Abstract: An optically active compound exhibiting high speed response properties when used as a component of liquid crystal materials used in a liquid crystal display mode utilizing ferroelectricity, and a liquid crystal composition containing the compound are provided, which compound is expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents alkyl, alkoxy or alkoxycarbonyl each of 2 to 18 C, R.sup.2 represents alkyl of 3 to 18 C or alkoxy of 1 to 18 C and A represents a member selected from a group of two directly bonded six-membered rings having a halogen atom, cyano group, methyl group or trifluoromethyl group attached thereonto and * represents an unsymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula I,R.sup.1 --A.sup.1 --Z.sup.1 --A.sup.2 --[Z.sup.2 --A.sup.3 ].sub.m --R.sup.2 Iin which R.sup.1, R.sup.2, A.sup.1, A.sup.2, A.sup.3, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2 and m have the meaning specified in patent claim 1, are suitable as components of smectic liquid-crystalline phases.

Abstract: A liquid crystal phase consisting of at least three components A, B and C, each of which contains one or more compounds, wherein component A has a viscosity of at most about 25 mPa.s at 20.degree., a clearing point of at most 130.degree. and a dielectric anisotropy between about -2 and about +2, component B has a dielectric anisotropy above about +8, component C has a clearing point of more than 130.degree. and a dielectric anisotropy between about -2 and about +2, characterized in that component A contains at least one compound of the formula III ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is alkyl of 1 to 12 C atoms, in which in addition one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can be replaced by O atoms, --CO--, --O--CO--, --CO--O-- and/or --CH.dbd.CH-- groups,R.sup.2 has one of the meanings of R.sup.1, ##STR2## Z.sup.1 is --CO--O--, --O--CO-- or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, o is 1 or, if A.sup.

Abstract: Composite optical devices using polymer liquid crystal materials both as optical and adhesive elements. The devices are made by assembling a heated polymer liquid crystal compound, while in a low viscosity form between optically transparent substrates. The molecules of the polymer are oriented, while in the liquid crystalline state and while above the glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of the polymer, to provide the desired optical effects, such as polarization, and selective reflection. The liquid crystal polymer cements the substrates together to form an assembly providing the composite optical device.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy, a good AC-stabilizing effect and still high-speed response properties, and a light switching element, are provided, which composition comprises a compound expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a linear or branched alkyl group, alkoxy group, alkanoyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group or alkanoyl group each of 1 to 18 carbon atoms; ##STR2## X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 each represent hydrogen atom or halogen atom; P and Q each represent 0 or 1; and P+Q is 0 or 1.

Abstract: This invention provides nonlinear optical media which have a stable noncentrosymmetric array of side chain polymer molecules, such as an electric field poled and stabilized medium of a 50/50 copolymer of N-methyl-4-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethenyl]phenylamino-2-ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate and 4-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyenyl]phenylthio-2-ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate.

Abstract: Chiral, nonracemic compounds of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein m and n are either both zero, both equal one or n is equal to one and m is equal to zero, X and Y and Z are halogens, R' is an alkyl or alkoxy group having three to fifteen carbons, R is an alkyl group having one to fifteen carbons, and Ar is a 4,4'-substituted phenylvenzoate, 4,4'-substituted biphenylbenzoate, 5,4-substituted 2-phenylpyrimidine or 4,4'-substituted biphenyl core, and wherein * indicates a chiral center, which are useful as ferroelectric liquid crystal components having high polarization are described.

Abstract: The invention lies in novel ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds particularly represented by the general formulae, having a good responsibility in relation to the applied electric field and a wide range of phase transition points inclusive of the room temperature so as to be useful alone as the liquid crystal material but also to be mixed with other liquid crystal compounds for expanding the phase transition points to a desired range and making the response speed of the liquid crystal composition faster. ##STR1## In the formulae, m and n are same or different with each other and represent an integral of 1-20.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound represented by formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a straight chain alkyl group having from 4 to 18 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents a straight chain alkyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms or a branched alkyl group having from 3 to 6 atoms and having a methyl group as a side chain; and m and n each represents 1 or 2, is disclosed.The liquid crystal compound of formula (I) is optically and electrically stable and exhibits fast electro-optical switching in image display.

