Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds with positive dielectric anisotropy, characterized in that said medium contains one or more alkenyl compounds of the formula (I) and one or more compounds of the formula (IA) wherein R, R1, R2, ring A and ring B, L1, L2; L3; L4; X, Z1, Z2, y and z have the meanings cited in Claim 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electro-optical light modulation element, to electro-optical displays and display systems containing elements of this type, such as, for example, television screens and computer monitors, and to the modulation media used. The light modulation elements according to the invention contain a mesogenic modulation medium which is in an optically isotropic phase during operation of the light modulation elements and, besides good contrast, low viewing-angle dependence and very short response times, are particularly distinguished by relatively low driving voltages. The modulation media according to the invention are distinguished by a combination of large dielectric susceptibility in the optically isotropic phase with small enthalpy of clearing or the occurrence of a blue phase. At a temperature of 4° above the clearing point or conversion temperature (T(N*,BP)), the dielectric susceptibility of the modulation medium is preferably 25 or more and the enthalpy of clearing is 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds of positive dielectric anisotropy, characterised in that it comprises one or more compounds of the general formula I 1

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal electro-optical switching member that comprises at least one polariser and a liquid crystal layer having an initial orientation in which the liquid crystal molecules are oriented so as to be essentially parallel to the substrates and to each other. The change of orientation of the liquid crystals, from their initial orientation that is substantially parallel to the substrates, is induced by a corresponding electric field which is oriented so as to be practically parallel to the substrates in the case liquid crystal with a negative dielectric anisotropy and so as to be practically perpendicular to the substrates in the case liquid crystal with a positive dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystal layer has an optical delay [(d&Dgr;n) LC?] of between 0.06 and 0.43 &mgr;m. The present invention also relates to a liquid crystal display system that comprises said liquid crystal switching members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds with positive dielectric anisotropy, characterized in that said medium contains one or more alkenyl compounds of the formula (I) and one or more compounds of the formula (IA) wherein R, R1, R2, ring A and ring B, L1, L2; L3; L4; X, Z1, Z2, y and z have the meanings cited in claim 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-optical liquid-crystal display having a realignment layer for realignment of the liquid crystals whose field has a component, which is crucial for the realignment, parallel to the liquid-crystal layer, containing a liquid-crystalline medium of positive dielectric anisotropy, where the medium comprises at least one mesogenic compound of the formula I: in which R1 and L are defined herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to esters of the formula I and to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having positive dielectric anisotropy, characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the general formula I in which R, A1, Z1, L1, L2, Y and n are as defined in herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having positive dielectric anisotropy, characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the general formula I in which R1, L1, L2, L3, L4, X and u are as defined in claim 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-optical liquid-crystal display having a realignment layer for realignment of the liquid crystals whose field has a component, which is crucial for the realignment, parallel to the liquid-crystal layer, containing a liquid-crystalline medium of positive dielectric anisotropy, where the medium comprises at least one mesogenic compound of the formula I 1