Abstract: The invention relates to an alignment layer with improved adhesion to liquid crystal (LC) films, to a precursor material used for the preparation of such a layer, to a laminate comprising such a layer and at least one LC polymer film, and to the use of the alignment layer and the laminate for optical, electrooptical, decorative or security uses and devices, wherein the alignment layer and the precursor material comprise at least one reactive mesogen in monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric form.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alignment layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules, with improved adhesion to liquid crystal (LC) films, to a composition containing a precursor material used for the preparation of such a layer, to a laminate comprising such a layer and at least one LC polymer film, and to the use of the alignment layer and the laminate for optical, electrooptical, decorative or security uses and devices, wherein the alignment layer and the precursor material comprise at least one reactive mesogen in monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric form.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alignment layer with improved adhesion to liquid crystal (LC) films, to a precursor material used for the preparation of such a layer, to a laminate comprising such a layer and at least one LC polymer film, and to the use of the alignment layer and the laminate for optical, electrooptical, decorative or security uses and devices, wherein the alignment layer and the precursor material comprise at least one reactive mesogen in monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric form.

Abstract: A display device includes a display panel having separately addressable pixels for displaying an image. A first pixel group of provides emergent light in a first polarization state, and a second pixel group provides emergent light in a second polarization state. A barrier layer in optical association with the display panel partially occludes the emergent light. The barrier layer has a first set of regions for passing light in one of the first or second polarization states, a second set regions for passing light in the other polarization state, and a third set of regions for occluding the emergent light. The first and second regions of the barrier layer are respectively registered with the first and second groups of pixels so as to provide different views of an image displayed by the display panel.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alignment layer with improved adhesion to liquid crystal (LC) films, to a precursor material used for the preparation of such a layer, to a laminate comprising such a layer and at least one LC polymer film, and to the use of the alignment layer and the laminate for optical, electrooptical, decorative or security uses and devices, wherein the alignment layer and the precursor material comprise at least one reactive mesogen in monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric form.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a birefringent layer with tilted optical axis, comprising providing a liquid crystal mixture comprising liquid crystal molecules and a volatile surfactant, aligning said liquid crystal mixture, and evaporate at least part of said volatile compound from the mixture to alter the tilt of the optical axis of said liquid crystal mixture.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a liquid crystal layer (3) sandwiched between a front substrate (1) and a back substrate (2), and an optical layer (7) comprising a birefringent material, said pixels being divided into at least one transmissive (5) and at least one reflective subpixel (4), and said optical layer (7) being at least partly sandwiched between the liquid crystal layer (3) and one of said front substrate (1) or back substrate (2), and being patterned into domains (8, 9), each domain covering at least part of a reflective subpixel (4) or at least part of a transmissive subpixel (5).

Abstract: A display device comprising a display panel (62) having a plurality of separately addressable pixels (64) for displaying an image, a first group (64a) of said pixels being configured to provide emergent light in a first polarisation state (P), and a second group (64b) of said pixels being configured to provide emergent light in a second polarisation state (S), a barrier layer (68) in optical association with the display panel to partially occlude said emergent light, the barrier layer having a first plurality of regions (72) for passing light in one of the first or second polarisation states, and a second plurality of regions (74) for passing light in the other of the first and second polarisation states and a third plurality of regions (76) for occluding said emergent light, and wherein the first (72) and second (74) regions of the barrier layer are respectively registered with the first (64a) and second (64b) groups of pixels so as to provide different views of an image displayed by said display panel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a transflective liquid crystal display device, having a plurality of pixels (1), each comprising a liquid crystal layer (2) being sandwiched between a front and a back substrate (4, 5), a back light (10), a semi-transparent reflective element (7), being arranged between the back substrate (5) and the back light (5), a front polarizer (6), and a driving arrangement (3) for controlling optical properties of the liquid crystal layer (2), whereby the pixel is subdivided into a reflective pixel part (1a) and a transmissive pixel part (1b).

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of manufacturing a diffusing reflector comprising coating a substrate with a suspension of metal nanoparticles and annealing the coated substrate at elevated temperature, characterized in that the suspension of metal nonoparticles comprises a silane derivative as additive with at least one methyl group and at least one alkoxy group. The invention further relates to a diffusing reflector made by using the above method, and to a display apparatus comprising said diffusing reflector.

Abstract: This invention relates to a transflective liquid crystal display device, having a plurality of pixels (1), each comprising a liquid crystal layer (2) being sandwiched between a front and a back substrate (4, 5), a back light (10), a semi-transparent reflective element (7), being arranged between the back substrate (5) and the back light (5), a front polariser (6), and a driving arrangement (3) for controlling optical properties of the liquid crystal layer (2), whereby the pixel is subdivided into a reflective pixel part (1a) and a transmissive pixel part (1b).

Abstract: A cholesteric layer switchable between a wavelength-selectively reflective state and a transmissive state is in direct contact with a homeotropic orientation layer. In the reflective state the layer is cholesterically ordered in helices characterized by a helical direction and a helical pitch. The homeotropic layer broadens the distribution of helical axis directions thus rendering the light reflected in the reflective state more diffuse and rendering the color reflected by the cholesteric layer less dependent on viewing angle. Alternatively, the cholesteric layer may be a polymerized layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cholesteric color filter (CCF) provided with a coating preventing the ingress of oxygen, and a method for making such a cholesteric color filter. It further relates to a device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), comprising a substrate provided with such a cholesteric color filter. The topcoat is preferably curable by electromagnetic radiation.