Abstract: A liquid crystal panel has a liquid crystal layer of liquid crystal molecules sealed between a pair of substrates having alignment films thereon. Each of the films includes first and second deposited layers, each of the layers being formed of an inorganic material by oblique deposition. The second layer is stacked on top of the first layer such that the deposited molecules of the first layer are aligned substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the deposited molecules of the second layer. The first layer is formed by oblique deposition at an oblique angle of about 60° relative to the normal of the substrate surface to align the liquid crystal molecules perpendicular to the deposited molecules. The second layer is formed by oblique deposition at an oblique angle of about 85° relative to the normal of the substrate surface to align the liquid crystal molecules parallel to the deposited molecules.

Abstract: Disclosed are a rubbing cloth for aligning a liquid crystal, method of manufacturing the same, apparatus for manufacturing the same and method of manufacturing an LCD using the same. A rubbing pile formed on a rubbing cloth fabric fabricated by interweaving a weft and a warp having a length longer than that of the weft is aligned in a direction parallel to the weft. Accordingly, it is able to manufacture the rubbing cloth having a various size without a length of the alignment film and increase yield of the rubbing cloth.

Abstract: A protective film for protecting a dielectric layer of a plasma display panel from discharge contains a metallic oxide. A volume resistivity of the protective film is 3.5×1011 &OHgr;·cm or more.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is disclosed in which a TFT is formed by forming on a substrate (10), a gate electrode (11), a gate insulation film (13), an a-Si layer (14), an etching stopper (15), an (N+ a-Si) layer (16), a source electrode (17), and a drain electrode (18) in this sequence. Covering this TFT, an inter-layer insulation film (20) is formed, on which a pixel electrode (22) is then formed. In a common electrode (31), there is formed an orientation control window (32) where no electrodes are situated. With this arrangement, it is possible to prevent the orientation of liquid crystal molecules from being disturbed due to the influence of electric fields generated by the gate electrode (11), the drain electrode (18), or their respective associated lines.

Abstract: An alignment layer to be used for liquid crystal displays each having at least two substrates with liquid crystals sealed therebetween is formed as follows. The substrates placed on each of several substrate trays are heated in a first load-lock chamber. At least one of the two substrates is irradiated with evaporated particles of oxide silicon (SiOx: 1.0≦×≦2.0) by vacuum deposition at an angle in the range from 45° to 60° from a direction of the normal line on the substrate surface to form an alignment layer thereon while the substrate trays are being moved in a layer-deposition chamber intermittently or sequentially. The substrate trays are cooled in a second load-lock chamber, thus producing substrates each formed the alignment layer thereon.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate; a second substrate cohered to the first substrate with a separation from the first substrate; a first orientation film formed on an inner surface of the first substrate; a second orientation film formed on an inner surface of the second substrate; and a liquid crystal injected between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first orientation film and the second orientation film are formed to face each other, and the thickness of the first orientation film or the second orientation film is formed differently in different portions.

Abstract: A method for preparing an alignment layer surface provides a surface on the alignment layer. The surface is bombarded with ions, and reactive gas is introduced to the ion beam to saturate dangling bonds on the surface. Another method for preparing an alignment layer surface provides a surface on the alignment layer. The surface is bombarded with ions and quenched with a reactive component to saturate dangling bonds on the surface.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an alignment layer with constituent materials. The constituent materials have a stoichiometric relationship configured to provide a given pretilt angle. Liquid crystal material is provided in contact with the alignment layer. A method for forming an alignment layer for liquid crystal displays includes forming the alignment layer on a substrate by introducing an amount of material to adjust a stoichiometric ratio of constituent materials wherein the amount is determined to provide a given pretilt angle to the alignment layer. Ions are directed at the alignment layer to provide uniformity of the pretilt angle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming an alignment layer for use in a liquid crystal display cell. The present invention includes a method of determining ion beam source operation parameters to provide a twist angle that is less than a predetermined maximum twist angle. The present invention also discloses a method for forming an improved liquid crystal display cell and an improved liquid crystal display.

Abstract: An alignment layer to be used for liquid crystal displays each having at least two substrates with liquid crystals sealed therebetween is formed as follows: The substrates placed on each of several substrate trays are heated in a first load-lock chamber. At least one of the two substrates is irradiated with evaporated particles of oxide silicon (SiOx: 1.0≦×≦2.0) by vacuum deposition at an angle in the range from 45° to 60° from a direction of the normal line on the substrate surface to form an alignment layer thereon while the substrate trays are being moved in a layer-deposition chamber intermittently or sequentially. The substrate trays are cooled in a second load-lock chamber, thus producing substrates each formed the alignment layer thereon.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display having a first substrate on which a pixel electrode is formed, a second substrate on which an opposed electrode opposed to the first pixel electrode is formed, and a liquid crystal sealed in the space between the first and second substrates, wherein the interval between the pixel electrode and the opposed electrode in the area near the edge of the pixel electrode id longer than that in the other area than the area near the edge of the pixel electrode. Therefore the liquid crystal display has good display characteristics. A method for manufacturing such a liquid crystal display is also disclosed.

