Polymer Network Liquid Crystal Patents (Class 349/88)
  • Patent number: 8692969
    Abstract: The color filter may include a pixel unit having a plurality of sub-pixels of different colors, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels respectively include flat plate metal layers and a plurality of color PDLC layers on the flat plate metal layers, and the plurality of color PDLC layers each include a polymer, a plurality of liquid crystal drops dispersed in the polymer, and a plurality of color display materials mixed in the liquid crystal drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-eun Jang, Gae-hwang Lee, Kyu-young Hwang, Jae-eun Jung
  • Publication number: 20140049731
    Abstract: A horizontal electric field-type liquid crystal display (LCD) device is provided. The LCD device includes first and second substrates disposed opposite and apart from each other, a first electrode formed on an inner surface of the first substrate, a second electrode corresponding to the first electrode and configured to generate an electric field, and a liquid crystal (LC) layer formed between the first and second substrates, the LC layer including a polymer network and LC molecules confined in multiple domains by the polymer network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicants: Pusan National University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation, LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Il PARK, Sung-Gu KANG, Yu-Ri SHIM, Sun-Yong LEE, Tae-Hoon YOON, Byung-Wok PARK, Byeong-Hun YU, Dong-Han SONG, Sun-Wook CHOI
  • Patent number: 8654281
    Abstract: Liquid crystal cells and lenses having a variable resulting pre-tilt across two or more areas of the cell, and in particular, cells and lenses are provided wherein a resulting pre-tilt is varied across the cell according to any desired birefringence profile that can be utilized in liquid crystalline optical elements and liquid crystal displays. Methods of fabrication of the liquid crystal cells with variable resulting pre-tilt are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: California State University, Sacramento, Kent State University
    Inventors: Philip Bos, Vassili V. Sergan, Tatiana A. Sergan
  • Patent number: 8625055
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display device includes a substrate having a transmitting region interposed between pixel regions; thin film transistors on a first surface of the substrate; a passivation layer covering the thin film transistors; pixel electrodes on the passivation layer; an opposite electrode disposed to face the pixel electrodes; an organic emission layer between the pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode; a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) device disposed such that the thin film transistors are between the PDLC device and the passivation layer, the PDLC device having: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a PDLC layer in which liquid crystal is dispersed in polymer matrix. Distortion of images transmitted through the organic light emitting display device is prevented by restricting scattering of the transmitted light, the transmission of the external light may be adjusted simply, and degradation of the brightness and color coordinate reproduction may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-Jun Song, Jong-Hyuk Lee, Chang-Ho Lee, Il-Soo Oh, Hee-Jo Ko, Si-Jin Cho, Jin-Young Yun
  • Patent number: 8625054
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device includes a light source, a light guide, a light extraction unit, and a drive circuit. The light guide is configured to guide light emitted by the light source from one end side of the light guide toward one other end side of the light guide. The light extraction unit is provided on a surface of the light guide, and includes a liquid crystal dispersion layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The liquid crystal dispersion layer includes liquid crystal droplets, and the first and second electrodes are configured to cause an electric field to occur in the liquid crystal dispersion layer. The drive circuit is configured to apply a voltage between the electrodes. Liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal droplets are configured to have an orientation parallel to the surface of the light guide in the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yutaka Nakai, Tsuyoshi Hioki
  • Patent number: 8613985
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal/polymer complex includes a liquid crystal material, a polymer, and a chiral agent. The liquid crystal material exhibits blue phase and contains liquid crystal molecules that are spirally arranged to form liquid crystal molecular cylinders having a spiral arrangement. The polymer maintains the arrangement and has a dendrimer-type structure including a dendrimer unit and a polymerizable unit bonded to an end of the dendrimer unit. The dendrimer unit contains a central atom and at least two branched structures bonded to the central atom and has a generation of two or more. The polymerizable unit contains a polymerizable group which can bond to a polymerizable group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yukio Kizaki, Hajime Yamaguchi, Yuko Kizu, Masao Tanaka, Akiko Hirao
  • Publication number: 20130314628
    Abstract: A panel, a method of fabricating the panel, and a 3-dimensional (3D) image displayable system are provided. The panel includes first and second films disposed opposite each other, a polymer layer interposed between the first and second films, the polymer layer formed of a polymer having light alignment and light-curing characteristics, the polymer layer in which the polymer is arranged in one direction, and a plurality of liquid crystal (LC) droplets dispersed in the polymer layer. Each of the plurality of LC droplets includes a plurality of LC molecules, which are arranged in the same direction as the direction in which the polymer layer is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Woo PARK, Dong-Hoon LEE, Young-Bok LEE
