Changing Liquid Crystal Phase Patents (Class 349/188)
  • Patent number: 10446797
    Abstract: There is provided a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film including a resin base, an optical lens on the resin base and including polymer dispersed liquid crystal particles within the resin base, and having a first lens area having a higher refractive index at an edge of the first lens area than at a center of the first lens area, and a second lens area surrounding the first lens area and having a lower refractive index at an outer edge of the second lens area than at an inner edge of the second lens area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chio Cho, Jaejoong Kwon, Yunseon Do, Byungchoon Yang, Hyesog Lee
  • Patent number: 9786232
    Abstract: A stereoscopic display device includes a display panel for displaying 2D/3D images, a driving circuit module, and a light-splitting device. The light-splitting device includes a first substrate having a plurality of first electrodes, a second substrate arranged facing the first substrate and having at least one second electrode, a liquid crystal layer placed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a plurality of spacers in the liquid crystal layer. The driving circuit module is configured to, when in the 3D display mode, provide a plurality of driving voltages between the first electrodes and the second electrode to make the liquid crystal layer an array of liquid crystal lenses and, when in the 2D display mode, to provide a deflection voltage between the first electrodes and the second electrode to reduce a refractive index difference between the liquid crystal molecules and the spacers with a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SUPERD CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Hongwei Quan, Jiajia Pi, Fuzhong Guo, Xiaoda Gong
  • Patent number: 9450213
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device and a method for transferring a display panel. The device includes a carrier configured to transfer the display panel, and a light-shielding plate secured onto the carrier and configured to shield a display region of the display panel when the display panel enters an irradiation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuebai Han, Xiaopeng Bai, Shanshan Bao, Xinxin Jin
  • Publication number: 20150062526
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC), comprising steps of: a temperature control step which controls a temperature of a liquid crystal (LC) mixture within a range of a coexistence temperature of the blue phase and the isotropic phase; a temperature descending step which descends the temperature of the LC mixture to an operation temperature of the blue phase, wherein the operation temperature of the blue phase is higher than the phase transition temperature of the blue phase and the lower temperature phase; and a repeating step which repeats the temperature control step and the temperature descending step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hung-Shan CHEN, Chun-Hung WU, Yi-Hsin LIN, Hsu-Kuan HSU
  • Patent number: 8836909
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device which can exhibit a blue phase stably is manufactured. A first substrate and a second substrate are attached by a sealant interposing a liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal composition therebetween, an alignment state of the liquid crystal layer is set to be an isotropic phase by heat treatment, the liquid crystal layer is irradiated with light so as to perform polymer stabilization treatment on the liquid crystal layer, and an alignment state of the liquid crystal layer is changed from an isotropic phase to a blue phase in the light irradiation. Thus, a liquid crystal display device which suppresses a defect which shows an alignment state other than a blue phase (an alignment defect) is manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kubota, Akio Yamashita, Masaru Nakano
  • Publication number: 20140063435
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and an electrode group provided on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and that applies an electric field to the liquid crystal layer, wherein the liquid crystal layer contains at least one liquid crystalline compound, and at least one chiral dopant, wherein one of the liquid crystalline compounds contained in the liquid crystal layer develops a blue phase liquid crystal, and wherein the liquid crystal layer has a storage elastic modulus G? of 4,000 Pa or more at 25° C. and 1 Hz frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Mika OIWA, Shinichi KOMURA
  • Patent number: 8665414
    Abstract: Thermochromic liquid crystal filters are fabricated by providing two polarizers oriented at offset polarity with respect to each other; providing alignment structures adjacent the inner surfaces of the polarizers; placing a plurality of spacers between the polarizers; and filling a space created by the spacers with a thermotropic liquid crystal that acts as a depolarizer in a nematic state. The filter acts as a wave block when the liquid crystal is in an isotropic state. Alternatively, the filters can be created by encapsulating a thermochromic liquid crystal with a polymer material to form a flexible film and orienting the thermochromic liquid crystal in the polymer material to create a structure that functions as a thermochromic optical filter. Such filters can control the flow of light and radiant heat through selective reflection, transmission, absorption, and/or re-emission. The filters have particular application in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films and materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: RavenBrick LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Powers, Wil McCarthy, Matthew Bryant Kish
