Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds having a wide temperature range of liquid crystal phase, a high dielectric anisotropy, and a high optical anisotropy; and liquid crystal compositions and display devices containing the composition. The liquid crystalline compounds are conjugated nitrile derivatives expressed by the formula (1) ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group or a fluoroalkyl group each having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, halogen atom, or cyano group provided that in the alkyl or fluoroalkyl group, one or not-adjacent two or more methylene or fluoromethylene groups may be replaced by oxygen atom or 1,2-ethenylene group; A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3 and A.sub.4 represent 1,4-cyclohexylene group, 1,4-phenylene in which one or two hydrogen atoms on the ring may be replaced by fluorine atom, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl, or pyrimidine-2,5-diyl; B.sub.1, B.sub.2, and B.sub.

Abstract: Provide is a novel phenylacetylene compound (1) which has a large anisotropy of refractive index, tends to be mixed with other liquid crystals, and is more advantageous in stability to light, a liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal element usable for an optical shutter, a display element, ##STR1## A.sup.1 to A.sup.12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and at least one is an alkyl group.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-optical liquid-crystal display having a realignment layer for realigning the liquid crystals whose field has a significant component parallel to the liquid-crystal layer and which contains a liquid-crystalline medium of positive dielectric anisotropy, where the medium comprises at least one mesogenic compound containing a 3,4,5-trifluorophenyl group and/or comprises at least one mesogenic compound [lacuna] a structural unit of the formula 2 ##STR1## in which A is O or CH,Z is --COO-- or a single bondL.sup.1 is F or, if A is O, is alternatively H, andL.sup.2 is H or F.

Abstract: A 2-substituted-alkyl ether having an optically active group and being useful as a component of ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which 2-substituted-alkyl ether is expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a linear or branched chain alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkanoyloxy or alkoxycarbonyl of 1 to 18 C; R.sup.2 represents a linear or branched alkyl of 2 to 15 C; ##STR2## and ##STR3## each independently represents ##STR4## wherein Y represents cyano, halogen, methyl or methoxy; and X represents --OR.sup.3, ##STR5## F, Cl or Br wherein R.sup.3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 10 C or H; and * indicates asymmetric C.

Abstract: Fluorinated biphenylcyclohexanes of the formula I ##STR1## in which R, X, Z, L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3 and n are as defined herein, are suitable as components of liquid-crystalline media.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline compound represented by the general formula (1) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a halogen atom, or an alkyl or alkoxy halide group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; rings A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, and A.sub.4 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-cyclohexylene group; Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2, and Z.sub.3 each independently represent a covalint bond, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.dbd.CH--, --C.tbd.C-- or --COO--; 1 and m are 0 pr 1; and n is 0 to 10.

Abstract: This invention provides LC compositions useful as birefringent materials in electrooptic devices which exhibit zero or low negatively sloped birefringence dispersion (e.g., exhibiting positive birefringence dispersion significantly lower than that of currently available LC compositions) or more preferably positively sloped birefringence dispersion in which birefringence of the material increases with wavelength. The invention provides compounds useful as components of LC compositions which exhibit negative birefringence where n.sub.o is higher than n.sub.e. The compounds of this invention are dimers of LC-like compounds in which the monomers are linked to each other through a high birefringence moiety (dimerization linker). The LC monomers consist of an LC core and one or two tail groups. Preferred monomers for this invention have low birefringence in comparison to the birefrigence of the monomer linking moiety.

Abstract: The invention relates to cyclohexane derivatives of the formula I in which n, m, p, R.sup.1, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Z.sup.3, A.sup.1, A.sup.2 and Y are as defined herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyimide photo alignment films for liquid crystal display devices comprising an aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride component containing 3,3',4,4'-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride and an aromatic diamine component containing at least one diamine of the group of formulae AI to AIII as given in the text. Further display devices and methods of their fabrication employing a photo alignment process are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid-crystal mixtures having specific resistance values, comprising acidic compounds. The present invention furthermore relates to liquid-crystal displays containing these liquid-crystal mixtures. The invention furthermore relates to compounds of the formula I, ##STR1## in which the parameters are as defined in the text, to their preparation, and to their use for achieving certain specific resistance values in liquid-crystal mixtures. The application also relates to a method of adjusting the specific resistance of liquid-crystal mixtures using acidic compounds.

Abstract: The invention includes a multilayer resist method of patterning a substrate. In one implementation, a first etch mask layer is formed over a substrate. A second etch mask layer is deposited over the first etch mask layer at a temperature of less than or equal to 20.degree. C. A resist layer is formed and patterned over the second etch mask layer. The second etch mask layer is etched through, through an opening formed in the resist layer. The first etch mask layer is etched through using at least the etched second mask layer as a mask. In one implementation, a first etch mask layer is formed over a substrate. A second etch mask layer comprising a silanol is formed over the first etch mask layer. The silanol of the second etch mask layer is converted to a silicon oxide. H.sub.2 O from the second etch mask layer is driven out at a temperature of at least about 100.degree. C. A resist layer is formed and patterned over the silicon oxide containing second etch mask layer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition respectively containing the compounds of formula (1), (2), (3) or (4), wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.3, R.sub.5 and R.sub.7 are alkyl groups having 7-13 carbon atoms, R.sub.2, R.sub.4, R.sub.6 and R.sub.8 are alkyl groups having 4-8 carbon atoms, any of the four hydrogen atoms in each of the phenyl groups of the formulas may be substituted with a halogen atom such as F, Cl or Br, or a CH.sub.3 group, and X indicates --O-- or --.