  • Patent number: 8574454
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a photo-polymerized, patterned or unpatterned liquid crystal polymer, especially a liquid crystal polymer film or a liquid crystal polymer network, comprising thio-ether units of formula (I) * covalent bond, which links the unit of formula (I) to the residue of the polymer wherein LC1 is selected from the group of liquid crystal residues, X1 is selected from the group of aliphatic organic residues, and n1 is an integer ?0 and m1 is an integer ?0; with the proviso that if n1 is 0, then m1 is >0, and if m1 is 0, then n1>0; which is prepared in an atmosphere containing oxygen, preferably with an amount of 0.1?oxygen?50%, more preferably 1?oxygen?25%, most preferably in air; with the proviso that polymer dispersed liquid crystals are excluded. Further, this invention relates to a composition used for the preparation of that photo-polymerized liquid crystal polymer of the invention, to processes of the preparation of that liquid crystal polymer and to its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rolic AG
    Inventors: Thomas Bachels, Izabela Bury, Guy Marck, Hubert Seiberle, Peggy Studer, Stefano Tugulu
  • Patent number: 8570460
    Abstract: A liquid crystalline optical medium includes polymer stabilized liquid crystal material. The polymer stabilized liquid crystal material includes a short pitch cholesteric liquid crystal material stabilized by a polymer material. The effective phase retardation of the polarization independent liquid crystal optical medium can be controlled by external (for example, electric and magnetic) fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kent State University
    Inventors: Mingxia Gu, Liubov Kreminska, Andrii Golovin, Oleg D. Lavrentovich
  • Publication number: 20130278871
    Abstract: A display device having a plurality of pixel units and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The display device includes a first substrate assembly, a second substrate assembly, a liquid crystal mixture, and a pillared polymer network. The first substrate assembly includes a first substrate and a first electrode layer disposed on the first substrate. The second substrate assembly includes a second substrate. The liquid crystal mixture is disposed between the first and second substrate assemblies. The pillared polymer network is disposed between the first and second substrate assemblies and has a first end and second end. The first end abuts against the first substrate assembly and is disposed correspondingly to the first electrode layer. The second end abuts against the second substrate assembly. Each of the pixel units includes the pillared polymer network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: INNOLUX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chien-Hung Chen, Chuan-Chung Wang, Pi-Ying Chuang, Li-Chieh Hsu
  • Publication number: 20130278845
    Abstract: This disclosure features embedded electrooptical displays such as liquid crystal displays and methods of making the same. The displays are embedded in light curable material on one or both sides thereof. Processes for embedding the displays include injection molding and continuous roll-to-roll processing. The light curable material forms a protective covering over the display. Electrical interconnects connected to electrodes of the display can protrude from the protective layer. Once the display is embedded it can resist contact with moisture and mechanical damage. The protective layer can be clear or it can contain additives such as pigments or additives for UV protection. The embedded display with the protective layer may be molded into different shapes during the embedding process or thermoformed after the embedding process into different shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Kent Displays Incorporated
    Inventors: Oleg Pishnyak, Andrew DeMiglio, Tod Schneider, Donald Davis, Mathew Bowser, Erica Montbach
  • Patent number: 8564743
    Abstract: A reflective polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display device may include a plurality of first and second electrodes on the first and second substrates, the first and second substrates separate from each other, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) layer between the plurality of first and second electrodes, the PDLC layer including polymer, liquid crystal, and a chain transfer reagent, and a specular reflection plate on the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu-young Hwang, Gae-hwang Lee, Jae-eun Jung, Jae-eun Jang
  • Publication number: 20130258252
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a transparent liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof. By adding dichroic dyes and the dichroic dyes having characteristic of rotating with liquid crystal materials, light absorption ability of polymer network liquid crystals is increased. The present invention is capable of solving a problem which a dark state is not sufficiently dark, thus enhances contrast performance of the transparent liquid crystal display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: CHUNGHWA PICTURE TUBES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-sheng Hsieh, Jan-tien Lien, Chun-wei Su
  • Patent number: 8540543
    Abstract: The invention is a method for continuously manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel. In the method, the manufacturing step and the inspection step are performed on a continuous feeder. The inspection step includes applying a line-shaped light beam from one side with respect to the feeder to the liquid crystal display panel being fed; and imaging a region irradiated with the line-shaped light beam in the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the imaging is continuously performed in a line pattern parallel to a width direction of the feeder and performed at a position that is on another side with respect to the feeder and tilted at a predetermined angle to a feed direction of the feeder or a direction opposite thereto with respect to a direction in which the line-shaped light beam is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirata, Takuya Nakazono, Tomokazu Yura
