Abstract: In a method of driving a liquid crystal element constituted by interposing a bistable ferroelectric liquid crystal between electrodes, a driving method of a liquid crystal element having a memory property characterized in that a first voltage signal the absolute value of a peak value of which is less than a predetermined value is applied to the ferroelectric liquid crystal in order to keep a light transmission state of said liquid crystal element, and a second voltage signal the absolute value of a peak value of which is over the predetermined value is applied to the ferroelectric liquid crystal in order to change the light transmission state of the liquid crystal element.

Abstract: The spatial light modulator utilizes a modified liquid crystal television for modulating a laser beam so as to produce a transformed hologram image on a film plate which is identical with the video information being fed into the liquid crystal TV. Once a image film has been produced the film is developed and placed back in the system so that the system will now act as a comparator and tracking device. With the reference beam blocked and a new video input fed into the liquid crystal TV the system now will have an output only when the scene on the TV is identical to the scene recorded on the film. Indicator means give a signal output from this comparison that is identical.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device utilizing a ferroelectric liquid crystal, e.g., a chiral smectic liquid crystal aligned to establish two bi-stable display states. The display device is driven in a time-sharing mode. The change of the bi-stable display states is effected by applying a selected voltage to the changed ferro-electric liquid crystal. Thereafter the display state is held by applying an A.C. pulse voltage.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a pair of base plates and a liquid crystal composition interposed between the pair of base plates; the liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal compound showing at least chiral smectic phase and a liquid crystal showing at least nematic phase; a face of at least one of the pair of base plates having been provided with a function of preferentially orienting the axes of the liquid crystal molecules contacting the face in one direction.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus, comprising: a liquid crystal cell comprising an electroconductive member, an electric charge-accepting member, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed therebetween; charging means for imparting an electric charge to the electric charge-accepting member sufficient to form an electric field exceeding the threshold voltage of the ferroelectric liquid crystal; and a multi-color optical filter disposed in the neighborhood of the electroconductive member and comprising a plurality of filter elements of which adjacent ones have mutually different spectral characteristics.

Abstract: A driving method for a liquid crystal device of the type comprising a picture element formed by a first electrode, a second electrode oppositely spaced from the first electrode, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed at the opposite portion between the first and second electrodes and having a varying layer thickness. The driving method comprises: a first step of applying a voltage signal between the first and second electrodes for orienting a region extending over the whole area of the picture element to either one of a first and a second state, and a second step of applying a pulse with a waveform corresponding to gradation information between the first and second electrodes to switch the state of a region defining a prescribed area of the picture element from one state resultant in the first step to the other state.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal cell in which a ferroelectric liquid crystal are put between two sheets transparent substrates each formed with a transparent electrode to the inside thereof with the peripheral edges of the transparent substrates being sealed, a polymer film having a birefringent property appended on one side of the liquid crystal cell and two polarizing plates disposed on both sides of the liquid crystal cell and such that the polarizing directions thereof are in perpendicular to or in parallel with each other. Coloring for the transmission light is suppressed, by which the display quality can be improved.

Abstract: In the ferroelectric liquid crystal display apparatus, the molecule alignment or orientation of the ferroelectric liquid crystal is refreshed by the reset voltage before the succeeding signal display commences. The line shift signal of the oscillator in the control unit is sent to the shift register to select the scanning electrode to which the reset voltage is applied every scanning period.

Abstract: A liquid crystal color display device comprising at least two kinds of plural color filter members provided for patterned electrodes serving to apply an electric field across a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween, each of the above-mentioned at least two kinds of color filter members transmitting light having wavelengths representative of a particular color, in which at least one of the color filter members is constituted by a combination of at least two kinds of filter members segmented to a degree unresolvable by the eyes specifically arranged.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a ferroelectric liquid crystal placed under bistability condition with two stable states. The ferroelectric liquid crystal is placed under the bistability condition in the presence of a surface which has been uniaxially orientation-treated. The molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal align so as to be twisted in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer in either of the two stable states. The average dipole moments of the liquid crystal molecules in the two stable states are in mutually opposite polarities.

