Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyimides, poly(amic acids) and poly(amide esters) thereof, and optical alignment layers derived therefrom, for inducing alignment of liquid crystals and liquid crystal displays. The novel compositions comprise side-chain polymers of the general formula I
—L1—D—L2—Cf
wherein D comprises 1 to 4 carbon-carbon double bonds, Cf is a monovalent C4 to C20 fluorocarbon radical and L1 and L2 are linking groups. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays and other liquid crystal devices.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 22, 1999
Date of Patent:
February 27, 2001
Assignee:
Elsicon, Inc.
Inventors:
Wayne M. Gibbons, Patricia A. Rose, Paul J. Shannon, Hanxing Zheng
Abstract: A polyamic acid derived from an amine component comprising a 2-cyano-1,4-phenylene diamine and a family of diaryl ketones is claimed. The polyamic acids are useful in formation of polyimides, also claimed, and for the optical alignment of liquid crystals and the manufacture of liquid crystal optical elements, also claimed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 18, 1998
Date of Patent:
September 28, 1999
Assignee:
Elsicon Inc.
Inventors:
Wayne M. Gibbons, Paul Joseph Shannon, Hanxing Zheng
Abstract: A differential optical modulator for modulating an optical beam with a forward propagating path includes a polarization component to polarize the optical beam and provide redirection of the optical beam dependent on its polarization state, a polarization dependent path component to generate two temporally sheared orthogonal polarization components of the optical beam, a polarization exchange component that mutually exchanges the two orthogonal polarization states, a reflective switch component to modulate the two temporally sheared orthogonal polarization components of the optical beam by an applied control signal and to reflect the modulated optical beam back along the forward propagating path creating a return path, and a control means for providing an applied control signal to the reflective switch component.