  • Publication number: 20130169919
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display includes: forming a liquid crystal panel including two substrates and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates and irradiating light to the liquid crystal layer in a state in which a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules and a reactive monomer, and the voltage applied to the liquid crystal panel is an AC voltage. The liquid crystal molecules are isotropic in a state that the voltage is not applied thereto and are anisotropic in a state that the voltage is applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Seung Ho Hong, Sung-Kyu Hong, Choong Hwan Kim, Se Hyun Lee, Hyeok Jin Lee, Jae-Soo Jang
  • Publication number: 20130083283
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC), comprising steps of: a temperature control step which controls a temperature of a liquid crystal (LC) mixture within a range of a coexistence temperature of the blue phase and the isotropic phase; a temperature descending step which descends the temperature of the LC mixture to an operation temperature of the blue phase, wherein the operation temperature of the blue phase is higher than the phase transition temperature of the blue phase and the lower temperature phase; and a repeating step which repeats the temperature control step and the temperature descending step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicants: CHIMEI INNOLUX CORPORATION, INNOCOM TECHNOLOGY(SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Shan CHEN, Chun-Hung WU, Yi-Hsin LIN, Hsu-Kuan HSU
  • Publication number: 20130070193
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of stabilizing a blue phase liquid crystal composition. The present invention also relates to a method of producing a liquid crystal cell or display. Moreover, the present invention relates to a stabilized blue phase liquid crystal composition and to a liquid crystal cell or display prepared in accordance with the present invention. Moreover, the present invention relates to an electronic device comprising a stabilized liquid crystal composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Pinar Kilickiran, Zakir Hussain, Frank Pleis, David Danner, Nadine Hollfelder, Gabriele Nelles
  • Patent number: 8373810
    Abstract: A micro-array of optical vortex retarders is provided by forming an alignment layer having a plurality of discrete alignment patches with different orientations. A layer of birefringent material, including one of a liquid crystal and a liquid crystal polymer precursor material, is provided adjacent to the alignment layer. The aligning orientation and position of each discrete alignment patch in the plurality of discrete alignment patches is selected to induce the layer of birefringent material to form at least one optical vortex retarder adjacent to a substantially non-oriented region of the alignment layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Shemo, Scott McEldowney
  • Patent number: 8223279
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) display system is provided for displaying a 3D image. The 3D image includes at least a first image and a second image, with a parallax between the first image and the second image. The 3D display system includes a display device, and a liquid crystal lens array. Further, the display device is configured to display at least two combined images of the 3D image in a single display period, and each of the two combined images includes a part of the first image and a part of the second image. The liquid crystal lens array has a plurality of lens units configured to separate the part of the first image and the part of the second image in each of the two combined images into predetermined viewing directions, respectively, such that a complete first image and a complete second image are displayed without losing resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Shenzhen Super Perfect Optics Limited
    Inventors: Huabing Zheng, Jing Zhang, Xiaowei Lu
  • Patent number: 8174630
    Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display panel capable of performing data programming and/or data erasing via a polarized light is provided. The reflective liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a transflective film, a retarder and a polarizer. The second substrate is disposed over the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is located between the first substrate and the second substrate and an optical aligned material is doped in the liquid crystal layer. The transflective film is disposed below the first substrate, and the transflective film allows the polarized light to pass through, so that the orientation of the optical aligned material doped liquid crystal layer can be controlled by the polarized light. The transflective film reflects external light source. The retarder is disposed between the transflective film and the first substrate. The polarizer is disposed on the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Wei-Ting Hsu, Tsung-Hsien Lin, Hsing-Lung Wang, Chi-Chang Liao
  • Publication number: 20120092608
    Abstract: Provided is a polymerizable compound with large solubility in a liquid crystal composition and high reactivity irradiated by ultraviolet in the longer wavelength range. Provided is a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large negative dielectric anisotropy, large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light and high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced between at least two of the characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicants: JNC PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION, JNC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maiko Ito, Keiji Kimura, Norikatsu Hattori, Eriko Saegusa
  • Publication number: 20110261306