  • Publication number: 20130242234
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there are disclosed a liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display device comprises: a color filter substrate, an array substrate and a liquid crystal composite system filled between the color filter substrate and the array substrate, wherein liquid crystals and a high molecular polymer network, which is formed by polymerization of liquid crystalline polymerizable monomers, are included in the liquid crystal composite system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Renwei Guo, Dong Chen
  • Patent number: 8537324
    Abstract: A color filter substrate includes: a base substrate; a light-shield layer and a color filter layer provided on the base substrate; a plurality of columnar spacers, made of a resin and provided to stick out of the base substrate; and an undercoat layer, provided between the columnar spacers and the base substrate. The color filter layer includes first, second, and third types of color filters, which transmit light rays in mutually different colors. The undercoat layer is made of the same film as one of the first, second and third types of color filters and the light-shield layer. A portion of the undercoat layer, associated with a first one of the columnar spacers, has a different area and/or shape from another portion of the undercoat layer, associated with a second one of the columnar spacers. The first and second columnar spacers have mutually different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihide Tsubata, Tsuyoshi Tokuda, Yuhko Hashimoto, Yoshinori Kinai, Masayuki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8537308
    Abstract: In a method of forming a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film, the presence of dichroic dye in a polymer may be prevented or reduced by diffusing dichroic dye into a PDLC layer, and a PDLC display device having improved visibility may be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu-young Hwang, Jae-eun Jang, Gae-hwang Lee, Jae-eun Jung
  • Patent number: 8537295
    Abstract: A method of switching an electrically actuated variable transmission layer is disclosed. The layer is between a first electrode and a second electrode, and when a sufficiently high frequency alternating electric field is applied between the first and second electrodes, a selective region of the layer in between the first and second electrodes is switched. Apparatus for use as a glazing pane having a sheet of glazing material and an electrically actuated variable transmission layer facing the sheet of glazing material is also disclosed. The layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode. There is an electric field generator in electrical communication with the electrodes and being configured to produce an alternating electric field of sufficient strength and of a sufficiently high frequency to switch a selected region of the layer in between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
    Inventor: Joseph Jeremy Boote
  • Patent number: 8531629
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a reflective display device includes a plurality of pixel units. Each of the plurality of pixel units may include a reflective plate having at least one concave reflective surface, a first electrode on the reflective plate, a second electrode separate from the first electrode, at least one light-absorbing member corresponding to the at least one concave reflective surface, and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal PDLC layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The PDLC layer includes a polymer and liquid crystals. The light-absorbing member may be at a focus position of the at least one concave reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gae-hwang Lee, Kyu-young Hwang, Jae-eun Jung
  • Patent number: 8508695
    Abstract: A polymer-dispersed liquid crystal system has a continuous polymer structure having defined therein a plurality of discrete bodies of liquid crystal material. The bodies of liquid crystal material exhibit a polydomain operating state in which the liquid crystal material within each body is arranged in multiple domains, each domain being defined by a quantity of liquid crystal material whose molecules have a substantially common identifiable alignment in at least one axis, wherein the resolved alignments of neighboring domains diverge substantially from one another and are stable over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Vlyte Innovations, Ltd
    Inventor: Donal O'Keeffe
  • Patent number: 8482682
    Abstract: A display system includes: a screen in which, in an area on which invisible light is incident, a scattering state where visible light is scattered and a transmission state where visible light is transmitted are switched; an image projection system to project an image of the visible light onto the screen; and an invisible light projection system to project the invisible light onto the screen and to cause an area of the screen onto which a desired portion of the image is projected to have the scattering state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Taisuke Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8456594
    Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal display device includes: a plurality of pixel units arranged two-dimensionally between two transparent substrates. Each of the plurality of pixel units includes a cholesteric liquid crystal layer having a single-layer structure. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer includes: a liquid crystal molecule; a chiral dopant; and an optically polymerizable polymer. The chiral dopant is mixed with the liquid crystal molecule to form a cholesteric phase and has a solubility that varies with respect to the liquid crystal molecule according to temperature. The optically polymerizable polymer is cured to fix a helix pitch of the cholesteric phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-eun Jang, Jae-eun Jung, Kyu-young Hwang, Jae-hoon Kim, Kwang-soo Bae
