Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate, an opposing substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sealed between the substrates. The array substrate has signal and scanning lines arranged in a matrix manner, and a plurality of pixel electrodes each connected to the signal and scanning lines through a transistor. A conductive film covers the signal and scanning lines through an insulating film. Each pixel electrode has an edge portion overlapping with the conductive film through an insulating film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal element includes a plurality of scanning electrodes, a plurality of signal electrodes, and a liquid crystal cell. The scanning and signal electrodes are formed in a matrix configuration. The liquid crystal cell has a pair of substrates provided with a switching device. The switching device has a gate-electrode and a source electrode at a crossing point of the above scanning electrodes and signal electrodes. A ferroelectric liquid crystal fills the liquid crystal cell. Furthermore, the scanning electrode is connected with the gate-electrode of the switching device, and the signal electrode is connected with the source-electrode of the switching device. The scanning electrode transmits a signal to turn on the switching device, and, simultaneously, the signal electrode transmits a multiple-value signal to drive the liquid crystal cell.

Abstract: A problem arises in electronic equipment incorporating a display, such as an LCD display, which is not intrinsically illuminated. The present invention provides a controlled backlight for such displays, and is particularly useful in battery-powered equipment where power consumption must be kept to a minimum. The circuitry comprises a display 1 controlled via a conventional display driver 6 from other equipment (not shown) such as a microprocessor. Whenever the display is changed a signal is sent also to a timer circuit 7 which triggers, and passes a control signal to an electronic switch 4 which in turn passes power from a battery 3 to a lamp 2. The lamp 2 is arranged to illuminate the display 1. After a preset period, the timer circuit 7 sends a further control signal to the switch 4 to switch lamp 2 off.

Abstract: A reflection-type liquid crystal (LC) device having a twisted nematic (TN) LC layer that lets linearly-polarized incident light enter and become circularly-polarized at a reflecting surface, and then linearly polarizes it, after reflecting, with a plane of polarization that has been rotated 90.degree. from the incident light at an light output surface. The TN LC layer allows linearly-polarized incident light to enter at an angle to the molecular plane of light input of the twisted nematic LC, and to linearly polarize the light after reflection. The plane of polarization is rotated 90.degree. from the incident light at the light output surface. The TN LC layer also allows circularly-polarized incident light to enter and become linearly-polarized light at the reflecting surface. Circularly-polarized light after reflection may be rotated opposite the incident circularly-polarized light at the light output surface to provide for reverse on/off states.

Abstract: A reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus is provided which is capable of displaying bright images by decreasing the loss of projected light. The reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus employs a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) panel which assures a display mode (scattering or absorption mode) which does not employ a polarizing film, unlike a conventional liquid crystal panel. It has been found that such polarizing film reduce the efficiency with which the projected light is utilized. Since such a polarizing film is not used, and since the driving circuit portion which blocks the projected light and which serves as the non-opening portion can be utilized effectively for display, brightly displayed images can be obtained.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display panel unit having a plurality of pixels, and a flat-plate microlens array of a refraction index distribution type. The microlens array is constituted by forming a plurality of microlenses for converging illuminating light onto the respective ones of the pixels, in a substrate by a diffusion process. In the diffusion process, diffusion fronts of the neighboring microlenses of the flat-plate microlens array are fused into each other so as to form one continuous curved surface within the substrate.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical element using a liquid crystalline polymer and superior in heat resistance is provided. In a process for producing an optical element comprising a light transmitting substrate, an alignment film formed on the substrate and a layer of a liquid crystalline polymer formed on the alignment film, or in a process for producing an optical element, involving transferring a layer of a liquid crystalline polymer formed on an orientating substrate onto a light transmitting substrate, the said liquid crystalline polymer being a heat-polymerizable polymer which exhibits a nematic orientation or a twisted nematic orientation in the state of liquid crystal and which assumes a glassy state at a temperature below the liquid crystal transition point thereof, the liquid crystalline polymer layer is heat-treated during an orientating treatment, or after fixing of the orientation obtained, or after the transfer.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical elements based on liquid-crystalline substances, and to a process for the production thereof. The optical elements based on liquid-crystalline substances are ones which exhibit no birefringence in a defined direction of incidence, optical elements in which no birefringence occurs perpendicularly to the surface being excepted. The process for preparing the optical elements comprises illuminating a liquid-crystalline substance with unpolarized light of suitable wavelength at a defined angle in such a way that, after illumination, the director of this substance is aligned parallel to the direction of the illuminating light on passing through said substance.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal electro-optical device, which comprises: placing a mixture of a liquid crystal material having anisotropy in refractive index and a photocurable resin on a substrate equipped with an electrode; and curing the resin by irradiating a light to said mixture; wherein, said light has such a wavelength distribution that it covers the peak of light absorption of the portion which undergoes photo-curing reaction in said photocurable resin, provided that 90% or more of said light is distributed within a wavelength range .+-.20 nm from the wavelength of said light absorption peak of the resin.