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a blue phase liquid crystal display is provided. A first substrate is arranged opposite to a second substrate, in which the first and second substrates include a first and a second electrode, respectively. A blue phase liquid crystal layer is sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate, in which the blue phase liquid crystal layer includes a positive blue phase liquid crystal and a monomer. A voltage is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode such that a vertical electric field is formed. The blue phase liquid crystal layer is illuminated with a light source such that the monomer performs polymerization to produce a polymer-stabilized positive blue phase liquid crystal. A blue phase liquid crystal display is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cheng-Yeh Tsai, Tai-Hsiang Huang, Po-Lun Chen
  • Patent number: 7919153
    Abstract: A laminated structure comprising, at least one optically anisotropic layer formed of a liquid crystalline composition comprising a compound having two or more types of reactive groups, and at least one photosensitive polymer layer. The laminated structure is useful for forming an optically anisotropic layer inside of a liquid crystal cell. The laminated structure is also useful for forming a liquid crystal cell substrate with an optically anisotropic layer having an optically compensating ability, inside of a liquid crystal cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Tomita, Ichiro Amimori, Hisashi Okamura
  • Publication number: 20110037938
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal device is provided, the method comprising (i) providing a cell containing a mixture of a liquid crystal and pre-polymer (ii) applying a stimulus to arrange the liquid crystal in a first predetermined state and (iii) subsequent to, or contemporaneously with, step (ii), causing the pre-polymer to form polymer when the liquid crystal is in a second predetermined state, wherein steps (ii) and (iii) are performed a plurality of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: MERCK PATENT GESELLSCHAFT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventors: Peter Raynes, Steve Elston, Bo-Ru Yang, Han-Ping D. Shieh
  • Patent number: 7812919
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of fabrication of liquid crystal light modulating devises having electrically tunable spectral wavelength and more particularly, to a cholesteric liquid crystal display with electrically switchable colors. The cholesteric light modulators may be fabricated by applying a plurality of layers to maximize the light modulation. It also features a polymer composite or polymer-network stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal with electrically switchable Bragg reflected wavelength within a predetermined range of spectral wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Kent State University
    Inventors: Liang-Chy Chien, Shin-Ying Lu
  • Patent number: 7749575
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display utilizing a vertically aligned state of liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied and to a method of manufacturing the same. The invention is aimed at providing a liquid crystal display and a method of manufacturing the same in which the existing step for forming vertical alignment films can be omitted to achieve a cost reduction. The liquid crystal display includes a monofunctional monomer having a structure expressed by X-R (where X represents an acrylate group or a methacrylate group, and R represents an organic group having a steroid skeleton). A liquid crystal material is sandwiched between substrates which is then irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the monofunctional monomer, thereby forming a polymer film at an interface of a substrate. The monofunctional monomer has a hydrophobic skeleton such as an alkyl chain and a photoreactive group on one side of the skeleton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Hideaki Tsuda, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Jin Hirosawa, Seiji Tanuma, Yoshio Koike
  • Publication number: 20100073605
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, to a method of producing a polymer dispersed liquid crystal cell, to a polymer dispersed liquid crystal and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal cell produced by such method, to a liquid crystal display containing a plurality of such polymer dispersed liquid crystal cells and to the use of particles for preparing a polymer dispersed liquid crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Akira Masutani, Anthony Roberts, Pinar Kilickiran, Gabriele Nelles, Akio Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20100039597
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel including several first electrode portions, several second electrode portions, and a smectic liquid crystal layer is provided. The first electrode portions and the second electrode portions are disposed on a first substrate. When an AC voltage is applied on the first electrode portions and the second electrode portions, the direction of a horizontal electrical field formed between each first electrode portion and the adjacent second electrode portion is parallel to the surface of the first substrate. The smectic liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first substrate and a second substrate. During the phase change of a liquid crystal molecule of the smectic liquid crystal layer, the horizontal electrical field generated by applying the AC voltage on the first electrode portions and the second electrode portions facilitates the alignment of the liquid crystal molecule of the smectic liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Au Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yuan Lin, Po-Kai Liu, Ren-Hung Huang, Po-Chang Wu, Fu-Cheng Sie, Chun-Hung Chiang, Shune-Long Wu, Jin-Jei Wu, Po-Lun Chen
