Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device where power consumption can be suppressed and the number of gray scales can be increased without a scanning line driver circuit on both sides of a pixel portion. In a display device having a scanning line driver circuit, a shift register included in the scanning line driver circuit has 4m-stage (m is a natural number) flip-flop circuits in every m scanning lines, and a signal which selects the scanning line in a first half period of one scanning line selection period and a signal which selects the scanning line in a second half period of the one scanning line selection period are output to the scanning line by another start pulse.

Abstract: A light emitting device that achieves long life, and which is capable of performing high duty drive, by suppressing initial light emitting element deterioration is provided. Reverse bias application to an EL element (109) is performed one row at a time by forming a reverse bias electric power source line (112) and a reverse bias TFT (108). Reverse bias application can therefore be performed in synchronous with operations for write-in of an image signal, light emission, erasure, and the like. Reverse bias application therefore becomes possible while maintaining a duty equivalent to that of a conventional driving method.

Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention has a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, an insulating layer which is formed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and which has a contact hole, and a third conductive layer which is connected to the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and of which at least a part of an end portion is formed inside the contact hole. Near a contact hole where the second conductive layer is connected to the third conductive layer, the third conductive layer does not overlap with the second conductive layer with the first insulating layer interposed therebetween and an end portion of the third conductive layer is not formed over the first insulating layer. This allows suppression of depression and projection of the third conductive layer.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display (LCD) device of the invention includes: a substrate; a dielectric layer; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the substrate and the dielectric layer; a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes formed on a surface of the substrate facing the liquid crystal layer to extend in parallel with a first direction; and a plurality of stripe-shaped plasma channels formed to face the plurality of electrodes with the liquid crystal layer and the dielectric layer therebetween to extend in parallel with a second direction different from the first direction. The dielectric layer or an alignment layer formed on a surface of the dielectric layer facing the liquid crystal layer selectively attenuates ultraviolet rays emitted from the plasma channels.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display (LCD) device of the invention includes: a substrate; a dielectric layer; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the substrate and the dielectric layer; a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes formed on a surface of the substrate facing the liquid crystal layer to extend in parallel with a first direction; and a plurality of stripe-shaped plasma channels formed to face the plurality of electrodes with the liquid crystal layer and the dielectric layer therebetween to extend in parallel with a second direction different from the first direction. The dielectric layer or an alignment layer formed on a surface of the dielectric layer facing the liquid crystal layer selectively attenuates ultraviolet rays emitted from the plasma channels.

Abstract: The polymerizable compound of this invention is represented by general formula (I): where R is H, R′, R′O, R′COO, or R′OCO, R′ is a linear or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, A1 and A2 are independently a cyclohexane ring or a benzene ring which may include a substituent represented by formula (II) below; X is H or CH3; and Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4 are independently H, F, Cl, CH3, CH3O, CF3, or CF3O wherein at least two of Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4 are H and, if both A1 and A2 are cyclohexane rings, at least one of Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4 is not H: where Y5, Y6, Y7, and Y8 are independently H, F, Cl, CH3, CH3O, CF3, or CF3O, at least two of Y5, Y6, Y7, and Y8 are H.

Abstract: A mixture of a ferroelectric or anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal material and a monomer having a single photopolymeric functional group is injected in the space between two electrode substrates while heat is applied. After cooling of the mixture it is irradiated with ultraviolet light at a temperature at which the liquid crystal material remains in the smectic phase so as to polymerise the monomer. Areas of liquid crystal material requiring different threshold voltages for switching are thereby produced. Alternatively such areas can be produced by changing the conditions applied to a mixture of liquid crystal material with a suitable dopant so as to cause separation of the dopant out of the liquid crystal material in order to provide a polarity of nucleation points for controlling domain formation within the liquid crystal material. Such control of domain formation can be used to provide greyscale in a liquid crystal device.

