Abstract: A polymeric dispersed liquid crystal light shutter device and system and method for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, a catoptric form having a shape is subjacently positioned below a pre-cure or un-cured polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) light shutter device having liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer binder system between two substrates. Light is applied during curing. The liquid crystal microdroplet sizes vary according to the shape of the catoptric form such that domains of smaller liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to the shape and domains of larger liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to negative space relative to the shape. Upon tuning an electric field, the PDLC light shutter device changes states from presenting a surface having an image formed by non-scattering regions contrasted against opaque scattering regions, to a surface characterized by mostly or entirely clear, non-scattering light transmittance.

Abstract: A polymeric dispersed liquid crystal light shutter device and system and method for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, a catoptric form having a shape is subjacently positioned below a pre-cure or un-cured polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) light shutter device having liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer binder system between two substrates. Light is applied during curing. The liquid crystal microdroplet sizes vary according to the shape of the catoptric form such that domains of smaller liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to the shape and domains of larger liquid crystal microdroplet sizes correspond to negative space relative to the shape. Upon tuning an electric field, the PDLC light shutter device changes states from presenting a surface having an image formed by non-scattering regions contrasted against opaque scattering regions, to a surface characterized by mostly or entirely clear, non-scattering light transmittance.

Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal light shutter device and method for use of the same are disclosed. First and second substrates are disposed substantially parallel. A polymer binder system is interposed between the first and second substrates and a plurality of liquid crystals are dispersed in the polymer binder system. The liquid crystal shutter device is able to switch between a high light absorbing dark state and a low light absorbing transparent state, and visa versa, with a low driving voltage. The liquid crystal shutter device includes formulations of liquid crystal mixtures having nematic liquid crystals and polymer systems to provide a wide viewing angle, low driving voltage, high contrast ratio, for example.

Abstract: A flat panel display is disclosed. In one embodiment, display normal light that is parallel to a display normal of the flat panel is provided. Spaced light redirecting prisms receive the display normal light and redirect the display normal light to redirected light, which is non-parallel to the display normal. A flat surface portion is posteriorly coupled to the plurality of spaced light redirecting prisms such that the flat surface portion spans the spaces between the plurality of spaced light redirecting prisms. The flat surface portion receives the display normal light from the light guide and receives the redirected light from the plurality of spaced light redirecting prisms and propagates both to a display.

Abstract: This invention discloses the product of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and the method of making same, wherein the resultant product is an improved color oriented LCD in which the liquid crystal material and the color dye material are intimately comingled within an enclosure of polymer material and/or encapsulated within the structure of microdroplets. The resulting color displayed by this LCD device is controlled by the selective application of electrical parameters, namely, voltage and frequency, to permit the droplets within a display device to absorb, scatter, or transmit light, and/or color, or mixture of colors, determined by the dye materials and the applied electrical parameters employed.

Abstract: A reverse mode liquid crystal light shutter and display device is field-off transparent and field-on non-transparent (i.e., scattering and/or absorbing). The reverse phase mode is obtained by modification of the surface energy of the polymer which encases liquid crystal droplets via reaction of a surfactant, incorporated inside of the LC droplets during droplet formation, within the inside polymer layer. The reverse phase transparent "off" state is achieved by refractive index matching of the average refractive index (.about.n.sub.o) of the LC droplets at electric field off state with the refractive index of the containing polymer materials and by obtaining appropriate droplet size and shape and polymer surface energy to cause the major axis of the liquid crystal molecule to be oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface. The inner surface layer aligns the liquid crystal molecules in an homeotropic manner in a resultant composite multi-layer microcapsulate with a homogeneous material for the capsule skin.

Abstract: A twisted nematic liquid crystal material is sandwiched between two electrode carrying polymer film or sheet substrates in a liquid crystal display assembly. The substrate material preferably is a semi-crystalline aromatic heterochain polymer characterized by a glass transition point (T.sub.g) of at least 90.degree. C. and devoid of secondary transitions in the -50.degree. C. to +80.degree. C. range. The crystallinity of the polymer material is controlled so that the crystallite size in the polymer material is substantially smaller than the wave length of visible light (350-750 micrometers). In a preferred embodiment, an optically isotropic top substrate is formed by a sheet of amorphous cast thermosetting acrylic resin and the lower substrate is formed by a flexible sheet of semi-crystalline aromatic heterochain polymer.