  • Patent number: 7616180
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bistable nematic liquid crystal matricial display device wherein the shift to one of the at least two bistable states is carried out by displacing the liquid crystal parallel to the surfaces of the device, characterized by the fact that it comprises a system for addressing various elements of the display device, characterized in that it comprises a system for addressing the various elements of the display device such that it does not simultaneously shift two adjacent elements located in the direction in which the material flows. The invention also relates to a display method. The invention makes it possible to control the grey level by controlling the scan rings of the hydrodynamic flow in order to define the border between two different textures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Nemoptic
    Inventors: Philippe Martinot-Lagarde, Jacques Angele, Stéphane Joly, Jean-Denis Laffitte, François Leblanc, Christophe Body
  • Patent number: 7567320
    Abstract: A liquid-crystal electro-optical device is offered which can operate at high speeds and easily oriented. The value of the surface tension of liquid crystal-orienting layers is 40 dynes/cm or more, and these layers are rubbed in antiparallel directions to each other. This reduces the pretilt angle of the molecules of a nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between two substrates. The anisotropy of the dielectric constant of the nematic liquid crystal is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Konuma
  • Patent number: 7532260
    Abstract: A display system includes a display arranged to receive an image wise pattern of light to form an image, including, a pair of conductors, at least one conductor being transparent, a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material disposed between the conductors, the liquid crystal material having multiple stable optical states at zero electrical field, and a light absorber for forming an image wise thermal pattern in the liquid crystal sufficient to change the optical state of the cholesteric liquid crystal in response to an image wise pattern of light; a display writer, including, a light source for producing a flash of light of sufficient intensity to generate sufficient heat in the light absorber to change the optical state of the cholesteric liquid crystal, a mask located between the light source and the display for defining the image wise pattern of light, a display drive connectable to the conductors for generating an electric field between the conductors for changing the optical state of the cholesteric l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Stanley W. Stephenson, Xiang-Dong Mi, David M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090103033
    Abstract: A pixel structure including a first active device, a second active device, a first pixel electrode electrically connecting the first active device, a second pixel electrode electrically connecting the second active device and a first capacitance lower electrode is provided. Both the first active device and the second active device electrically connect a scan line and a data line. The first pixel electrode has a first interlacing pattern and first stripe patterns connected thereto. The second pixel electrode has a second interlacing pattern and second stripe patterns connected thereto. The first capacitance lower electrode located under the first interlacing pattern has a first region and second regions. The first pixel electrode substantially shields the first region but does not shield the second regions. An area ratio of the first region to the second regions is about 10:1˜300:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chieh-Wei Chen, Cheng-Han Tsao, Jenn-Jia Su
  • Patent number: 7397530
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for encapsulation of liquid crystals to form spherical particles with a narrow size distribution. More specific, this invention relates to a method for encapsulation of liquid crystals that are suitable to be employed in liquid crystal displays, including displays intended to be used in large boards outdoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Polydisplay ASA
    Inventors: Anne Dalager Dyrli, Ruth Baumberger Schmid, Cecilie Kristiansen, Jan K. Nielsen, Maxim Miltrokhin, Lorenzo Williams
  • Patent number: 7388645
    Abstract: A pressure sealing apparatus and method for a ferroelectric liquid crystal display is disclosed for improving an alignment characteristic of a liquid crystal. In the apparatus and method, simultaneously with a pressurization of a liquid crystal display panel into which a liquid crystal has been injected, the liquid crystal display panel is subjected to a temperature treatment along with an application of an electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk Won Choi, Su Seok Choi
  • Publication number: 20080129948
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparation of a liquid crystal film having uniaxial alignment, comprising steps of: elevating temperature of a substrate coated with a nanostructure formed of liquid crystal molecules to a value sufficient to alter the nanostructure into a liquid phase; and decreasing the temperature to another value sufficient to again alter the liquid phase into a liquid crystal phase in the presence of a magnetic field to horizontally align the nanostructure of liquid crystal molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Sung-Min Choi, Hyo-Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 7361389
