Abstract: An alignment-film in which the pretilt angle is changed by ultraviolet irradiation, a material for forming the same, a liquid crystal display device using the alignment film, a method for producing an alignment-film formation material, and a method for producing an alignment film. Ultraviolet irradiation causes large changes in pretilt angle but few changes in electrical characteristics, and a liquid crystal display device free from deterioration of the liquid crystal, image sticking, or the occurrence of flicker results. A first polymer forms the underlying principal layer and a second polymer forms thereon a surface layer thinner than the principal layer. The first polymer may exhibit a small change in electrical characteristics due to ultraviolet radiation and the second polymer may exhibit a large change in pretilt angle due to ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A soluble polyimide solution is applied to the color filter substrate and the TFT substrate of a liquid crystal display. The lower half of the pixels in the color filter substrate and the upper half of the pixels in the TFT substrate are dried by heating by irradiating it with a laser beam. The remaining sections are thereafter dried naturally. The pretilt angle of the molecules of the liquid crystal material in contact with the sections dried by heating with the laser beam is small and the pretilt angle of the molecules which are in contact with the section dried naturally is large, enabling the viewing angle to be widened.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus in normally-white mode in which gray scale display is obtained by providing different applied voltages corresponding to different gray scale levels, respectively, characterized in that in a curve showing the relationship between the applied voltage and light transmittance, the lowest applied voltage is set so as to be shifted in the direction of a monotonically decreasing region of the curve. The display simultaneously provides both good contrast ratios and good gradation at large viewing angles, and gray scale is not inverted.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device including a first transparent insulating substrate having a common electode formed theron; a second transparent insulating substrate having gate lines formed in a first direction; data lines formed in a second direction so as to intersect said gate lines, liquid crystal display cells, each at a crosspoint of said gate and data lines; the cells having a thin film transistor and a display electrode; a light shielding layer having an aperture for exposing a display area of each display electrode; a liquid crystal material retained between said first and second substrates, and a liquid crystal orientating layer on at least one of the substrates, the improvement comprising, the light shielding layer at an edge of said aperture being located in an up stream direction with respect to a rubbing direction of the orientating layer of the substrate, comprising a thin light shielding layer formed at a periphery of the display electrode for defining an edge of the aperture, and a thick l

Abstract: A liquid crystal display and a method for producing the same. The display has a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of pixels, wherein the pixels have electrodes for applying a voltage thereto. A layer of a liquid crystal material is disposed between the electrodes. The pixels are configured so that a single tilt domain of the liquid crystal material exists when a voltage is not applied to the electrodes, and a first tilt domain and a second tilt domain of the liquid crystal material exist when a sufficient voltage is applied to said electrodes. This is achieved by using either a chiral dopant in twisted nematic liquid crystal material, or orientation layers producing a twist of less than 90.degree., or both. The contrast is very symmetrical for up/down viewing angles.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a foamed plastic insulating coating in a wire. A gaseous foaming agent is mixed with a resin and passed through a high pressure narrow passage and then through a lower pressure wide passage.The release of pressure, when the resin enters the wide passage, results in a foaming of the resin. The foamed resin is thereafter extruded through an orifice onto a wire. In one embodiment a chemical is added to serve as a nuclei for the gas bubbles formed during foaming. In a second embodiment, a second chemical is added to provide a smoother extruded surface. In still a further embodiment, the pressure in the wide passage is automatically controlled to remain at a predetermined preferred pressure.

Abstract: A method for producing a foamed plastic insulating coating in a wire. A gaseous foaming agent is mix with a resin and passed through a high pressure narrow passage and then through a lower pressure wide passage.The release of pressure, when the resin enters the wide passage, results in a foaming of the resin. The foamed resin is thereafter extruded through an orifice onto a wire. In one embodiment a chemical is added to serve as a nuclei for the gas bubbles formed during foaming. In a second embodiment, a second chemical is added to provide a smoother extruded surface. In still a further embodiment, the pressure in the wide passage is automatically controlled to remain at a predetermined preferred pressure.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus and method for producing foamed resin coatings on a wire. A foaming agent and molten resin are poured into a supply portion of an extruding screw and cylinder apparatus. The screw in the supply portion is tapered in the down stream direction. The screw and cylinder apparatus portion adjacent to the supply portion is arranged to blend the resin and foaming agent and has a lower coefficient of extrusion than the supply portion. The metering portion of the screw and cylinder apparatus is adjacent and down stream of the blend portion and has a higher coefficient of extrusion than the blend portion.