Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer. The ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules have pretilt directions defined by first direction vectors obtained by orthogonally projecting first imaginary vectors to each surface of a pair of substrates. The first imaginary vectors are parallel to the liquid crystal molecules in the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer in the vicinity of the substrates and directed away from each surface of the pair of substrates toward a center portion of the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer in its thickness direction. The ferroelectric liquid crystal layer has a chevron layered structure. A bending direction of the smectic layers is the same direction as the first direction vector obtained by orthogonally projecting a second imaginary vector to the substrates.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal held between a pair of bases each equipped with at least a transparent electrode, and pixels each having at least four color regions which are divided from one another, wherein the four color regions in one pixel comprise a first region in which a filter for red is arranged to display a red color, a second region in which a filter for blue is arranged to display a blue color, a third region in which a filter for green is arranged to display a green color, and a fourth region in which a filter for red, a filter for blue and a filter for green are arranged to display a color.

Abstract: A display control device controls a display device provided with a group of scanning electrodes and a group of signal electrodes and a display element placed therebetween. A driver circuit applies a non-zero first scanning signal to a selected one of the group of scanning electrodes during a first period and applies a non-zero second scanning signal to the selected scanning electrode in a second period after the first period. The first and second scanning signals are applied to the selected scanning electrode when a driving signal is applied to a predetermined number of signal electrodes of the group of signal electrodes. The first and second periods are separated by a rest period, and a polarity of a portion of the first scanning signal immediately before the rest period is opposite to a polarity of a portion of the second scanning signal immediately after the rest period.

Abstract: An optical modulation device comprises scanning electrodes and signal electrodes disposed opposite to and intersecting with the signal electrodes, and an optical modulation material disposed between the electrodes, a pixel being formed at each intersection of the electrodes and showing a contrast depending on the polarity of a voltage applied thereto.

Abstract: A color liquid crystal device comprises a pair of transparent substrates opposing to each other and having electrodes respectively, a plurality of color filters disposed on an inner surface of one of the substrates, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates, a pair of electrodes disposed on the substrates respectively for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer thereby to vary a state of molecular orientation of said liquid crystal layer to perform a light modulation. A thickness of the liquid crystal layer is decreased or increased at an overlapping portion of the color filters than the rest portion of the color filters.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display including a light source unit and a liquid crystal panel unit. The liquid crystal panel unit includes picture elements corresponding to three primary colors.

Abstract: By using a ferroelectric liquid crystal light valve having a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photoconductive layer, a spatial light modulator may be driven by a method comprising the sequential application of successive pulse voltages of selective amplitude, polarity and duration to cause the spatial light modulator to manifest a second threshold level suitable for application of the device in Boolean processing applications and Fourier image processing.

Abstract: This invention provides a liquid crystal polarization handedness switch, and optical devices employing the handedness switch in conjunction with optical elements which are sensitive to the handedness of incident light. The handedness switch receives unpolarized light and converts it into circularly polarized light with switchable handedness. In combination with cholesteric circular polarizers, switchable color filters are provided. The color filters of this invention include the analogous x-y polarization switch combined with colored partial polarizers. The liquid crystals employed in the color filter of this invention can include SmC*, SmA*, antiferroelectric, DHF, achiral ferroelectric and twisted nematic liquid crystals.

Abstract: Light diffraction device using reconfigurable spatial light modulators and the fractional Talbot effect. This device comprises two liquid crystal, electrically addressable spatial light modulators (M1, M2) on a semiconductor substrate and at least one polarizing beam splitter (2), the optical path between the modulators being equal to (2k+1) Z.sub.T /4.sup.n in which k and n are natural integers, n differing from zero, and Z.sub.T is the Talbot distance relative to a biperiodic hologram obtained by means of one of the modulators and at one of the periods equal to double the other, which makes it possible to obtain a reconfigurable hologram having four phase levels. Application to optical telecommunications.

Abstract: A display device comprises a liquid crystal spatial light modulator (1) associated with diffractive means, such as a diffraction grating comprising grating elements (5). The diffraction grating is illuminated by a light source (6, 7) and each element is chirped and blazed so as to separate the primary colors of the illuminating light and direct them to individual light-modulating elements (R, G, B) of the modulator (1). By dispensing with conventional color filters, the efficiency of the display device is improved. Further, the focusing action of the grating elements (5) directs light to the elements of the modulator (1) so as to prevent light wastage caused by blocking of light by opaque regions of the display.

Abstract: A conductive fine sphere with a K-value and a recovery factor in a predetermined range is provided. Suppose a load value (kgf) is F, a compression displacement (mm) is S, and a radius (mm) is R at 10% compression deformation of this spacer, a K-value defined as the following equation is in the range of 250 kgf/mm.sup.2 to 700 kgf/mm.sup.2 at 20.degree. C., and a recovery factor after the compression deformation is in the range of 30% to 80% at 20.degree. C.