Abstract: A bistable liquid crystal optical device includes two transparent plates (12, 14) provided with control electrodes (18, 19), between which is placed a nematic liquid crystal material (20). The transparent plates (12, 14) are surface-treated so as to define two stable configurations of molecules of the liquid crystal material generating respectively two flexoelectrical polarizations having components which are normal to electrodes P.sub.z 1P.sub.z 2 having opposite directions. Devices (30) are provided for applying perpendicular electrical field pulses to the plates (12, 14), said pulses being directed selectively one way or the other.

Abstract: An organic thin film obtained by spreading an organic substance comprising a polymer on a liquid surface, and compressing the spread substance unidirectionally or in two directions facing each other, in which organic thin film the principal chain of said polymer in the surface of the film has been oriented perpendicularly to the direction of the compression, and a method for producing the same. A liquid crystal display device comprising substrates, a polarizer, electrodes at least one of which is transparent, if necessary semiconductor substrates at least one of which is transparent, an orientation-controlling film and a liquid crystal layer, among which at least one of the polarizer, electrode, semiconductor substrate, orientation-controlling film and liquid crystal layer comprises an organic thin film. The orientation-controlling film may be an organic thin film in which the film-forming molecules have been uniformly oriented in a particular direction in the surface of the film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device, particularly a ferroelectric liquid crystal device, is constituted by disposing a liquid crystal disposed between a pair of rubbing-treated substrates. The uniaxial alignment control force exerted by rubbing is gradually weakened as the rubbing treatment is successively applied to a large number of substrates. This is compensated by varying a rubbing condition, such as a relative moving speed, a rotational speed, or a pressing depth against the substrate of a rubbing roller. Alternatively, such a change in uniaxial alignment control force with time may be utilized for compensating for a difference in uniaxial alignment control force attributable to a difference in stripe electrode extension relative to the rubbing direction.

