Abstract: An inexpensive polyimide-free alignment layer comprising a mixture of an epoxy and a reactive liquid crystal material is used for fabricating liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The alignment layer can be cast onto a previously aligned layer, without destroying the alignment of the underlying layer, thus allowing for monolithic fabrication of compensator stacks, without film transfer lamination.

Abstract: The invention provides liquid crystal switching devices, liquid crystal cells made from the switching devices, and electrooptical cells made from the switching devices. The invention further provides methods for methods for changing the orientation of a liquid crystal in a liquid crystal switching device. The liquid crystal switching devices are constructed from a redox-active material supported by a substrate and a liquid crystal having a salt dispersed therein disposed atop the redox-active material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a binder-loaded type charge-transport liquid crystal material which comprises a liquid crystal compound and a binder and, in spite of the presence of the binder, can substantially retain the properties inherent in the liquid crystal compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polymerizable liquid-crystalline compounds for the production of optical elements having color- and polarization-selective reflection, and to optical elements comprising these compounds in monomeric or polymerized form.

Abstract: A transparent electrically conductive device which includes an indium tin oxide film is improved by providing an indium tin oxide film which contains a graded stack of individual indium tin oxide layers wherein the atomic percent of tin in the layers can be individually selected. Each indium tin oxide layer of the film contains 1-99 atomic percent tin. Each layer is made by a physical vapor deposition process or by sputter coating. Preferably the film which contains a plurality of indium tin oxide layers is applied to a transparent flexible substrate such as a polymeric sheet. Optional primer layers, hardcoat layers and topcoat layers may be included in the device.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescence device is made to show an improved carrier transporting ability and an improved carrier injecting property by doping a liquid crystal compound having a high degree of carrier mobility without generating any ionic current. The organic electroluminescence device comprises a carrier transport layer formed by doping a smectic liquid crystal compound having a hexagonal order structure with a Lewis acid compound, a light-emitting layer and a protection layer arranged between the carrier transport layer and the light-emitting layer and composed of an organic compound having a carrier transporting property of the same type as that of carrier transport layer and a carrier conducting property of the type different from that of the carrier transport layer.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a high-speed charge transport material is provided which comprises a polymer of a liquid crystal material which is a triphenylene compound having at least one specific unsaturated group in a molecule. The high-speed charge transport material can achieve a high-speed charge transport of not lower than 1×10−4 cm2·V−1·S−1 within a wide temperature range.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device, suitably included in e.g., an organic EL device, is formed of a pair of electrodes and a plurality of layers disposed between the electrodes and including at least one liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer comprises a liquid crystal composition having an electronic carrier-transporting function and comprising at least two compounds including at least one electron-donating compound or electron-accepting compound having a &pgr;-electron conjugated structure. As a result of doping the liquid crystal layer with the electron-donating or electron-accepting compound, the current conduction performance of the liquid crystal layer is improved presumably due to the generation of free carriers therein, whereby a functional device including the liquid crystal device can be improved as a whole.

Abstract: The present invention is for a transparent conductive film of nitrogen-containing indium tin oxide 5 nm to 100 &mgr;m thick formed on a substrate. The process for producing the transparent film includes exciting the surface of the substrate in a vacuum and depositing vaporized indium tin oxide on the surface of the substrate. The surface may be excited with irradiation with an ion beam. The indium tin oxide may be deposited through vacuum deposition, laser abrasion, ion plating, ion beam deposition, or chemical vapor deposition. Vapor deposition of indium tin oxide may be performed using a sintered product of indium oxide and tin oxide or with indium metal and tin metal.

Abstract: A method of making a display includes providing a transparent support and providing a conductive transparent layer formed thereover; patterning the transparent conductive layer; and coating a soluble layer including liquid crystal material dispersed in a polymer matrix over the patterned transparent layer and drying such coated soluble layer. The method further includes providing an opaque hydrophobic conductive layer over the dried coated soluble layer; patterning the opaque hydrophobic layer to form conductors leaving exposed portions of the transparent dried coated soluble layer, the position of the conductors relative to the transparent conductive layer defines image pixels; and removing by a solvent the exposed portions of the dried coated soluble layer so that when a potential for each pixel is applied between the patterned transparent conductive layer and patterned corresponding opaque hydrophobic conductors, an image is provided by the dried coated soluble layer which is viewable by an observer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a reversible, electrically controllable light transmission (RECLT) film, article of manufacture composition, process and product produced by the process, comprising a conductive narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer in combination with an electrolyte and an RECLT material. The narrow composition distribution polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer has low solubility, high thermal stability and strength, and very high optical clarity. The polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer comprises a nonporous or porous copolymer of vinylidene fluoride preferably with either hexafluoropropylene or tetrafluoroethylene or chlorotrifluoroethylene, or vinyl acetate, or combinations thereof. The RECLT material includes organic or inorganic compounds known in the art. Typical RECLT materials include electrochromic materials, reversible metal electrodeposition materials, liquid crystal materials and dispersed particle materials.

