Abstract: A liquid crystal device is driven by employing a two step writing scheme. In the first step, a pixel is cleared to a second orientation state by a clearing pulse and then a voltage for writing the pixel is applied thereto. In the second step, an additional voltage for writing the pixel is applied thereto. By employing a two step writing scheme, it is possible to compensate for the difference in threshold voltage necessary to write, to a first orientation state, a pixel previously in the first orientation state and a pixel previously in the second orientation state without increasing the time between application of a clearing pulse and a writing signal.

Abstract: This invention provides an electro-optic modulator which, in some embodiments, utilizes the linear electro-optic effect in liquid crystal materials. The liquid crystal modulator of this invention comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystal cell with electrodes to supply an electric field in a direction with a nonzero linear electro-optic coefficient, and means to suppress change in the tilt angle and azimuthal angle of the liquid crystal molecular directors. The response time of the linear electro-optic effect modulators of this invention is in the nanosecond range or faster. This modulator can be employed in Fabry-Perot or waveguide devices to provide increased modulation via multiple passes. This invention further provides for prism-coupling of light into or out of the waveguide structure whereby the modulator provides amplitude modulation, tunable filtering, or both.

Abstract: The invention relates to the formation of arrays of thin film transistors (TFT's) on silicon substrates and the dicing and tiling of such substrates for transfer to a common module body. TFT's activate display electrodes formed adjacent the transistors after the tiles have been transferred. The invention can be used in a liquid crystal display and may include one or more light shielding layers.

Abstract: A method for bonding together liquid crystal cells using a transparent grease. The grease maintains a level of viscosity appropriate for physically bonding the cells while matching the indices of refraction of the cells or cell layers for proper optical coupling.

Abstract: A color liquid crystal display device comprising light shielding layers and color filters on the inner surface of a cell, wherein similar light shielding layers and color filters are disposed also in a peripheral region outside of a display region which is equipped with groups of striped row and column electrodes opposed mutually to form pixels for display. The respective patterns of the light shielding layers and the color filters are the same in both the display region and the peripheral region. A liquid crystal layer formed in the display device has a twist angle of 160.degree. to 300.degree. and a retardation compensator composed of a film is superposed on such layer so as to compensate the elliptical polarization. And a non-selective voltage is applied continuously to the scanning electrodes in the peripheral region so as to maintain the peripheral pixels in a light-shielded state, thereby rendering the display easier to be seen.

Abstract: A double sided panel display unit produces visual images on both side thereof, and comprises a luminescent panel display with a transparent substrate, a liquid crystal shutter sandwiched between two polarizing plates different in angle of polarization at 90 degrees, and a liquid crystal display supplied with light through the transparent substrate, wherein the liquid crystal shutter and the liquid crystal display are controlled in such a manner that the same visual images are displayed on the polarizing plate as well as on the liquid crystal display, thereby achieving a thin double sided panel display with a small number of components.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal is injected into a liquid crystal cell including a pair of substrates each having at least an electrode thereon and disposed with a sealing agent therebetween so as to provide a prescribed gap therein.

Abstract: A flat-panel display system and a display method utilizing microprojection techniques whereby each pixel of the display acts as its own micro-projector. The micro-projector utilizes a reversed Schlieren optical arrangement. A flat fiber-optic illuminator and an illumination method provide collimated light for the display. A layer of light scattering material such as polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) is interposed between the illuminator and the rear-projection screen of the display. The scattering layer, when in a first state, allows the collimated light to pass through openings in an aperture plate that is part of the microprojection display. In a second state, the scattering layer scatters the collimated light. Side and vertical walls of the aperture plate absorb most of the scattered light resulting in a high contrast ratio for the display. The degree of scattering can be controlled to provide for a gray scale for the display.

Abstract: A plasma addressed electro-optical device comprising a first substrate having a plurality of first electrodes arranged substantially in parallel to each other on a major surface thereof; a second substrate opposed to the first substrate and having a plurality of second electrodes arranged substantially in parallel to each other on a major surface thereof; an electro-optical material layer positioned between the first and second substrates; and a discharge chamber formed between the electro-optical material layer and the second substrate and containing an ionizable gas. The second electrode has a plurality of barrier ribs periodically disposed thereon, and the first and second electrodes are so arranged as to be spaced apart in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. And each of the barrier ribs is substantially the same in width as the second electrode.

Abstract: A system for protecting the eyes of a wearer while permitting information to be conveyed to such eyes includes a first plane polarizer for selectively passing incident light or other electromagnetic energy toward such eyes as a function of a prescribed characteristic, such as polarization direction of such electromagnetic energy, a second plane polarizer for selectively passing incident light (electromagnetic energy) passed by the first polarizer toward such eyes as a function of a prescribed characteristic, such as polarization direction, of such electromagnetic energy, a means for changing such characteristic (i.e.

Abstract: A redundantly constructed liquid crystal display which has high aperture efficiency. Pixels are arranged in a matrix at the intersections of scan and data lines and storage capacitor lines are provided to supply the pixels with storage capacitors. The pixels are arranged in groups of two pixels adjoining each other by arranging scan lines (or data lines) in groups of two pixels closely adjoining each other. One storage capacitor line is provided for every two adjoining pixels between the scan lines (or data lines) and disposed in the same direction as the scan lines (or data lines). Two storage capacitors corresponding to the two adjoining pixels are provided for each storage capacitor line and one auxiliary storage capacitor is provided to be shared by every two adjoining pixels. Alternatively, both the scan lines and the data lines may be arranged in groups of two closely adjacent lines so that a unit or group of four adjacent pixels is formed.