    Abstract: A smectic liquid crystal device and process for producing the same are provided to realize uniform orientation of a smectic liquid crystal with no nematic phase in a phase sequence represented by an antiferroelectric liquid crystal; and a process for producing the same. The process comprises the steps of inducing an isotropic phase-nematic phase-smectic phase as a phase sequence of mixture obtained by adding a photopolymerizable monomer liquid crystal exhibiting nematic phase to a smectic liquid crystal; and irradiating the mixture with UV rays so that the monomer is photopolymerized into a polymer to thereby form a smectic liquid crystal medium with uniform orientation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Hirokazu Furue, Hiroshi Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20080030635
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of fabrication of liquid crystal light modulating devises having electrically tunable spectral wavelength and more particularly, to a cholesteric liquid crystal display with electrically switchable colors. The cholesteric light modulators may be fabricated by applying a plurality of layers to maximize the light modulation. It also features a polymer composite or polymer-network stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal with electrically switchable Bragg reflected wavelength within a predetermined range of spectral wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Liang-Chy Chien, Shin-Ying Lu
  • Patent number: 7315343
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal display panel including a liquid crystal layer for a display in an OCB mode, a heating unit which heats the liquid crystal display panel, a temperature detecting unit for detecting a temperature of the liquid crystal display panel, a time measuring unit which measures a heating time that the heating unit has operated, and a transfer drive circuit which applies a transfer drive voltage to the liquid crystal layer to transfer the alignment state of liquid crystal molecules from a splay alignment to a bend alignment in advance. The transfer drive circuit is configured to determine a transfer time as an application period of the transfer drive voltage on the basis of a relationship between the heating time and temperature which are obtained from the time measuring unit and temperature detecting unit at a desired timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Takeoka
  • Patent number: 7265810
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having uniform alignment of monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal, and a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device. The temperature range of a cholesteric phase or a chiral nematic phase of the phase sequence of the liquid crystal has a temperature width of not less than 3° C. After heating the liquid crystal to an isotropic phase once, the liquid crystal is cooled to room temperature (25° C.) at a cooling rate of 3, 5, 10° C./minute. An alignment treatment is performed by application of a DC voltage of not lower than 3 V, which is a sufficient voltage to obtain the effects of the alignment treatment, within a temperature range of ±3° C. from transition temperature at which the liquid crystal changes from the cholesteric phase to the chiral smectic C phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Toshiaki Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 7161652
    Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device capable of achieving uniform alignment of monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization, and provides the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal (monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization) showing a phase sequence, either isotropic liquid phase-cholesteric phase-chiral smectic C phase, isotropic liquid phase-chiral nematic phase-chiral smectic C phase, or isotropic liquid phase-cholesteric phase-smectic A phase-chiral smectic C phase, from a high temperature side to a low temperature side, is sandwiched between two glass substrates having transparent electrodes and alignment films whose pretilt angle is not more than 2° and rubbing directions are parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Toshiaki Yoshihara, Hironori Shiroto, Shinji Tadaki, Tetsuya Makino, Yoshinori Kiyota, Shigeo Kasahara, Keiichi Betsui
  • Patent number: 7139063
    Abstract: In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a ferroelectric LC layer is formed between first and second substrates of a LC panel. The LC panel is cooled at a low temperature, for example at ?20° C., where the ferroelectric LC maintains a smetic phase. Due to the cooling, molecules are uniformly aligned for their early alignment state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: LG. Philips Lcd Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk-Won Choi, Su-Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 6999649
    Abstract: Technology for constructing a single layer polarization insensitive electrically switchable liquid crystal mirror is disclosed which serves as the basic element for constructing an optical router switch array in free space as well as waveguide format. The optical router switch array includes a plurality of switchable liquid crystal mirror elements having liquid crystal arranged in stack cells and/or in a waveguide configuration. The resulted optical router switches are motionless, polarization insensitive, stable within the operational spectral region, and stable versus temperature. The invention also includes methods for manufacturing a single switchable liquid crystal mirror element and the optical switch arrays. The same technology is further extended to constructing an electrically tunable optical filter that is motionless and polarization insensitive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kent Optronics Inc.
