Abstract: A novel liquid crystal display apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates which are provided in mutually opposed manner and which has an electrode in at least either thereof, and a liquid crystal material supported between the pair of substrates; a first polarizing film disposed outside the liquid crystal cell; and at least an in-cell optical compensation film disposed between the pair of substrates, with plural domains per a pixel having a different mean alignment direction each other.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal display panel, which includes a pair of substrates, liquid crystal sandwiched between the substrates, a plurality of sub pixels, each sub pixel including a transmissive portion and a reflective portion, a light blocking film formed on one of the substrates, color filters formed on the one substrate, a leveling film formed on the light blocking film and the color filters, an orientation film formed on the leveling film, a retardation film formed on the orientation film at portions corresponding to the reflective portions of the respective sub pixels, and a protective film formed on the retardation film. The orientation film extends at least from the reflective portion to the transmissive portion, the protective film covers the retardation film and a region of the orientation film, the region of the orientation film is a region where the retardation film is not formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device comprising at least: a backlight; a polarizer; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 210 to 300 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a second optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a third optically anisotropic layer with negative optical anisotropy; a liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates; a fourth optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 210 to 300 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the second optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure.

Abstract: A light path shift device is disclosed that is able to divide an effective region of a light path and drive the divided regions independently. The light path shift device includes a liquid crystal layer held between at least two opposite transparent substrates, the liquid crystal layer being homeotropically aligned and being able to form a chiral smectic C phase; and plural electrodes for applying an electric field in the liquid crystal layer in a horizontal direction. An effective region of the liquid crystal layer through which a light path passes is divided into plural sub-regions, plural light path shift elements with the electrodes formed thereon are stacked only at positions corresponding to the sub-regions, and are arranged so that boundary lines of the sub-regions are in agreement when being viewed along the direction of light propagation.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal cell including a liquid crystal layer twist-aligned at 90° sandwiched between a pair of substrates, first and second polarizing layers arranged to sandwich the liquid crystal cell therebetween so that their absorption axes set to parallel with directions crossing aligning treatment directions of the substrates at 45°, and viewing angle compensating plates respectively arranged between the polarizing layers and the liquid crystal cell. A total value of retardations in a thickness direction, defined as a value of a product of a phase difference within a plane perpendicular to substrate surfaces of the liquid crystal cell and a layer thickness, of optical layers present between the polarizing layers is set to a value that substantially cancels out a retardation in a liquid crystal layer thickness direction when a saturation voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: An electro-optical projection system includes a polarizer, a reflective light modulator, an analyzer, and a compensation element. The polarizer polarizes an illumination beam to form a polarized illumination beam. The reflective light modulator receives the polarized illumination beam along a first optical path, modulates the polarized illumination beam to form an imaging beam, and reflects the imaging beam along a second optical path. The compensation element is disposed in the polarized illumination beam and the imaging beam to compensate for polarization aberrations resulting from the birefringent property of the material of the reflective light modulator. The compensation plate has a retardation generally equal in magnitude and opposite in sign as compared to the retardation of the liquid crystal material of the reflective light modulator.

Abstract: A composition comprising at least one liquid-crystal compound and a polymer having at least one group of the following formula: wherein Mp represents a trivalent linking group; L represents a single bond, or a divalent linking group; X represents a substituted or unsubstituted cyclic linking group; Y represents a single bond, or a divalent linking group; Z represents a substituted or unsubstituted cyclic group; n is 1 to 10.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates; a partition wall member that partitions a region sandwiched between the pair of substrates to provide reflective display regions and transmissive display regions; a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of pixel regions, each of the pixel regions having each of the reflective display regions and each of the transmissive display regions; and a first liquid crystal layer made of a first liquid crystal and a second crystal layer made of a second liquid crystal, the first and the second liquid crystal layers, respectively, being enclosed in the reflective display region and the transmissive display region, respectively, partitioned by the partition wall member so as to sandwich the first and the second liquid crystal layers between the pair of substrates, wherein a phase difference value of reflected light in the first liquid crystal layer is approximately equal to a phase difference value of transmitted light in the second liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A projection system includes an image-forming device and a polarizing beamsplitter. Illumination light illuminates the image-forming device via the first polarizing beamsplitter. A retardation element is disposed between the image-forming device and the polarizing beamsplitter. A bias controller applies a bias to pixels of the image-forming device in the dark state so as to substantially maximize contrast in image light reflected from image-forming device. In some arrangements, the volume between the polarizing beamsplitter and the image-forming device is sealed, with the retarding element being disposed within the sealed volume and being attached to either the polarizing beamsplitter or the image-forming device.