Abstract: A display panel comprising a liquid crystal device comprising a plurality of picture elements arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each picture element comprising a ferroelectric crystal under bistability condition showing either a first or a second orientation state; means for orienting the ferroelectric liquid crystal to either one of the first and second orientation states at respective picture elements; and means for controlling the duration of the first or second orientation state at respective picture elements.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel comprising base plates, at least one of which is a plastic base plate provided with a transparent electrode, and a liquid crystal interposed between the substrates, is provided by forming an orientation controlling film of a composition comprising an organic indium compound and an organic zirconium compound or of a composition comprising an organic indium compound, a polyester resin and an isocyanate resin on the plastic substrate, or is produced by arranging at least two monoaxially stretched films as the substrates so that their stretched directions are in parallel or in counter-directionally parallel with each other.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell using cell substrates of a flexible organic polymer film and containing liquid crystals injected in a space between the cell substrates. Spacers are dispersed between the cell substrates and immobilized by an orienting layer for orienting liquid crystal molecules. A thin glass substrate can be substituted for the flexible organic polymer film. The liquid crystal display cell is produced by a method including the steps of creating a liquid crystal molecule orienting solution having spacers dispersed therein, applying the orienting film solution containing the spacers to the cell substrates, subjecting the applied solution to a curing treatment, sealing liquid crystals in a space formed between the cell substrates in which the interior thickness corresponds to the diameter of the spacers. The spacers are immobilized by the orienting film during the curing step.

Abstract: A light box comprises a source of light, a reflector and a Fresnel lens. The lens provides nearly constant illumination of an object such as a liquid crystal cell by collimating light parallel to a normal to the cell. Thus the cell will exhibit a nearly uniform electro-optical response. The reflector preferably is parabolic, while the light source preferably is a line source such as a fluorescent tube.

Abstract: To simplify the liquid-crystal display film fabrication process, a single film strip is used which is divided into two films prior to the positioning of spacing means. After the spacing means have been positioned on the second film, the first film is folded through 90.degree. and laid on the second film.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical branching device which may be used as an optical isolator, circulator or switch. The device comprises two polarization-sensitive beam splitters. Each beam splitter comprises a prism and a rhombohedral plate between which a liquid crystal film is interposed. An optical device for rotating the plane of polarization of linearly polarized light is arranged between the two beam splitters. The polarization rotation device may comprise a Faraday rotator with a constant or a switchable direction of magnetization and a half-wave plate. Alternatively, the polarization rotation device may comprise a liquid crystal film interposed between two electrodes.

Abstract: Liquid crystal cell having a homeotropic structure, with compensated birefringence for said structure.The cell comprises a liquid crystal layer which can have a hometropic structure and electrodes located on either side of the layer and whereof at least one is transparent. It also comprises means for compensating the birefringence of the liquid crystal layer in its homeotropic structure, so that the cell has a high contrast for said structure, in the case of an oblique observation made in a given observation plane.Application to the construction of data display means.

Abstract: Between a liquid crystal module and a control circuit for controlling said liquid crystal module, there are provided that a counter circuit for counting down a timing signal given by said control circuit and an exclusive-OR circuit whose inputs are square wave pulses delivered from said counter circuit and square wave pulses given by said control circuit with a period of twice the frame period. The polarity of voltages applied to liquid crystal module is reversed by square wave pulses delivered from the exclusive-OR circuit with frequency higher than the frame frequency.

Abstract: In order to make it possible to be adapted to be used for an integrated liquid crystal panel having a built-in direct touch-entry enabling device, a liquid crystal material made by dispersing many needle-shaped magnetic substance particles respectively coated with a surface active agent in a well known liquid crystal substance and a method of making the same. The liquid material can be utilized in the form of many encapsulated liquid material units combined with one another. In case such encapsulated liquid crystal material is used for a liquid crystal device, it need not be sealed with glass or the like and can be directly applied to paint any required part and, even if the painted part is curved during the use, it can develop its performance.

Abstract: A display device incorporates an optical demagnifying component adjacent the display surface. The optical component forms a demagnified real or virtual image of the display formed at the display viewing surface, effectively increasing the view angle of an observer.