Abstract: A display device is constituted by disposing a first display layer and a second display layer between a pair of electrode plates including at least one transparent electrode plate. The first display layer contains a low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound dispersed in or impregnating a polymer matrix. The second display layer is formed by disposing a diffraction grating and being filled with the low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound. The display device is incorporated in a display apparatus to effect a good display with a high contrast ratio.

Abstract: Provided is a polymeric liquid crystal copolymer compound having a repeating unit represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein A represents a polymeric main chain of a carbon type; and B represents a polyoxyalkylene group or ##STR2## wherein D represents ##STR3## b and c each representing an integer of 0 to 20; R represents an alkyl group, a phenyl group, a siloxy group or a polysiloxy group; R' represents an alkyl group or a phenyl group; and a represents an integer of 0 to 50.

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 mesomorphic polymer having an ester linkage or a mesomorphic polymer derived from a polymerizable mesomorphic compound. The display layer may preferably comprise a 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: A color image display apparatus includes: an image recording medium comprising a recording layer capable of selectively forming a light-scattering state and a transparent state, and a color filter having a pattern of plural color segments operatively associated with the recording layer, a light source, a viewing position, and display means for selectively sending to the viewing position a colored optical image composed of scattered light having passed through the recording layer. The display means may include direction means for directing light from the light source to be incident to the recording layer in a direction not normal to the recording layer.

Abstract: An optical modulation device is provided by forming an optical modulation layer comprising a polymer liquid crystal having a helical structure and a non-helical structure in chiral smectic C phase. The helical structure of the polymer liquid crystal is selectively formed or removed to provide a recorded state. The recorded state is held below the glass transition point of the polymer liquid crystal. The helical pitch of the helical structure can be selectively changed to form a recorded state. The helical structure can be formed to dispose its principal axis perpendicularly to the polymer liquid crystal layer. The recorded state may be read out by detecting a reflectance from the polymer liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a display layer between a pair of electrode plates. The display layer comprises a polymer having a surface energy of 25 dyn/cm or below and a low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound incompatible with the polymer. The display layer also comprises a porous film material having open pores and a low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound impregnating the porous film material, wherein the porous film material has a surface energy of 25 dyn/cm or below and is incompatible with the low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound.

Abstract: A chiral smectic main chain-type polymer liquid crystal includes mesogen units and a flexible chain group connecting the mesogen units having a length equal to or longer than 1,4-butylene group. The polymer liquid crystal is also characterized by having at least two units having mutually different optically active groups and having at least two recurring units which show mutually reverse helical rotations in its chiral smectic phase. Because of these features, the polymer liquid crystal can show an improved responsiveness because of its chiral smectic ferroelectricity based on an elongated helical pitch while retaining a good film-formability of a main chain-type polymer liquid crystal.

Abstract: A mesomorphic polymer comprises recurring units of the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein U denotes a polymer main chain unit; V denotes --(CH.sub.2).sub.m -- or --((CH.sub.2).sub.2 --O).sub.m -- each capable of having a substituent selected from alkyl group, halogen atom, amino group or carbonyl group substituting one or more of the hydrogen atoms wherein m is an integer of 0-30; W denotes a single bond, --O--, --OCO--, --COO--, CONR.sup.1 --, --CO-- or --NR.sup.1 -- wherein R.sup.1 denotes hydrogen atom or alkyl group; X denotes a mesogen unit comprising at least two rings selected from aromatic carbon rings, aromatic heterocyclic rings and alicyclic rings each capable of having a substituent and connected with a single bond, --O--, --OCO--, --COO--, --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --, --N.dbd.N--, --(CH.dbd.CH).sub.m --, --CH.dbd.N--, --N.dbd.CH--, --(C.ident.C).sub.n 13 , --CONR.sup.1, --(CO).sub.n -- or NR.sup.1 -- wherein R.sup.1 is the same as defined above and n is an integer of 1-10; Y denotes --COOCH.sub.

Abstract: Provided is a polymeric liquid-crystalline compound having in its repeating unit a moiety represented by the following formula (M)X.sub.1 --A--X.sub.2 --B (M)wherein A represents a bicyclic mesogen; B represents a flexible group represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein X represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and Y represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, provided that X is not the same as Y, k is 0 or 1, and m1 is 1 to 18,or ##STR2## wherein X represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and Y represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, provided that X is not the same as Y, k is 0 or 1, m2 is 2 to 10 and m3 is 2 to 5; andX.sub.1 and X.sub.2 each represent a group containing any one of an ester bond, an ether bond and a carbonate bond, and may be the same or different from each other.

Abstract: A color display medium is constituted by a colored polymer layer having at least two display regions of different colors, typically three colors of blue, green and red, along the extension of the polymer layer. The display regions of different colors have respectively different wavelength regions of light absorption or respectively different temperatures of thermal transition between transparent and scattering states.

Abstract: An image forming medium is constituted by a laminate including at least an optical scattering layer and a backing member preferably comprising a pattened color filter. The laminate is composed to have an interface between the optical scattering layer and the backing member capable of reflecting light incident to the optical scattering layer. The optical scattering layer may comprise a polymer liquid crystal optionally containing a fluorescent agent or nucleating agent so as to enhance the optical scattering effect. The interface may be given by a low-refractive index layer, such as air layer. The optical scattering layer and the backing member can be separated and combined with an adjusting means for adjusting the relative position of the optical scattering layer and the backing member to provide an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An optical image recording apparatus includes an image holding member comprising a polymer recording layer capable of recording and holding data through heat application, thermal recording means for applying heat to the polymer recording layer, a photosensitive member, and exposure means for recording the data recorded by the recording layer by the photosensitive member. The polymer recording layer is preferably composed from a polymer liquid crystal. The polymer recording layer and the photosensitivie member can be provided in a laminated form. The data recorded on the photosensitive member may be subjected to an electrophotographic image forming process.

Abstract: A nonlinear optical material is provided by mixing a polymer liquid crystal having a chiral center and a nonlinear optical compound. The polymer liquid crystal may be a ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal. The nonlinear optical material is preferably in the form of a solid solution. A nonlinear optical device is formed by orienting the nonlinear optical material to provide an optical member.

Abstract: A recording medium having a recording layer comprising a polymer liquid crystal is used for multivalue recording by using at least two different liquid crystal phases at least two levels of locally different liquid crystal proportion, or thicknesswise difference in an optical variable, such as transmittance a reflectance, generally through controlled heating and cooling. In effecting the recording, two heating sources may suitably be used, one for imagewise heating and the other for supplemental heating.

Abstract: A method for forming an optical pattern involves subjecting a porous glass material impregnated with a photocurable composition to a patterning exposure. The composition remaining uncured in the unexposed portion of the glass material is removed from the glass material to form a pattern composed of a section containing a photocured composition filled in the pores of the glass material. The glass material is directly heated to carbonize the photocured composition present in the glass material, or heated after having been further impregnated with a substance capable of changing an optical characteristic of glass. The photocurable composition may comprise one or more members selected from an acrylic ester, a methacrylic ester, an acrylic ester resin and an epoxy resin, and optionally a photopolymerization initiator.