Patents by Inventor Annie Zann

Annie Zann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4410283
    Abstract: Cholesteric liquid crystals of the so-called reentrant mesogenic type obtained by mixing a substance such as a cholesterol ester having molecules of the "chiral" type with a liquid crystal of the so-called reentrant nematic type such as a substance corresponding to the general formula: ##STR1## where R is an alkyl or alkoxy or alkylcarbonate group with:R'=H or CH.sub.3and X is an organic radical such that CH=N, CH=CH, C.tbd.C or COO.The use of a liquid crystal in accordance with the invention serves to obtain a temperature-detecting device in which, in contrast to conventional cholesteric devices, the reflected light changes from blue to red when the temperature rises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Dubois, Jean Billard, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 4402855
    Abstract: A family of liquid crystals having a type A smectic mesophase with a positive dielectric anisotropy, which are particularly useful in the case of the thermo-optical effect.The substances of the family are in accordance with the general formula: ##STR1## in which R represents an organic group of the alkyl or alkoxy type containing 1 to 15 carbon atoms and in which X and Y designate either the bromine or the nitrile radical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Annie Zann, Jean-Claude Dubois
  • Patent number: 4333709
    Abstract: A mixture of liquid crystals having a mesophase of the disc-like with wires-type, where a sensitivity to the electrical field can be observed and application can be made to visual display cells. The mixture comprises two hexasubstituted triphenylene derivatives, to the nucleus of which are fixed six identical radicals in positions 2, 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11, which can be alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarboxylate, alkylbenzoate, and alkoxybenzoate radicals. The electro-optical devices can either be of the variable birefringence type when the liquid crystal molecules have their optical axes parallel to one another and to the walls of a display cell, or of the type with a variable rotatory power under the action of an electrical field when a helical type arrangement is used, or finally, under the effect of a relatively strong field, of the type with dynamic light diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Dubois, Annie Zann, Jean Billard, Michel Hareng
  • Patent number: 4257910
    Abstract: The invention concerns a substance of diester type, i.e. an organic compound with three benzene nuclei joined by --COO-- groups, exhibiting at least one mesomorphic phase of smectic type.The substance of the invention answers to the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is an alkyl or alkoxy radical and R.sub.2 an alkyl. In the case where R.sub.1 is an octyl and R.sub.2 a pentyl there is a dielectric isotropy frequency of 30 kHz, i.e. a frequency where the dielectric anistropy changes sign.Application to field-effect display devices with dual-frequency memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Alain Beguin, Annie Zann, Jean-Claude Dubois
  • Patent number: 4256656
    Abstract: The invention relates to an organic compound having an enantiotropic or monotropic mesomorphous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Alain Beguin, Jean-Claude Dubois, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 4235736
    Abstract: A family of diphenylic esters are disclosed, which, within certain temperature ranges exhibit mesomorphic phases, either smectic or nematic, having the general formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 O or C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 in which n is an integer of from 1 to 10,R.sub.2 is C.sub.m H.sub.2m+1 in which m is an integer of from 1 to 10, andX is Br or CN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Alain Beguin, Jean-Claude Dubois, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 4230596
    Abstract: A family of organic compounds having at least one mesomorphic phase of nematic type and, in respect of some compounds, one or more smetic phases. The liquid crystals according to the invention satisfy general formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 is an alkyl or alkoxy group having n carbon atoms (n being an integer of 1 to 10) X designates the bromine or the cyano group, Y is a methyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1980
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Alain Beguin, Jean-Claude Dubois, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 4222888
    Abstract: Novel mesomorphic substances, constituting, in certain temperature ranges, nematic or smectic liquid crystals which are compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkoxy group containing 1 to 10 atoms of carbon;R.sub.2 is an alkyl group containing 1 to 10 atoms of carbon;X is Br or CN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Dubois, Tinh H. Nguyen, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 4212762
    Abstract: Novel mesomorphic substances, constituting, in certain temperature ranges, nematic or smectic liquid crystals which are compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl or alkoxy group containing 1 to 10 atoms of carbon;R.sub.2 is Br, CN or an alkyl (or an alkoxy) group containing 1 to 10 atoms of carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Dubois, Huu Tinh Nguyen, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 4173545
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition with high negative dielectric anisotropy, which is capable of exhibiting a high dynamic light scattering effect and of inducing similar characteristics into mixtures of the liquid crystal and another nematic liquid crystal and which derives an advantage from a larger mesomorphic temperature range, which comprises at least one compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents NO.sub.2, bromine or cyano; R.sub.1 is an alkyl or alkoxy group and R.sub.2 is an alkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Alain Beguin, Jean-Claude Dubois, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 4147655
    Abstract: Novel mesomorphic substances, constituting, in certain temperature ranges, nematic or smectic liquid crystals, are compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein Y is H or CN;R is alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 10 carbon atoms;R' is alkyl of 1 to 10 carbon atoms or ##STR2## and X is Br, Cl or CN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Dubois, Huu T. Nguyen, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 4110243
    Abstract: An organic compound having a high negative dielectric anisotropy is capable, by mixing with a nematic liquid crystal, of improving the dynamic scattering effect of the liquid crystal. The organic compounds have the formula: ##STR1## in which R is either a fluoro or a nitrile radical and wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl radicals. An excellent dynamic scattering effect is obtained by mixing the new organic compound even in a low proportion with a nematic liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Marie A. Abert-Mellah, Jean Claude Dubois, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 3989354
    Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal device for electro-optical display devices, is provided. Its long-shaped molecules are orientated perpendicularly to the electrode plates delimiting the crystalline liquid, i.e. homeotropically aligned. A polymer layer with long-chain molecules has been previously formed on the internal faces of each plate separately arranged on a discharge electrode of an electrical apparatus operating at high frequency (13.56 mc/s) and containing a vapour at very low pressure of a monomer such as hexamethyldisiloxane. The molecules of polymer thus formed are perpendicular to the plates and a similar orientation of the liquid crystal molecules result from that, i.e. a homeotropic alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean Claude Dubois, Maryse Gazard, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 3979321
    Abstract: A mixture of liquid crystals comprising a substance which imparts a medium positive dielectric anisotropy, and substances which widen the mesomorphic temperature range or impart good long-term stability, is provided. The mixture in accordance with the invention comprises at least one substance of the formula: ##SPC1##Or its isomer of the formula: ##SPC2##Where R is an alkyl or alkoxy radical and at least one substance of the formula: ##SPC3##Where the radical R is of the same kind as mentioned earlier or substance of the formula: ##SPC4##Or its isomer of the formula: ##SPC5##Where R is an alkoxy radical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1976
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Andre Couttet, Jean Claude Dubois, Annie Zann
  • Patent number: 3976591
    Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal of high stability, which can be utilized at normal temperatures, is obtained from compounds of the formula ##SPC1##Wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 14 carbon atoms, which present at least one nematic phase in the supper cooled liquid state. As a second embodiment, mixtures of the above compound with other nematic compounds formed nematic structures over wide temperature ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1973
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1976
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean Claude Dubois, Annie Zann, Jean Claude Lavenu