Abstract: The present invention relates to thiophene derivatives, to processes and intermediates for the preparation thereof, to the use thereof for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in liquid-crystal (LC) media and LC displays, and to LC media and LC displays comprising same.

Abstract: A LC compound and a LC mixture are provided. The LC mixture includes a compound represented by (I) and at least one compound selected from a group consisting of compounds represented by (II) to (IV): in which X1 is F, —Cl, —CF3, or —OCF3; R, R11, and R12 are independently H, a C1-C15 alkyl group, or a C2-C15 alkenyl group; A1 is 1,4-phenylene; A11, A12, A13, and A14 are independently selected from a group consisting of 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, and 2,5-tetrahydropyranylene; at least one of A2, A3, and A4 is 2,5-indanylene, and the others are independently selected from a group consisting of 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, and 2,5-tetrahydropyranylene; L1 is —F2CO—; Z11, Z12, and Z13 are independently a single bond, —O—, —F2CO—, or —COO—; m is 1; n, o and p are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3, and n+o+p?3.

Abstract: Microstructured optical films, assemblies of films including at least one microstructured optical film, and (e.g. illuminated) display devices including a single microstructured optical film or assembly.

Abstract: An alignment film or a phase difference device with small shift from a desired alignment direction and a display unit including the same are provided. The alignment film includes: a substrate having a plurality of grooves extending in a specific direction on a surface; and a non-alignment thin film formed along a surface of the plurality of grooves. The phase difference device includes: an alignment film that has a substrate having a plurality of grooves extending in a specific direction on a surface and a non-alignment thin film formed along a surface of the plurality of grooves; and a phase difference layer that is provided being contacted with a surface of the non-alignment thin film, and includes a liquid crystal material that is aligned along an extending direction of a dent formed by the non-alignment thin film and is polymerized.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display employing the same are provided. The liquid crystal composition includes: 100 parts by weight of at least one nematic liquid crystal; 1-20 parts by weight of at least one photosensitive chiral compound; and 1-20 parts by weight of at least one non-photosensitive chiral compound.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display structure is provided. The liquid crystal display structure includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight module. The liquid crystal panel has a liquid crystal layer including photo-polymerizable monomers. The backlight module has a light emitting unit for emitting an output light. A difference between the smallest value of the spectrum interval of the output light and the largest value of the absorption spectrum interval of the photo-polymerizable monomer in the liquid crystal layer is larger than or equal to 40 nm.

Abstract: A blue phase liquid crystal composition and a LC display using the composition. The liquid crystal composition includes a first class including a highly polar compound and a second class including a highly conjugated liquid crystal compound. The blue phase liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates each with polarizer on the exterior surface and the blue phase liquid crystal composition sandwiched therebetween with and patterned electrodes on one of the substrates or both substrates. The patterned electrodes can be T-shaped, chevron or v-shaped, thin comb like shape and can also be flat or trapezoidal. The device outputs different light transmissions from the electrically controllable induced birefringence of the blue phase LC material for a low driving voltage, high transmittance blue phase liquid crystal display device.

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

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound is provided that has excellent characteristics, such as a negatively large dielectric anisotropy. A liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display device containing the composition are also provided. A compound having the three factors, i.e., (1) a tetrahydropyran ring, (2) terminal alkenyl chain and (3) exhibits excellent characteristics including a negatively large dielectric anisotropy (??). The use of the compound having the characteristics provides an excellent liquid crystal composition and an excellent liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a large elastic constant, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics; and is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The invention provides a liquid crystal composition that has a nematic phase and includes a specific three-ring compound having a large dielectric anisotropy as a first component and a specific four-ring compound having a high maximum temperature and a large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and a liquid crystal display device containing the composition.

