Abstract: A liquid crystal display device assembly is of a two-layer construction including a first TN liquid crystal display device of a dot-matrix electrode pattern and a second TN liquid crystal display device of a segment electrode pattern disposed on the first display device in laminated relation. The product of refractivity anisotropy and thickness of the liquid crystal layer of the first liquid crystal display device is smaller than 0.6 .mu.m, and that of the second liquid crystal display device is 0.6 .mu.m or more.

Abstract: In a matrix display device having a cholesteric liquid crystal the bistability effect is used which some cholesteric liquid crystals show. The liquid crystal shows a frequency-dependent relaxation of a positive to a negative dielectric anisotropy. After writing the information the light-scattering picture elements have a focal-conical texture and the transparent elements have a homeotropic-nematic texture. The information can be stored for a longer period of time by causing the homeotropic-nematic texture of the transparent elements to change into the substantially transparent planar-conical texture. This is produced rapidly by applying across all picture elements a voltage of a frequency at which the liquid crystal has a negative dielectric anisotropy. The focal-conical texture of the light-scattering elements is substantially not disturbed by this voltage. During the presence of this voltage the written information is continuously visible.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for implementing a narrow band rejection filter utilizing a liquid crystal cell. A liquid crystal cell is positioned in the path of a light beam between a pair of crossed or parallel polarizers with the optical axis of the cell at a 45.degree. angle to the optical axes of the polarizers. A voltage is applied to the cell to tune the cell to reject a given wavelength and to pass other wavelengths. In order to reject the given wavelength and pass all other wavelengths, the order of the cell is stepped to maintain rejection of a fixed wavelength and the detected signal from the light passing through the cell is averaged.

Abstract: There is disclosed a solar beam collector for use in collecting and condensing solar beams to introduce them into light guides or conductors. To ensure that almost all components of the white light and other radiations including ultra-violet and infra-red rays are introduced into the light guides, parabolic mirrors are employed in order to converge all of the solar beams having various wave lengths at the inlet of the light guides, thereby avoiding the problem of chromatic aberration. The solar beam collector is compact in size and comprises a first parabolic mirror for converging the arriving solar beams, a second parabolic mirror for condensing the beams from the first mirror into parallel beams, a third parabolic mirror for converging the parallel beams from the second mirror at a fixed focus, and a light guide having an inlet end placed at the focus of the third mirror.

Abstract: A double-layered twisted nematic liquid crystal display device which comprises a double layered structure including first and second layers of liquid crystal, the molecules of said liquid crystal having their longitudinal axes which are twisted, the direction of twist in the first layer being different from that in the second layer and wherein the longitudinal axes of the liquid crystal molecules in each of the first and second layers are perpendicular to each other, an electrical power supply means for applying a voltage to one of the first and second layers for controlling the orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal in the first layer, the other of said first and second layers serving as a compensator which compensates for interference coloring, and a polarizing means for visibly enhancing the orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal in the first layer when the voltage is applied thereto.

Abstract: In a multi-layer display device such as a liquid crystal display, each of a plurality of sets of display elements is defined by a corresponding common electrode and a plurality of segment electrodes. Segment electrodes of sets of display elements which will not be activated simultaneously are connected together, with at least one of these sets being maintained in a deactivated state by means of a special drive signal applied to the corresponding common electrode. The level of time-sharing which must be utilized for driving the various common electrodes, for a given number of external connections to the segment electrodes, can thereby be reduced, or the overall number of connections made to the display device can be substantially reduced.

Abstract: A display device particularly adapted for use with a microfilm reader, in which an illuminating light source need be activated only in an initial reading stage. A first transparent electrode, a liquid crystal layer, a semiconductor layer and a second transparent electrode are stacked together in the stated order. A voltage is applied between the first and second transparent electrodes which is switched in a polarity between an initial reading mode and a display mode.

Abstract: A non-light-emitting (passive) display such as a dichroic LCD is frontally illuminated with polarized light incident obliquely upon the display, the incident light having followed multiple paths to arrive at the display from multiple directions. Relative to a typical display viewing axis, some light arrives from one side of such axis and some light arrives from the other side of such axis. An appropriately positioned light emitter, preferably comprising a reflective cavity, lamp, and polarizer, casts some light directly on the display, and casts other light, which is also substantially collimated, on an appropriately positioned reflector which re-directs incident light to the display.

Abstract: The dual-secondary mirror optical system utilizes, in principle, the Cassain optical system. An apertured, single, primary mirror is coaxially aligned with two secondary mirrors to provide coaxial transmit and receive optical paths. Separation of the optical paths is in radial distance from the central optical axis. An apertured secondary mirror in conjunction with the primary mirror directs the transmitted beam, providing a hollow expanded output beam. The other secondary mirror in conjunction with the primary mirror directs received radiation coaxially within and spatially separated from the hollow transmitted beam, providing dual transmit receive operation.