Abstract: An electrically activated infrared filter utilizes a mixture of infrared absorbing dyes in liquid crystal which normally presents a substantial cross section of dye to absorb the infrared component of impinging light. Polarizing light to be parallel to the direction of liquid crystal alignment enhances the absorption of infrared components. In an alternative embodiment, a chiral additive to the liquid crystal solution increases the dye cross section density which, by absorption, attenuates a higher proportion of the infrared wavelengths. A predetermined voltage differential across the cell aligns the liquid crystal and dye molecules to the voltage gradient, presenting a substantially non-absorptive path to the infrared components of impinging light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device including a pair of electrode substrates and a display medium sandwiched between the electrode substrates and including a polymeric wall and liquid crystal regions at least partly surrounded by the polymeric wall. In this liquid crystal display device, the polymeric wall is tightly attached to both the electrode substrates. Furthermore, the invention also provides a method for producing a liquid crystal display device including a pair of electrode substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and a display medium including a polymeric wall and liquid crystal regions at least partly surrounded by the polymeric wall and sandwiched between the electrode substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit including a plurality of subpixels in each pixel provides superior gradation over a wide viewing angle, and is produced with no increase in manufacturing cost and no deterioration of desired properties (such as reduction in brightness, contrast and response). No additional manufacturing step is required since a control capacitor electrode is formed at the same time as source and drain electrodes constituting a thin-film transistor. By controlling the ratio of display area and the difference in applied voltage of the subpixels, preferable viewing angle properties are obtained. The display properties at the boundary of subpixels are improved by controlling the gap width and the direction of boundary of the subpixels, thus providing a bright display.

Abstract: The present invention includes a matrix display panel assembly (10) having at least two face-to-face matrix display panels (20) that each define an array of pixel components (28) through which light is directed to form a display image. A microlens panel (32, 34) is positioned between the pair of matrix display panels. The microlens panel includes an array of microlenses that receive light propagating through the pixel components of one of the matrix display panels and directs the light through the pixel components of the other matrix display panel. As a result, the panel assembly has improved light transmission capabilities with reduced parallax and depth of field requirements.

Abstract: A flat type display device is assembled compactly with high reliability. The flat type display device has a liquid crystal panel having electrode terminals on a peripheral portion of one face of the liquid crystal panel, a flexible wiring board having a drive IC mounted thereon for driving the liquid crystal panel, and a common wiring board having electrode terminals on one face thereof. The flexible wiring board is electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the liquid crystal panel. The common wiring board is electrically connected to the flexible wiring board so as to transmit an input signal, which has been received by the electrode terminals from external, to the drive IC.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device, comprises: a plurality of pixel portions having a pair of opposite electrodes, and a plurality of non-pixel portions where a pair of opposite electrodes are not disposed, respectively arranged two-dimensionally; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the opposite electrodes and extending over the pixel portions and the non-pixel portions. The non-pixel portions further comprise a colored film having a light-interruption function and a protective film disposed between and preventing direct contact between the colored film and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

Abstract: A flat panel liquid crystal display module (34) has its front face adjacent a rear projection screen (40) and is illuminated by a pre-polarized collimated light source (10,14,16,18,22,26). Collimation is provided by either a Fresnel lens or a projection lens having a long focal length. The characteristics of the projection screen (40) provide narrowed vertical viewing angle and a fiber optic face plate (38) between the liquid crystal module (34) and the screen (40) provides sunlight rejection. The arrangement has greatly improved display brightness, with only minimal changes in contrast and color as viewing angle changes.

Abstract: A chromium blank for forming a black matrix-screen to be used as a color filter for a liquid crystal display is formed by forming at least a first antireflection film, a second antireflection film and a screening film sequentially in that order on one major surface of a transparent substrate. Each of the first and the second antireflection film is a semitransparent film formed of a chromium compound or a chromium mixture, containing chromium as a principal component, and the screening film is formed of chromium, a chromium compound containing chromium as a principal component. The transparent substrate, the first antireflection film, the second antireflection film and the screening film meet an inequality: n.sub.s <n.sub.1 <n.sub.2 <n.sub.3, where n.sub.s is the refractive index of the transparent substrate, n.sub.1 is the real part of the complex index of refraction of the first antireflection film, n.sub.2 is the real part of the complex index of refraction of the second antireflection film, and n.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each having thereon a group of display electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. Liquid crystal movement causing yellowing or local increase in liquid crystal layer thickness is minimized in the device by forming a substantial in liquid crystal layer thickness between a pixel part and a non-pixel part and/or by forming a groove having minute convexities with a maximum diameter of at least 0.1 .mu.m at non-pixel parts on a substrate so that the groove extends in a direction forming an angle of 45-135 degrees with a normal to smectic layers of the liquid crystal.