Abstract: In the disclosed solid-state diaphragm device, a liquid crystal cell is driven by a matrix driving system. Electrodes of a set on one plate of the cell are arranged in concentric circular relation to each other, while electrodes of another set on the other plate are arranged in radial relation. Related ones of the latter electrodes are connected with one another at their outer or inner peripheral portions to the matrix driving system.

Abstract: A device for mounting a liquid crystal display (LCD) to a circuit board without requiring bolts, screws or auxiliary pieces, comprises a holder positioned between the LCD and circuit board and a cover member positioned around the LCD and holder. The cover member is formed with end clips that snap fit around opposite sides of the circuit board to retain the lower surface of the holder in contact with the board. Opposite sides of the holder are formed with through channels containing Zebra elastomeric strips for establishing electrical connections between the circuit board and the LCD. The LCD is retained within the mounting device by resilient members formed on the cover member and holder and maintained in contact with the LCD.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making an electro-optical display and the display made by such method having improved optical uniformity provided by the use of one or two pressure plates having raised portions that are dimensionally adapted to press uniformly on the seal enclosing the electro-optical material in a cavity between two plates of the display or uniformly upon the seal and at least one support member disposed in the cavity as a means of providing support and improving parallelism between the plates. The method also includes embodiments of electro-optical displays in which the support members, if used in the display, comprise a plurality of graphically shaped support members that not only provide support and improve parallelism between the plates but which are also able to convey information to a viewer of the display regardless of whether the electro-optical material is in an electrically energized or an electrically unenergized state.

Abstract: A passive electro-optical indicating element for displaying information, such as alpha-numerical characters having two spaced, transparent electrode supports which together enclose a liquid crystal substance and are provided on their surfaces opposite said liquid crystal substance with respective polarizers, have the surface facing the observer of the polarizer located on the front electrode support coated with a thin layer of a transparent curable lacquer, in which inorganic fillers are suspended in the prepared lacquer in an amount between 2 and 10 percent by weight.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates, a first patterned layer formed on a part of one of the substrates, a second layer formed on the remaining part of the one of the substrates, the thickness of the second layer being substantially identical to that of the first patterned layer to provide a layer uniform in thickness, and a third layer formed on the uniform layer to provide orientation of molecules of a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates. The uniform layer is manufactured by the steps of forming the first patterned layer on part of the one of the substrates, and forming the second layer on the remaining part of the one of the substrates, using a lift-off method.

Abstract: A pair of polarizers are respectively attached to a pair of substrates forming a twisted nematic field effect mode liquid crystal display. An orientation control film is disposed on each of the pair of substrates to orient liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal material in a desired direction. Each of the pair of polarizers is attached to an outer surface of the respective substrates such that the plane of polarization of each of the polarizers is not in parallel with or perpendicular to a direction oriented by the orientation control film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a display element containing a liquid crystal display composition for operating in the twisted nematic mode and a two-frequency matrix-addressing circuit for driving the display element. The liquid crystal composition has a critical frequency f.sub.c such that at lower frequencies, the dielectric anisotropy of said composition is positive and at higher frequencies is negative, f.sub.c lying between the low frequency and high frequency components in the output of said circuit. The arrangement of the device is such that a selected picture cell in said display element can be turned off by applying the high frequency component of said output. Other embodiments include a device in which a dichroic dye is incorporated in the composition and an embodiment which contains means for detecting the temperature of the liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A matrix multiplexed field effect display has switch devices at matrix crosspoints to provide a turn-on threshold for the field effect material. The switch devices are thin film metal-insulator-metal (MIM) switches. The display is operated at low current so that the MIM switches, which may be deposited on glass, do not degrade rapidly in use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reflector for use in electro-optical displays utilizing electro-optical materials. The reflector is made from a composition comprising a blend of at least one alkali earth metal salt with a binder such as sodium carboxy methyl cellulose or thermoplastic phenoxy and an amount of solvent sufficient to provide suitable viscosity to permit the reflector to be deposited as a reflector on the display. The reflector composition comprises from about 30% to about 99.9% by weight of the alkali earth metal salt to the weight of binder casted to be adjacent to and directly adhered to the side of the back plate facing away from the electro-optical material and is able to provide a wide reflecting angle in conjunction with maintaining a high contrast ratio between the electrically energized state and the electrically un-energized state of the electro-optical material contained within the display.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method for producing a liquid crystal display or cell which has a liquid crystal film positioned between a pair of substrate members whose surfaces have been ultrasonically surface treated so as to cause the liquid crystal molecules to be aligned in a predetermined manner.The method includes ultrasonically treating the surface of the substrate which contacts the liquid crystal film so as to form microgrooves or striations. The surface is treated by immersing the substrate in a liquid bath, ultrasonically forming a column of cavitation bubbles which is directed to the substrate where the cavitation bubbles collapse on the substrate, and moving the substrate through the liquid at a predetermined speed so as to form microgrooves or striate the surface of the substrate. Using two such treated substrates, a liquid crystal cell is prepared in the form of a sandwich of substrate/liquid crystal/substrate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal color display device including a liquid crystal display cell having a Fredericksz transition effect, and a driving circuit for the display cell. At least one of the opposed electrodes of the liquid crystal display cell is divided into a plurality of electrode members aligned in a row, while the driving circuit supplies driving voltages to the plurality of electrode members corresponding to sound signals, the driving voltages being supplied sequentially having different levels in the order of alignment of the plurality of electrode members.