Abstract: An active matrix display device comprising: scanning branch lines each branching from the scanning line; and switching elements each formed on an end portion of the scanning branch line, wherein the distance between the scanning line side of the switching element and the scanning line is so provided as to enable the scanning branch line to be cut off by irradiation with light energy. Alternatively, an active matrix display device comprising: a conductive layer disposed under the signal line and the pixel electrode with an insulating film interposed therebetween; and a conductive piece formed between the pixel electrode and the insulating film.

Abstract: With the aim of reducing the thickness of a liquid crystal lighting apparatus, side ends, different from light incident ends, of an optical conductor plate are cut out to form steps so that the optical conductor plate may be thinner at the side ends than at the light incident ends. Alternatively, portions, contiguous to the light incident ends, of a reflector sheet and a diffusion sheet are cut out to form thickness reduced portions and only the thickness reduced portions are clamped and held by a main body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a class of light modulating materials comprising microdomains of ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal dispersed in a light-transmissive polymer medium. The microdomains are formed by phase separation of the liquid crystal from solution with the polymer as the polymer is solidified. The switching of the liquid crystal may be either monostable or multistable (e.g., bistable), depending on the liquid crystal and polymer. The material modulates light in either a scattering-transmissive mode or a birefringence mode. Materials operating in the scattering-transmissive mode do not require polarizers. Advantages of the materials include switching times down to the order of microseconds or less, multistable optical states, wide viewing angles and high contrast.

Abstract: A deposited multi-layer device of an electronic element and a plastic substrate on which an inorganic substance thin film layer is simultaneously formed on both surfaces of the substrate wherein each of the electronic element, plastic substrate and inorganic thin film have internal and thermal stress not equal to zero. The device is free from peeling, deformation or curl of the substrate and degradation due to impurities such as acid, alkali and water.

Abstract: An optical switching device comprising a first layer having a first refractive index and having a first side where a coherent light is to be entered into the first layer and a second side opposite the first side, second and third layers sandwiching the first layer, the second layer having a main surface, and electrodes sandwiching the second and third layers for applying a voltage between the second and third layers, wherein a refractive index of the second layer can be changed from second to third and from third to second refractive indexes by an electro-optical effect using the voltage, the second refractive index being larger than the third refractive index, wherein the coherent light entering the first layer is totally reflected by the second layer when the second layer has the second refractive index, and at least part of the coherent light is transmitted through the second layer toward the outside of the main surface of the second layer when the second layer has the third refractive index.

Abstract: Light emitted from a coherent light source undergoes fine adjustment of its polarizing direction by a polarizing device and is directed to a liquid crystal device through a collimating optical system. The polarizing device is capable of fine-adjusting the polarizing direction in accordance with the wavelength of the incident light, thereby providing a high contrast ratio. When an image is recorded by holography using such a liquid crystal spacial light modulator, it is possible to obtain an image of high quality.

Abstract: A method for promoting uniform "bookshelf" textures in light modulators using smectic C* liquid crystal is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of confining smectic C* phase liquid crystal between parallel substrates having inner surfaces treated to promote homeotropic alignment of the liquid crystal near the inner surfaces, generating an electric field normal to the inner surfaces of the substrates and biasing the liquid crystal in a direction parallel to the inner surfaces of the substrates to induce the formation of smectic layers normal to the inner surfaces of the substrate. For example, the perturbation may be carried out by supplying a cyclic shear to one of the substrates or by means of a magnetic field parallel to the substrates. Reversal of the polarity of the electric field switches the material between two stable bookshelf textures.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display substrate includes a first substrate, a second substrate, terminals, and a conductive region. The first substrate has a large number of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix. The second substrate is arranged to be opposite to the first substrate and to interpose a liquid crystal with the first substrate and has a counter electrode for performing liquid crystal display by a voltage applied across said pixel electrodes and the counter electrode. The terminals include common electrode terminals arranged at one part of a peripheral portion of the first substrate. The conductive region is formed at a part of the peripheral portion in which the terminals of the first substrate are not formed, and the conductive region is connected to at least one of the common electrode terminals to apply a common potential to the counter electrode. A liquid crystal display device using the above liquid crystal display substrate is also disclosed.

Abstract: Small-pitch cholesteric liquid crystal mixtures are temperature compensated. They are particularly useful when no, or only a slight, temperature dependence of the selective reflection is permissible, because a considerable temperature dependence would interfere with or render wanted effects impossible. They are composed of a nematic liquid crystal doped with at least two chiral additives satisfying the following conditions:(1) a(c.sub.1 B.sub.1 +c.sub.2 B.sub.2)=b(c.sub.1 A.sub.1 +c.sub.2 A.sub.2)and(2) 1/.lambda..sub.o (T)=a(c.sub.1 A.sub.1 +c.sub.2 A.sub.2)+aT(c.sub.1 B.sub.1 +c.sub.2 B.sub.2)+bT(c.sub.1 A.sub.1 +c.sub.2 A.sub.2)where .lambda..sub.o denotes the mean value of the wavelength band of the selective reflection c.sub.1 c.sub.2, . . . denote the concentrations of the chiral dopants and A.sub.1,B.sub.1 are coefficients of a progression.