    Inventors: Zhan Chen, Le Li
  • Patent number: 6864931
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods of building rigid or flexible arrays of electro-optic devices. A phase separated composite structure technique yields adjacent regions of polymer and liquid crystal (LC) of specific architecture instead of a random dispersion of LC droplets. The above devices can be prepared by producing volutes of LC structure (56) next to a polymer area (58) using anisotropic phase separation of LC from a photopolymer. Initial by UV exposure. The shape, size and placement of these regions inside a cell becomes easily controllable with using optical mask or laser beam. The boundaries of LC volume can be controlled by controlling the chemical composition of the polymer and using an alignment layer (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Kent State University
    Inventors: Satyendra Kumar, Jae-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 6844909
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ferrodielectric liquid crystal display device includes the steps of injecting melted ferrodielectric liquid crystal in a cell formed between a lower structure body and an upper structure body each having a substrate, an electrode layer, and an orientation film and sealing the cell; cooling to obtain phase transitions of the ferrodielectric liquid crystal corresponding to a bookshelf structure; applying dc potentials to the electrode layers at temperature ranging from temperatures higher than phase transition temperatures to temperatures lower than phase transition temperatures, stopping the dc potential applications and cooling until below a predetermined temperature, and applying a reverse potential to the electrode layers and cooling again. The ferrodielectric liquid crystal display device produced by such a manufacturing method can display clear black-and-white states with the liquid crystal layers having a mono domain of the bookshelf structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-min Wang, Chang-ju Kim
  • Patent number: 6674506
    Abstract: An apparatus introduces fluid in vias formed in an LCD element free of voids or air bubbles in the fluid material. A support base secures the LCD element in place during fluid flow from a fluid dispenser positioned proximate to the LCD element. Fluid flow is facilitated by thermal energy from a heating element arranged in thermal contact with the support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Fallon, Charles F. Scaglione
  • Patent number: 6573879
    Abstract: A plasma-addressed liquid crystal display device capable of high-speed drive and improved viewing characteristic is composed of a liquid crystal cell structure and plasma cell structure stacked with each other. The liquid crystal cell structure is formed by sandwiching a liquid crystal having a spontaneous polarization between a first transparent substrate having therein transparent electrode stripes and an alignment film covering the electrode stripes, and a dielectric sheet having thereon an alignment film. The plasma cell structure is formed of a second transparent substrate having thereon cathode stripes and anode stripes disposed alternately with a spacing therebetween, stacked via stripe-shaped partitions disposed along the anode stripes onto the dielectric sheet so as to form plasma channels between the partitions filled with an ionizable gas sealed up therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Taniguchi, Akira Tsuboyama
  • Patent number: 6545738
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device wherein two domains are provided within each pixel cell so as to prevent flicker and to widen a viewing angle. In the liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on a first substrate in such a manner to be divided into at least two electrodes. An alignment film is coated on the first substrate provided with the common electrode and a second substrate. A ferroelectric liquid crystal layer is injected between the first substrate and the second substrate to form at least two domains having a liquid crystal alignment state opposed to each other on a basis of a dividing line of the common electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyeon Ho Son, Su Seok Choi, Jong Jin Park
  • Patent number: 6490022
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (20) comprises two transparent substrates (1, 2) which are joined to each other via a sealing member (3) so as to form a gap therebetween, and a liquid crystal layer (21) which is sealed in the gap and formed of a polymer dispersion liquid crystal or polymer network liquid crystal. There are provided barriers (16) in the vicinity of both ends of a side (3a) of each seal (3) between the transparent substrates (1, 2) where the pouring port (5) is provided, for preventing the liquid crystal material from turning around into terminal areas (14) when the liquid crystal material is poured from the poring hole (5) into the gap (4), wherein an adhesive force between the barriers (16) and at least one of the transparent substrates (1, 2) is weaker than that between the seal (3) and the transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Hoshino
  • Patent number: 6417908
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal light modulating element comprising a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal modulating layer interposed between the substrates. The liquid crystal modulating layer mainly comprises (1) a liquid crystal material for light modulation, (2) a plurality of spacers for maintaining a gap between the substrates, and (3) a plurality of resin structural nodules for supporting and adhering said pair of substrates. The resin structural nodules are arranged within a light modulating region based on a predetermined principle or a predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nishiguchi, Masakazu Okada, Kiyofumi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20010019393
    Abstract: In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a ferroelectric LC layer is formed between first and second substrates of a LC panel. The LC panel is cooled at a low temperature, for example at −20° C., where the ferroelectric LC maintains a smetic phase. Due to the cooling, molecules are uniformly aligned for their early alignment state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Suk-Won Choi, Su-Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 6226061