Abstract: A polarized organic photonics device, including an LED or photovoltaic device, is comprised of a first conductive layer or electrode coated with a friction transferred alignment material, a photoactive material, and a second electrically conductive layer or electrode. The alignment material provides for the orientation of the subsequently deposited photoactive material such that the photoactive material interacts with or emits light preferentially along a selected polarization axis. Additional layers and sublayers optimize and tune the optical and electronic responses of the device.

Abstract: A single-domain, two-domain or four-domain homeotropic- or tilted homeotropic-alignment liquid crystal display device of either the transmissive-type or reflective-type having a high contrast ratio, a good display quality, and a high photo-stability (and a method of producing the same), includes a homeotropic- or tilted homeotropic-alignment layer which includes an oxide layer prepared by a single oblique evaporation of an activated oxide source. The angle between the evaporation direction and the substrate plane forms an angle from about ±20° to about ±90°, and the thickness of the oxide layer is from about 10 nm to about 200 nm. A method of homeotropic-alignment or tilted homeotropic-alignment of liquid crystals by a single oblique evaporation process is also provided.

Abstract: An active matrix substrate includes a plurality of scanning signal lines, a plurality of video signal lines, switching elements formed in the vicinity of respective crossing points of the scanning signal lines and the video signal lines, pixel electrodes to which drive voltages are applied via the respective switching elements, counter electrodes formed in a different plane than the pixel electrodes. A color filter substrate includes a black matrix made of a resin composition and color filter layers provided for respective pixels formed in respective opening regions of the black matrix. A liquid crystal composition is held between the active matrix substrate and the color filter substrate. Storage capacitor portions are located in the respective opening regions of the black matrix, each of the storage capacitor portions being formed by a counter voltage signal line for supplying a signal to an associated one of the counter electrodes and a pixel electrode with an insulating film provided therebetween.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal device in which a pair of substrates each having an electrode and a liquid crystal orientation control layer are disposed opposite to each other leaving a predetermined gap therebetween and liquid crystal is disposed in the gap, a plurality of grooves are formed on each of the inner surface contacting the liquid crystal, the section of the inner surfaces in a direction along the grooves has such a shape that repetitive asymmetrical projections are formed and the radius of curvature of the grooves in a direction intersecting the grooves is set to 0.1 &mgr;m or more.

Abstract: An APR plate includes a polyimide(PI) pattern portion having a first hardness and corresponds to an effective screen area of an LCD panel and a PI pattern edge portion having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness and corresponds to a non-effective screen area of the LCD panel. Associated methods of forming the dual-hardness resin plate and methods and apparatus of fabricating an orientation layer on a LCD panel include APR resin plates configured to yield uniform PI layers and inhibit PI lump generation even after the APR plate is repeatedly used in printing.

Abstract: A rubbing treatment apparatus and method of rubbing are described. A rubbing roller has a rotation axis and a rubbing cloth wound around its surface. The rubbing cloth is made with pile yarns which are implanted at cyclic intervals in two directions perpendicular to each other. The rubbing roller is used to contact a surface of a film-to-be-processed which is formed so as to cover a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes formed parallel to each other on a substrate, to be moved together with the substrate in relation to each other to perform a rubbing treatment on the surface of the film-to-be-treated. The rotation axis of the rubbing roller is parallel to the surface during the rubbing treatment. An angle &thgr;3 in a plane parallel to the surface is formed by one of the implanting directions of the pile yarns of the rubbing roller and the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped electrodes of the substrate and is in a range of from +5 degrees to −5 degrees.

Abstract: A liquid crystal element improved to reduce hysteresis and after-image by relaxing electronic polarization at an interface between liquid crystal and an orientation film, and hence to enhance an image quality and realize smooth display of a dynamic image irrespective of a material of liquid crystal. The liquid crystal element includes a plurality of base bodies each having a liquid crystal orientation film, the base bodies being opposed to each other on the orientation film side with a specific gap put therebetween; and liquid crystal disposed in the gap; wherein each of the orientation films has a property capable of relaxing polarization at an interface with the liquid crystal.

