Abstract: A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panel includes a first substrate including a pixel electrode defining pixel areas, a first alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode and a first reactive mesogen layer disposed on the first alignment layer, a second substrate including a common electrode layer disposed on an entire portion of the second substrate facing the first substrate, a second alignment layer disposed on the common electrode layer and a second reactive mesogen layer disposed on the second alignment layer, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates and including a first liquid crystal compound represented by Chemical Formula 1, a second liquid crystal compound represented by Chemical Formula 2 and a third liquid crystal compound represented by Chemical Formula 3:

Abstract: A system having a ferroelectric liquid host material and a small amount of polymer additive is provided. In an embodiment, the polymer additive improves the physical characteristics of the system. In an embodiment, the system can be used in FLC applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to chiral reactive mesogen (RM) mixtures, polymer films obtained thereof, and the use of the mixtures and polymer films in optical, electrooptical or electronic components or devices, in decorative, security or cosmetic applications, especially for use in broadband reflective polarizers.

Abstract: A liquid crystal-containing composition includes a cholesteric liquid crystal and a microcapsule wall that encapsulates the cholesteric liquid crystal, the microcapsule wall includes at least one material selected from polyurethane and polyurea, and the content of the microcapsule wall with respect to 100 parts by weight of the cholesteric liquid crystal is from about 0.1 parts to about 11 parts by weight.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display device including: a first substrate; a second substrate arranged opposite to the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a UV-absorbing filter formed on each of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the liquid crystal layer undergoes a phase transition from an isotropic phase in the absence of a voltage to an anisotropic phase when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided. The method includes the steps stated below. At first, providing an LCD panel including a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer therebetween. The liquid crystal layer includes several photo-sensitive monomers and several liquid crystal molecules. The LCD panel has at least a first pixel and a second pixel. Afterwards, correspondingly driving the first pixel and the second pixel by the first voltage and the second voltage. At last, applying a ultra-violet source onto the LCD panel to enable several photo-sensitive monomers to polymerize several alignment polymers on the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to new cyclohexylene reactive mesogens (RM), polymers derived thereof, liquid crystal (LC) media comprising them, and the use of the compounds, polymers and liquid crystalline media in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices, in decorative, security, cosmetic or diagnostic applications, especially in the polymer stabilised blue phase.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition intended to be applied to the surface of a base material to form a phase difference layer, the liquid crystal composition being capable of forming a phase difference layer well indicating homeotropic orientation without the presence of an oriented film, even if the liquid crystal composition is directly applied to the base material surface, as well as a phase difference layer formed by the liquid crystal composition, a color filter and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the phase difference layer, and further a method of forming the phase difference layer. To a liquid crystal composition containing one kind or two or more kinds of crosslinking liquid crystal compounds is further added at least an amino-based silane coupling agent to prepare a liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A diamine compound is proposed as well as polymers, copolymers, polyamic acids, polyamic acid esters, or polyimides based on such compound. The compound is represented by one of the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib). It could be shown that such structures, in particular for a specific choice of the residue B, provide, if e.g. used as orientation layers, a photostable, vertically aligning material with an improved VHR.

Abstract: A variable focus liquid crystal lens includes a nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture having a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure, and an electrode for applying a substantially uniform voltage to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture. The lens is created within a cell by applying a substantially uniform electric field to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture within the cell, while simultaneously irradiating the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture using a laser beam having a shaped intensity distribution, so as to induce formation of a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure within the cell.

Abstract: The invention has an object to provide a liquid crystal display in which a wide angle of view is obtained and a response time at a halftone can be shortened by regulating an alignment orientation of a liquid crystal by the use of a polymer fixation system in which a liquid crystal layer containing a polymerizable component is sealed between substrates, and the polymerizable component is polymerized while a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer to fix a liquid crystal alignment. A liquid crystal layer containing a polymer for regulating a pretilt angle of a liquid crystal molecule and a tilt direction at a time of driving is sealed between two substrates arranged opposite to each other.