Abstract: A display cell having at least two states of different opacity, comprises a first material having a first index of refraction, a second material dispersed within the first material and having a second index of refraction, the difference between the first and the second indices of refraction being variable over a range of values, and means for varying the difference in index of refraction over a portion of the range. When the indices of refraction of the first and second material are substantially the same, the display is substantially transparent. Otherwise it is opaque or substantially less transparent.

Abstract: An internally electroded smectic liquid crystal display cell having a layer of a smectic material sandwiched between two electroded plates having electrodes that overlap at least in part wherein each said electrode is covered with an electrically insulating coherent layer whose surface has been treated to provide it with a rough texture provides a liquid crystal display cell of low voltage threshold characteristics.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of opposing supports one carrying a patterned electrode and the other carrying a counter electrode placed vis-a-vis with the patterned electrode and a liquid crystal material sandwiched between the two electrodes, wherein at least the patterned electrode comprises an In.sub.2 O.sub.3 coating and a remaining portion of the support where the In.sub.2 O.sub.3 coating is not disposed comprises a CeO.sub.2 coating whose refractive index is substantially equal to that of the In.sub.2 O.sub.3 coating.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of individual and discrete liquid crystal display cells each having two plates disposed in respective directions normal to each other so as to form extension portions in these directions together with overlap portions for assembly of the respective cells. The cells are assembled into a single wide-screen liquid crystal display panel such that lead terminals are disposed in the extension portions of the plates using electrically conductive members, such as elasmatic rubber connectors, for connecting the lead terminals. The lead terminals are maintained in overlapping and electrically conductive relationship via said conductive members.

Abstract: There provides a liquid crystal display device which comprises a pair of opposed substrates, a transparent electrode on at least one of the substrates, a liquid crystal composition and a characteristic orienting film of a polyimide-siloxane copolymer resin formed at least over the surface of the electrode, and which shows an excellent orientation.

Abstract: A guest-host type liquid crystal display device not requiring the use of external polarizers, comprises: two guest-host type liquid crystal cells which are superimposed one upon the other and which are constructed in a manner that the liquid crystal molecules contained in the respective cells and located close to the boundary between the two cells are aligned in a direction parallel to the plane of the boundary, but that the direction of alignment of the molecules in one cell is perpendicular to that in the other cell when a voltage is applied, or alternatively when no voltage is applied. In case the perpendicular state is realized when a voltage is applied, the molecules are caused to be rearranged in a direction normal to the substrate by the removal of the applied voltage, whereas in case said state is realized when no voltage is applied, such rearrangement can be achieved by the application of a voltage.

Abstract: Moderately narrow band, tunable, birefringent filters are disclosed using zero-twist liquid crystal cells as variable retarders in a Lyot-type birefringent filter. These filters can achieve analytically useful levels of resolution and stray-light ratios for costs that are competitive with prism and grating monochromators. These birefringent filters can be tuned and/or rendered opaque by the application of a suitable voltage to the cells. Thus, a variety of different optical instruments can be constructed with no moving parts. Power requirements are negligible. A useful filter can be designed to occupy a volume less than one cubic inch. These properties render such a filter ideally suited to microprocessor control.

Abstract: An image forming method and device for use in a document copier in which an optical image is projected upon a memory liquid crystal cell. A voltage is applied to the cell to determine whether the image recorded thereupon is a positive or negative image. The image recorded upon the memory liquid crystal cell is then projected upon a recording medium. A second image can be combined with that from the memory liquid crystal cell and projected therewith onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of upper and lower substrates disposed in opposition to each other with upper and lower electrode patterns being formed on the inner surfaces of the substrates, respectively. A part or all of cross-over portions of wiring conductors of the upper and the lower electrode patterns are disposed within an effective display region with the width of the wiring conductors being reduced at the cross-over portions. The cross-over portions disposed within the effective display region are located with a predetermined distance from a display pattern to be produced. A failure such as a short-circuit formed between the upper and the lower electrode patterns is significantly reduced, while the area of the active display region can be increased.