Abstract: An APR plate includes a polyimide (PI) pattern portion having a first hardness and corresponds to an effective screen area of an LCD panel and a PI pattern edge portion having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness and corresponds to a non-effective screen area of the LCD panel. Associated methods of forming the dual-hardness resin plate and methods and apparatus of fabricating an orientation layer on a LCD panel include APR resin plates configured to yield uniform PI layers and inhibit PI lump generation even after the APR plate is repeatedly used in printing.

Abstract: The present invention includes a pair of light polarizers. An pair of transparent substrates are formed between the pair of light polarizer. A compensator is formed on the analyzer. A bump structure is formed above the lower substrate. A orientation layer is formed on the bump structure and the substrate. The bump structures are formed on at least one of the pair of glass substrate to provide pre-titled angle for liquid crystal molecules filled between the pair of glass substrate, wherein the bump structure includes inclined surfaces, the heights of the two ends of the bump structure are different.

Abstract: An APR plate includes a polyimide(PI) pattern portion having a first hardness and corresponds to an effective screen area of an LCD panel and a PI pattern edge portion having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness and corresponds to a non-effective screen area of the LCD panel. Associated methods of forming the dual-hardness resin plate and methods and apparatus of fabricating an orientation layer on a LCD panel include APR resin plates configured to yield uniform PI layers and inhibit PI lump generation even after the APR plate is repeatedly used in printing.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus suppressed of orientation defect includes a first substrate having a main surface, a liquid crystal drive element formed on the main surface of the first substrate, an oriented film formed on the main surface of the first substrate, a patterned metal film on the oriented film, photosensitive resin formed on the metal film, a second substrate arranged facing the first substrate with the metal film and the photosensitive resin as a spacer, and a liquid crystal compound filled between the first and second substrates. Also, a method of fabricating this liquid crystal display apparatus is claimed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell is formed by bonding a first substrate on which a first electrode and a first aligning film are formed, and a second substrate on which a second electrode and a second aligning film are formed by a seal member. A liquid crystal is filled in the liquid crystal cell. The thicknesses of the aligning films are set to 10 nm to 35 nm. An aligning treatment is performed twice on each of the aligning films in the opposite directions. The first aligning treatment is performed to give a pretilt angle of 5 degrees to the liquid crystal, and the second aligning treatment is performed to give a pretilt angle of 6 degrees to the liquid crystal, with the result that a pretilt angle of 1 degree is actually given to the liquid crystal. The glass-transition temperatures of the aligning films are selected to be about 250.degree. C., so that the aligning films are not transformed at the time of baking the seal member.

Abstract: A method of generating a patterned alignment direction on an alignment surface for a liquid crystal display cell is described. The cell is formed by forming a first alignment direction on an alignment surface, such as a polyimide surface of the cell. A second alignment direction is formed on the alignment surface. The first and second alignment directions are formed by a variety of sequences of treatments. An example of a first sequence is a first step of rubbing the alignment surface and thereafter a second step of selectively exposing (preferably using a mask) the alignment surface to a treatment selected from the group of exposure to electromagnetic radiation and exposure to a particle beam. Another example of a sequence is a first step of exposing the alignment surface to a treatment selected from the group of electromagnetic radiation and a particle beam thereafter selectively exposing (preferably through a mask) the alignment surface to another particle beam.

Abstract: The liquid crystalline material of the present invention comprises a compound represented by the following structural formula (1), compounds represented by the structural formulas (1) and (2), compounds represented by the structural formulas (1) and (3), or compounds represented by the structural formulas (1), (2) and (3) in an amount of 90% by weight or more of the total amount of liquid crystalline components contained therein: ##STR1## wherein R represents a linear alkyl group, C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 in which n is 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, A represents --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or direct bond (--) without --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, and B represents --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or direct bond (--) without --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --. Further, under the above conditions, the components are blended so that the nematic-isotropic transition temperature of the liquid crystalline material can be 55.degree. C. to 75.degree. C.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device including (1) a pair of substrates on the surface of which a transparent electrode and an alignment film are formed in turn, and the alignment films are arranged with a gap so that the films face each other, (2) a liquid crystal which fills the gap, (3) two polarizer plates holding the pair of substrates between them, and (4) a driving circuit connected to the transparent electrodes for applying a voltage between both substrates, the improved display device including a vertically arranged splayed nematic liquid crystal wherein a nematic liquid crystal which is substantially free from a chiral liquid crystalline compound and has a negative dielectric anisotropy is used as the liquid crystal; molecules of the liquid crystal between the pair of the substrates are oriented so that their molecular axis are arranged on planes orthogonal to the substrates; liquid crystal molecules, in the vicinity of the surface of the substrates, are oriented vertically or semi-vertically so that

Abstract: Bombardment of the surface of a substrate with a film layer is used to create alignment layers for liquid crystal displays. By using bombardment of the surface at an angle, both direct creation of the alignment layer or indirect deposition of the alignment layer material onto a glass plate can be achieved.

