Abstract: The invention provides an alignment film that is provided with a high alignment control force to a target molecule and less likely to cause problems to an element during the formation of the alignment film. An alignment film has a configuration in which, on a first alignment layer, a second alignment film layer that is uniform in the in-plane anisotropy more than the first alignment film thereof and aligned along surface alignment of the first alignment film. The first alignment film layer can be formed of, for instance, a polyimide film whose rubbing density is 200 or less, and the second alignment film layer can be formed by use of an ion deposition method with an acryl monomers as a deposition material. A liquid crystal device provided with the alignment film like this becomes higher in the alignment control force to a liquid crystal.

Abstract: An elliptically polarizing plate, comprising a polarizer, a first optical anisotropic layer having positive refractive index anisotropy and an optical axis of the anisotropy that is tilted, and a second optical anisotropic layer having negative refractive index anisotropy and an optical axis that is tilted, have accurate retardation compensation of a liquid crystal cell, and the liquid crystal display maintains a display contrast having a sufficient visibility when the viewing angle is changed and which does not generate colorization.

Abstract: A gas blocking device is used in an optical fiber repeater or other device to prevent the passage of gas, for example, to prevent nitrogen from escaping from a pressurized housing through a fiber holding tube or pigtail. The gas blocking device includes a fiber containing body, a fiber organizing insert, and a locking member securing the insert to one end of the body. The fiber containing body is attached to one end of the fiber holding tube. The fibers extend from the fiber holding tube through a passageway in the body, and each of the fibers extends through a fiber receiving hole in the fiber organizing insert. The insert engages the body such that the insert is prevented from rotating with respect to the body and the fibers are protected against microbending and other damage. A material, such as hot melt glue, fills at least a portion of the body and surrounds the fibers to block the gas from entering the fiber holding tube.

Abstract: An optical compensation film for liquid crystal displays comprises first and second optically anisotropic layers containing positively birefringent material disposed on a substrate, wherein the optic axis, thickness, and retardation of these layers are within prescribed limitations.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel is arranged such that a reflection member overlaps a light-shielding wiring pattern such that apertures are left unmasked. This prevents light use efficiency from being decreased due to a light-shielding wiring pattern having memory wiring layers. An array substrate includes a transparent electrode which applies a field to a liquid crystal layer, a light-shielding wiring pattern having one or more apertures which allow transmission of light incident on the liquid crystal layer from the reverse side of the array substrate, and a reflection member which reflects incident light applied from a counter substrate side through the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A roller truck for supporting a rotating drum of a CT scanner, including a spring plate having opposing ends, top and bottom surfaces and unconstrained side edges. At least two axles are secured to the spring plate, and an attachment member is secured to the spring plate between the two axles. The attachment member is for securing the roller truck to one of a support frame of the CT scanner and the drum mounted for rotation on the frame. Rollers are rotatably mounted on each axle of the truck for supporting and allowing the instrument drum to rotate. The spring plate is free to resiliently bend about the attachment member and is adapted such that, when the instrument drum is rotated, resulting vibration frequencies are shifted by the roller truck to minimize distortions in images produced by the CT scanner.

Abstract: A transflective pixel structure, suitably formed on a substrate, having a scan line formed on the substrate, a gate dielectric layer formed on the substrate and covering the scan line, a data line, formed on the gate dielectric layer, a protection layer formed on a part of the gate dielectric layer and covering the data line, a transparent pixel electrode formed on the protection layer, a reflective pixel electrode formed on the exposed gate dielectric layer, and a double-drain thin-film transistor formed on the substrate. The double-drain thin-film transistor has a gate, a channel layer, a source region and two drain regions. The source region is electrically connected to the data line, the drain regions are coupled to the transparent and reflective pixel electrodes, respectively, and the gate is electrically connected to the scan line.

Abstract: The voltage applied to a first grid electrode 71 of an X-ray tube 11 by a grid voltage control section 110 is controlled with reference to a predetermined negative voltage from a negative voltage generating section 112 when an object 5 to be inspected does not exist in an imaging area (irradiation area of an X-ray from an X-ray source 1) so that the pulse outputted from a pulse generator 105 is in its OFF state, and is controlled with reference to a reference positive voltage from a reference voltage generating section 115 when the object 5 to be inspected exists in the imaging area in the X-ray image intensifier 2 (irradiation area of the X-ray from the X-ray source 1) so that the pulse outputted from the pulse generator 105 is in its ON state, whereby both of the cutoff voltage and grid operating voltage are applied in a stable state.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an array substrate for use in a liquid crystal display device, which includes a transparent substrate that includes a display area and a non-display area. A plurality of red, green and blue color filters are formed on the transparent substrate in the display area. A first alignment key is formed on the transparent substrate in the non-display area and made of the same material as the color filters. An overcoat layer is formed on the plurality of red, green and blue color filters to cover the color filters in the display area. A passivation layer covers gate and data lines and a thin film transistor in the display area and covers the first alignment key in the non-display area, the passivation layer having a drain contact hole to the thin film transistor. A pixel electrode is formed on the passivation layer in the display area, the pixel electrode contacting the thin film transistor through the drain contact hole.

