and by varying the uniformly distributed electric or magnetic field.

Abstract: An azo compound of the present invention is represented by the general formula (1): (wherein, R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydroxy group, or a polymerizable functional group selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acryloyl group, a (meth)acryloyloxy group, a (meth)acrylamide group, a vinyl group, a vinyloxy group, and a maleimide group; X1 represents single bond when R1 is a hydroxy group and represents a linking group represented by -(A1-B1)m- when R1 is a polymerizable functional group; X2 represents a single bond when R2 is a hydroxy group and represents a linking group represented by -(A2-B2)n- when R2 is a polymerizable functional group; R3 and R4 each independently represents —OR7, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or —CONR8R9; and R5 and R6 each independently represents a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a nitro group, amino group, or a hydroxy group).

Abstract: A micropolarimeter is described for simultaneously extracting all Stokes parameters from incident light. The micropolarimeter includes at least one superpixel, which further includes three or more subpixels, each exact a different polarization components from the incident light. The micropolarimeter includes a first and second alignment layers and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second alignment layers. The liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned in accordance with the first and second alignment layers to form the superpixel. A method is provided for manufacturing the photo-aligned liquid-crystal micropolarimeter array.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display having at least one reflective region 122 and at least one transmissive region 121. The display comprises a first polarizer 5, a second polarizer 100 opposing the first polarizer 5, two twisted nematic liquid crystal layers 30, 60 between said first and second polarizers 5, 100 and a reflector 110 for reflecting light passing though the reflective region 122 of the display. The twisted nematic liquid crystal layers 30, 60 have opposite twist directions to each other. The second twisted nematic liquid crystal layer 60 improves the contrast of the display. The display may have a double cell arrangement, in which case there may be a single cell gap or a double cell gap. Alternatively, the display may have a single cell arrangement in which case the second twisted nematic liquid crystal layer is a temperature dependent retardation film 65.

Abstract: Pixels of an LCD are divided into two sub-pixels, one for a reflective mode and one for a transmittive mode. The cell gaps of both sub-pixels are the same, improving fabrication ease. A novel photoalignment technique is used together with a shadow mask in an embodiment of the invention. Double exposure of the alignment layer with different orientations produces different alignment directions, thereby achieving the different LCD modes for the sub-pixels.

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.

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.

Abstract: In liquid crystal display cells comprising a liquid crystal (7) disposed between two substrate plates (1,2) provided with drive electrodes (3,4), the orientation layer (5,6) on the inner sides of the plates where the electrodes are disposed comprises an oriented photopolymer layer. This layer is formed by irradiating photopolymer layer. This layer is formed by irradiating photoreactive material with linear polarized light.

Abstract: The image-producing device comprises a liquid crystal cell with a liquid crystal (10, 21, 44) between two plates provided with drive electrodes (2, 6; 24, 25; 42, 46) and wall orientation layer (3, 7; 26,27; 43, 45) and an optically anisotropic polymeric additional element (9, 31, 52). The additional element, which can be a separate element or in the form of a coating or a foil stuck directly to the cell, comprises an oriented photopolymer.