Abstract: The present invention can provide an optical film suitable for a liquid crystal display apparatus providing colorless neutral display in all azimuth angle directions, a liquid crystal panel employing the optical film, and a liquid crystal display apparatus employing the liquid crystal panel. The optical film of the present invention includes a first transparent protective film, a polarizer, a second transparent protective film, and a birefringent layer having a relationship of nx>ny=nz and positive uniaxial property in the stated order, in which the second transparent protective film has a thickness direction retardation (Rth) represented by the formula Rth=(nx?nz)×d of 10 nm or less.

Abstract: A retardation layer that includes regions causing different retardations can be manufactured easily. A retardation substrate includes a substrate and a solidified liquid crystal layer supported by the substrate. The solidified liquid crystal layer includes first to third regions. The first to third regions re arranged on the substrate and different in degree of orientation of mesogens.

Abstract: An athermalized birefringent filter for shifts in center wavelength and in bandwidth incorporates fixed retarder elements such as quartz or film retarders, along with electrically-variable retarder elements such as liquid crystal variable retarder cells. A control mechanism determines the amount of thermal drift in the fixed retarder element and produces an equal change in the variable retarder element. The sign of the change depends on whether the variable retarder element adds its retardance with that of the fixed retarder element, or opposes it. This change compensates for the thermal drift of the fixed retarder element. Further, the variable retarder element is constructed to provide the necessary range of retardance adjustment for spectral tuning and thermal compensation over a target thermal range. The control mechanism ensures that, for any specified wavelength, the birefringent filter operates in the same order over the full target thermal range.

Abstract: An optical compensation sheet having, on a transparent support, an optically anisotropic layer comprising a liquid crystalline compound fixed by using a photo-polymerization initiator system, wherein the photo-polymerization initiator system comprises at least one acylphosphine compound and at least one aromatic ketone compound selected from the group consisting of xanthene compounds, xanthone compounds, thioxanthone compounds and acridone compounds, which has less coloring and can be produced with less-power UV light, is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are an optical compensator element, which can realize switching between a wide angle of visibility and a narrow angle of visibility through a simple operation, and a liquid crystal display using the same. An optical compensation layer 4B? comprising, for example, a liquid crystal material having positive dielectric anisotropy sealed between two substrates comprising a transparent electrode and an aligning film stacked on top of each other is provided. An optical compensation layer 4A as a negative C plate and the optical compensation layer 4B? are stacked in that order on a homeotropically aligned liquid crystal cell 2A to constitute a liquid crystal display 1. Upon the application of voltage to the optical compensation layer 4B?, a narrow angle of visibility is provided, while, when no voltage is applied, a wide angle of visibility is provided.

Abstract: An optical compensation film is provided and has a cellulose acylate film coated with an optically anisotropic layer containing a liquid crystalline compound, cellulose having a glucose unit, a hydroxyl group of the glucose unit being substituted with an acyl group having at least two carbon atoms. The cellulose acylate film satisfies relationships specified in the specification.

Abstract: A process of producing an optical compensation sheet is provided, which comprises applying a solution comprising a liquid crystalline compound and a photo-polymerization initiator on a transparent support, drying the solution at a drying temperature which satisfies the following formula (1) to align the liquid crystalline compound, and then fixing the liquid crystalline compound by light irradiation to form an optical anisotropic layer: T?0.0014×Ecoh?65 ??(1) wherein T represents drying temperature(° C.), Ecoh represents condensation energy (J/mol) of the photo-polymerization initiator, by which an optical compensation sheet of stable optical characteristics can be obtained by using an essentially needed amount of photo-polymerization initiator for the photo-polymerization reaction. By the process of the present invention, the staining of the production facility of the optical compensation sheet derived from vaporization of photo-polymerization initiator can be reduced.

Abstract: A novel liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, liquid crystal held between the first substrate and the second substrate, patterned layers divided into fine areas, disposed on the first substrate, comprising at least a patterned color filter layer and a patterned first optically anisotropic layer laminated in the direction of the normal line of the substrate, and a barrier wall disposed at a boundary portion of the adjacent fine areas of the patterned layers.

