Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device including a plurality of optical shutters is provided. The optical device includes a first glass substrate having N common electrodes disposed thereon and a second glass substrate having N signal electrodes disposed thereon, the glass substrates spaced apart and opposed to each other so that the electrodes are crossed. A liquid crystal material including a nematic liquid crystal having dielectric anisotropy which becomes 0 at a crossing frequency (fC) of 100 KHz or below at atmospheric temperatures including a optically active material encapsulated between the glass substrates. Polarizing plates are disposed on the outside of the liquid crystal panel and the device is driven in a N time-sharing mode by applying the driving signals to the common electrode and the signal electrodes. The optical device is particularly well suited for use in an optical printer in view of the rapid response times.

Abstract: An ink composition for thermal transfer printing of about 30 to 50 weight percent of a masterbatch including a pigment or dye uniformly dispersed in a copolymer of at least one of styrene and an .alpha.-olefin and at least one of a maleic anhydride and a dialkyl maleate and about 50 to 70 weight percent wax or resin is provided. The ink composition is suitable for use as the ink layer of an electrothermal transfer recording sheet.

Abstract: An improved liquid crystal composition for use in a liquid crystal light valve is provided. The light valve includes a liquid crystal panel having two opposed transparent substrates with transparent electrodes disposed on the inner surfaces thereof with the liquid crystal material disposed between the substrates. The liquid crystal panel controls light transmittance in response to signals of higher frequency h.sub.f and lower frequency h.sub.l than a crossing frequency f.sub.c (wherein the dielectric anisotropy is zero) applied to the liquid crystal material, respectively or simultaneously. The improved liquid crystal composition includes the following compounds in the weight percent concentrations as indicated:______________________________________ weight per- centage compound (wt %) ______________________________________ (1) ##STR1## 40-60 (2) ##STR2## 0-20 (3) ##STR3## 0-20 (4) ##STR4## 5-20 (5) ##STR5## 5-15 (6) chiral nematic liquid crystal 0.

Abstract: Ester compounds suitable for use in liquid crystal compositions are provided. The ester compounds are (2'-chloro-4'-n-alkylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-n-alkoxybenzoates represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R' are straight-chain alkyl groups having from one to eight carbon atoms. The ester compounds alone do not exhibit a liquid crystal phase, but have a relatively high value of dielectric anisotropy. Addition of minor amounts of at least one such ester compound to a liquid crystal composition lowers the value of the dielectric anisotropy of the composition in the high frequencies range. Such compositions are particularly well suited for the two-frequency matrix-addressing drive in a display of complex characters or graphic displays by reducing the driving voltage.

Abstract: Ester compounds suitable for use in liquid crystal compositions are provided. The ester compounds are (2'-cyano-4'-alkylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-n-alkoxybenzoates represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R' each is a straight-chain alkyl group having one to eight carbon atoms. The ester compounds alone do not exhibit a liquid crystal phase, but have a relatively low melting point. Addition of at least one such ester compound to a liquid crystal composition lowers the value of the dielectric anisotropy of the composition at frequencies higher than the critical frequency, and lowers it at frequencies lower than the critical frequency. Such compositions are particularly well suited for the two-frequency matrix-addressing drive in a display of complex characters or graphic displays.

Abstract: A new ester compound suitable for use in a liquid crystal composition is provided. The compound is a (2'-cyano-4'-alkyl)phenyl-3-chloro-4 alkoxybenzoate represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R' are selected from straight-chain alkyl groups having from one to eight carbon atoms. The ester is not a liquid crystal compound, but upon addition to a liquid crystal composition increases the absolute value of the dielectric anisotropy in the high frequency range. Such compositions are particularly well suited for the two frequency matrix-addressing drive in a liquid crystal display for complex character and graphic displays. The esters are prepared by condensing an acid chloride having the general formula ##STR2## and a phenol having the general formula ##STR3## wherein R and R' are as defined above.