  • Patent number: 8456606
    Abstract: There are provided a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display not using a backlight unit and a method of fabricating the same. The PDLC display comprises a rear substrate over which a thin film transistor (TFT), a first electrode, and a second electrode are formed, a front substrate apart from the rear substrate and having a first black matrix formed thereon corresponding to a region where the TFT is formed, a PDLC layer disposed below the first black matrix and formed between the front and rear substrates, a light source formed on one side of the PDLC layer and configured to provide light to the side of the PDLC layer, and a first reflection plate formed on the other side of the PDLC layer and configured to reflect light incident via the PDLC layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinmog Kim, Hoansu Shim
  • Publication number: 20130114008
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, the liquid crystal layer comprising a nematic liquid crystal material and a polymer network. The polymer network is anchored to said first substrate and is configured to alternatingly induce splay deformation and bend deformation of the nematic liquid crystal material along a line parallel with the first substrate. Hereby, the relaxation time ?fall of the liquid crystal device is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Lachezar Komitov
    Inventors: Lachezar KOMITOV, Gurumurthy Hegde, Seung Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 8405799
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal composition which can suppress dependency of a driving voltage on a temperature by decreasing the driving voltage. To a low-molecular liquid crystal compound, a chiral compound, and a specific acrylate and a polymerizable liquid crystal compound as polymerizable acrylate compounds are added, to prepare a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal composition. By subjecting the polymer-stabilized liquid crystal composition to ultraviolet exposure while maintaining a desired alignment state to form a polymer chain in a liquid crystal phase, a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal display device containing a low-molecular liquid crystal in a stabilized alignment state is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: DIC Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fujisawa, Kiyofumi Takeuchi, Kazuaki Hatsusaka, Isa Nishiyama, Shunsuke Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20130070184
    Abstract: Disclosed is liquid crystal paper and an erasing device that is not permanently connected to the liquid crystal paper. A sheet of liquid crystal paper includes flexible polymeric substrates. A polymer network or a spacer network, in which bistable cholesteric reflective liquid crystal material is dispersed, is disposed between two of the substrates. Optional alignment layers or optional electrically conductive layers sandwich the liquid crystal material therebetween. An optional layer of light absorbing material is disposed near one of the substrates. Application of pressure to an upper substrate changes a focal conic nonreflective texture of the liquid crystal material to a reflective planar texture. The erasing device applies a voltage or heat for erasing the paper by changing the reflective planar texture to the focal conic nonreflective texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: KENT DISPLAYS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hunter MORRIS, Albert GREEN
  • Patent number: 8355099
    Abstract: A plasmonic display device is provided with liquid crystal dipole molecule control. The device is made from a first set of electrodes including at least one electrically conductive top electrode and at least one electrically conductive bottom electrode capable of generating a first electric field in a first direction. A second set of electrodes, including an electrically conductive right electrode and an electrically conductive left electrode, is capable of generating a second electric field in a second first direction. A dielectric layer overlies the bottom electrode, made from a liquid crystal material with molecules having dipoles responsive to an electric field. A plasmonic layer, including a plurality of discrete plasmonic particles, is interposed between the first and second set of electrodes and in contact with the dielectric layer. In one aspect, the plasmonic layer is embedded in the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Labortories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Tang, Akinori Hashimura, Jiandong Huang, Apostolos T. Voutsas
  • Patent number: 8339543
    Abstract: A plasmonic display device is provided having dual modulation mechanisms. The device has an electrically conductive bottom electrode that may be either transparent or reflective. A dielectric layer overlies the bottom electrode, made from an elastic polymer material having a refractive index responsive to an electric field. An electrically conductive top electrode, either transparent or reflective, overlies the dielectric layer. A plasmonic layer, including a plurality of discrete plasmonic particles, is interposed between the top and bottom electrodes and in contact with the dielectric layer. In one aspect, the plasmonic layer is embedded in the dielectric layer. Alternately, the plasmonic layer overlies the bottom (or top) electrode. Then, the dielectric layer overlies the plasmonic layer particles and exposed regions of the bottom electrode between the first plasmonic layer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Tang, Akinori Hashimura, Apostolos T. Voutsas
  • Patent number: 8330902