Abstract: There are provided a polarizing plate laminated with a retardation layer, a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal display apparatus each being excellent in screen contrast and being capable of suppressing display unevenness occurring in high-temperature environment. The polarizing plate laminated with a retardation layer includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, a retardation layer including a resin layer and an inclined alignment layer and a polarizer, in this order.

Abstract: A method for producing a polarizing film of the present invention comprises a step (1) of preparing a lyotropic liquid crystalline solution having electric conductivity of not more than 50 ?S/cm (expressed in terms of 0.05% by weight) and containing a dichroic dye and a solvent, a step (2) of preparing a base material having at least one surface subjected to a hydrophilization treatment, and a step (3) of coating the solution prepared in the step (1) on the hydrophilized surface of the base material prepared in the step (2) at a coating rate of not less than 100 mm/second, and drying the solution. The method of the present invention can easily produce a polarizing film having a high dichroic ratio.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tunable terahertz (THz) wavelength selector device, which includes a fixed phase retarder, a tunable phase retarder and a pair of linear polarizers to form a unit. The fixed phase retarder and tunable phase retarder basically utilizes liquid crystals to provide phase retardation, moreover, utilizing birefringence phenomenon possessed by liquid crystals can provide adequate phase retardation. The fixed phase retarder utilizes horizontal orientation of liquid crystal cell to provide fixed phase retardation, while the tunable phase retarder however utilizes homeotropic liquid crystal cell and a rotatable magnet to provide a tunable phase retardation, wherein the tunable phase retarder can provide the positive or negative phase retardation relative to the fixed phase retarder, based on the direction of the magnet's rotating axes and totally use the entire tunable range into adjusting frequencies which can pass through.

Abstract: An optical compensation film capable of contributing to improvement in a viewing angle characteristic of a liquid crystal display device, especially an IPS mode liquid crystal display device is proposed. A composition comprises at least one onium salt, at least one rod-like liquid crystalline compound, and at least one additive capable of promoting a vertical alignment of molecules of the rod-like liquid crystalline compound at an air interface; and an optical compensation film comprising an optically anisotropic layer formed of the composition are disclosed.

Abstract: A novel cellulose acylate composition is disclosed. The composition comprises at least one cellulose acylate having an aromatic group-containing acyl group (Substituent A), in which a substitution degree with Substituent A satisfies following relational expressions (I) and (II): DSA2+DSA3?DSA6>0.05,??(I) 0.11<DSA2+DSA3+DSA6<0.71,??(II) wherein DSA2, DSA3 and DSA6 each indicate a substitution degree with Substituent A at the 2-, 3- and 6-positions of the cellulose acylate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel and a viewing angle control panel. The viewing angle control panel includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates, and a pair of electrodes for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is composed from hybrid-aligned liquid crystal molecules. The viewing angle of the display panel is controlled by changing an alignment state of the hybrid-aligned liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer by voltage applied by the electrodes.

Abstract: The invention has for its object the provision of a phase difference control component that, albeit comprising a phase difference control layer formed of a polymerizable liquid crystal, enables a given spacing to be maintained between opposite substrates, etc. A phase difference control component 1 comprises a multilayer structure wherein a phase difference control layer 3 formed of a liquid crystal polymer is stacked on a substrate 2, and a plurality of prismatic, cylindrical or other columns is provided on the phase difference control layer 3. The columns are formed of a material obtained by curing an ionizing radiation-curable resin composition. With the multilayer structure, the object of the invention can be accomplished. A black matrix, a color filter layer or the like may be interposed between substrate 2 and phase difference control layer 3, and an electrode and an alignment film may be provided on the phase difference control layer.

Abstract: A phase difference compensation layer is positioned between first and second protection films. Discotic liquid crystals of the phase difference compensation layer are tilted relative to a first protection film. The phase difference compensation film further includes an alignment layer formed on the first and the second protection films. The alignment layer substantially aligns the discotic liquid crystals in one direction. The first and the second protection films have a phase axis forming an angle of about 45° relative to an alignment direction of the discotic liquid crystals respectively. The display panel assembly includes a display panel, a lower phase difference compensation film and an upper phase difference compensation film. Therefore, the protection film protects and substantially aligns the discotic liquid crystals in uniform direction.

Abstract: A pixel structure for being driven by a scan line and a data line is provided. The pixel structure includes an active device, a pixel electrode, an insulating layer, and a transition electrode. The active device is electrically connected to the scan line and the data line. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the active device. The insulating layer is disposed over the scan line, the data line, and the pixel electrode. The transition electrode is disposed on the insulating layer, and a transverse electric field is produced between the transition electrode and the pixel electrode.