Abstract: A liquid crystal medium is described, which has a wide temperature range of a liquid crystal phase, a large optical anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy and exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystal medium is characterized in including a chiral dopant and a liquid crystal compound with a chlorophenyl ring and exhibiting an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is manufactured by placing a liquid crystal composition in the gap between two parallel substrates followed by polymerization to form a liquid crystal layer, wherein the liquid crystal composition comprises a free radical scavenger, no voltage is applied between the electrodes at an initial polymerization period, ultraviolet rays are irradiated at an intensity of 1 mW/cm2 or less at an initial polymerization period, the liquid crystal composition is subjected, prior to the polymerization, to heat treatment at a temperature equal to or above the phase transition temperature of the used liquid crystal, or the liquid crystal composition is supplied dropwise onto a substrate and the substrates are bonded together in vacuum to place the liquid crystal composition into the gap between the substrates. A liquid crystal display device with no or little occurrence of display irregularities is provided.

Abstract: A compound of the following formula (1): CH2?CR1—COO—R2—OCO-Cy-COO-Cy-A-Cy-R3??(1) wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 is a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, provided that some or all of hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms in the group may be substituted by fluorine atoms, and when it has 2 or more carbon atoms, it may have an etheric oxygen atom in a carbon-carbon bond, R3 is an alkyl or alkoxy group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or a fluorine atom, provided that when it is the alkyl or alkoxy group, some or all of hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms in the group may be substituted by fluorine atoms; Cy is a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, provided that hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms in the group may independently be substituted by fluorine atoms, chlorine atoms or methyl groups; and A is a single bond, a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group or a 1,4-phenylene group, provided that hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms in the group may independently be substituted by

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of detection of analytes, and in particular to detection of viruses, cells, bacteria, lipid-membrane containing organisms, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and other biomolecules, organic molecules and inorganic molecules using a liquid crystal assay format.

Abstract: A liquid crystal mixture for a polymer stability alignment process includes at least a set of first liquid crystal compounds without any double bond, at least a set of second liquid crystal compounds having double bonds, and at least a set of reactive monomers having methacrylate group. The concentration of the second liquid crystal compounds is about 0.1-20% by weight of the total weight of the liquid crystal compounds.

Abstract: A light blocking mask covering half of a picture element is formed on a first substrate. Thereafter, the first substrate and a second substrate are placed to face each other, and liquid crystals with negative dielectric anisotropy are sealed between these substrates, whereby a liquid crystal panel is formed. A polymer constituent which is polymerized by light is added in advance to the liquid crystals. Next, ultraviolet is irradiated from the side of the first substrate, and, after removing the light blocking mask, ultraviolet is once again irradiated. Thus, in picture element, a region where binding force with respect to liquid crystal molecules is large (a region where a threshold voltage in transmittance-voltage characteristics is high) and a region where binding force with respect to liquid crystal molecules is small (a region where a threshold voltage in transmittance-voltage characteristics is low) are formed.

Abstract: A black-white liquid crystal display using a cholesteric liquid crystal material and a method for manufacturing such a liquid crystal display using polymerization/phase-separation, resulting in diffused polymeric molecules and polymeric cell walls, so as to minimize the manufacturing time, strengthen the polymeric wall and enhance the contrast ratio as well as the brightness.

Abstract: A cyclic olefin resin film having a water vapor transmission rate of 200 to 400 g/m2/24 hrs at 40° C. and 90% RH and containing 0.03% to 1.0% by weight of particles having an in-film average particle size of 3.0 ?m or smaller. The film shows good adhesion to a polarizer, exhibits favorable moisture permeability helping reduce deterioration of a polarizing plate, and hardly varies in optical characteristics with changes in ambient temperature and humidity. The film provides an excellent polarizing plate and liquid crystal display.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for providing a polyelectrolyte multilayer film at a liquid-liquid interface. Such methods include steps of sequentially-depositing layers of cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes at a liquid-liquid interface that is formed between immiscible first and second liquids whereby a polyelectrolyte multilayer film is provided at the liquid-liquid interface. In certain preferred embodiments, the first liquid is an aqueous solution and the second liquid is a liquid crystal. In alternative embodiments, the first liquid is an aqueous solution and the second liquid is an oil. The invention further encompasses polyelectrolyte multilayer films provided by the disclosed methods as well as applications utilizing such materials.

