Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal layer, a pair of substrates holding the liquid crystal layer therebetween and having two sets of crossed electrodes formed thereon, a pair of crossed polarizers provided outside the substrates and having polarization axes parallel to the electrodes respectively, and an orientation means for making the liquid crystal molecules orient to the intermediate direction of the crossed polarizers at the commencement of voltage application. The orientation means is selected form pretilt, fringe electric field, combinations thereof, etc. In the beginning of voltage application, no leakage light is generated even if the liquid crystal molecules are tilted by a fringe electric field in the vicinity of the edges of the electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for micropatterning a photoresist coated surface 12 of a semiconductor wafer 14 includes a computer 50 for controlling an image on a screen 29 of a cathode ray tube (CRT) 30. The CRT screen 29 is optically connected to a liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) 26 by a fiber optic faceplate 28. This connection is such that the computer controlled image on the CRT screen 29 is reproduced on the face 27 of the LCLV 26 as a reflective pattern of this image. An argon-ion laser 16 provides a polarized monochromatic light beam 18 that is reflected from the face 27 of the LCLV 26. This reflected beam 32 is convergently focused by a lens system 36 onto a projected area 37 of the photoresist coated wafer surface 12, thereby exposing the photoresist with an image of the LCLV reflective pattern. A helium-neon laser 38 provides a polarized monochromatic light beam 44 that is convergently focused onto the same projected area 37 of the wafer surface 12.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator which includes a light modulation layer which is interposed between two photoconductive layers and laminated to both layers; the two photo conductive layers have charge images written thereon, respectively, by illumination of a writing light carrying optical information; the illumination direction of the writing light to the photoconductive layers are different from each other; and the two photoconductive layers permit the reading light to pass therethrough. When illuminated by a reading light via either of the first or second photoconductive layers, the light modulation layer optically modulates the reading light in accordance with the first and second charge images, under the presence of a voltage applied to the modulator. Thus it reads read out the first information and second information. The first and second photoconductive layers permit the reading light to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An optical modulation element capable of displaying gradations and including common electrodes, segment electrodes and subelectrodes provided for each of the common electrodes such that each of the subelectrodes is connected to two of the common electrodes by electrical elements.

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: This invention discloses the product of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and the method of making same, wherein the resultant product is an improved color oriented LCD in which the liquid crystal material and the color dye material are intimately comingled within an enclosure of polymer material and/or encapsulated within the structure of microdroplets. The resulting color displayed by this LCD device is controlled by the selective application of electrical parameters, namely, voltage and frequency, to permit the droplets within a display device to absorb, scatter, or transmit light, and/or color, or mixture of colors, determined by the dye materials and the applied electrical parameters employed.

Abstract: Light transmission control device includes band pass filter for transmitting light of a wavelength or group of wavelengths and partially blocking transmission of light of a different wavelength or group of wavelengths, and variable optical filter for controllably transmitting light of a wavelength or group of wavelengths, the band pass filter and variable optical filter being cooperative to provide at least three light transmitting modes, including maximum transmission, minimum transmission, and a third mode less transmissive than the maximum, the device being operative to minimum transmissive mode upon being driven by a maximum energy input, the device also being operative to maximum transmissive mode upon being driven by a lesser energy input, and such third transmission mode occurring in response to no power or a failure of power or adequate power for energizing the device to the maximum or minimum transmissive mode.

Abstract: A display panel is formed using essentially single crystal thin-film material that is transferred to substrates for display fabrication. Pixel arrays form light valves or switches that can be fabricated with control electronics in the thin-film material prior to transfer. The resulting circuit panel is than incorporated into a display panel with a light emitting or liquid crystal material to provide the desired display.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a color filter for a liquid crystal display apparatus which requires considerably reduced area on a transparent substrate for performing electrodeposition of the color filter. The method includes coating non-extended liquid crystal driving terminal portions with a protective film with a notch etched therein for exposing an end edge portion of the non-extended driving terminal; and coating the non-extended driving terminals with a transverse strip of conductive material to place the non-extended terminals into a conducting state.

Abstract: A wide-frame display consisting of a plurality of constituent display cells is described. The display cell comprises a pair of substrates between which a light influencing layer is disposed. The light influencing layer changes its optical property in accordance with an electric field applied thereacross by means of an electrode arrangement. Driving signals are supplied to the electrode arrangement through holes opened in the substrate and receiving leads which make contact with the electrode arrangement at one end and extends from the external surface of the substrate for coupling with a driving circuit for supplying the driving signals.

