Abstract: A method and to an apparatus for structuring a radiation-sensitive material are disclosed. The method can include using a dynamic mask to generate a first radiation pattern in a layer of the radiation-sensitive material, where the first radiation pattern has a thickness that is at most 50% of the thickness of the layer of the radiation-sensitive material. The method can also include using the dynamic mask to generate a second radiation pattern in the layer of the radiation-sensitive material. The dynamic mask can be configured to change its structure dynamically, and the first radiation pattern can be different from the second radiation pattern.

Abstract: The subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one characteristic among characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a low viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding two or more characteristics. The subject is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a high voltage holding ratio, a high contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The invention provides a liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy that contains a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a first component, and a specific two-ring compound having a low viscosity as a second component, and provides a liquid crystal display device containing the composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline compounds having at least three fluorine-substituted benzene rings, a terminal trifluoromethyl group and at least one —CF2O— bridge. The invention also relates to liquid-crystalline media prepared therewith and to liquid-crystal display devices (LC displays) containing these media.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition is provided that satisfies at least one characteristic among the characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or is properly balanced regarding at least two characteristics. An AM device is provided that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The liquid crystal composition contains tetrahedropyrene-2,5-diyl as the first component, a specific compound having negatively large dielectric anisotropy as the second component, and a negatively dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystal display device contains the liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: Disclosed are a dielectrically negative, liquid-crystalline medium which contains a (first) dielectrically negative component (component A), which contains one or more dielectrically negative compounds of formula I and a further (second) dielectrically negative component (component B), and the use thereof in an electro-optical display, particularly in an active-matrix display based on the VA, ECB, PS-VA, FFS or IPS effect, and displays of this type.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline polyester resin composition is provided including a liquid-crystalline polyester obtained by polymerizing monomers of an aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acid in the presence of an imidazole compound. The composition also includes a mica which is a muscovite and has a volume average particle diameter of 40 ?m or less and a specific surface area of 6 m2/g or less, the amount of the mica being 15 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the liquid-crystalline polyester. The liquid-crystalline polyester resin composition has melt fluidity sufficient to be molded into a connector having an ultra-thin wall thickness portion. The resulting connector has sufficiently suppressed warp and sufficient soldering resistance.

Abstract: A resin composition for surface-mountable (SMT) camera modules which is excellent in the balance between heat resistance, rigidity, strength or moldability and surface exfoliation characteristics is provided by using a liquid-crystal polyester resin composition which comprises 100 parts by mass of a liquid-crystal polyester, 15 to 60 parts by mass of talc having a number-mean particle diameter of 10 to 50 ?m, 25 to 50 parts by mass of glass fiber having a number-mean fiber length of 100 to 200 ?m, 6 to 20 parts by mass of titanium oxide, and 2 to 10 parts by mass of carbon black and which exhibits a melt viscosity of 10 to 100 Pa S as determined at a shear rate of 100 sec?1 and 370° C. and a deflection temperature under load of 220° C. or above.

Abstract: A pattern is formed by coating a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising a resin comprising acid labile group-containing recurring units and a photoacid generator onto a substrate, drying to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation through a phase shift mask having a lattice-like array of shifters, PEB, developing to form a positive pattern, illuminating or heating the positive pattern to eliminate acid labile groups for increasing alkaline solubility and to induce crosslinking for imparting solvent resistance, coating a reversal film, and dissolving away the positive pattern in an alkaline wet etchant to form a pattern by way of positive/negative reversal.

Abstract: A grafted polymer and its use in polymer/liquid crystal composite films, and more particularly in PDLC films, is disclosed. The grafted polymer includes (alkyl)acrylic acid or (alkyl)acrylamide moieties. At least one of the moieties is grafted with an alkylphenol or with an alkoxylated alkylphenol.

Abstract: Described herein are processing techniques for fabrication of stretchable and/or flexible electronic devices using laser ablation patterning methods. The laser ablation patterning methods utilized herein allow for efficient manufacture of large area (e.g., up to 1 mm2 or greater or 1 m2 or greater) stretchable and/or flexible electronic devices, for example manufacturing methods permitting a reduced number of steps. The techniques described herein further provide for improved heterogeneous integration of components within an electronic device, for example components having improved alignment and/or relative positioning within an electronic device. Also described herein are flexible and/or stretchable electronic devices, such as interconnects, sensors and actuators.

Abstract: A medical device, at least a portion of which is formed from a polymer composition including at least one liquid crystal block copolymer having at least one A block and at least one B block wherein the A block is formed of mesogenic repeat units and the B block is a soft block.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition is provided that satisfies at least one characteristic among the characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or is properly balanced regarding at least two characteristics. An AM device is provided that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. A liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase, wherein the first component contains a specific five ring compound having a large optical anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy, the second component contains a specific compound having a small viscosity, and the third component contains a specific four ring compound having a high maximum temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition for forming a board including a benzoxazine-based compound and a liquid crystal polymer or oligomer, and a board fabricated using the same. A board comprising the composition including the benzoxazine-based compound and the liquid crystal compound, and a prepreg comprising the cured composition, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The pattern forming method includes forming a catalyst film on a base layer having an uneven surface, wherein the catalyst layer is formed along the uneven surface of the base layer; forming a coating film by coating a fluid material on the catalyst film; forming an insoluble layer which is insoluble in a solvent in the coating film by reacting the coating film along the catalyst film; and maintaining the insoluble layer by removing an unreacted portion of the coating film by using the solvent.

Abstract: Microstructured optical films, assemblies of films including at least one microstructured optical film, and (e.g. illuminated) display devices including a single microstructured optical film or assembly.

Abstract: A dummy light-exposed substrate used for dummy light-exposure in an immersion exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate to light via a projection optical system and a liquid, comprises a lyophilic region, and a liquid repellent region surrounding the lyophilic region.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large negative dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics; and is to provide a AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth, wherein the liquid crystal composition has negative dielectric anisotropy and includes a two-ring compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy and having at least three fluorines at the lateral positions as a first component, a specific two-ring or three-ring compound having a pyran ring as a second component, a specific compound having a small viscosity as a third component and a specific co

Abstract: Photolithography methods using BARCs having graded optical properties are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a photolithography method comprises the steps of depositing a BARC overlying a material to be patterned, the BARC having a refractive index and an absorbance. The BARC is modified such that, after the step of modifying, values of the refractive index and the absorbance are graded from first values at a first surface of the BARC to second values at a second surface of the BARC. The step of modifying is performed after the step of depositing.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a field generating electrode disposed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules and an alignment polymer. The alignment polymer is formed by light-irradiating the liquid crystal molecules and an alignment aid. The alignment aid includes a mesogen having halogen atoms and at least one photo-polymerizable group combined to the mesogen, and the alignment aid is electrically neutral or quasi-neutral.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one characteristic among the characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light, and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding two or more characteristics. The invention provides an AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. A liquid crystal display device contains the liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase that includes two components, wherein the first component is a specific compound having a large optical anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy and the second component is a specific compound having a small viscosity or a large maximum temperature.