Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixels, and each of the plurality of pixels includes ferroelectric liquid crystal material having ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules therein capable of being aligned in a first stable alignment state, whereby a principal axis of each of the molecules is aligned at an angle .omega. with respect to a central line, and of being aligned in a second stable alignment state, whereby the principal axis of each of the molecules is aligned at an angle -.omega. with respect to the central line, and a pair of polarizers on opposite sides of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material, a polarizing axis of one of the polarizers being substantially aligned with the central line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a color projector utilizing three liquid crystal display elements. The natural light is separated into illuminating rays of red, green and blue colors by a dichroic mirror, each of these illuminating rays being used to illuminate the corresponding one of the liquid crystal display elements. Each of the liquid crystal display elements is controlled by a desired image signal with respect to its transmittance at each pixel. After passed through the liquid crystal display elements, three kinds of colored illuminating rays are again synthesized by the other dichroic mirror to form a light beam which in turn is enlarged and projected by a projecting lens on a screen. By providing light source means including means for converting the natural light into the linearly polarized beam, the illuminating rays may have their polarizing angles coincide with each other without any loss of light.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprised of picture element electrodes provided on a first plane of a substrate and an opposed electrode placed opposedly to the picture element electrodes, between which a liquid crystal is carried, characterized in that in a region of the substrate corresponding to the picture element electrodes is formed a concave portion from the second plane opposite the first plane of the substrate, the region being light translucent, and the concave portion having a translucent material enclosed therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for the generation of different given fringe-like light patterns in space is disclosed. The light patterns are predominantly used in optical metrology, for the three-dimensional acquisition of the shape of objects. Said light patterns are generated by astigmatic projection of a specially designed mask with sub-areas, the brightness of said sub-areas can be controlled, for example by implementing the mask as a liquid crystal light valve. The sub-areas are controlled in a way that by combination of bright and dark sub-areas, different sub-masks are formed. The astigmatic projection of any sub-mask generates one of the given fringe-like light patterns. In spite of the binary transparency of the sub-masks, continuously varying brightness can be achieved. All necessary sub-areas are located on the same area, interlaced such as in a mosaic work. On this area, any of the required sub-masks can be generated.

Abstract: A light valve apparatus in which a first lens array, a second lens array, and a light valve are arranged sequentially from an incident light side, and a focal length of each of the microlens elements for the first lens array is set shorter than a focal length of each of the microlens elements for the second lens array. The respective microlens elements of the second lens array are adapted to form a real image, corresponding to an imaginary object on a focal point of the respective microlens elements of the first lens array, on corresponding pixels of the light valve. A plurality of very small light source images corresponding to the light source are formed by the first lens array, and light emitted from the plurality of very small light source images are incident upon the respective microlens elements of the second lens array such that the images are projected onto the pixels of the light valve.

Abstract: A polarel panel includes a sheet polarizer in intimate juxtaposition with a layer made up of regions of isotropic material interspersed with regions of liquid crystal material. In one embodiment, optical activity of the liquid crystal material rotates the electric vector of incoming linearly polarized light through 90.degree. in selected areas. In another embodiment, birefringence causes rotation of the electric vector of incoming linearly polarized light through 90.degree. in selected areas.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic discharge protective circuit in a liquid crystal display having a plurality of cells in a substrate, wherein a short-circuit area which can be cut off at the same time of the cell-cutting process is comprised of first lines for connecting respective facing pads of two adjacent cells; second lines for connecting the first lines in series array, and short-circuiting the entire first lines; and a third line for connecting the short-circuiting lines.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a liquid crystal display system comprising a liquid crystal display ("LCD") having a plurality of pixels. Moreover the system comprises an illuminator for illuminating each of said plurality of pixels. The illuminator comprises an optical fiber for transmitting a light beam within said fiber, and a number of discrete scattering sites positioned along the fiber for scattering a portion of the light beam outside said fiber. The number of discrete scattering sites are optically coupled with the plurality of pixels such that the plurality of pixels are illuminated by the light beam scattered outside the fiber through the number of discrete scattering sites.

Abstract: A transportable image display system having direct and projection viewing modes of operation. The image display system comprises a spatial light modulation structure for spatially modulating the intensity of light produced from a light source, and light diffusing panel of electro-optical construction having a light scattering state in which light being transmitted therethrough is scattered in a diffusive manner, and a light transmission state in which light being transmitted therethrough is transmitted without substantial scattering. In the illustrative embodiments, the spatial light modulation structure can be an electrically-addressable LCD panel, or slide-film structures to be viewed. During the direct viewing mode, light produced from the light source is scattered by the light diffusing panel and spatial intensity modulated by the spatial light modulation structure to form a first image for direct viewing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved electrical connector system for connecting metal leads protruding from a glass sealed electrical device to another circuit member. An array of conductors side by side at regular intervals are stamped from a thin sheet of metal with a melting point that is generally equal to that of the metal of the protruding glass-sealed metal leads. The conductor array has pieces of insulation tape applied to its opposite surfaces, holding the array together. The array may have pieces of insulation tape arranged so that the mid point of the conductors will be exposed providing a heat-radiating area. The one end of the conductor is fused to the metal leads by laser beam welding.