Abstract: The main aim of the invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal compound that has a liquid crystal phase with a wide temperature range centering at room temperature, has an excellent compatibility with another polymerizable liquid crystal compound, has an excellent solubility in an organic solvent and is polymerizable even in air by heat or light. A polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by formula (1-1) or formula (1-2): wherein A1 and A2 are a divalent cyclic-structure group such as cyclohexylene and phenylene; Z1 is a bonding group such as a single bond and —O—; m is an integer from 1 to 5; Q1 and Q2 are alkylene having 1 to 20 carbons; R1 is fluorine, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, alkyl, alkoxy and so forth; and Ra and Rb is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound is to be obtained that has stability to heat, light and so forth, a high clearing point, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large negative dielectric anisotropy, and excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds. A liquid crystal composition containing the compound is also to be obtained that has a low viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a suitable negative dielectric anisotropy, a low threshold voltage, a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase (phase transition temperature from a nematic phase to an isotropic phase), and a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase. A compound having a hydrocoumarin skeleton is synthesized, and a liquid crystal composition containing the compound is produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nematic liquid crystal composition suitable for a bistable nematic liquid crystal display. A bistable nematic liquid crystal display having a wide nematic phase temperature range and operating temperature range can be obtained by using a nematic liquid crystal composition comprising at least 20% by weight of a specific liquid crystal compound (A) having a polar group and 5 to 50% by weight of a specific liquid crystal compound (B) not having a polar group, along with comprising, in the compound (B), at least 3% by weight of a specific liquid crystal compound having a alkenyl group.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an alignment sustaining layer formed of a photopolymerized material on each of surfaces of a pair of alignment films which are closer to a liquid crystal layer. The alignment sustaining layer is configured to regulate a pretilt azimuth of a liquid crystal molecule of the liquid crystal layer during absence of an applied voltage. A nematic liquid crystal material of the liquid crystal layer comprise a liquid crystal compound having a terphenyl ring system as an indispensable component, and the liquid crystal layer further comprises part of a photopolymerizable compound. A content of the photopolymerizable compound relative to the nematic liquid crystal material is less than 0.015 mol %.

Abstract: The subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of the nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of the nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large negative dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics. The subject is also to provide the AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life, and so forth. The invention provides a liquid crystal composition having a negatively dielectric anisotropy containing a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a first component, and a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and provides a liquid crystal display device containing this composition.

Abstract: An electrically controlled medium for modulating light includes two plastic thin film layers (1) and (2), and a mixture layer (3) is arranged between the two plastic thin film layers (1) and (2). The mixture layer (3) is consisted of smectic liquid crystals (31), polymer materials (33) and dopants (32). Electrode layers (4) are coated on one side of each of the two plastic thin film layers (1) and (2) facing to the mixture layer (3), and the electrode layers (4) are connected to a device of electrical driving system (5). The liquid crystal molecules are allowed to exhibit different molecule alignments by controlling the amplitude, frequency and driving time of the electric power applied to the electrode layers (4), so that the electrically controlled medium for modulating light can be switched between a blurredly scattering state and a fully transparent state, even may be switched among a plurality of gradual translucent states of different gray levels.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel by providing a first substrate and providing a first alignment film, providing a second substrate and providing a second alignment film; interposing a liquid crystal compound and at least two reactive mesogens between the first and second substrates, where the two reactive mesogens are selected from Chemical Formulas 1 and 2; curing the reactive mesogens to form a first mesogen layer; and a second mesogen layer, wherein wherein in Chemical Formula 1 A and B are each independently selected from the group consisting of and wherein at least one hydrogen atom of a naphthalene group is independently replaced with at least one of F and Cl and wherein in Chemical Formula 2, D is selected from at least one of and a single bond, wherein E and G are each independently selected from at least one of and wherein at least one hydrogen atom of a phenyl group are independently replaced with at least one of F and Cl.