Abstract: Monomers with photopolymerization characteristics and an initiator for polymerization are added to a liquid crystal composition having a ferroelectric liquid crystal phase (S5). In a state (S6) where coexist two domains which differ from each other in directions of molecular major axes in the ferroelectric liquid crystal phase, light is projected to the liquid crystal layer to form a polymer reticulate structure therein (S7). As a result, this state is made a stable one and the liquid crystal shows macroscopic switching behaviors among two states causing dark and bright displays respectively, and the above-described state causing halftone display.

Abstract: A photoinitiator is represented by general formula (I): ##STR1## where n is an integer of 1 or greater; A and B are each a trans cyclohexane ring or a benzene ring, the benzene ring being allowed to include a fluorine atom or a methyl group as a substituent, the benzene ring adjacent to a carbonyl group being allowed to include a fluorine atom or a methyl group as a substituent; p and q are each 0 or 1, p and q are not simultaneously 0; X is an alkyl group of C.sub.1 through C.sub.3 or hydrogen atom, Y is a methyl group, ethyl group or alkoxy group of C.sub.1 through C.sub.3, and Z is a methyl group, ethyl group, alkyl-substituted phenyl group or a group represented by general formula (II), Y and Z being allowed to bonded together to form a ring: ##STR2## where A, B, n, p and q are identical with those in general formula (I).

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device is described. The device has a pair of substrates having at least an electrode film and an alignment film, and a complex made of a ferroelectric liquid crystal material and a polymer material disposed between the substrates. The complex has a network structure such that the network structure stabilizes the orientation of molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material. Directions of pretilt angles of the molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material located at interfaces between the substrates and the ferroelectric liquid crystal material are substantially identical. The ferroelectric liquid crystal material has a chevron layer structure, and a bending direction of the chevron layer structure is substantially identical to the directions of the pretilt angles of the molecules at the interfaces.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound of the present invention is represented by the following general Formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently a linear or branched alkyl group or alkoxy group having 1 to 14 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is an alkyl group; --Y-- is a group represented by the following Formula (II) or (III); and X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3, and X.sub.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of electrodes formed on a pair of substrates, a pair of orientation films formed on the substrates to cover said electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the substrates, wherein a plurality of pixels are provided between the facing sides of the pair of electrodes, and the liquid crystal layer comprises, in each pixel, regions with continuously or stepwise varying threshold values.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device is described. The device has a pair of substrates having at least an electrode film and an alignment film, and a complex made of a ferroelectric liquid crystal material and a polymer material disposed between the substrates. The complex has a network structure such that the network structure stabilizes the orientation of molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material. Directions of pretilt angles of the molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material located at interfaces between the substrates and the ferroelectric liquid crystal material are substantially identical. The ferroelectric liquid crystal material has a chevron layer structure, and a bending direction of the chevron layer structure is substantially identical to the directions of the pretilt angles of the molecules at the interfaces.

Abstract: A polymer having spontaneous polarization with the same codes as liquid crystal is introduced into a liquid crystal layer of the smectic liquid crystal cell so that the responding speed is improved (second liquid crystal cell). In another way, a polymer having spontaneous polarization with opposite codes to the liquid crystal is introduced into liquid crystal showing .tau.-V.sub.min characteristic so that a driving voltage is lowered (first liquid crystal cell). These polymers are previously added to a liquid crystal composite before injecting into the liquid crystal cell. In another way, after a photochemically polymeric monomer is added to the liquid crystal composite and the obtained product is injected into the liquid crystal cell, the monomer is polymerized by the projection of a light. Furthermore, the liquid crystal cell into which the polymer is introduced is heated again so as to show I phase and is cooled so that the tone display is realized.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of electrodes formed on a pair of substrates, a pair of orientation films formed on the substrates to cover said electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the substrates, wherein a plurality of pixels are provided between the facing sides of the pair of electrodes, and the liquid crystal layer comprises, in each pixel, regions with continuously or stepwise varying threshold values.

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.