Abstract: The display apparatus of the invention includes: a first substrate and a second substrate which are disposed so as to face each other; a display medium having variable optical characteristics sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate; a display circuit provided on the first substrate; and a coordinate input section for inputting coordinates of a point on the first substrate.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device having a driving liquid crystal cell interposed between two polarizers 1 and 4, the cell having a liquid crystal layer 3e held between two substrates 3a and 3b, the layer having a twisted molecular alignment when no voltage is applied, and the liquid crystal cell performing optical control, using the optical anisotropy of liquid crystal, there is provided with an optical anisotropic element 2 between the polarizer and the driving liquid crystal cell, the optical anisotropic element 2 comprising an optical anisotropic substance layer 2c in which the optical rotatory power slanted to the normal of the substrates 3a and 3b is greater than the optical rotatory power in the direction of the normal of the substrate. The angle of the optical axis of the optical anisotropic element 2 varies continuously or in stages in the direction of layer thickness of the optical anisotropic element as against the surface of the optical anisotropic element.

Abstract: In order to surely prevent display disappearance due to static electricity, a liquid crystal display unit according to the invention includes a structure that at least a part of a glass shielding portion on the periphery of a liquid crystal panel is surrounded by an earthing frame, and the earthing frame is connected to an earth point of a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A thin-film liquid crystal display panel and a manufacturing method thereof in which an upper protection layer and a cell gap are formed by using a thin-film manufacturing technique usually used in the manufacture of semiconductors. The thickness of the cell gap is easily controlled, and the liquid crystal layer is uniformly formed. Therefore, a liquid crystal display panel with excellent liquid crystal driving capability is obtained.

Abstract: A projection type display apparatus comprising a light source apparatus which is provided with an elliptic mirror 12, a light source 11 disposed at the first focal point, a cone-like material disposed at the second focal point, a condenser lens 13, display elements 15R-15B, a color separating and synthesizing optical system, second condenser lenses 16R-16B and a projection lens 19. The cone-like material is one selected from the group of a convex cone lens, a concave cone lens 2, a convex cone-like reflector and a concave cone-like reflector 20. In the projection type display element, light emitted from the light source is introduced into the cone-like material and is emitted as divergent light through the conical surface of the cone-like material.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical beam splitter and method establishes replicated periods of optical phase shift regions across a liquid crystal cell to form an optical grating in the liquid crystal. A non-linear pattern of phase shift regions is established within each period of the grating to split an input beam into a multi-beam output, or to combine multiple input beams into a single output beam. The desired pattern of phase shift regions is established by applying corresponding voltage differentials across the cell, between an electrode array on one side of the cell and a common counter electrode on the other side. The voltage differential pattern can be dynamically changed to impart a corresponding dynamic reconfiguration of the output beam pattern.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises a liquid crystal layer of a nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy and including a chiral material, the liquid crystal layer being interposed between a pair of substrates with transparent electrodes each having an aligning layer which are arranged substantially in parallel to provide a twist angle of 160.degree.-300.degree., a driving means to apply a voltage across the electrodes attached to the substrates which interpose the liquid crystal layer, a pair of polarizing plates arranged outside the liquid crystal layer, and at least one birefringent plate provided between the liquid crystal layer and the polarizing plate at at least one side of the liquid crystal layer, wherein the product .DELTA.n.sub.1 .multidot.d, of the anisotropy of refractive index .DELTA.n, of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer and the thickness d, of the liquid crystal layer is in a range of 0.4-1.5 .mu.

Abstract: A light source optical system for projection 1, dichroic mirrors 21, 22 disposed to have a predetermined included angle .beta., a reflection type liquid crystal optical element blocks 31-33 each including a closely contacted converging lens and having a reflection surface and a projection optical system 4 are provided, wherein the normal line of a dichroic mirror surface and the optical axis of incident light form an included angle .alpha.; the normal line of the reflection surface and the optical axis of incident light form an included angle .gamma.; light emitted from a light source is color-separated so as to become color lights; the color lights are rendered to be parallel light beams, and are modulated and reflected by means of the reflection type liquid crystal optical elements; the reflected light beams are color-synthesized; and the color-synthesized light is projected through a projection lens.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is formed by disposing a chiral smectic liquid crystal between a pair of substrates, each having thereon a group of electrodes for driving the chiral smectic liquid crystal and an alignment control film comprising a fluorine-containing polyimide provided with a uniaxial rubbing axis such that the uniaxial alignment axes provided to the pair of substrates intersect each other at a prescribed intersection angle. In the device, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned to provide a director forming a pre-tilt angle with the polyimide film surfaces of the substrates, whereby formation of splay alignment state in the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules is suppressed. The liquid crystal device provides an improved contrast and also a broad drive margin.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device according to the invention, one of electrodes holding a liquid crystal composition therebetween is formed by a shading conductor having light-transmitting holes or slits. The display device of the invention can reduce a required amount of indium (In), a rare metal, and can have a high light transmittance.