Abstract: A non-linear device for amplifying the intensities of light rays includes a photosensitive optical component upon which a first image is formed by light rays incident upon the photosensitive optical component. A final image is formed from the rays passing through the photosensitive optical component. The photosensitive optical component includes a transparency which is variable at any point as a function of the luminous intensity reaching that point and another characteristic of the incident light. A control circuit responsive to the other characteristic is provided for controlling the operation of the optical component such that the luminous intensities of each point forming the initial image are amplified in a non-linear manner and form a final image, the contrast of the luminous intensities of which are different from those of the rays forming the initial image.

Abstract: A screen for use in a front projection system includes a section capable of reflecting light of certain, predetermined wavelengths more than light of other wavelengths. The screen appears black or dark gray when viewed in broadband light. The screen provides for enhanced contrast between incident projected and ambient light. A projector for use with the screen has a light source capable of emitting the predetermined wavelengths.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal element has a ferroelectric liquid crystal with an orientation state represented by .theta.<.alpha.+.delta. wherein .alpha. is a pretilt angle of the ferroelectric liquid crystal, .theta. is a tilt angle, and .delta. is an inclination angle of an Sm*C layer. In another embodiment is a liquid crystal element having a chiral smectic liquid crystal satisfying T.sub.1 /T.sub.2 <2.5 in a first orientation state wherein T.sub.2 is a pulse width threshold values of a portion in a second orientation state adjacent lightning and hairpin defects and T.sub.1 is a pulse width threshold value in a first orientation state of a portion outside of the T.sub.2 portion. In both embodiments, the ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibits at least two stable states in orientation. An angle .theta..sub.a midway between optical axes of these two stable states and the tilt angle .theta. of the ferroelectric liquid crystal satisfy the condition .theta.>.theta..sub.a >.theta./2.

Abstract: A transmissive display device which includes a display panel having multiple picture elements (5), a first array of microlenses (1) disposed on the incident side of the display panel, the microlenses each being disposed in correspondence to respective picture elements, a second array of microlenses (2) disposed on the outlet side of the display panel, the mcirolenses each being disposed in correspondence to respective picture elements, wherein the positions of the focal points of the first array of microlenses are identical with the positions of the focal points of the second array of microlenses, and wherein the focal length of each microlens in the first array is larger than that of each microlens in the second array.

Abstract: A self-powered liquid crystal spatial light modulator is disclosed having a pair of spaced transparent glass plates, on each plate of which a transparent electrically conductive film is coated so as to be in confronting relation. A voltage/current generating, photovoltaic/photodiode, light sensitive layer is coated onto one of the conductive films. A liquid crystal layer is confined between the other conductive film and the light sensitive layer. A shorting circuit element connects the two conductive films. This shorting circuit element may be internal or external to the spatial light modulator. A pixel area of the spatial light modulator is addressed by a beam of light that illuminates the pixel area and operates to activate a corresponding area of the light sensitive layer. The voltage/current that is generated in this area of the light sensitive film causes a current to flow through the shorting circuit element, to thereby activate, switch or charge the corresponding area of the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: An active matrix thin film transistor liquid crystal display having two thin film transistors for use in driving each of the liquid crystal pixels making up the matrix of the display. The first thin film transistor associated with each pixel is used in driving the pixel to capture data off of data lines in response to gate drive signals. The second thin film transistor associated with each pixel is used in compensating for the parasitic capacitances associated with the first thin film transistor and is driven by special compensating pulses.

Abstract: A liquid crystal color display provides a transmitted light output that is of one or more colors, black, and/or white, as a function of the color of the incident light input and controlled energization or not of respective optically serially positioned liquid crystal color layers and/or multicolor composite liquid crystal color layer(s) in the display. In one case, the display includes a plurality of liquid crystal color layers, each being dyed a different respective color, and apparatus for selectively applying a prescribed input, such as an electric field of a given voltage level or frequency, to a respective layer or layers or to a portion or portions thereof. Each liquid crystal layer includes plural volumes of operationally nematic liquid crystal material in a containment medium that tends to cause an alignment of the liquid crystal structure and, thus, pleochroic dye included or mixed with the liquid crystal material in each layer to absorb light.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display assembly (1) comprises a liquid crystal display (6), a lens (2), and a membrane (4) filled with substantially clear liquid between the lens (2) and the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal substrate for a liquid crystal display device including an insulating substrate; a first conductor layer of tantalum nitride formed on a region of the insulating substrate; an insulator layer formed to cover at least a portion of the first conductor layer; a second conductor layer formed to cover at least a portion of the insulator layer; and a pixel element formed on another region of the insulating substrate and connected to the second conductor layer, one of the conductor layers having a nitriding ratio in the range of 0.05 to 0.14 or being formed of sublayers having different nitriding ratios.

Abstract: Display apparatus and method having window shade heating. The display has an active matrix LCD with a plurality of elements and a backlight having a variable brightness. During warm-up of the display, the operating temperature will be below the normal operating temperature. To decrease warm-up time, the LCD elements are darkened and the brightness of the backlight is increased.