Abstract: A liquid crystal/polymer composite is sandwiched between a pair of substrates with electrodes, the polymer forms a plurality of column resins, column resins of which the major axis directions substantially agree with the normal direction of the substrate plane and column resins which are aligned on the tilt coexist, the content of the polymer is at least 10 wt %, the alignment of the liquid crystal substantially agrees with the normal direction and the liquid crystal is in a light transmitting state under application of no voltage, and the alignment of the liquid crystal changes and the liquid crystal is in a light scattering state under application of a voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a liquid crystal display device, in which a pretilt angle and a tilt direction upon application of a voltage of liquid crystal molecules are controlled by using a polymer and is to provide a method for producing a liquid crystal display device that provides good display characteristics.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display using a ferroelectric liquid crystal, showing the mono-stability operation mode using a material showing the chiral smectic C phase via the smectic A phase in the temperature lowering process as the ferroelectric liquid crystal. The present invention achieves the object by providing a reactive liquid crystal layer having a reactive liquid crystal fixed on at least one facing surface of the two alignment films in a liquid crystal display comprising two aligned substrates comprising a substrate, an electrode layer and an alignment film, disposed so as to have the alignment films face with each other, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal sandwiched between the aligned substrates.

Abstract: A process to produce a polymer liquid crystalline composition having temperature dependency of desired circular polarization selective reflection wave length property by only mixing two or more kinds of starting materials having different weight-average molecular weight comprising, mixing two or more kinds of rigid rodlike helical polymers with chiral side chains having different weight-average molecular weight synthesized from same molecules and having same repeating unit whose molecular weight distribution defined by the ratio of weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight is from 1.00 to 1.25, and controlling weight average molecular weight, number average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution by mixing ratio.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first polarizer disposed on the first substrate, a second polarizer disposed on the second substrate having a transmission axis perpendicular to that of the first polarizer and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates. The polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and at least one polymer network. When a voltage difference between the substrates is equal to 0V, the liquid crystal molecules do not reflect incident light beams and are not pervious to incident light beams. When the voltage difference between the substrates is not equal to 0V, the crystal molecules reflect incident light beams and are pervious to incident light beams.

Abstract: The write disturb that occurs in polymer memories may be reduced by writing back data after a read in a fashion which offsets any effect on the polarity of bits in bit lines associated with the addressed bit. For example, each time the data is written back, its polarity may be alternately changed. In another embodiment, the polarity may be randomly changed.

Abstract: Transmission and reflection type holograms may be formed utilizing a novel polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material and its unique switching characteristics to form optical elements. Applications for these switchable holograms include communications switches and switchable transmission, and reflection red, green, and blue lenses. The PDLC material offers all of the features of holographic photopolymers with the added advantage that the hologram can be switched on and off with the application of an electric field. The material is a mixture of a polymerizable monomer and liquid crystal, along with other ingredients, including a photoinitiator dye. Upon irradiation, the liquid crystal separates as a distinct phase of nanometer-size droplets aligned in periodic channels forming the hologram. The material is called a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC).

Abstract: An electro-optically active polymer gel material comprising a high molecular weight alignment polymer adapted to be homogeneously dispersed throughout a liquid crystal to control the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules and/or confer mechanical stability is provided. The electro-optically active polymer gel comprises a homogenous gel in which the polymer strands of the gel are provided in low concentration and are well solvated by the small molecule liquid crystal without producing unacceptable slowing of its electrooptic response. During formation of the gel, a desired orientation is locked into the gel by physical or chemical cross-linking of the polymer chains. The electro-optically active polymer is then utilized to direct the orientation in the liquid crystal gel in the “field off” state of a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical compensator for liquid crystal displays comprising at least one O plate retarder, and at least one twisted A plate retarder with a twist angle ? of more than 90°, and further relates to a liquid crystal display comprising such a compensator.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device produced through the steps of injecting a polymerizable monomer-containing liquid crystal composition between two substrates and, while applying a voltage between opposing transparent electrodes of the substrates, polymerizing the monomer, wherein the polymerizable monomer contained in the liquid crystal composition has one or more ring or condensed ring structures and functional groups bonded directly to the ring or condensed ring structure. The monomer is preferably represented by the following general formula: P1-A1-(Z1-A2)n-P2 wherein P1 and P2 are acrylates or the like, A1 and A2 are 1,4-phenylenes or the like, Z1 is —COO— or the like, and n is 0 to 2.

Abstract: Liquid crystal films with excellent heat resistance and mechanical strength are provided.

