Abstract: A bistable liquid crystal device is made from a cell having first and second opposed spaced-apart cell walls enclosing a layer of nematic liquid crystal material having a photopolymerisable polymer precursor dissolved therein. Electrodes for applying an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material are on at least one cell wall. The inner surface of at least the first cell wall has a grating alignment structure. The cell is illuminated to photopolymerize the polymer precursor through the first cell wall. This causes polymerization close to the first cell wall and deposition of the resulting polymeric material as a coating on the grating alignment structure on the first cell wall.

Abstract: A bistable nematic liquid crystal display device comprises two opposed cell walls enclosing a layer of a nematic liquid crystal material. An inner surface of each cell wall is provided with an electrode for applying an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material. An inner surface of one of the cell walls is provided with a surface alignment capable of inducing a desired alignment in adjacent molecules of the liquid crystal material, and a layer of finely-divided particles is immobilised on the surface alignment.

Abstract: A bistable liquid crystal display device has a nematic liquid crystal which is switchable between two different stable molecular configurations. The liquid crystal has a mixture of finely-divided positively-charged particles and finely-divided negatively-charged particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: An electrophoretic liquid crystal display device comprises: two opposed cell walls enclosing a layer of an electrophoretic composition comprising a liquid crystal material having finely divided pigment particles dispersed therein; a plurality of electrode structures on an inner surface of each cell wall for applying an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material, overlapping regions of opposed electrode structures on each cell wall defining pixels; wherein the liquid crystal material has a dielectric anisotropy greater than about 2 or less than about ?2; and wherein at least one of said cell walls is translucent and has an inner surface that is of low energy or induces a substantially homeotropic local alignment of adjacent molecules of said liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A bistable liquid crystal device comprises first and second cell walls enclosing a layer of nematic liquid crystal material. Electrodes on at least one cell wall apply an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material. The inner surface of the cell wall includes a grating alignment structure having a polymeric material coating contacting the liquid crystal material and is substantially insoluble therein. Two stable molecular configurations can to exist in the nematic layer in response to suitable electrical signals applied to the electrodes.

Abstract: A bistable nematic liquid crystal display device comprises two cell walls enclosing a layer of nematic liquid crystal material having finely divided solid particles dispersed therein. At least one electrode on each cell wall applies an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material. Surface alignments on the inner surface of both cell walls induce adjacent molecules of the liquid crystal material to adopt desired orientations. The liquid crystal material adopts two different stable molecular configurations according to the polarity of applied electric field pulses.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bistable liquid crystal device comprises initially forming a cell from first and second opposed spaced-apart cell walls (1) enclosing a layer of nematic liquid crystal material (4) having a photopolymerisable polymer precursor dissolved therein. Electrodes (2) for applying an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material are provided on at least one cell wall. The inner surface of at least the first cell wall is provided with a grating alignment structure (2), and the cell is illuminated with suitable light to effect photopolymerisation of the polymer precursor through the first cell wall. This causes polymerisation to occur close to the first cell wall and deposition of the resulting polymeric material as a coating on the grating alignment structure on the first cell wall.