Abstract: In a polarization-sensitive beam splitter 10 having a polarization-separating layer 13 interposed between two transparent elements 11, 12, the two transparent elements consist of non-birefringent material and the polarization-separating layer is a polarizing birefringent oriented polymer adhesive layer. The polarization-separating layer is manufactured from a curable synthetic resin composition comprising liquid-crystalline monomers or oligomers, the molecules in the curable synthetic resin composition being oriented uniaxially after which the synthetic resin composition is cured.

Abstract: The light output of a color LCD (10) is considerably increased by arranging dichroic mirrors (31, 32, 33) register with the pixels (20), which mirrors pass the color suitable for the pixel and reflect the other colors so that they can be reflected back again by a reflective surface (45) and be used in the display.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device which comprises two supporting plates spaced a distance d from each other the which a pattern of line and column electrodes, respectively, is provided on the facing surfaces and form a matrix of display cells. A mixture of a nematic liquid crystal with a cholesteric addition is present between the supporting plates. The mixture has a positive dielectric anisotropy and a natural pitch p such that the ratio d/p has a value between 0.5 and 1. The cell support surfaces comprise an orientation layer which gives the director over the layer thickness d a rotation between .pi. and 2.pi. radians with, the director at one surface enclosing an angle of tilt between 0.degree. and 70.degree. and at the other surface an angle of tilt between 5.degree. and 70.degree.. Data voltages are applied to the column electrodes and line selection pulses are applied to the line electrodes.

Abstract: In a low drive voltage display device having a matrix structure, the number of rows to be addressed is selected to be smaller than is possible on the ground of threshold steepness. The required selection voltages can then be selected to be considerably lower than the voltages in accordance with the Alt & Pleshko addressing scheme.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises two supporting plates which are kept spaced apart and the facing surfaces of which comprise a pattern of line electrodes and column electrodes, respectively, which form a matrix of display cells. A mixture of a nematic liquid crystal with a cholesteric addition is present between the supporting plates. The mixture has a positive dielectric anisotropy and a natural pitch p such that the ratio d/p has a value between 0.6 and 0.9. The surfaces comprise an orientation layer to provide a progressive molecular twist .PHI. of the liquid crystal molecules (director) across the layer thickness d of greater than 1.2.pi. and less than 1.7.pi. radians with the director assuming an angle of tilt between 0.degree. and 7.degree. at one surface and an angle of tilt between 5.degree. and 70.degree. at the other surface. Below a field strength E.sub.1 the display cells are in a first stable state and above a field strength E.sub.