Abstract: A ferrielectric liquid crystal compound of the general formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R is a linear alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, either each of X and Y is a hydrogen atom or one of X and Y is a hydrogen atom and the other is a fluorine atom, m is an integer of 1 to 2, n is 1 and C* is an asymmetric carbon. The above liquid crystal compound shows a ferrielectric phase in a wide temperature range and exhibits a fast response in spite of its small spontaneous polarization, and it is therefore remarkably useful for an active-matrix liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: 5-Fluorophenanthridine derivatives and their use in liquid-crystalline mixtures 6-Fluorophenanthridine derivatives of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which G is --CF.dbd.N--,E.sup.1, E.sup.2, E.sup.3, E.sup.4, E.sup.5 and E.sup.6 are identical or different and are --CH--, --CF-- or --N--and R.sup.1 (--A.sup.1 --M.sup.1).sub.a (--A.sup.2 --M.sup.2).sub.b, (M.sup.3 --A.sup.3 --).sub.c (M.sup.4 --A.sup.4 --).sub.d R.sup.2 denote mesogenic radicalsare suitable as components for liquid-crystalline mixtures, especially ferroelectric mixtures.

Abstract: The invention to provide novel tetralin compounds, liquid crystal materials and liquid crystal compositions, which can constitute a liquid crystal element affording a wide operating temperature range, a high switching speed and a small consumption of electric power as well as a stable contrast.The tetralin compound of the invention is represented by the following formula [I] ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group or a polyfluoroalkyl group of 3-20 carbon atoms (wherein one --CH.sub.2 -- or 2 or more --CH.sub.2 -- or --CF.sub.2 -- not adjacent to each other in these groups may be substituted with --O--), X is --COO--, --O-- or a single bond, A is each independently selected from ##STR2## (Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are hydrogen or fluorine), Y is a group selected from --COO--, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 --, and --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, R.sup.1 * is an optically active group represented by the formula --C*H--(CF.sub.3)--(CH.sub.2).sub.m --O--C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 [II].

Abstract: A shading spacer for liquid crystal consisting of a cross-linked polymer particles containing a dyestuff which is fixed in said polymer particles by taking a dyestuff compound having a silyl group which can be hydrolyzed in said polymer particles having a silyl group which can be hydrolyzed when said polymer particles are cross-linked, is provided in the present invention. In said shading spacer, removal of dyestuff from said polymer particles is prevented.

Abstract: Liquid crystal compositions which have excellent miscibility at low temperatures, a properly large optical anisotropy, and a small threshold voltage while satisfying various characteristics required of liquid crystal compositions for active matrix mode liquid crystal display devices. The compositions contain, as a first component, at least one compound expressed by any one of formulas ##STR1## and as a second component, at least one compound expressed by any one of formulas ##STR2## wherein R represents a straight chain alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, X represents CF.sub.3 or OCF.sub.3, X.sup.2 represents fluorine or OCF.sub.3, each Y represents, independently of each other, a hydrogen or fluorine atom, and m is 1 or 2.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device including a liquid crystal/polymer composite film including of a matrix polymer composed mainly of a transparent resin having an ionic dissociative group and, dispersed therein, a liquid crystal particle; and conductive substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal/polymer composite film therebetween, at least one of the conductive substrates being transparent.

Abstract: A structure and apparatus is described which utilizes the intrinsic self-assembling or aligning process of liquid crystal (LC) molecules to form an ordered structure, such as a structure having nematic or cholesteric ordering. The invention includes subtracting a constituent from a structure that includes a liquid crystal, to form a `mold` or polymer matrix on a molecular level. By adding and/or subtracting materials to or from the mold, a liquid crystal-like structure may be obtained. This structure includes all or at least some non-LC material, while exhibiting some LC characteristic. The liquid crystal-like structure overcomes the drawbacks of LCs such as temperature sensitivity and mechanical instability.

Abstract: Chiral compounds of the formula I ##STR1## where: R.sup.1,R.sup.2,R.sup.3,R.sup.4 are hydrogen or aromatic, aliphatic or araliphatic radicals having 1 to 40 carbon atoms,R.sup.5,R.sup.6,R.sup.7,R.sup.8 are aromatic or aliphatic radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms,with the proviso that at least one of the radicals R.sup.1 to R.sup.8 contains a polymerizable group,are used as dopes in liquid crystals, in compositions for coating substrates and in the preparation of interference pigments which can be used in printing inks and surface coatings.