Abstract: In a display device having a liquid display medium, for example liquid crystal, the support plates must be kept accurately spaced apart. This is done by means of a monolayer of grains having a hard core and a thermoplastic envelope.

Abstract: An electro-optical display device particularly a liquid crystal display device having a pair of carrier plates spaced apart to form a cavity with each of the carrier plates on a surface facing the cavity being provided with an electrically conductive layer covered by a dielectric layer with the device having the medium, which may be the liquid crystal layer and is switchable between two optically different states, disposed in the cavity, characterized by the conductive layer having a thickness d.sub.1 and an index of refraction n.sub.1 and each of the dielectric layers having a thickness d.sub.2 and a refractive index n.sub.2 with the thickness having a range of 0.5 d.sub.1 .ltoreq.d.sub.1 .ltoreq.1.5 d.sub.1 and 0.5 d.sub.2 .ltoreq.d.sub.2 .ltoreq.1.5 d.sub.2, wherein ##EQU1## with .lambda. being the mean free wavelength of the operating light, ##EQU2## with n.sub.o being the index of refraction of the carrier plate and n.sub.3 being the index of refraction of the liquid crystal layer in the idle state.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell, which has two carrier plates spaced apart to form a cavity for receiving a liquid crystal layer, the plates on a surface facing the liquid crystal layer being provided with electrodes so that a portion of the liquid crystal layer is switchable between different operating states, is characterized by an improvement consisting of providing at least one of the facing surfaces of the carrier plates with means for orienting strip-like zones of the liquid crystal layer adjacent the surface with different orientations, each of the strip-like zones having a width of approximately 5 .mu.m and the striplike zones being alternately substantially homogeneously oriented and substantially homeotropically oriented. One embodiment of forming the cell is to provide parallel strips of orienting material with adjacent strips being of different types of orienting material.

Abstract: A checkerboard or a "go" board is implemented with a liquid crystal display or an electrochromic display. A pair of a disc pattern electrode and a ring pattern electrode are provided for showing a black "go" stone and a white "go" stone, respectively. A plurality of the disc pattern elecrodes and the ring pattern electrodes are formed on a first transparent glass substrate to serve as segment electrodes. A common electrode is provided opposite to the pair of the disc pattern electrode and the ring pattern electrode. The common electrode is arranged on the opposing second transparent glass substrate. A plurality of checks are printed on, for example, the first transparent glass substrate. The common electrodes, the disc pattern electrodes, and the ring pattern electrodes are activated by a driver coupled to a memory. The memory is adapted to store arrangement information of the black and the white "go" stones, and the blank indication.

Abstract: A display device for representation of a bright image on a background which device has a light valve comprising a liquid crystal cell having a medium which can be switched zone-wise between at least two optical states and a light trap or body which consists of a material having an index of refraction greater than 1, contains a fluorescent material, and is provided with an outlet window for each of the switchable zones characterized by means coacting with the switchable medium to control the passage of the light through the device so that in a rest or inactive state of the medium, the medium and means allow the passage of the excitation light for the fluorescent particles and the passage of the fluorescent light therefrom and in an "on" or activated state of the medium, the means and medium are impermeable at least to the fluorescent light so that each of the switchable zones of the medium is placed in an "on" state only when it belongs to the background of the image.

Abstract: An illuminating device provided adjacent the liquid crystal display device of an electronic timepiece having a light emitting element composed of tritium (.sup.3 H). The light emitting element is sealed with a resin without hydrogen atoms, such as chlorotrifluoroethylene resin or polytetrafluoroethylene for preventing the leakage of 3H of tritium.

Abstract: An optical display device for symbols having a body of material, having an index of refraction, which is greater than 1, and at least one symbol, character or the like, which is in optical contrast with the background, characterized by the body containing fluorescent particles, having a surface which is at least partially reflective, and each of the characters or symbols or the like being formed by appropriately shaped output coupling zones in the body. Preferably, the output coupling zones are formed by indentations on a rear surface of the body when taken in the direction of observation. Preferably, the device includes a light valve for at least some of the output coupling zones so that both static symbols and controllable symbols may be displayed.

Abstract: An untreated polarizer layer which inherently exhibits liquid crystal alignment-promoting characteristics is placed on an untreated front and/or rear substrate and respective electrode layer in contact with the liquid crystal so that the polarizer layer can serve the dual function of polarizing and liquid crystal alignment means in the display, thereby simplifying display construction. If desired, the polarizer layer itself may be rubbed or otherwise mechanically treated in situ on the substrate to selectively alter its liquid crystal alignment properties. Further simplification of the display is achieved by combining the rear electrode, associated rear polarizer and liquid crystal alignment means, and reflector together in the form of a reflective metallic electrode member having a transparent, dual functioning polarizer-alignment layer on the inner surface adjacent and in contact with the liquid crystal layer of the display.

Abstract: A display device having a liquid crystal cell containing a medium, which can be switched zone-wise between at least two different optical states to form a light valve, a light trap in the form of a plate-shaped body disposed behind the liquid crystal cell when taken in a direction of observation of the device, the plate-shaped body having a material with an index of refraction greater than 1, containing fluorescent particles, and possessing a light emergent or outlet window at the rear of each switchable zone of the liquid crystal cell characterized by the light emergent or outlet windows comprising a groove in the plate and a light scattering surface disposed between the groove and the medium of the liquid crystal cell.

