Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal composition containing at least one esterified product selected from the group consisting of (1) an esterified product of a hydrolysate of (A) a ?-oryzanol and (B1) a carboxylic acid compound, (2) an esterified product of a hydrogenated product of a hydrolysate of (A) a ?-oryzanol and (B2) a carboxylic acid compound, and (3) an esterified product of a hydrogenated product of (A) a ?-oryzanol and (B3) a carboxylic acid compound. The ?-oryzanol (A) is a mixture containing at least one ferulate ester of a vegetable sterol and at least one ferulate ester of a triterpene alcohol, and the hydrolysate of the ?-oryzanol (A) is a mixture containing at least one vegetable sterol and at least one triterpene alcohol.

Abstract: A polymerizable cholesteric liquid crystal composition in the invention includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a polymerizable ester compound (1) having a residue of a hydrolysate of ?-oryzanol (A) and having a ring structure, a polymerizable ester compound (2) having a residue of a hydrolysate of ?-oryzanol (A) and having no ring structures, and a polymerizable ester compound (3) having a residue of a hydrogenated product of ?-oryzanol.

Abstract: The purpose the invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal compound which has an excellent solubility with other compounds, a high homeotropic property, and a spirobiindan-backbone, and a liquid crystal composition comprising this compound. The purpose is attained with a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Formula (1). A polymer which is excellent in many characteristics can be obtained from this compound and a formed body having optical anisotropy, produced from this polymer can be obtained. In Formula (1), G is a single bond or oxygen; R is hydrogen, methyl (Me) or a group represented by Formula (a), wherein at least two of R are groups represented by Formula (a); P is a polymerizable group represented by any of Formula (P1) to Formula (P8). In Formula (a), a desirable A is 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; Z is a bonding group; m is an integer of 0 to 3; X0 is a single bond or alkylene; Z0 is a single bond, —O—, —OCO—, or —OCOO—; X is a single bond or alkylene.

Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of dielectrically negative polar compounds of each of formulae I and II and the use thereof in an electro-optical display, particularly in a display with passive matrix addressing, based on a VA, ECB, PALC, FFS or IPS effect, and such displays.

Abstract: The invention relates to new polymerizable mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds comprising a terminal cyclohexylphenyl group wherein the phenyl group has polar substituents, to polymerizable mesogenic or liquid crystalline mixtures and anisotropic polymers prepared thereof, and to the use of the new compounds and the mixtures and polymers prepared thereof in optical and electrooptical devices, adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetics, diagnostics, liquid crystal pigments, decorative and security applications, nonlinear optics, optical information storage, electronic devices like organic field effect transistors (FET or OFET) or electroluminescent devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystalline polyester resin composition suitable for an optical pickup unit. The composition comprises a liquid crystalline polyester, a mica and a hollow filler. Using the liquid crystalline polyester resin composition, an optical pickup unit with a high soldering resistance and a high torsional elastic modulus can be produced while suppressing breakage of the hollow filler in the composition.

Abstract: A compound having a good durability against light and capable of producing desired liquid crystallinity after polymerization, and a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing such a compound, are provided. Further, an optical element having a good durability against light, and an optical information writing/reading device employing such an element, are provided. A compound represented by CH2?CR1—COO—R2-Cy-Ph-R3—OCO—CR4?CH2. R1 and R4 are each preferably a hydrogen atom. R3 is preferably a C1-6 alkylene group wherein an oxygen atom is present or not present at an end of the group to be bonded to a cyclic group, and wherein some or all of hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms in the group may be substituted by fluorine atoms; or an alkylene group wherein an oxygen atom is present at an end of the group to be bonded to a cyclic group.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an alignment film is provided. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a plurality of region defining strips at an interval on the substrate, and forming organic alignment strips for aligning liquid crystal molecules between the region defining strips by applying an organic alignment material on the substrate.

Abstract: An liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material practical as an organic semiconductor is provided. The material is a liquid crystal composition having a smectic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material has a distyrylbenzene structure of formula (1). When heated to a temperature range for the smectic liquid crystal phase followed by being cooled, the material takes on a solid state as a result of phase transition from the smectic phase. Wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a group of general formula (2): Wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and B represents —(CH2)m—, —(CH2)m—O—, —CO—O—(CH2)m, —CO—O—(CH2)m—O—, —C6H4—CH2—O— or —CO—.

Abstract: Polymerizable compositions comprising particularly useful for brightness enhancing films.