Abstract: An improved liquid crystal display cell (34) comprising two substrates (108, 124) spaced apart and containing a quantity of liquid crystal mixture (18) therebetween, in which the substrates have facing surfaces (108', 124') coated with a continuous, electrically conducting material (38, 36), is provided with an array of spacer pads (40) at a pre-selected distance apart from each other, having a pre-selected height to maintain a given spacing between the substrates, and having a pre-selected cross-section that avoids substantial interference with the display properties of the liquid crystal display cell.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) cell that has improved wide-viewing-angle and devices so made by incorporating the processing steps of first forming a multiplicity of elongated steps on a substrate surface from a negative photoresist layer, then covering the elongated steps with an insulating material such that sloped sidewalls are produced on the multiplicity of elongated steps. After the liquid crystal material is filled into a cavity formed between the substrate and an upper substrate, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned to the same angle as the sloped sidewalls on the multiplicity of the elongated steps such that the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display cell can be improved.

Abstract: A non-contacting method of forming an alignment layer on a substrate used in liquid crystal displays which includes the steps of cleaning a substrate surface, disposing a solution having a prepolymer, such as polyamic acid or a resin and a curing agent, and solvent on the substrate surface, evaporating the solvent, and positioning an ultraviolet light source proximally near the substrate surface. A linear polarizer is positioned between the ultraviolet light source and the substrate surface. Ultraviolet light is projected through the polarizer onto the substrate surface to simultaneously molecularly align the polymer segments as the prepolymer is polymerized to form an alignment layer on the substrate. Adjusting the direction of polarization and the angle of incidence of the ultraviolet light source allows for generation of an alignment layer with a corresponding pre-tilt angle.

Abstract: A method of fabricating multi-domain liquid crystal cell includes the steps of providing first and second substrates, the first and second substrates being coated with photo-alignment layer, covering the substrate with a mask which has a plurality regions having different transmittances, exposing the substrate to vertical light having a first polarization direction, and exposing the substrate to oblique light. The photo-alignment materials include polysiloxane-based materials.

Abstract: A substrate for a liquid crystal display device, which is used as one of a pair of substrates provided so as to face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The substrate includes a plate, an electrodeposition layer formation electrode and an electrodeposition layer provided so that the electrodeposition layer formation electrode is disposed closer to the plate than the electrodeposition layer. The electrodeposition layer formation electrode includes a region having a surface conductivity lower than that of another region in each pixel region and the low surface conductivity region has a shape of at least one line. The surface of the electrodeposition layer has a concave shape having a lowermost portion at a position corresponding to the low surface conductivity region so that liquid crystal regions each having a different orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules partitioned by the low surface conductivity region are formed.

Abstract: An alignment-film in which the pretilt angle is changed by ultraviolet irradiation, a material for forming the same, a liquid crystal display device using the alignment film, a method for producing an alignment-film formation material, and a method for producing an alignment film. Ultraviolet irradiation causes large changes in pretilt angle but few changes in electrical characteristics, and a liquid crystal display device free from deterioration of the liquid crystal, image sticking, or the occurrence of flicker results. A first polymer forms the underlying principal layer and a second polymer forms thereon a surface layer thinner than the principal layer. The first polymer may exhibit a small change in electrical characteristics due to ultraviolet radiation and the second polymer may exhibit a large change in pretilt angle due to ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of introducing sightly tilting homeotropic orientation into a liquid crystal layer by oblique evaporation of inorganic material by one step, and a further object is to apply this method to provide a reliable liquid crystal electro-optical device or a liquid crystal light valve.FIG. 1 shows an example of the method to introduce the slightly tilting homeotropic orientation into the liquid crystal layer by the one step of the oblique evaporation of the inorganic material. The orientation film is formed by the one step oblique evaporation. An incident angle is set from 45.degree. to 70.degree. relative to a parallel direction of the substrate, and a film thickness is set to 20 nm through 500 nm measured during the film deposition by a film thickness gage disposed at a vertical distance equal between the evaporation source and the substrate. The orientation film is used in the liquid crystal electro-optical device or the liquid crystal light valve.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus of orientation treatment of an orientation film according to the present invention, the surface of a orientation film formed on a substrate for orientating liquid-crystal molecules is rubbed in a predetermined direction. Thereafter ion beams are radiated onto the orientation film in a vacuum in a direction different from the rubbing direction, that is, in the direction obliquely above the orientation film surface. In the method, these steps can be reversed.