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display cell, comprising two transparent, equidistant plates, wherein the gap between the plates is filled with a liquid-crystal material-containing layer, characterized in that the liquid-crystal material-containing layer is inhomogeneous and anisotropic, wherein it has a first region made up of compartments, which comprise entirely, substantially or mainly liquid-crystal material, and a second, coherent region which comprises entirely, substantially or mainly an organic polymer material and surrounds the compartments made of liquid-crystal material. In addition, the invention relates to a liquid-crystal material-containing mixture which can be used to produce the layer between the plates, and to a method for producing the display cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Monika Bauer, Frank Kuschel, Joachim Mueller
  • Patent number: 8330709
    Abstract: An illuminating device capable of improving display luminance while decreasing light leakage in a range with a large view angle and a display unit are provided. In a light modulation device bonded to a light guide plate, a light modulation layer containing a bulk and microparticles is provided. Both the bulk and the microparticles have optical anisotropy, and each response speed to an electric field is different from each other. Thereby, by controlling the electric field, each optical axis orientation of the bulk and the microparticles is able to correspond with each other, or is able to be different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Tohoku University
    Inventors: Tatsuo Uchida, Takahiro Ishinabe, Tohru Kawakami, Kentaro Okuyama, Harumi Sato
  • Publication number: 20120307184
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal/polymer complex includes a liquid crystal material, a polymer, and a chiral agent. The liquid crystal material exhibits blue phase and contains liquid crystal molecules that are spirally arranged to form liquid crystal molecular cylinders having a spiral arrangement. The polymer maintains the arrangement and has a dendrimer-type structure including a dendrimer unit and a polymerizable unit bonded to an end of the dendrimer unit. The dendrimer unit contains a central atom and at least two branched structures bonded to the central atom and has a generation of two or more. The polymerizable unit contains a polymerizable group which can bond to a polymerizable group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Yukio KIZAKI, Hajime Yamaguchi, Yuko Kizu, Masao Tanaka, Akiko Hirao
  • Publication number: 20120287377
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device may include a first substrate having a reflective region and a transmissive region, a second substrate corresponding to the first substrate, a first liquid crystal structure disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate in the reflective region, the first liquid crystal structure including first polymer networks and first liquid crystal molecules, and a second liquid crystal structure disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate in the transmissive region, the second liquid crystal structure including second polymer networks and second liquid crystal molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Jae-Hyun KIM, Jae-Ik Lim, Jeong-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8310626
    Abstract: In the production method of the present invention, an emulsion including a copolymer with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of ?50 to 20° C. is obtained by the emulsion polymerization of a monomer group including a monomer A that is a (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester (where the alkyl group is an open chain group with 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a cyclic group with 5 to 20 carbon atoms) as the main monomer and a monomer B having a carbon-carbon double bond and a nonionic hydrophilic group such as a polyoxyalkylene group, an amide group, and a hydroxyl group. Liquid crystals are dispersed in this emulsion, which is applied onto a conductive film-coated substrate. Another conductive film-coated substrate is laminated thereto, and thus a liquid crystal light control device is obtained. A monomer C having a carboxyl group and/or an amino group and a carbon-carbon double bond may be used in combination with a crosslinking agent so that a crosslinked structure is introduced into the copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited, Daido Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Masaatsu Kido, Mitsuhiro Kawazu, Yuichi Yano, Daisuke Shiraishi, Hitoshi Shinike
  • Patent number: 8294850
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) having a liquid crystal layer is provided. In one embodiment, the liquid crystal layer includes a nematic liquid crystal material having liquid crystal molecules in an untwisted state. A chiral dopant is dispersed within the liquid crystal layer and configured to bias the liquid crystal molecules toward a twisted state. Furthermore, a polymer network is disposed among the liquid crystal molecules and configured to bias the liquid crystal molecules toward the untwisted state. Various additional devices and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, John Z. Zhong, Ming Xu, Mingxia Gu
  • Patent number: 8284360
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a fabricating method thereof are described. First, a first substrate and a second substrate are provided. A liquid crystal monomer layer is then formed on the surface of at least one of the first and second substrates. Next, a curing step is performed to the liquid crystal monomer layer to induce a polymerization reaction, so as to form a liquid crystal polymer layer. Thereafter, the first and second substrates are assembled and a liquid crystal layer is filled between the first and second substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: Taiwan TFT LCD Association, Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd., Au Optronics Corporation, Hannstar Display Corporation, Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corporation, Industrial Technology Research Institute, TPO Displays Corp.
