Abstract: An electronic display includes electrically conductive layers. At least one active layer is disposed between adjacent electrically conductive layers. The active layer includes cholesteric liquid crystal material. The display includes a front transparent substrate behind which the electrically conductive layers are disposed. A back component is disposed at a back of the display below the active layer. At least one patterned layer is disposed at at least one of the following locations: on, in or near the front substrate and as an interlayer between the front substrate and the back component. The patterned layer is opaque or semitransparent. Electronic circuitry applies a voltage to the conductive layers that enables at least one of erasing or writing of the active layer. The active layer and the patterned layer cooperate to produce an image on the display.

Abstract: A system including a cholesteric liquid crystal (ChLC) display device and an erasing device. The display device (e.g., a writing tablet, liquid crystal paper) is inductively coupled to the erasing device for inductively erasing an image on the display device. Also featured is a ChLC display device that can be inductively erased.

Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal writing board display device includes a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablets and a front cover layer extending over the cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablets. The cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablets are tiled together by the front cover layer such that the writing board display device appears nearly seamless. Or, the writing tablets can be spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: A drawing tablet device, utilizing a data capture device in connection with a pressure sensitive display, provides electronic information corresponding to images drawn on the pressure sensitive display to an external device. The drawing tablet includes a communication interface to couple the drawing tablet to the external device to transmit electronic information corresponding to images in real-time or as stored files.

Abstract: An electronic display includes electrically conductive layers. An active layer is disposed between adjacent electrically conductive layers. The active layer includes cholesteric liquid crystal material. At least one transparent front substrate is disposed adjacent one of the electrically conductive layers near a front of the display. A semitransparent back layer absorbs light that passes through the active layer, reflects grey light or light of a color and is light transmitting. Electronic circuitry applies a voltage to the conductive layers that enables at least one of erasing or writing of the active layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a chiral dopant compound represented by the following structure (Structure 1): wherein: R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, —(C?O)R9, —(C?O)R10, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl, or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R3 is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, NHCOR9, NHSO2R9, COOR9, OCOR9, aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted; R4 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted; R5, R6, R7, and R8 are independently hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, NHCOR9, NHSO2R9, COOR9, OCOR9, aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine with each other, or R5 can combine with R4 to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R9 and R10 are independently alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, naphthyl, styryl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alko

Abstract: An electronic display comprises an electro-optic layer comprising electro-optical material. The display includes a first electrically conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer, the electro-optic layer being disposed between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer. A first substrate is disposed adjacent the first electrically conductive layer and a second substrate is disposed adjacent the second electrically conductive layer. The first substrate and the second substrate are formed in a shape that has at least one outer peripheral edge boundary, excluding any ledges. Internal ledges are disposed inside the at least one outer peripheral edge boundary. A first of the internal ledges comprises a portion of the first substrate and an exposed portion of the first electrically conductive layer and a second of the internal ledges comprises a portion of the second substrate and an exposed portion of the second electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A system including a cholesteric liquid crystal (ChLC) display device and an erasing device. The display device (e.g., a writing tablet, liquid crystal paper) is inductively coupled to the erasing device for inductively erasing an image on the display device. Also featured is a ChLC display device that can be inductively erased.

Abstract: A method of making an electrooptical display comprises providing a first substrate and a second substrate. A first layer of electrically conductive material is disposed on the first substrate and a second layer of electrically conductive material is disposed on the second substrate. A bead of adhesive gasket material is formed over the first substrate. Light modulating material is flowed onto the first layer of electrically conductive material and over the bead. The second substrate is positioned in contact with the light modulating material in proximity to the first substrate. The gasket material is cured.

Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablet includes a first substrate that is transparent and flexible on which a writing pressure is applied and a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate. One electrically conductive layer is in contact with the first substrate and is transparent and another of the electrically conductive layers is in contact with the second substrate. The electrically conductive layers are separated from each other by a cell gap. Cholesteric liquid crystal material is disposed between the electrically conductive layers. Spacers are disposed in the liquid crystal material that control the cell gap. The spacers have a size and concentration in the liquid crystal material that restricts flow of the liquid crystal material when the cell gap is reduced upon application of the writing pressure.

Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal writing board display device includes a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablets and a front cover layer extending over the cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablets. The cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablets are tiled together by the front cover layer such that the writing board display device appears nearly seamless. Or, the writing tablets can be spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: This disclosure features an electronic display with overlayed electronic skin. The display includes an outer transparent display surface and can be placed in a dark state or in a bright state. The skin overlays the outer display surface and includes an electro-optic layer. Transparent electrically conductive layers are disposed on each side of the electro-optic layer. Electronic circuitry applies voltages to the electrically conductive layers enabling the electro-optic material of the electronic skin to be placed into a substantially transparent state and a reflective state. Images or colors can be displayed on the electronic skin while portions of the electronic skin are in the reflective state and light passing through the electronic skin is absorbed by the display in the dark state. When the display is in the bright state images or colors can be displayed on the display that can be seen through the electronic skin.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a chiral dopant compound represented by the following structure (Structure 1): wherein: R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, —(C?O)R9, —(C?O)R10, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl, or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R3 is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, NHCOR9, NHSO2R9, COOR9, OCOR9, aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted; R4 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted; R5, R6, R7, and R8 are independently hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, NHCOR9, NHSO2R9, COOR9, OCOR9, aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine with each other, or R5 can combine with R4 to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R9 and R10 are independently alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, naphthyl, styryl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alko

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a chiral dopant compound represented by the following structure (Structure 1): wherein: R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, —(C?O)R9, —(C?O)R10, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl, or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; and R3-R9 are as described in the disclosure. Also featured are liquid crystal compositions comprising a chiral dopant compound represented by any of Structure 2-4 as described in the disclosure.

Abstract: A drawing tablet device, utilizing a data capture device in connection with a pressure sensitive display, provides electronic information corresponding to images drawn on the pressure sensitive display to an external device. The drawing tablet includes a communication interface to couple the drawing tablet to the external device to transmit electronic information corresponding to images in real-time or as stored files.

Abstract: A method of making an electrooptical display comprises providing a first substrate and a second substrate. A first layer of electrically conductive material is disposed on the first substrate and a second layer of electrically conductive material is disposed on the second substrate. A bead of adhesive gasket material is formed over the first substrate. Light modulating material is flowed onto the first layer of electrically conductive material and over the bead. The second substrate is positioned in contact with the light modulating material in proximity to the first substrate. The gasket material is cured.

Abstract: A display device includes a cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablet and a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer is subjected to a mechanical force that generates a voltage that is applied to the writing tablet that erases writing on the writing tablet. A further feature is a display device comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal display and a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer is subjected to a mechanical force that generates a voltage that is applied to the display that places the display in at least one of a color reflective planar state, a substantially transparent focal conic state and a gray scale state. Also featured is a method of erasing a cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablet.

Abstract: An electronic display includes electrically conductive layers. At least one active layer is disposed between adjacent electrically conductive layers. The active layer includes cholesteric liquid crystal material. The display includes a front transparent substrate behind which the electrically conductive layers are disposed. A back component is disposed at a back of the display below the active layer. At least one patterned layer is disposed at at least one of the following locations: on, in or near the front substrate and as an interlayer between the front substrate and the back component. The patterned layer is opaque or semitransparent. Electronic circuitry applies a voltage to the conductive layers that enables at least one of erasing or writing of the active layer. The active layer and the patterned layer cooperate to produce an image on the display.

Abstract: An electronic display includes electrically conductive layers. An active layer is disposed between adjacent electrically conductive layers. The active layer includes cholesteric liquid crystal material. At least one transparent front substrate is disposed adjacent one of the electrically conductive layers near a front of the display. A semitransparent back layer absorbs light that passes through the active layer, reflects grey light or light of a color and is light transmitting. Electronic circuitry applies a voltage to the conductive layers that enables at least one of erasing or writing of the active layer.

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.