Abstract: An optical compensation polarizing plate comprising: a first transparent protective film; a polarizer; a second transparent protective film; and an optical compensation layer in this order, wherein at least one of the first and second transparent protective films is a cellulose acylate film having a retardation value in plane Re (nm) and a retardation value in film thickness direction Rth (nm) which fulfill the following formulae (I) and (II), and Nz and Re1 defined by the following formulae (III) and (IV), of the optical compensation layer fulfill the following formulae (V) and (VI): (I) |Re|?10, (II) |Rth|?25, (III) Nz=(nx1?nz1)/(nx1?ny1), (IV) Re1=(nx1?ny1)×d1, (V) 0.4?Nz?0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formula I, in which R1-R6 can each independently be selected from hydrogen or hydrocarbyl (e.g., methyl); L1 is a divalent linking group, such as a bond or —OC(O)—R8—C(O)O—, where R8 can be divalent hydrocarbyl (e.g., —CH2CH2—); each L2 independently represents a flexible segment, such as divalent linear or branched C1-C25 alkyl; each L3 independently represents a rigid segment including, for example, optionally substituted phenylen-1,4-diyl groups; t is from 1 to 4; m and p are each independently from 0 to 4 for each t, provided that the sum of m and p is at least 1 for each t; and E can be hydrogen or hydrocarbyl. The present invention also relates to compositions, such as liquid crystal compositions, and articles, such as optical elements, that include the compound represented by Formula I.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal composition having an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase used in an element driven in a state of an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase, which comprises a compound 1 having the clearing point T1 and a compound 2 having the clearing point T2, and which has the clearing point Tx, wherein the liquid crystal composition comprises 10 to 80 wt % of compound 1 and 20 to 90 wt % of compound 2, and wherein the clearing point T1, the clearing point T2 and the clearing point Tx of the liquid crystal composition satisfy the following conditions: T1>T2 T1?Tx?100° C.

Abstract: A laminated film obtained by carrying out anti-reflection processing on the surface of a reflection polarizing film. This laminated film comprising (A) a monoaxially oriented laminated film consisting of 501 or more alternating first layers made of a first thermoplastic resin having a positive stress optical coefficient and a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 ?m and second layers made of a second thermoplastic resin different from the first thermoplastic resin and having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 ?m, and a low-reflectance layer formed on at least one side of the monoaxially oriented laminated film and having a reflectance of the surface measured from the input side of 3% or less.

Abstract: The subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light, a high stability to heat and a large elastic constant, or that is suitably balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics. The subject is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The invention provides a liquid crystal composition that has a nematic phase and includes a specific four-ring compound having a high maximum temperature and a large dielectric anisotropy as a first component and a specific compound having a small dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and also provides a liquid crystal display device containing this composition.

Abstract: A photodisplay device in which an optically addressed image can be viewed indefinitely, erased and readdressed with a new image is disclosed. Optically responsive reversible photochiral materials are incorporated into a bistable cholesteric liquid crystal in an electrooptic display cell. A high resolution image exposed on the cell is fixed by a low voltage pulse to unpatterned electrodes and can be, at a later time, erased with a high voltage pulse.

Abstract: Nematic liquid crystal cells with positive dielectric anisotropy that include colloidal suspensions having nanoclusters (e.g., CdTe nanoclusters, CdSe nanoclusters) that include a pure monolayer of ligands are provided as well as methods of inducing Freedericksz transitions in the nematic liquid crystal cells and methods of controlling the alignment of a liquid crystal.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a high quality smectic aerogel which is not brittle and a method for producing the smectic aerogel by using a host material comprising a mixture of a smectic liquid crystal and a UV-curable material or a host material comprising a smectic UV-curable material and by selecting an appropriate host material. A smectic aerogel comprising 4-nonyl-4?-cyanobiphenyl (9BC) and air bubbles can be produced, wherein hexagonal or pentagonal air cells are separated from each other by a smectic layer comprising a smectic liquid crystal. The thickness of the wall of the smectic layer at the boundaries of the air cells is about 24 ?m, which corresponds to about 6000 smectic layers. The thickness of the wall of the smectic layer at the boundaries can be varied. Particularly, the thickness can be reduced to as thin as several smectic layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel fluorene derivatives, which are especially suitable for use in birefringent films with negative optical dispersion, to novel liquid crystal (LC) formulations and polymer films comprising them, and to the use of the fluorene derivatives, formulations and films in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices.

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

Abstract: A composition for a liquid crystal film includes: 100 parts by weight of a vertically aligned liquid crystal mixture; 0.001-20 parts by weight of a chiral dopant; and 50-900 parts by weight of a solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid-crystal (LC) display of the PS (polymer stabilized) or PSA (polymer sustained alignment) type, and to polymerizable compounds and LC media for use in PS (polymer stabilized) and PSA displays.

Abstract: The subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance and a high stability to ultraviolet light or heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics. The subject is to provide a AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth.