Abstract: This invention offers a liquid crystal display device with which each of a plurality of observers can visually recognize each of two different images displayed on a single liquid crystal display panel respectively. The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a light source for backlighting, a first polarizing plate to extract linearly polarized light from the light source for backlighting, a polarization control LCD composed of a liquid crystal layer divided into a plurality of columns and controlling an optical retardation of each of the plurality of columns, lenticular lenses disposed along the columns, a first retardation plate in which a row having a first optical retardation and a row having another optical retardation that is different from the first optical retardation are disposed alternately, a display LCD and a second and a third polarizing plates between which the display LCD is interposed.

Abstract: A color filter substrate C includes an orientation film 56 provided on one surface of another glass substrate 10 and an optical compensation layer 35 provided on the other surface of the glass substrate 10 and formed from a plastic film. The two substrates are disposed such that the orientation films thereof oppose each other, and polarization plates 34 and 5 are disposed on the outer sides of the two substrates, and a liquid crystal layer 4 having a positive refractive index anisotropy is provided between the orientation films 23. The optical compensation layer 35 has a negative one axial refractive index anisotropy and can cancel a retardation produced in the liquid crystal layer 4 thereby to suppress white floating of a black display portion.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of electrically controlled birefringence mode includes the combination of a liquid crystal cell having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates, and a hybrid retardation layer in which liquid crystal molecules are hybrid-aligned, and the hybrid retardation layer is formed by deposition at the liquid crystal layer side on one substrate of the pair of substrates.

Abstract: The invention provides a viewing angle control element capable of realizing high information concealment without damaging brightness of transmitted light and dynamically changing a viewing angle in accordance with need or no need of information concealment. The viewing angle control element according to the invention can include liquid crystal twist-aligned by approximately 180°, and have a liquid crystal layer being electrically controllable and a pair of polarizing layers provided at both sides of the liquid crystal layer. Optical axes of both polarizing layers can be arranged to be substantially parallel to each other, and liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer adjacent to the polarizing layers can be aligned to be substantially parallel to the optical axes of the polarizing layers.

Abstract: A process of readily producing a patterned birefringent product excellent in resolution and heat-resistance is provided. Said process comprises at least the following steps [1] to [3] in order: [1] preparing a birefringence pattern builder which comprises an optically anisotropic layer comprising a polymer, and said optically anisotropic layer has a retardation disappearance temperature in the range higher than 20° C., at said retardation disappearance temperature in-plane retardation becomes 30% or lower of the retardation at 20° C. of the same optically anisotropic layer, and said retardation disappearance temperature rises by light exposure; [2] subjecting the birefringence pattern builder to patterned light exposure; [3] heating the laminated structure obtained after the step [2] at 50° C. or higher and 400° C. or lower.

Abstract: An optical film including a substrate having an aligned surface or an alignment layer thereon, a first liquid crystal layer disposed on the aligned surface of the substrate or a surface of the alignment layer, and a second liquid crystal layer disposed on a surface of the first liquid crystal layer to form a multi-layer including the first and the second liquid crystal layers is provided. A method of manufacturing the optical film is also provided, including providing a substrate; performing an alignment treatment on the surface thereof or forming an alignment layer thereon; coating a first liquid crystal layer on the aligned surface of the substrate or the surface of the alignment layer; performing a first curing step; coating a second alignment layer on a surface of the first liquid crystal layer; and performing a second curing step to form a multi-layer including the aforesaid liquid crystal layers.

Abstract: Display apparatuses are provided that includes a light source, a first liquid crystal display on the light source, and a second liquid crystal display on the first liquid crystal display. The first liquid crystal display is configured to allow a variable amount of light transmission based on a first control signal. The second liquid crystal display is configured to allow a variable amount of light transmission based on a second control signal.

Abstract: A compensator element for a liquid crystal display is provided comprising at least one layer of negative biaxial burefringement material formed by at least one polycyclic organic compound.