Abstract: A functional film of the invention includes a microparticulate-containing layer containing functional microparticulates. The microparticulate-containing layer inhibits the occurrence of cracks even when drawn 10%. When the functional film includes a microparticulate-containing layer containing conductive microparticulates, the microparticulate-containing layer exhibits a surface resistivity after drawn 10% which is at most 10 times greater than the surface resistivity prior to drawing. The invention thus implements a functional film which is unsusceptible to reduction or loss of its function due to deformation.

Abstract: A novel information recording medium is provided which records information upon the application of thermal energy, reads the recorded information by detecting the value of photoelectric current generated by light applied to the information recorded portion, and can realize multi-valued information recording or analog information recording.

Abstract: The electronic device (1) has a layer (11) of a material comprising a first and a second element. This material has an amorphous and a crystalline state. A transition from the amorphous to the crystalline state can be effected by heating of the material to above a crystallization temperature, for example with a laser. As a result, the layer (11) has a first electrically conducting areas (21), comprising the material in the crystalline state, which are insulated from each other by the first electrically insulating area (23), comprising the material in the amorphous state. The layer (11) may be present as an interconnect layer, but also as a covering layer. Preferably, the material is aluminum-germanium. In the method of patterning a layer (11), electrically conductive areas of the layer can be strengthened by electroplating.

Abstract: Conjugated mono-, oligo- and polymers of benzo[b]thiophene and bisbenzo[b]thiophene are useful as semiconductors or charge transport materials in optical, electrooptical or electronic devices including field effect transistors, electroluminescent, photovoltaic and sensor devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is a binder-loaded type charge-transport liquid crystal material which comprises a liquid crystal compound and a binder and, in spite of the presence of the binder, can substantially retain the properties inherent in the liquid crystal compound.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is formed with a pair of transparent substrates, each substrate having on one of its surfaces a coating of a transparent electrically conducting material which serves as an electrode. A nematic discotic material is sandwiched between the coated surfaces of the substrates thereby forming a cell. The nematic discotic material has a negative dielectric anisotropy and acts as the electrically switchable material for the electro-optic functioning of the liquid crystal display device. In addition, the cell resides between a pair of crossed polarizers.

Abstract: The invention concerns hydrogenated phenanthrenes of formula I wherein the parameters have the meanings given in the text and their use in liquid crystal compositions.

Abstract: A triphenylene derivative represented by the following formula (I): wherein R1-R6 independently denote an ethoxy or propoxy group-containing segment having at least two ether oxygen atoms and a terminal group comprising a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-20 carbon atoms, said alkyl group including at least one hydrogen atom optionally substituted with fluorine atom and at least one methylene group optionally substituted with —O—, —CO—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C— or epoxy group. The triphenylene derivative is usable as an ion-transporting compound of a component for an electrolyte of, e.g., secondary battery since the triphenylene derivative has an ionic conductivity anisotropy due to its columnar structure in discotic liquid crystal phase.

Abstract: Electronic devices having patterned electrically conductive polymers providing electrical connection thereto and methods of fabrication thereof are described. Liquid crystal display cells are described having at least one of the electrodes providing a bias across the liquid crystal material formed from a patterned electrically conductive polymer. Thin film transistors having patterned electrically conductive polymers as source drain and gate electrodes are described. Light emitting diodes having anode and coated regions formed from patterned electrically conductive polymers are described. Methods of patterning using a resist mask; patterning using a patterned metal layer; patterning the metal layer using a resist; and patterning the electrically conductive polymer directly to form electrodes and anode and cathode regions are described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydrogenated copolymer of a vinyl aromatic and conjugated diene monomer which produces optical media discs having extremely low birefringence.

Abstract: Disclosed is the use of certain polyglutarimides as plastic substrates for use in electronic display applications. These substrates have relatively high Tgs for plastics, and good optical clarity and flatness, with low shrinkage and low birefringence. Also disclosed are electronic display cells made using such polyglutarimide substrates.

Abstract: There is provided a ferroelectric charge-transport liquid crystal material comprising a liquid crystal compound, the liquid crystal material having a carrier mobility of not less than 10−5 cm2/Vs. There are further provided an image display device, an electroluminescence device, a photoconductor, a space light modulating device, a thin-film transistor, a photosensor, and a photorefractive device each comprising the ferroelectric charge-transport liquid crystal material.