Abstract: An optical film 10 of the present invention includes a plurality of optically anisotropic layers 13 which are laminated, wherein the optically anisotropic layer including: a photoalignment layer (A) 11, in which a liquid crystal aligning capability has been generated by means of photoirradiation; and a polymer layer (B) 12, which contains a liquid crystal compound that has a polymerizable group, and which is obtained by polymerization in a state where it has been aligned by the photoalignment layer (A) 11, wherein the photoalignment layer (A) 11 and the polymer layer (B) 12 are bonded by covalent bonding. The plurality of optically anisotropic layers 13 may be an optically anisotropic layer 13 having a function of a one-half wavelength plate, and an optically anisotropic layer 13 having a function of a one-quarter wavelength plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid-crystal (LC) display of the PS (polymer stabilized) or PSA (polymer sustained alignment) type, and to polymerisable compounds and LC media for use in PS (polymer stabilized) and PSA displays.

Abstract: An optical film includes a near-infrared absorbing layer, the near-infrared absorbing layer containing at least one colorant having a maximum absorption wavelength in the range of 900 nm to 1,100 nm, and a transparent copolymer resin containing fine rubber particles.

Abstract: Provided is a cellulose ester film including a polycondensed ester which is obtained from a mixture containing an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, an aliphatic diol having an average carbon atom number of from 2.0 to 3.0 and a monocarboxylic acid, and both terminals of which are a monocarboxylic acid ester derivative.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical film characterized by containing 0.001-10 parts by mass of an ultraviolet absorbent represented by general formula (1) per 100 parts by mass of a cellulose ester. (In the formula, n represents an integer of 1-4; when n is 1, R represents an alkyl group having 3-30 carbon atoms, and when n is 2-4, R represents a residue obtained by removing a carboxylic acid group from an aliphatic or aromatic polybasic acid having 1-34 carbon atoms; and R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: There is provided a water-resistant polarizing film including an organic dye having at least two anionic groups, and an alicyclic structure-containing compound having at least two nitrogen atoms in a molecule.

Abstract: Microstructured films comprising surface modified inorganic oxide particles, surface modified inorganic nanoparticles having a high refractive index, and polymerizable resins are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display used as a display unit of an electronic apparatus and provides a liquid crystal display which can achieve high display quality. The liquid crystal display includes a pair of substrates provided opposite to each other, a liquid crystal having negative dielectric constant anisotropy sealed between the substrates, an alignment film formed on each of surfaces of the substrates facing each other for vertically aligning the liquid crystal, the film being formed using a material including an epoxy type cross linking agent at a concentration in the range from 0% by weight to 0.01% by weight inclusive, and a polymer layer for regulating the direction of alignment of the liquid crystal formed in the vicinity of an interface between the liquid crystal and the alignment film as a result of polymerization of a polymeric component included in the liquid crystal.

Abstract: In the present invention, it is an object to improve display quality by improving response speed of a liquid crystal element in a liquid crystal display device, in particular, response speed in the case of falling. In the present invention, it is characterized that a liquid crystal layer is divided into plural regions (domains) substantially by mixing a chemical compound including a liquid crystal skeleton in a liquid crystal layer having existing liquid crystal molecules as a technique to improve response speed of a liquid crystal element in a liquid crystal display device for solving the above problem.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a color filter substrate and an array substrate. An optical compensation film is disposed on the color filter substrate and/or the array substrate, wherein the optical compensation film comprises a polyimide, comprising the following formula: wherein n is an integer greater than 1, and wherein when A is cyclo-aliphatic compound, B is aromatic compound or cyclo-aliphatic compound, and when A is aromatic compound, B is cyclo-aliphatic compound.

Abstract: An electro-optical module includes: an electro-optical panel; and a transparent protector disposed on a viewer-side surface of the electro-optical panel, wherein transparent protector has a stack structure including a first transparent protection layer that faces the electro-optical panel and is formed of an elastic material and a second transparent protection layer that has a higher dynamic elasticity value than that of the first transparent protection layer within a frequency range of 1 to 10 Hz.

Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal composition of the present invention includes at least 20% by weight of one, or two or more compounds selected from compound group A; and 5 to 50% by weight of one, or two or more compounds selected from compound group B, wherein the relative proportions of the above-mentioned compounds used in the nematic liquid crystal composition is determined to simultaneously obtain the specific physical characteristics for the composition, and an anchoring breaking voltage U?/4 is less than or equal to 25 V when the product (?n·d) of the refractive index anisotropy (?n) at 20° C. and the thickness (d) is 140 nm and the liquid crystal composition is confined between two substrates for a bistable nematic liquid crystal display in which at least one of the substrates have a weak zenithal anchoring force.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel mesogenic dimeric compounds which are especially suitable for use in birefringent films with negative optical dispersion, to novel liquid crystal (LC) formulations and polymer films comprising them, and to the use of the dimers, formulations and films in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an illuminator and a liquid crystal panel for performing displaying by using light which is emitted from the illuminator. The liquid crystal panel includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer provided between the pair of substrates, and a pair of alignment films provided on sides of the pair of substrates facing the liquid crystal layer. At least one of the alignment films is a photo-alignment film which is imparted with an orientation regulating force through a photo-alignment treatment, and the illuminator includes a light source causing primary generation of at least blue light, among other light which is used for displaying.

Abstract: A structure for reducing internal reflections in an optical system includes a stack of layers including a first layer having a first refractive index, a second layer having a second refractive index, a third layer having a third refractive index, a fourth layer having a fourth refractive index, and a fifth layer having a fifth refractive index. The second layer is arranged between the first layer and the third layer, and the fourth layer is arranged between the third layer and fifth layer. Further, the third refractive index is greater than the second and fourth refractive indexes, the second refractive index is greater than the first refractive index, and the fourth refractive index is greater than the fifth refractive index.

Abstract: Microstructured optical films, assemblies of films including at least one microstructured optical film, and (e.g. illuminated) display devices including a single microstructured optical film or assembly.

Abstract: A method for controlling positive birefringence in an optical compensation film (positive C-plate) having high positive birefringence throughout the wavelength range 400 nm<?<800 nm is provided. The method includes selecting polymers with optically anisotropic subunits (OASUs) that exhibit the buttressing effect, wherein the OASUs may be disks, mesogens or aromatic rings substituted with birefringence enhancing substituents. The method further includes processing the polymer by solution casting to yield a polymer film with high birefringence without the need for stretching, photopolymerization, or other processes. These optical compensation films may be used in LCDs, particularly IPS-LCDs.

Abstract: An optically-compensatory film comprising: a cyclic polyolefin film satisfying expression (I); and a cellulose acylate film satisfying expressions (II) and (III), or a liquid-crystal display device comprising at least one cyclic polyolefin film satisfying expression (I) and at least one cellulose acylate film satisfying expressions (II) and (III): 35?Re(630)?350 and 70?Rth(630)?400,??(I) 0?Re(630)?10 and |Rth(630)|?25, and??(II) |Re(400)?Re(700)|?10 and |Rth(400)?Rth(700)|?35,??(III) wherein Re(?) represents an in-plane retardation value (unit: nm) at a wavelength of ? nm; and Rth(?) represents a thickness-direction retardation value at a wavelength of ? nm.

Abstract: Provided are an optical film for use in flat panel display (FPD) devices, and a method for manufacturing the same. Particularly, there is provided a method for imparting surface roughness to an optical film, which includes forming dented craters having a radius of curvature of 10 nm-100 ?m on the surface of an optical film obtained by a solution casting process and forming a plateau between one crater and another crater. There is also provided an optical film obtained by the same method.

Abstract: A protective film for polarizing plate comprising k layers (k is an integer of 2 or more) of thermoplastic resin layer laminated, wherein a refractive index ni(380) at a wavelength of 380 nm and a refractive index ni(780) at a wavelength of 780 nm in the i th thermoplastic resin layer as well as a refractive index ni+1(380) at a wavelength of 380 nm and a refractive index ni+1(780) at a wavelength of 780 nm in the i+1 th thermoplastic resin layer have a relationship in ?ni(380)?ni+1(380)|?|ni(780)?ni+1(780)??0.02 (where, i is an integer of 1 to k?1). A polarizing plate is obtained by bonding the protective film for the polarizing plate and a polarizer. And a liquid crystal display comprising the polarizing plate and a liquid crystal panel.