Abstract: One of a pair of substrates with liquid crystals sandwiched therebetween includes a plurality of pixels each of which is provided with a scanning electrode, an image signal electrode, a switching element provided at an intersection of the scanning electrode and the image signal electrode, a pixel electrode connected to the image signal electrode via the switching element, a counter electrode, and a busbar electrically connected to the counter electrode. A portion of the pixel electrode is overlapped with the busbar so as to make up a storage capacitance. A shape of the pixel electrode is altered for each pixel so that a value of the storage capacitance becomes smaller from a feeding side to a termination side. The portion of the pixel electrode overlapped with the busbar so as to make up the storage capacitance is located within the busbar in a plan view of the device.

Abstract: The present invention is designed to provide a liquid crystal display device in which a nontacky silicone sheet having rubber elasticity is so provided between a liquid crystal display panel and a transparent protection plate for protecting the liquid crystal display panel as not to form any air layer and a method for producing such a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A display panel, laminated substrate, and liquid crystal cell which includes a pair of facing substrates bonded together with a sealing material. One or both of the substrates includes at least one corner portion on which a plurality of protruding pads are formed, the pads assisting in dispersion of the sealing material during bonding of the substrates to prevent sealing material from moving inwardly and possibly adversely affecting the display region of the resulting structure. A method of making such a laminated substrate is also provided.

Abstract: An optical switch has first to fourth optical matrix switches in each of which a plurality of 2-input/2-output optical switch elements are arranged in a matrix to form a plurality of input ports, a plurality of auxiliary input ports, a plurality of output ports, and a plurality of auxiliary output ports. The auxiliary output ports in the first optical matrix switch are connected to the respective input ports in the third optical matrix switch, the output ports in the second optical matrix switch are connected to the respective auxiliary input ports in the third optical matrix switch, the output ports in the first optical matrix switch are connected to the respective auxiliary input ports in the fourth optical matrix switch, and the auxiliary output ports in the second optical matrix switch are connected to the respective input ports in the fourth optical matrix switch.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for signaling information between an optical cross-connect switch and attached network equipment such as Internet Protocol (IP) routers, WDM terminals, SONET add/drop multiplexers and ATM switches. In one embodiment, an out-of-band signaling interface between an optical cross-connect switch and attached network equipment is realized by using an out-of-band communication channel over a network. In another embodiment, a decentralized signaling interface is provided by one or more dedicated signal lines between an optical cross-connect switch and attached network equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-intrusively sensing fluid flow within a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a first sensing array for sensing acoustic signals traveling at the speed of sound through fluid flow within the pipe, a second sensing array for sensing local pressure variations traveling with the fluid flow, and a housing attached to the pipe for enclosing the sensing arrays. The first sensing array includes a plurality of first optical pressure sensors and the second sensing array includes a plurality of second optical pressure sensors.

Abstract: A surface mode liquid crystal device, for example of the pi-cell type, comprises a layer nematic liquid crystal (10) disposed between alignment layers (4,9) and an electrode arrangement (3,8). The nematic liquid crystal has viscosity coefficients &eegr;1, &eegr;2 and &ggr;1, such that (&eegr;1-&eegr;2)/&ggr;1≧1.15 or (&eegr;1-&eegr;2)/&ggr;1≦0.9.

Abstract: A tight buffered optical fiber having a protective layer generally surrounding the optical fiber, a release layer at least partially bonding to and generally surrounding the protective layer and a buffer layer generally surrounding and being strippable from the release layer. The release layer including an acrylate with oligomers, monomers and a reactive release substance distributed with a matrix. The reactive release substance may include a silicone selected from the group including methyl and phenyl silicones. The matrix may be mechanically or chemically bonded to the protective layer so that stripping the buffer layer does not remove the release layer.

Abstract: In an LCD, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a projection 6 is structured on top of insulation layer 8 on a TFT glass substrate 10 and under part of a back matrix 9. The projection 6 encircles the transparent region in each pixel so that a spacer 17 cannot climb over the projection 6 and enter the transparent region even though a certain pressure is applied onto the substrates 10 and 11. The width of the projection 6 is equal to or less than the diameter of the spacer 17. The height of the projection 6 is equal to or longer than approximately 1% the length of the diameter of the spacer 17, and it is preferable that it be equal to or longer than approximately 2%.

Abstract: A laser diode module including a laser diode assembly having a laser diode and a holder, a lens-fiber assembly having a lens and an optical fiber fixed in a given positional relationship, and a sleeve. The lens-fiber assembly includes a casing having a first hole and a second hole offset from the first hole. The lens is inserted and fixed in the first hole, and a ferrule in which the optical fiber is embedded is press-fitted with the second hole. The ferrule has a slant polished first end and a second end projecting from an end surface of the casing by a given distance. The lens and the ferrule are fixed in the casing so that a given distance is defined between the lens and the first end of the ferrule.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having a pixel electrode, wherein the pixel electrode includes a first reflective region and a first transmissive region, a patterned reflective panel adjacent to the liquid crystal panel, the patterned reflective panel having a second reflective region and a second transmissive region, and a back light unit adjacent to the patterned reflective panel, wherein the patterned reflective panel is movable along a direction parallel to the liquid crystal panel.