    Inventors: Tsan-Yu Ho, Ding-Jen Chen, Hsin-Chun Chiang, Mei-Ju Lee, Bang-Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 8278040
    Abstract: Colloidal liquid crystal gels (CLCGs), sensors incorporating the CLCGs, culture substrates made from the CLCGs, and patterned films and molded articles made from the CLCGs are provided. The CLCGs are composite liquid crystal materials comprising networks of particles having liquid crystal domains dispersed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Nicholas L. Abbott, Ankit Agarwal, Santanu K. Pal
  • Patent number: 8264639
    Abstract: The present invention provides liquid crystal devices comprised of a composite of an internal polymer network localized on the substrate surfaces and short-pitch dual-frequency switchable cholesteric liquid crystal that operate in two different modes including in-plane switching (amplitude modulation) and out-of-plane switching (phase modulation). The invention further provides a method of making a liquid crystal device demonstrating uniform lying helical axis where the device comprises a composite of an internal spatially ordered polymer network localized by in-situ photo-polymerization at the surface of the substrate. The invention can be used for flat panel displays, as well as spatial light modulators for applications such as optical waveguides, optical beam scanners, computer-generated holograms, and adaptive optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kent State University
    Inventors: Liang-Chy Chien, Lei Shi, Sang Hwa Kim
  • Patent number: 8264660
    Abstract: There are provided a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display not using a backlight unit and a method of fabricating the same. The PDLC display comprises a rear substrate over which a thin film transistor (TFT), a first electrode, and a second electrode are formed, a front substrate apart from the rear substrate and having a first black matrix formed thereon corresponding to a region where the TFT is formed, a PDLC layer disposed below the first black matrix and formed between the front and rear substrates, a light source formed on one side of the PDLC layer and configured to provide light to the side of the PDLC layer, and a first reflection plate formed on the other side of the PDLC layer and configured to reflect light incident via the PDLC layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinmog Kim, Hoansu Shim
  • Patent number: 8221855
    Abstract: A cellulose derivative film having high optical isotropy over the whole visible region and high durability against high temperature and humidity conditions is provided. The film contains a cellulose derivative having a substituent the polarizability anisotropy ?? (=?x?(?y+?z)/2) of which is 2.5×10?24 cm3 or more, and the film has an in-plane retardation Re and a thickness direction retardation Rth satisfying the respective inequalities: |Rth(589)|?25 nm and |Re(589)|?10 nm. Also provided are an optical compensation film, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal device that use the cellulose derivative film and exhibit excellent viewing angle characteristics and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Omatsu, Nobutaka Fukagawa, Hiromoto Haruta, Yutaka Nozoe, Tomohiro Ogawa, Hiroaki Sata
  • Patent number: 8187493
    Abstract: A grafted polymer and its use in polymer/liquid crystal composite films, and more particularly in PDLC films, is disclosed. The grafted polymer includes (alkyl)acrylic acid or (alkyl)acrylamide moieties. At least one of the moieties is grafted with an alkylphenol or with an alkoxylated alkylphenol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Université de Mons, Université du Litteral Côte Opale
    Inventors: Benoît Duponchel, Abdelaziz Elass, Mourad Boussoualem, Jean-Marc Buisine, Joël DeConinck, Valérie Céline Ledauphin, Mickaël Coquelet, Alexandre Vaillant
  • Patent number: 8125591
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming an array of polymer dispersed liquid crystal cells, to an array formed by such method and to uses of such array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Akira Masutani, Bettina Schueller, Anthony Roberts, Akio Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8105662
    Abstract: The present invention relates to mesogenic, cross-linkable mixtures comprising (i) a cross-linkable liquid crystalline host compound comprising at least one cross-linkable liquid crystalline compound, and (ii) at least one chiral or achiral rod shaped additive component, wherein said additive component has a rigid core and comprises at least two fused or linked, optionally substituted, non-aromatic, aromatic, carbocyclic or heterocyclic groups, and also comprises at least one optionally substituted alkyl residue, and at least one polymerizable group and wherein the additive component has a transition temperature to the isotropic state of 40° C. or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Rolic AG
    Inventors: Zoubair Mohammed Cherkaoui, Teodor Lukac, Joachim Reichardt, Klaus Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8081272