Abstract: An optical device in which a polymerizable liquid crystal material various optical characteristics of which is stable even against heating during manufacture of an optical apparatus such as an image display is cured. The optical device has a support and an optical functional layer made of a cured polymerizable liquid crystal material having a predetermined liquid crystal regularity and provided on the support. The optical device is characterized in that the optical device is subjected to a heat treatment at a predetermined temperature and in that the thickness decrease of the optical functional layer defined by (A-B)/A is 5% or less where A is the thickness of the optical functional layer after the heat treatment, and B is the thickness of the optical functional layer after the optical device is heated for 60 minutes at the heat-treatment temperature.

Abstract: Transmission and reflection type holograms may be formed utilizing a novel polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material and its unique switching characteristics to form optical elements. Applications for these switchable holograms include communications switches and switchable transmission, and reflection red, green, and blue lenses. The PDLC material of the present invention offers all of the features of holographic photopolymers with the added advantage that the hologram can be switched on and off with the application of an electric field. The material is a mixture of a polymerizable monomer and liquid crystal, along with other ingredients, including a photoinitiator dye. Upon irradiation, the liquid crystal separates as a distinct phase of nanometer-size droplets aligned in periodic channels forming the hologram. The material is called a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC).

Abstract: A liquid crystal device showing performances, such as good viewing angle characteristic, high contrast, high-speed responsiveness, high resolution and high productivity is given by forming a layer of discotic liquid crystal placed in an edge-on and uniaxial alignment state. In the liquid crystal layer, the discotic liquid crystal may preferably assume a nematic discotic layer and co-present with a rod-shaped liquid crystal in mutually separated phases.

Abstract: Using inhomogeneous sized liquid crystal (LC) droplets for lens and prisms. For forming a positive lens, the LC droplet size can gradually increase from the center to the side edges. For forming a negative lens, the LC droplet size can gradually decrease from the center to the side edges. The lens can be created by Ultra Violet light exposure to patterns. The lens can be tuned by applying voltage to the droplets. The inhomogeneous droplets can also be used in Fresnel lens and prisms. Applications of the invention can be used for eyeglasses, arrays, camera type zoom lenses and beam steering applications.

Abstract: A liquid crystal/cured composite layer is formed by sandwiching a mixture of a liquid crystal with an uncured curable compound i.e. a curable compound represented by a structure of an acryloyl group-(OR1)n—O-mesogen structural portion-O—(R2O)m-acryloyl group structure (wherein each of R1 and R2 is a C2-6 alkylene group, and each of n and m is from 1 to 10), between a pair of substrates provided with transparent electrodes, and curing the curable compound.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having first and second substrates with an interposed liquid crystal layer that has a negative or a positive dielectric anisotropy. First and second electrodes are formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates. A first orientation film comprised of a ferroelectric liquid crystal polymer is formed on the first electrode, and a second orientation film is formed on the second electrode. First and second polarizers are formed on exterior surfaces of the first and second substrates.

Abstract: An electro-optically active polymer gel material comprising a high molecular weight alignment polymer adapted to be homogeneously dispersed throughout a liquid crystal to control the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules and/or confer mechanical stability is provided. The electro-optically active polymer gel comprises a homogenous gel in which the polymer strands of the gel are provided in low concentration and are well solvated by the small molecule liquid crystal without producing unacceptable slowing of its electrooptic response. During formation of the gel, a desired orientation is locked into the gel by physical or chemical cross-linking of the polymer chains. The electro-optically active polymer is then utilized to direct the orientation in the liquid crystal gel in the “field off” state of a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical element capable of keeping the accuracy even in the case of use in an optical device such as an image display apparatus, without the risk of fluctuation of the optical characteristics even in the case a load is applied at the time of being assembled in the optical device. In order to achieve the object, an optical element comprising a supporting member, and an optical functional layer of a polymerizable liquid crystal material hardened on the supporting member with a predetermined liquid crystal regularity, wherein the optical functional layer has a 20 or more Vickers hardness value, is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimension display apparatus which includes a liquid crystal display; a first polarizer on the rear surface of the liquid crystal display; a second polarizer on the front surface of the liquid crystal display; a liquid crystal polymer being on the second polarizer and including a chiral dopant and liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal polymer is divided into first regions through which incident light is not polarized and second regions through which the incident light is polarized at 90 degrees. A third polarizer on the liquid crystal polymer selectively transmits the incident light from the liquid crystal polymer. A light source below the first polarizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of preparing films and multilayers comprising polymerized liquid crystal material with uniform orientation, to films and multilayers obtained by said process and their use for optical and electrooptical applications.

