Abstract: An illumination device is provided of the type arranged at the front which is of low power consumption and of high recognisability both when the illumination is turned on and when illumination is turned off. An illumination device arranged at the front face of an illuminated object has a light-guide plate forming a transparent flat plate shape and formed with point-form optical extraction structures on its surface or in a position facing this surface, and a light source arranged opposite and end face of this light-guide plate. The light source is for example a point light source. The optical extraction structures are for example pillar-shaped projections and these are arranged two-dimensionally. The function is provided that, when this illumination device is arranged at the front of the illuminated body, rays are projected on to the illuminated body and rays reflected by the illuminated body are transmitted with scarcely any dispersion.

Abstract: An illumination device is provided of the type arranged at the front which is of low power consumption and of high recognisability both when the illumination is turned on and when illumination is turned off. An illumination device arranged at the front face of an illuminated object has a light-guide plate forming a transparent flat plate shape and formed with point-form optical extraction structures on its surface or in a position facing this surface, and a light source arranged opposite and end face of this light-guide plate. The light source is for example a point light source. The optical extraction structures are for example pillar-shaped projections and these are arranged two-dimensionally. The function is provided that, when this illumination device is arranged at the front of the illuminated body, rays are projected on to the illuminated body and rays reflected by the illuminated body are transmitted with scarcely any dispersion.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device wherein the drive voltage is comparatively low, and the optical scattering performance, optical transmissivity and contrast ratio are higher than in the conventional reflective liquid crystal display device. In a liquid crystal display device (1) constituted by sandwiching a liquid crystal layer (70) between a pair of substrates (10, 60), there are provided a perpendicular alignment film (31) including a monomolecular film formed by molecules of a sulphur compound of straight chain structure on the face of at least one substrate (10) of the substrates on the side of the liquid crystal layer and a horizontal alignment film (32) formed by molecules of sulphur compound of different straight chain structure or a fluorine derivative of cysteine etc. An alignment control film different from conventionally can be provided.

Abstract: A display device including a composite multi-layer film obtained by alternately laminating films and liquid crystal layers a plurality of times is held between one pair of substrates, and a voltage is applied to the composite multi-layer film to control the reflection factor of the composite multi-layer film. In the display device comprising a composite multi-layer film obtained by alternately laminating films and liquid crystal layers, a voltage being applied to the composite multi-layer film to control the reflection factor of the composite multi-layer film, a refractive factor n.sub.LC1(.lambda.n), in a major axis direction, and a refractive factor n.sub.LC2(.lambda.n), in a minor axis direction, of a liquid crystal used in the liquid crystal layers with respect to light having a predetermined wavelength (.lambda.n), and a refractive factor n.sub.F1(.lambda.n) and a refractive factor n.sub.F2(.lambda.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device capable of displaying multiple colors in response to application of different driving voltages includes a liquid crystal cell with two polarizers and the value of the product of the optical anisotropy n of the nematic liquid crystal material and the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer is in excess of 1.1 .mu.m. A second liquid crystal cell can be included between the first cell and one of the polarizers. A driver circuit drives the liquid crystal cells by the dynamic drive method by applying a selecting voltage, a non-selecting voltage, and one or more intermediate voltages to generate the different colors.

Abstract: An improved interfacing circuit that is readily adapted to be integrated into the same circuit chip as the remaining circuitry in an electronic instrument having a digital display formed of passive display elements, and is adapted to deliver a plurality of discrete voltage levels to the digital display drive circuitry is provided. Specifically, a two-terminal voltage supply is provided for producing a first voltage level at a first terminal and a second voltage level at a second terminal. The interfacing circuit includes a voltage divider circuit having at least two series-coupled resistance circuits coupled intermediate the respective first and second terminals of the voltage supply so that the junction defined by the coupling of each pair of series-coupled resistance circuits and the first and second terminals of the voltage supply are respectively coupled to the digital display drive circuitry for delivering a plurality of discrete voltage levels thereto.

Abstract: An electronic table calculator is provided having a liquid crystal display and an integrated circuit element defining one or more of the display-driving circuitry or the calculating circuitry thereof. The liquid crystal display is defined by a pair of spaced plates having liquid crystal material therebetween contained by a spacer. At least one of the plates projects beyond the spacer and has formed on the same inner surface thereof, electrode portions within the spacer forming a part of the liquid crystal display and electrode portions outside of the spacer to which the integrated circuit element is coupled by face-down bonding.

Abstract: An improved circuit for providing a fixed reference voltage with a minimum consumption of power is provided. The circuit includes a fixed voltage element adapted to be referenced to a fixed voltage. A charge storage element is coupled in series with a uni-directional current gating element, the series coupled charge storage element and uni-directional current gating element being coupled in parallel with the fixed voltage element. A voltage supply intermittently applies a referencing voltage across the fixed voltage element to thereby intermittently charge the charge storage element to a fixed reference voltage for at least a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A multifigured or matrix-type liquid crystal display is driven by an applied voltage selected so that the effective value of the voltage applied to a display segment identified visually may have the maximum ratio to the effective value of the voltage applied to a display segment not identified visually. The multi-figured display can be driven as an X-Y matrix by coupling together the corresponding segment electrodes of each figure and sequentially actuating the common electrode of each figure. In a matrix-type liquid crystal display, the respective row electrodes of each digit would be coupled together, and the column electrodes sequentially actuated, to likewise define an X-Y matrix. In such an X-Y matrix-type liquid crystal display having N electrodes sequentially actuated, the applied voltage may be predetermined so that the voltage applied across a region of the liquid crystal material between said electrodes to be rendered visually identifiable may be (.sqroot.

Abstract: A field-effect liquid crystal display device has cell plates, the interior surfaces of which are covered with a film of synthetic resin. The grooves required for optical activity of the liquid crystal material are in the synthetic resin. The construction of the cell is such that all volatiles including moisture can be driven off by heating and the system can be tightly sealed to keep it free of moisture. A method of assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: A field-effect liquid crystal display device has cell plates, the interior surfaces of which are covered with a film of synthetic resin. The grooves required for optical activity of the liquid crystal material are in the synthetic resin. The construction of the cell is such that all volatiles including moisture can be driven off by heating and the system can be tightly sealed to keep it free of moisture. A method of assembly is disclosed.