Abstract: A film sheet which has a polymer layer formed of a coating solution is drawn from a balk roll and transported toward a rubbing apparatus. Thereby, first and second blowers sequentially disposed respectively apply to the polymer layer an air of temperature 45±2° C. and humidity 50%–60%, and an air of temperature 25±1° C. and humidity 30%–35%. Thus, damages which occurred in transporting and rolling the film sheet are removed. Thereafter, a rubbing action is performed to the film sheet such that the polymer layer has alignment. Then a liquid crystal layer is formed on the polymer layer, to obtain an optical compensation film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a DSTN display with electromagnetic protection, comprising an active cell (1) and a passive cell (2), whereby the active cell (1) comprises electrodes (12, 13) and the passive cell (2) faces an observer of the display. The passive cell (2) comprises a metallic transparent layer (18, 19). Said metallic layer (18, 19) is electrically connected to a ground potential (G).

Abstract: An electro-optical projection system includes a polarizer, a reflective light modulator, an analyzer, and a compensation element. The polarizer polarizes an illumination beam to form a polarized illumination beam. The reflective light modulator receives the polarized illumination beam along a first optical path, modulates the polarized illumination beam to form an imaging beam, and reflects the imaging beam along a second optical path. The compensation element is disposed in the polarized illumination beam and the imaging beam to compensate for polarization aberrations resulting from the birefringent property of the material of the reflective light modulator. The compensation plate has a retardation generally equal in magnitude and opposite in sign as compared to the retardation of the liquid crystal material of the reflective light modulator.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a cellulose ester film, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer formed of liquid crystal molecules in this order. Alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is fixed. An alkaline solution is coated on a surface of the cellulose ester film to saponify the surface. The saponified surface is coated with a coating solution of the orientation layer.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display panel by which a good display characteristic can be obtained without suffering from gradation reversal over a wide visibility angle range. A liquid crystal layer 4 is formed such that the thickness thereof varies in accordance with transmission wavelengths of color layers 6, 7 and 8 so that a very good display which does not exhibit any coloring in whichever direction it is viewed may be obtained. An active matrix substrate A includes a plurality of opposing electrodes 2, a plurality of pixel electrodes 3 parallel to the opposing electrodes 2, a thin film transistor, and an orientation film 23 all formed on a glass substrate 10. A color filter substrate C includes an orientation film 56 provided on one surface of another glass substrate 10 and an optical compensation layer 35 provided on the other surface of the glass substrate 10 and formed from a plastic film.

Abstract: A projection device includes on a chassis a liquid crystal panel for irradiation with light from a light source, a polarizing plate opposing the liquid crystal panel, and an optical compensation sheet provided between the liquid crystal panel and the polarizing plate, for compensating a twist angle of polarized light. The optical compensation sheet is attached to a rotational adjusting mechanism provided on the chassis so that it can be rotatively adjusted within a plane perpendicular to an optical axis L.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal cell, a liquid crystalline substance layer, a pair of polarizers, and an optical compensation element. The twist angle of the liquid crystal cell is set to 180 to 270 degrees. The optical compensation element has a twisted structure twisted in the opposite direction to that of the liquid crystal cell. The difference in the absolute values of the twist angles between the liquid crystal cell and the optical compensation element is from 40 to 100 degrees. The difference in retardation at a wavelength ?=550 nm between the liquid crystal cell and the optical compensation element is from 100 to 250 nm. When the absolute values of the differences in retardation at wavelengths ? of 400 nm and 550 nm between the liquid crystal cell and the optical compensation element are represented by ?R(400) and ?R(550), respectively, and the ratio D therebetween is represented by D=?R(400)/?R(550), D is within the range of 0.5 to 1.0.

Abstract: An electrically drivable light modulator having liquid crystal layers, which are disposed one behind the other and are enclosed between transparent plates having a surface anisotropy that orients the molecules of the liquid crystals and having electrodes for generating an electric field in the liquid crystals, at least two layers of helical, smectic, ferroelectric liquid crystals are situated one behind the other in the path of rays of a light beam to be modulated. The directions of the fast and slow axes of the individual layers are rotated relatively to each other so that the polarization of the light beam is the same upstream and downstream from the modulator. An adaptive, optical device has a field of light modulators configured in a raster-type array, in which the modulators are situated in the path of rays of the device, each individual light modulator being able to be driven to compensate for unsharpness occurring on a point-by-point basis in an image to be processed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical compensator for liquid crystal displays comprising: at least one O plate retarder (3, 3?), and at least one twisted A plate retarder (6, 6?) with a twist angle ? of more than 90°, and further relates to a liquid crystal display comprising such a compensator, a liquid crystal cell (1) and polarizers (2, 2?).