Abstract: A color polymer dispersed liquid crystal display includes a lower substrate, an upper substrate, color liquid crystal-polymer films, and two transparent liquid crystal driving electrodes, among others. The color liquid crystal-polymer films are formed by foaming polymer films mixed with red, green and blue pigments to form porous films of red, green, and blue colors and then dropping and injecting liquid crystal into droplets of the porous films under vacuum condition. One of the two transparent liquid crystal driving electrodes is disposed between the lower substrate and the PDLC films, and the other is disposed between the PDLC films and the upper substrate. The changes in properties of the PDLC films, which may be caused by unstable phase separation in a conventional phase separation process, are reduced, and the colors are improved.

Abstract: Electro-optical glazing structures (1) having total-scattering and total-transparent modes of operation which are electrically-switchable for use in dynamically controlling electromagnetic radiation flow in diverse applications.

Abstract: The invention reduces or suppresses outside light reflection without reducing or substantially reducing the light emitting strength from a light-emitting element. An apparatus of the invention includes a light-emitting element. A wavelength correcting unit, a planar polarization beam splitter, and a polarizing plate are also included.

Abstract: Using inhomogeneous sized liquid crystal (LC) droplets for lens and prisms. For forming a positive lens, the LC droplet size can gradually increase from the center to the side edges. For forming a negative lens, the LC droplet size can gradually decrease from the center to the side edges. The lens can be created by Ultra Violet light exposure to patterns. The lens can be tuned by applying voltage to the droplets. The inhomogeneous droplets can also be used in Fresnel lens and prisms. Applications of the invention can be used for eyeglasses, arrays, camera type zoom lenses and beam steering applications.

Abstract: A conductive organic compound device structure suitable for constituting an electronic device, such as an organic EL device, is formed by including a pair of oppositely spaced electrodes, and a carrier transporting layer disposed between the electrodes and in contact with one of the electrodes. The carrier transporting layer comprises a conductive organic compound having a ?-electron resonance structure in its molecule. In the device, the ?-electron resonance structure plane of the conductive organic compound in the carrier transporting layer is aligned substantially parallel to surfaces of the electrodes. The conductive organic compound is preferably a conductive liquid crystal, such as a discotic liquid crystal or a smectic liquid crystal, and a layer thereof is included in the device, preferably by vacuum deposition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystal display device comprising two substrates facing and spaced from each other, at least one of the substrates being transparent, electrodes positioned to establish an electric field in the space between the two substrates, one or more photoinitiator or enhancing (PIE) elements located between the substrates, one or more polymer elements located primarily in the vicinities of the PIE elements, the polymer elements located between the two substrates and having been polymerized in situ in response to the PIE material carried on or within the PIE elements, and electrooptic material filling at least a portion of the between the two substrates.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical element capable of keeping the accuracy even in the case of use in an optical device such as an image display apparatus, without the risk of fluctuation of the optical characteristics even in the case a load is applied at the time of being assembled in the optical device. In order to achieve the object, an optical element comprising a supporting member, and an optical functional layer of a polymerizable liquid crystal material hardened on the supporting member with a predetermined liquid crystal regularity, wherein the optical functional layer has a 20 or more Vickers hardness value, is provided.

Abstract: A photoactive polymer from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof comprises as a side-chain a photocrosslinkable group of the general formula (I) wherein the broken line indicates the point of linkage to the polyimide main chain and wherein: B is a straight-chain or branched alkyl residue which is optionally substituted, wherein one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups may independently be replaced by a group Q; D represents an oxygen atom or —NR1— wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl; and S3 represents a spacer unit. The polymers may be used as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to new mono-, oligo- and poly-difluorovinyl(hetero)arylenes comprising one or more identical or different recurring units of formula I wherein D, D′, Ar, a and b have the meanings as defined in herein. Furthermore the inventions relates to their synthesis, their use as semiconductors or charge transport materials and their different applications.