Abstract: A liquid crystal electro-optic device. The liquid crystal electro-optic device comprises at least one liquid crystal cell comprising: a pair of substrates having a gap therebetween; a pair of electrodes, the pair of electrodes positioned on one of the substrates or one electrode positioned on each substrate; and a ferroelectric, oligosiloxane liquid crystal material disposed in the gap between the pair of substrates, the ferroelectric, oligosiloxane liquid crystal material exhibiting an I-? SmC* phase sequence wherein the liquid crystal electro-optic device is bistable in operation. The invention also involves a method for making a liquid crystal electro-optic device.

Abstract: A retardation plate comprising at least one optically anisotropic layer, wherein at least one of said optically anisotropic layers is formed from a composition containing a liquid crystalline compound represented by the following formula: wherein Y11, Y12 and Y13 are methine or N; L1, L2 and L3 are single bond or divalent group; H1, H2 and H3 are formula (DI-A) or (DI-B); YA1, YA2, YB1 and YB2 are methine or N; XA and XB are O, S, etc.; R1, R2 and R3 are -(-L21-Q2)n1-L22-L23-Q1; L21 is single bond or divalent group; Q2 is cyclic divalent group; n1 is 0-4; L22 is —O—, —O—CO—, etc; L23 is —O—, —S—, etc.; Q1 is polymerizable group or H.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided which is capable of reducing the occurrence of defective display due to variations in the initial alignment direction of a liquid crystal alignment control film in a liquid crystal display of an IPS scheme, realizing the stable liquid crystal alignment, providing excellent mass productivity, and having high image quality with a higher contrast ratio. The liquid crystal display has a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of substrates, at least one of the substrates being transparent, and an alignment control film formed between the liquid crystal layer and the substrate. At least one of the alignment control films 109 comprises photoreactive polyimide and/or polyamic acid provided with an alignment control ability by irradiation of substantially linearly polarized light.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium having negative dielectric anisotropy based on a mixture of polar compounds, which comprises at least one compound of the formula I in which R11 and R12 have the meanings indicated in claim 1, in amounts of ?30% by weight, based on the medium, and to the use thereof for an active-matrix display based on the ECB, PALC, FFS or IPS effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photo-tunable dopant compositions comprising a photo-reactive chiral compound capable of undergoing a photochemical reaction resulting in the loss of chirality, and a triplet sensitizer. The present invention also relates to a display comprising a substrate, a liquid crystalline layer thereon, wherein the liquid crystalline layer comprises a nematic host, at least one chiral dopant, a photo-reacted compound, and a triplet sensitizer, and at least one transparent conductive layer. The present invention also relates to a method of tuning a cholesteric liquid crystal material comprising providing at least one mesogenic compound, at least one triplet sensitizer, and at least one photo-reactive chiral compound; combining the at least one mesogenic compound, at least one triplet sensitizer, and at least one photo-reactive chiral compound to form a mixture; and irradiating the mixture for a period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials and methods that make liquid crystal phases accessible with relatively short ?-peptides in aqueous solvents.

Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid-crystalline medium, which contains a compound of formula I and the use thereof for electro-optical purposes, in particular for TN, TFT, IPS or OCB displays.

Abstract: A method of patterning a target layer on a substrate is described. A patterned photoresist layer is formed over the target layer, wherein the patterned photoresist layer has unexposed parts as separate islands and each unexposed part has a low proton concentration at least in its sidewalls. Acid-crosslinked polymer layers are formed only on the sidewalls of each unexposed part. A flood exposure step is performed to the substrate. A baking step is performed to the patterned photoresist layer. A development step is performed to remove the previously unexposed parts. The target layer is etched with the acid-crosslinked polymer layers as a mask.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The LCD includes a first substrate and a second substrate opposite to the first substrate. At least two layers of cholesteric liquid crystal layers are disposed between the first and the second substrates, wherein chiral dopants with different optical activities are respectively added in the cholesteric liquid crystal layers, and the chiral dopants have the same chemical structure. The fabrication method includes providing a first substrate and a second substrate opposite to the first substrate. A plurality of chiral dopants with different optical activities and having the same chemical structure are mixed into the same liquid crystal host respectively to form at least two kinds of cholesteric liquid crystal materials. Then, the cholesteric liquid crystal materials are disposed between the first and the second substrates to form at least two layers of cholesteric liquid crystal layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for producing a heat-insulating coating comprising at least one radiation-absorbing compound and at least one IR-reflector component, to a heat-insulating coating comprising this oriented, cured composition, and to a process for producing said coating.