Abstract: A composition comprising a lyotropic ferromagnetic liquid crystal. The lyotropic ferromagnetic liquid crystal contains 1 to 90% by weight of a surfactant, 1 to 90% by weight of a co-surfactant, 1 to 97% by weight of oil and 1 to 97% by weight of a polar liquid, the ratio of the co-surfactant mass to the surfactant mass is below 2. The four constituents form elongated aggregates with the surfactant and co-surfactant serving as an interface between the polar liquid and the oil and forming with the polar liquid the elongated aggregates. The aggregates contain ferromagnetic particles.

Abstract: Anisotropic compounds having a nematic phase have the formula ##STR1## wherein A is a cyclic radical selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## Z is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- group, a methyleneoxy group and an oxymethylene group,n is 1 or 2,p is 0, 1, or 2,r is 0 or 1,X is selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, nitrile and methyl,R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkanoyloxy and C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkylamino and cyclic groups of the formulas ##STR3## wherein R.sup.3 through R.sup.6 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkanoyloxy, and C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkylamino, and Z.sup.2 through Z.sup.

Abstract: A tolane compound represented by the following general formula (I) which can elevate the anisotropy (.DELTA.n) of the refractive index of a liquid crystal composition: ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkynyl or an alkadienyl group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and R' represents an alkyl or an alkoxy group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound suitable as a material for ferroelectric liquid crystal display elements and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which liquid crystal compound is an optically active-2,5-diphenylpyridine expressed by the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is 1-20C alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy or alkynyloxy and the other is an optically active group; and X and Y each independently represent H, halogen or CN and at least one of X and Y is H.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell is disclosed which comprises a pair of opposed substrates defining a space therebetween and each having one or more electrodes disposed thereon, and a liquid crystal material provided in the space, the liquid crystal material being a lyotropic liquid crystal composition containing water and a polymeric electrolyte dissolved in the water in an amount sufficient to form a liquid crystal phase.

Abstract: Ophthalmic dosages of chromophores in aqueous gel to block transmission of all or various spectrums of U.V. from the eyes, when used as ophthalmic liquid sunglasses.

Abstract: A crosslinked polymer liquid crystal is stretched to provide a polymer liquid crystal layer with a higher degree of uniform alignment than a non-crosslinked polymer liquid crystal. Such a stretched layer of crosslinked polymer liquid crystal is disposed between a pair of substrates to form a liquid crystal device showing a better contrast as a recording medium or display device. The improvement in alignment obtained by stretching of a crosslinked polymer liquid crystal is also effective in increasing the responsive characteristics in response to an electric field or magnetic field and also the pyro-electric effect of the resultant polymer liquid crystal layer where the polymer liquid crystal is a ferro-electric one.

Abstract: An optical filter consisting essentially of a glutamate copolymer having thermotropic cholesteric liquid crystal properties and represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or an arylalkyl group having 10 or less carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or an arylalkyl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, provided that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are different from each other; m and n are numbers satisfying the following relationships 50.ltoreq.m+n.ltoreq.2000 and m/n=80 to 10/20 to 90.

Abstract: Novel thermotropic liquid crystal complexes are produced by hydrogen bonding, essentially along the long axes, of two different thermotropic mesogenic compounds. The resultant new mesogenic complexes so produced exhibit mesogenic behavior not only over an expanded temperature range than both of the parent compounds, but also at a higher temperature than for either compound individually. This invention is applicable to both nematic and smectic mesogens.

Abstract: A nonlinear optical material comprises a solid solution of an organic guest compound having an electron donative group or an electron attractive group. The organic guest compound is contained in the nonlinear optical material preferably an oriented form through orientation under melting by application of a DC electric field. The guest compound is preferably a para-di-substituted benzene derivative represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein A is an electron donative group and B is an electron attractive group.

Abstract: Composition which form hydrogen bridges are suitable for the preparation of materials of non-linear optical properties.