Abstract: The invention relates to an optical exposure system with partial polarization and collimation components that is useful for exposing alignment layers with light in order to align liquid crystals. The exposure system comprises at least one source of optical radiation, means for partially collimating said optical radiation, means for partially polarizing said optical radiation and means for transporting the substrate and radiation relative to one another. Other embodiments further comprise means for partially filtering the optical radiation and means for some portion of said optical radiation to be incident at an oblique angle relative to said substrate. Other embodiments include processes for aligning liquid crystals using the optical exposure systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amine compositions and the preparation of polyimides. The polyimides can be used for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium with polarized light in liquid crystal display elements.

Abstract: A process for aligning liquid crystals adjacent to a surface of an optical alignment layer comprising: exposing at least one optical alignment layer, comprising anisotropically absorbing molecules, to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said anisotropically absorbing molecules; wherein the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of a liquid crystal medium at an angle + and - with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer; and applying a liquid crystal medium to said optical alignment layer; wherein said anisotropically absorbing molecules consist essentially of diaryl ketones, is described.

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.

Abstract: A process for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium adjacent to a surface of an optical alignment layer comprising: exposing at least one optical alignment layer to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said optical alignment layer; wherein the exposed alignment layer induces alignment of the liquid crystal medium at an angle + and -.theta. with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer; and applying a liquid crystal medium to the optical alignment layer, wherein the optical alignment layer is a polyimide comprising an an amine component having a 2-substituted 1,4-benzenediamine wherein the 2-substituent X.sub.1 is an electron withdrawing group having a positive .sigma.. Also claimed is a liquid crystal display element made by the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amine compositions and the preparation of polyimides. The polyimides can be used for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium with polarized light and liquid crystal display elements.

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.