Abstract: A transmissive reflector which both reflects light and lets light pass therethrough. The transmissive reflector comprises a nacreous pigment in combination with a transparent adhesive. The nacreous pigment and the transparent adhesive can be separately coated on a clear or transparent substrate or combined as a blend or mixture thereon. The transmissive reflector imparts lustre or a pearlescent effect to light as well as diffuses the light and, thus, enhances the appearance of various articles such as transparencies, rear projection screens, projection television, and the like. Also, when utilized as a reflector as for a background, the reflected light has a lustre imparted thereto and thus any article displayed is distinctly set forth, as for example, a liquid crystal readout, and the like.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a layer of liquid crystals sandwiched between a pair of substrates, of which at least one substrate is transparent, is characterized in that the liquid crystal display device comprises a fixed display pattern formed by applying a voltage to said layer of liquid crystals.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is proposed which has a substrate having electrodes corresponding to the display picture elements, liquid crystal arranged on the substrate through a dielectric mirror, and a transparent electrode arranged on liquid crystal and applying electric fields to the liquid crystal for each picture element through the respective electrodes on the substrate. The substrate has memory cells which are capable of storing data and of becoming electrically conductive, this conductive condition being determined and sustained based on the contents of the stored data. The electric fields are applied to the liquid crystal through these memory cells.

Abstract: In an image display device an electrode of a storage condenser is composed of a drain electrode while the other electrode of said condenser is composed of a gate line of substantially the same width as that of said drain electrode and is provided across an insulating layer or of another conductive layer provided on a substrate across an insulating layer. The drain electrode constituting an electrode of the accumulating condenser may also be so positioned as to bridge two adjacent gate lines provided across an insulating layer and a semiconductor layer thereby forming the storage condenser.

Abstract: A passive electro-optical display cell comprising, on the internal face of each of its plates, at least one of which is transparent, sets of control electrodes and sets of screen electrodes, the control electrodes and the screen electrodes being separated by an insulating layer. The screen electrodes and the insulating layers have apertures therein facing the control electrodes. In order to reduce the number of conducting tracks, the cell is controlled by multiplexing. This type of control is made possible by virtue of the particular combination of the control electrodes and the screen electrodes. The control and screen electrodes of either plate will select two segments for display, but a selection between the two segments is made possible because they face different screen electrodes of the other plate. Such a cell makes it possible to display more data than a normal cell and may be used in an electronic watch which has a large number of functions.

Abstract: The display matrix includes a non-linear element with two terminals connected in series with each liquid crystal element in the matrix panel. The matrix uses generalized AC amplitude selective multiplexing driving voltages. Scanning electrode voltage amplitudes and the data electrode voltage amplitudes are both set up as n:1 where n is a simple integer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed, comprising two substantially plane parallel transparent substrates or carriers, two polarizer foils applied to the outer faces or sides of the substrates and a liquid crystal material enclosed between the substrates. The liquid crystal display is encapsulated with a layer formed of poly-para-xylylene, 2-chloro-poly-para-xylylene or 2,2'-dichlor-poly-para-xylylene. The encapsulation is produced in accordance with the parylene method at a deposition rate .gtoreq. 10 .ANG./sec.

Abstract: A manipulator (10) for adjusting the curvature of a bendable refocusing mirror (72) which is positioned inside of a high-vacuum optical apparatus is disclosed which is particularly adapted so that manipulation of the curvature of the mirror (72) can be accomplished on the outside of the apparatus through adjustment of a manually operable micrometer (46). A single feedthrough shaft (54) extends into the vacuum of the apparatus and is operable by the micrometer (46) so as to raise and lower one end each of a pair of drawbridge members (62, 64), each of which is attached to one end of the mirror (72) so that equal bending moments are applied at opposite ends of the mirror (72) so as to adjust the curvature thereof in a preselectable and uniform fashion.

Abstract: A full color high contrast image projection system with oil coupled dichroics and a single projection lens is disclosed. The invention includes a unitary optical tank in which a prepolarizer and dichroic separators are mounted in fixed alignment relative to a main polarizing prism. The prepolarizer acts on the incident light from a source to polarize the green light and reflect the S component out of the system. The red and blue components are transmitted unchanged. The main polarizer is mounted at a 90.degree. twist relative to the prepolarizer so that it reflects the green light to a first light valve via a first dichroic separator. The polarized red and blue components are transmitted to second and third light valves via a second dichroic separator. The light valves modulate the polarization state of incident light before returning it to the second beamsplitter. The second beamsplitter then recombines the individual beams into a single output beam.

Abstract: A twisted nematic liquid crystal optical, temporal bandpass filter device for transmitting optical images only having the time response near a given frequency. The device is comprised of two linear dichroic polarizers with orthogonal polarities at the input and output of the device and two twisted nematic liquid crystal light valves and a relay lens between the light valves. Each of the two light valves has a different time response and has opposite rotary direction handedness of the twist within the nematic liquid crystal cells. That is, the liquid crystal material in the cells is homogeneously aligned with 90.degree. twist between the front and back thin alignment insulator surfaces and the cells have counter untwisting of the polarized light.An a.c.

Abstract: A two dimensional display unit with an electrically controlled fluid and a method of manufacturing it. A layer of liquid crystal whose birefringence is electrically controlled is disposed between two thin glass plates which bear transparent electrodes and are connected together by metal studs regularly spaced apart over the whole useful surface so as to maintain a gap of constant thickness, the cell thus constituted being illuminated by parallel light and placed between crossed polarizer and analyzer. The invention applies to displaying various images at a low cost.