    Abstract: In a preparation method, a chiral or cholesteric liquid crystal, a photoreactive monomer, and a photoinitiator are disposed in a liquid crystal cell. A principal surface of the liquid crystal cell is illuminated with ultraviolet light selected to have a non-uniform ultraviolet light intensity profile in the liquid crystal cell. The illuminating cooperates with the photoinitiator to polymerize at least a portion of the photoreactive monomer near the principal surface to generate a polymer network having a density corresponding to the non-uniform ultraviolet light intensity profile. The polymer network biases the liquid crystal toward a selected helical alignment direction. In some embodiments, the illuminating includes illuminating with first and second ultraviolet light intensity profiles to produce surface and volume polymer network components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Kent State University
    Inventors: Lachezar Komitov, Liang-Chy Chien, Sang Hwa Kim
  • Patent number: 8054439
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Hao-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 8045099
    Abstract: This invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can contribute to the stabilization of alignment of a liquid crystal and can improve the response speed. The liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer held between the substrates. At least one of the pair of substrates has a polymer on its surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The surface shape of the polymer is in a substantially saw form as viewed from the cross-sectional direction of the substrate. The inclination azimuth of the inclination surface of the polymer is substantially the same as the liquid crystal alignment upon the application of the voltage. Preferably, the surface of the polymer has an approximately wedge shape as viewed from the vertical direction of the substrate, and the azimuth of the apex is approximately opposite to the liquid crystal alignment upon the application of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiro Tashiro, Takahiro Sasaki, Toshihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8035773
    Abstract: A liquid crystal electro-optical device comprises a pair of substrates, at least one of them being light-transmitting, electrodes provided on said substrates, an electro-optical modulating layer being sandwiched by said pair of substrates, and a black coating formed between the electro-optical modulating layer and one of the substrates. The electro-optical modulating layer comprises a dichroic dye and a liquid crystal material embedded in a transparent material which is cured except in a portion situated under the black coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishi, Toshimitsu Konuma, Michio Shimizu, Kouji Moriya
  • Patent number: 8031323
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Université Laval
    Inventors: Tigran Galstian, Vladimir Presniakov, Karen Asatryan, Amir Tork
  • Patent number: 8023091
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof are disclosed by which a cell gap can be uniformly maintained, regardless of temperature variation, across an LCD panel. Opposing substrates are spaced apart with a prescribed gap using spacers and liquid crystals in the gap between the substrates. The spacers are provided on either or both of the substrates. The spacers contain an organic resin within which a liquid phase material or liquid crystals is dispersed. The liquid phase material or liquid crystals may be encapsulated. The thermal expansion coefficient of the material is substantially equal to or greater than that of the liquid crystals in the gap between the substrates. The thermal expansion coefficient of the column spacer is substantially equal to or greater than that of the liquid crystals in the gap between the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 8003005
    Abstract: Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein provide phase-separating polymer systems including a cured polymeric liquid crystal matrix phase and a guest phase including at least one photoactive material where the guest phase separates from the matrix phase during the curing process. Optical elements, including ophthalmic elements and other articles of manufacture including the phase-separating polymer systems are also disclosed. Methods of forming a liquid crystal phase-separating photoactive polymer system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Meng He, Anil Kumar, Peter C. Foller, Chenguang Li, Ruisong Xu, Jiping Shao
  • Patent number: 7982827
    Abstract: System and method for dynamically altering a color gamut used in projection display systems. An embodiment comprises determining a dim color from colors used in representing an image, adjusting the dim color to increase an available display time for a non-dim color used to represent the image, adjusting the non-dim color using the available display time, and generating a color sequence based on the adjusted dim color and the adjusted non-dim color. The pixel intensities of a dim color are increased, permitting a shortening of the display time of the dim color. The newly freed display time can be reallocated to all colors to increase the amount of light used to display the image, thereby increasing image brightness or altering color point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Todd Alan Clatanoff, Gregory S. Pettitt