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is composed of (1) an LCD element having (i) a glass substrate on which a flat portion including pixel electrodes and a flat portion including switching elements, wires, and the like are laminated with interlayer insulating films therebetween, each interlayer insulating film being an organic film with an optical transmittance of not less than 95 percent with respect to light with a peak wavelength and (ii) a liquid crystal layer made of liquid crystal whose refractive index anisotropy &Dgr;n(450) with respect to light with a wavelength of 450 nm and whose refractive index anisotropy &Dgr;n(650) with respect to light with a wavelength of 650 nm satisfy a condition that a difference &Dgr;n(450)−&Dgr;n(650) between them is set so as to be in a range of 0 to 0.01, and (2) a phase difference plate whose refractive index anisotropy is negative (na=nc>nb) and whose index ellipsoids are inclined substantially throughout the phase difference plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunobu Tagusa
  • Patent number: 6151096
    Abstract: A mixture of a ferroelectric or anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal material and a monomer having a single photopolymeric functional group is injected in the space between two electrode substrates while heat is applied. After cooling of the mixture it is irradiated with ultraviolet light at a temperature at which the liquid crystal material remains in the smectic phase so as to polymerise the monomer. Areas of liquid crystal material requiring different threshold voltages for switching are thereby produced. Alternatively such areas can be produced by changing the conditions applied to a mixture of liquid crystal material with a suitable dopant so as to cause separation of the dopant out of the liquid crystal material in order to provide a polarity of nucleation points for controlling domain formation within the liquid crystal material. Such control of domain formation can be used to provide greyscale in a liquid crystal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Damien Gerard McDonnell, John Clifford Jones, Teiyu Sako, Aya Miyazaki, Akira Sakaigawa, Mitsuhiro Koden, Paul Antony Gass, Michael John Towler
  • Patent number: 6118512
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display element is provided with the steps of: arranging a pair of insulating substrates face to face with each other and bonding them to each other, each of the insulating substrates having electrodes formed thereon with an alignment film formed in a manner so as to cover the electrodes; and filling the gap between the two substrates with a mixture that is made by mixing a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) composition with isotropic micro structural elements that locally give different threshold-value characteristics to liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal composition. With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal layer in which the isotropic micro structural elements are formed into a striped organization with the isotropic micro structural elements being sandwiched between smectic layers of the FLC composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Sakaigawa, Kazuyuki Kishimoto, Mitsuhiro Koden, Teiyu Sako
  • Patent number: 6069675
    Abstract: In an LCD, there is used a GH-mode liquid crystal of which change in transmittivity due to variation in gap thickness is less than that of the conventional TN liquid crystal. A tablet facility is directly arranged or electrodes having the function of the tablet are formed over or below the liquid crystal. Thanks to the structure, this protection plate conventionally required to prevent the change in gap thickness resulting due to pressure of a pen input device applied to the LCD can be eliminated. Consequently, it is possible to reduce weight, volume, and parallax of the LCD. An active matrix LCD with integrated table-type input device is attainable in a simple configuration without increasing weight and volume thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Eishi Mizobata, Naoyasu Ikeda, Yoshihiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 6046791
    Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal electro-optical device comprising a liquid crystal polymer complex layer having a liquid crystal and a polymer, wherein said liquid crystal and said polymer are aligned in the same direction when no electric field is applied, and an electrode structure formed on each side of said liquid crystal polymer complex layer for applying an electric field to said liquid crystal polymer complex layer to align said liquid crystal along the electric field so as to render said liquid crystal polymer complex layer in a light-scattering state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kobayashi, Shuhei Yamada
  • Patent number: 6038009
    Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device is described. The device has a pair of substrates having at least an electrode film and an alignment film, and a complex made of a ferroelectric liquid crystal material and a polymer material disposed between the substrates. The complex has a network structure such that the network structure stabilizes the orientation of molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material. Directions of pretilt angles of the molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material located at interfaces between the substrates and the ferroelectric liquid crystal material are substantially identical. The ferroelectric liquid crystal material has a chevron layer structure, and a bending direction of the chevron layer structure is substantially identical to the directions of the pretilt angles of the molecules at the interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Aya Miyazaki, Mitsuhiro Koden, Paul Antony Gass
  • Patent number: RE41678
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is constructed such that a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between an upper substrate, which is provided with upper transparent electrodes for forming pixels, and a lower substrate, which is provided with lower transparent electrodes disposed so as to intersect with the upper transparent electrodes. The liquid crystal panel includes a half reflection layer having a reflection function and a transmission function which is formed on the inner surface of the lower substrate as a lower layer of the lower transparent electrodes; an upper retardation film, an upper polarizing plate, and a light diffusing plate which are laminated on the upper substrate; and a lower retardation film and a lower polarizing plate, which are laminated on the surface of the lower substrate. Due to such a construction, the half reflection type liquid crystal display device is capable of providing an image display of high brightness and high contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichirou Kubo, Yoshikuni Nagashima, Masaru Suzuki, Terunori Saitou