Abstract: The invention describes a liquid crystal display device with storage and local erasure, utilizing a thermo-optical effect to write an image under the form of scattering points in a layer of a material exhibiting a smectic mesophase. The energy necessary for the writing of the image is considerable reduced by effecting the change from the transparent to the scattering state without leaving the smectic mesophase. This result is obtained by treating the walls enclosing the layer so as to impart to smectic material a first given uniform orientation and imposing it, by the action of an electric field, a second uniform orientation perpendicular to the first; under local heating to a temperature in the neighborhood of the smectic-nematic transition temperature, the material tends to take up again the orientation imparted by the walls, thus locally generating a scattering structure.

Abstract: An alignment structure provided in a twisted nematic field effect mode (TN-FEM) liquid crystal display includes, a first insulating layer deposited substantially along the normal direction of one of the supports, a second insulating layer deposited on said first insulating layer in a direction slant to the normal direction of the support, and a third insulating layer deposited on the second insulating layer slant to a direction rotated ninety degrees from said direction while the normal line of the support serves as the rotation axis thereof, thereby providing a three-layer alignment structure.

Abstract: A multiple layer protective glass, particularly a protective glass for a welding shield, for damping the light transmission, the layers of which are in turn comprised at least of a first polarizer, a first electrooptical cell, a second polarizer, a second electrooptical cell and a third polarizer, the electrooptical cells consisting of liquid crystals enclosed between transparent parallel plates coated with electrically conducting layers, said crystals being arranged in their non-excited condition to form a helically twisted structure for rotating the plane of polarization of the passing polarized light. The planes of polarization of the first and the second polarizer (2,4) are at right angles to each other. The planes of polarization of the second and the third polarizer (4,6) enclose an angle which is between 0.degree. and 60.degree.. The angle of rotation of the helical structure formed by the liquid crystals in the second electrooptical cell (5) is between 90.degree. and 30.degree.

Abstract: A compact liquid crystal display of the type wherein a pixel array formed of liquid crystal material is addressed by an associated array of MOSFET circuits, each circuit including a switching device and an overlying storage capacitor. A plurality of substantially parallel gate buses located orthogonal to and insulated from a plurality of parallel drain diffusions are provided for the application of control and video data to the array. A layer of metallization, located within the backplate, forms a common ground plate for the capacitors of the array, shielding the drain diffusions from incident light and thereby eliminating the need for space-consuming diffusion-to-conductor contact regions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a single crystal silicon charge storage apparatus suitable for use in an alternating current driven liquid crystal light valve having therein a moderately doped microchannel stop grid. The charge storage medium is made of a high resistivity substrate on which an MOS capacitor is formed having fast photoelectric transient response and capable of operating over a wide frequency range. A doped microgrid structure is formed in one side of the substrate to prevent charge carrier spreading at the silicon-silicon dioxide interface and to provide a focusing electric field for the charge carriers. The signal from the substrate is electrically coupled through high-reflectivity mirrors and light blocking layers to the liquid crystal.

Abstract: An arrangement for a polychrome display comprises in serial association a light source, a linear polarizing filter, at least one nematic liquid crystal rotating element, and either a passive birefringent retardation plate followed by a further neutral linear polarizing filter or a selective polarizer.

Abstract: A bistable liquid crystal twist cell is disclosed. The cell is characterized by at least two stable states which exist indefinitely as long as not external energy is applied to the cell. External energy is necessary only for switching the cell between the stable states. Cell configurations which permit the fabrication of patterned displays are additionally disclosed. Specific embodiments include new techniques for switching the cell between the stable states.

Abstract: A liquid crystal light valve having an improved counterelectrode structure. The light valve includes a layer of liquid crystal material which lies intermediate a photosensitive substrate of intrinsic semiconductive material and the counterelectrode. The upper surface of the substrate is characterized by a highly doped peripheral channel stop. The counterelectrode comprises electrically insulated inner and outer regions, the inner region substantially overlying only the intrinsic material interior said highly doped peripheral channel stop so that an electrical bias may be selectively applied, greatly enhancing the dark current breakdown voltage of the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical element in the form of a body (fluorescent body) which comprises a material with an index of refraction greater than one, contains fluorescent particles, and manifests at least one output coupling zone (light outlet window). This element is characterized, in accordance with the invention, by its use for collecting, conducting, and focused output coupling of optical radiation. The fluorescent body primarily serves the purpose of collecting natural or artificially produced radiation in large areas, and to focus it on a small-area, relatively weak receiver; or, with and without a light valve, for the purpose of representation of information (or data).

Abstract: The device according to the invention comprises a wave guide formed by a thin layer of a ferrimagnetic garnet deposited onto a substrate, preferably by epitaxy, and capable of propagating first and second modes of radiated energy, means for exciting the first mode in said layer, means for inducing a magnetic field in the propagation direction to enable at least a fraction of the propagated energy to be transferred from the first mode towards the second mode, means for selectively transmitting one of the two modes situated in front of the guide, for example a metallic layer deposited onto the thin layer and means for extracting the energy of the transmitted mode.

Abstract: An improved display device having a light valve unit or display and a fluorescent plate characterized by a frame member for holding the light valve unit and fluorescent plate with the exit windows of the fluorescent plate being aligned with the switchable zones of the light valve unit. Preferably, the frame member will pass light which will excite the fluorescent particles of the fluorescent plate but will not allow passage of the fluorescent light so that a high contrast of the display can be obtained. The frame, which is preferably molded of synthetic plastic, can contain fluorescent particles, which emit light at a frequency range that does not impair the optical contrast of the display and which can be utilized to charge a battery for an auxiliary illumination device.