Abstract: A liquid display device of D-STN mode capable of suppressing a line-shaped ununiformity of brightness in displaying a dark appearance is presented. A displaying cell 1 and a compensation cell 21 are formed so that there is a difference of thickness of at least 0.05 mm between the thickness of a glass substrate 2 at a front side of the displaying cell 1 and the thickness of a glass substrate at a rear side of the compensation cell 21. The displaying cell 1 and the compensation cell 21 are arranged between a first polarizing plate 32 and a second polarizing plate 33. A backlight 31 is of a type emitting light whose half value width with respect to the peak luminance is at least 5 nm.

Abstract: A high aperture ratio emissive tiled display comprised of a plurality of tiles including a substrate with discrete layers of integrated drive circuits, thin film transistors, circuit conductor layer and light-emitting pixel array wherein all the electronic circuitry is contained under the pixel array. Vertical interconnects are made between the drive circuits, circuits and pixel electrodes, as necessary, and can include vertical interconnections through the substrate. Large flat panel displays including at least two of said tiles are aligned to maintain pixel pitch from one tile to another to produce a seamless image.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display panel by which a good display characteristic can be obtained without suffering from gradation reversal over a wide visibility angle range. A liquid crystal layer 4 is formed such that the thickness thereof varies in accordance with transmission wavelengths of color layers 6, 7 and 8 so that a very good display which does not exhibit any coloring in whichever direction it is viewed may be obtained. An active matrix substrate A includes a plurality of opposing electrodes 2, a plurality of pixel electrodes 3 parallel to the opposing electrodes 2, a thin film transistor, and an orientation film 23 all formed on a glass substrate 10. A color filter substrate C includes an orientation film 56 provided on one surface of another glass substrate 10 and an optical compensation layer 35 provided on the other surface of the glass substrate 10 and formed from a plastic film.

Abstract: Electrooptic devices (100, 600, 700) include a left handed (102, 708) and right handed (104, 710) cholesteric phase liquid crystal layers. Electrodes (120, 122, 124, 126, 602, 604) or magnetic coils (704, 706) are used to apply electric or magnetic fields perpendicular to helical axes of the cholesteric phase liquid crystal layers. The fields lengthen the helical pitch of the liquid crystal layers thereby shifting the reflectance of the liquid crystal layers to longer wavelengths. Spectral reflectance of both left and right hand polarized light is controlled by the electrooptic devices.

Abstract: The present invention features a series of techniques for designing and assembling of large, robust monolithic and monolithic-like flat panel displays. Many techniques originally developed for creating tiled, flat-panel displays having visually imperceptible seams may be advantageously applied to monolithic structures. These techniques include single-sided wiring, two-sided wiring from opposite sides, segmented row and column lines, and reordering row and column lines in fan-out region. Single-sided wiring facilitates the construction of displays with small outlines. By using these techniques, display sharpness and contrast may be improved. In addition, color and luminance balance and uniformity across the display may also be improved.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes at least two liquid crystal display units that are stacked up one another. Each liquid crystal display unit comprises, from top to bottom, a first polarizer, a first substrate, a first pile layer, a liquid crystal layer, a second pile layer, a second substrate, and a second polarizer. The liquid crystal layer has a twist angle of zero or greater than zero. All of the first polarizer, the first substrate, the first pile layer, the liquid crystal layer, the second pile layer, the second substrate, and the second polarizer in each said liquid crystal display unit are adhered to each other by means of whole-face bonding by transparent or non-transparent glue. Alternatively, all of the first polarizer, the first substrate, the first pile layer, the liquid crystal layer, the second pile layer, the second substrate, and the second polarizer in each said liquid crystal display unit are adhered to each other by means of peripheral-bonding by transparent or non-transparent glue.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal lightvalve for modulating the polarization of incident light within a specified band of wavelengths into on and off states, comprises: (i) a pixelated reflective backplane; (ii) a first liquid crystal layer, positioned proximate the pixelated reflective backplane, the first liquid crystal layer being tuned in the off state to switch incident light at the center of the specified band of wavelengths into a state that is not fully off; and (iii) a second liquid crystal layer, positioned proximate the first liquid crystal layer wherein the first liquid crystal layer is positioned between the second liquid crystal layer and the pixelated reflective backplane, the second liquid crystal layer having a birefringence which, at a given depth within its thickness, is substantially equal and opposite to a birefringence of a layer within the first liquid crystal layer that is located at a matching distance from a midplane separating the first and second liquid crystal layers.