Abstract: A flat-panel display system and a display method utilizing microprojection techniques whereby each pixel of the display acts as its own micro-projector. The micro-projector utilizes a reversed Schlieren optical arrangement. A flat fiber-optic illuminator and an illumination method provide collimated light for the display. A layer of light scattering material such as polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) is interposed between the illuminator and the rear-projection screen of the display. The scattering layer, when in a first state, allows the collimated light to pass through openings in an aperture plate that is part of the microprojection display. In a second state, the scattering layer scatters the collimated light. Side and vertical walls of the aperture plate absorb most of the scattered light resulting in a high contrast ratio for the display. The degree of scattering can be controlled to provide for a gray scale for the display.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator capable of providing high contrast ratio and resolution moving pictures without an after-image effect is disclosed. The spatial light modulator comprises a pair of transparent electrodes for forming a driving electric field therebetween, and at least one photo-modulation member and a photoconductive member laminated between the pair of transparent electrodes, where the photoconductive member comprises a hydrogenated amorphous silicon film having thickness of 10 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m, and is doped with boron as such that an amount of the boron in the hydrogenated amorphous silicon film in atomic ratio with respect to silicon therein is 0.1 ppm to 1 ppm.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of externally charging type, including a screen from the outside of which display and erasing operations can be repeatedly performed simply, and having an excellent memory retention performance of the recorded image and durability. Also, a hand-writable liquid crystal board set being excellent in operativity, performances, safety, including the above liquid crystal display device as a liquid crystal board. The liquid crystal display device includes a layered structure comprising, in the following order: a conductive layer; a transparent high-electric resistance layer having a volume resistivity of 10.sup.13 .OMEGA..cndot.cm or more in a 20.degree. C. air at a relative humidity of 90%; a liquid crystal-dispersed polymer layer which has a volume resistivity of 10.sup.13 .OMEGA..cndot.cm or more in a 20.degree. C. air at a relative humidity of 90%; and a transparent insulator layer.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device comprising upper and lower substrates arranged opposite each other, each provided with electrodes on their respective surface, an insulating film formed on the electrodes on each substrate, an orientation film formed on the insulating film and subjected to a uniaxial orientation treatment, the orientation film with the same orientation direction on each of the two substrates, a liquid crystal composition with a chiral smectic C phase injected between the two substrates, drive means for switching an optical axis of the liquid crystals in the liquid crystal composition by selectively applying a voltage to the electrodes, means for optically identifying the switching of the optical axis, in which when the drive means is operated, the liquid crystal composition can reverse its molecular direction near the substrate and show a chevron structure which bends in a dogleg shape as a layer structure when it shows the chiral smectic C phase wherein a bending direction of the

Abstract: A reflective type liquid crystal display device excelling in uniformity and capable of making a bright display is presented. At the front side of the liquid crystal display element, that is, at the observer side, a light guide plate is disposed, and a pair of lamps are disposed at the outer side of the confronting side surfaces of the light guide plate. Collimators for limiting the incident angle .theta. to the upper surface of the light from the lamps are disposed between the light guide plate and lamps. That is, by the collimators, the incident angle .theta. to the upper surface is defined so that the incident light may be totally reflected, and that the reflected light may not be totally reflected by the lower surface 61b. As a result, the light from the lamps will not reach the observer directly, and a uniform illumination of the liquid crystal display element may be realized.

Abstract: A display system (100) includes a liquid crystal display (110), a lightpipe (130), and a support structure such as a printed circuit board (160). The lightpipe (130) has integrally formed retaining members (232) to secure the liquid crystal display (110), and integrally formed mounting members (346) to mount and secure the lightpipe (130) to the support structure (160). The liquid crystal display (110) mounts onto the lightpipe (130) and is secured by the retaining members (232). The lightpipe (130) mounts onto the support structure (160) and is secured by the mounting members (346).

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display (LCD) uses the reflective and refractive characteristics of an edge-lit flat light pipe as a backlight panel behind the liquid crystal layer. The front and/or back surfaces of the edge-lit backlight panel are textured to enhance reflectivity of ambient light and transmission of edge light. The front surface of the panel is textured with pits that have walls at an angle to enhance reflectivity over a range of viewing angles. Further, the back surface of the panel is textured with pits having wall angles, and a pattern to enhance the uniform reflection of edge light toward and through the front surface of the backlight panel. The indentations may be conical, triangular or random. The pit wall angles lie within a preferred range of angles to optimize the amount of light within the useable viewing angle for the LCD.

Abstract: An encapsulated liquid crystal material which comprises a liquid crystal composition dispersed in a containmant medium and is responsive to an applied electric field to transform from a first visual state to a second visual state is made by: (a) providing a liquid crystal composition having an ordinary and an extraordinary refractive index; (b) providing a prepolymer material in which the liquid crystal composition is substantially immiscible and which is polymerizable into a containment medium having a refractive index which is substantially matched with the ordinary refractive index of the liquid crystal composition; (c) forming a dispersion of the liquid crystal composition in the prepolymer material, the dispersion having a mean volume diameter of less than 20 .mu.m; and (d) polymerizing the prepolymer material to form the encapsulated liquid crystal material.