Abstract: An active-matrix liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, a group of electrodes for applying to the liquid crystal layer an electric field substantially parallel to the substrate plane and a plural number of active elements being formed on one of the pair of substrates, and an alignment layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the pair of substrates. The alignment layer is made from polyamic acid obtained by reacting a diamine with an acid anhydride, and the acid anhydride is at least one member selected from the group consisting of 1,2,3,4-cyclopentanetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, and 1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride.

Abstract: An in-plane switching active-matrix liquid crystal display device includes an alignment layer which is a photo-reactive material layer disposed between a liquid crystal layer and at least one of a pair of substrates of the display device. The display device includes at least one of (a) a tilt angle of 3° or less, (b) an extrapolation length of at least 10% of a gap between the pair of substrates, (c) a torsional anchoring coefficient A2 of an alignment layer surface for liquid crystal molecules at an inner face of the liquid crystal layer and the alignment layer which is not greater than 20 ?N/m, and (d) the alignment layer is obtained by using as an acid moiety an acid hydride except for benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride.

Abstract: An active-matrix liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, a group of electrodes for applying to the liquid crystal layer an electric field substantially parallel to the substrate plane and a plural number of active elements being formed on one of the pair of substrates and an alignment layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the pair of substrates. The alignment layer is a photo-reactive material layer, and the photo-reactive material layer is a photo-reactive alignment layer which has been subjected to linearly polarized light irradiation to selectively derive a photochemical reaction and a tilt angle of liquid crystal molecules on the alignment layer surface of the substrate is 3° or less.

Abstract: An active-matrix liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, a group of electrodes for applying to the liquid crystal layer an electric field substantially parallel to the substrate plane and a plural number of active elements being formed on one of the pair of substrates and an alignment layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the pair of substrates. The alignment layer is a photo-reactive material layer, and the photo-reactive material layer is a photo-reactive alignment layer which has been subjected to linearly polarized light irradiation to selectively derive a photochemical reaction and a tilt angle of liquid crystal molecules on the alignment layer surface of the substrate is 3° or less.

Abstract: An active-matrix liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, a group of electrodes for applying to the liquid crystal layer an electric field substantially parallel to the substrate plane and a plural number of active elements being formed on one of the pair of substrates, and an alignment layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the pair of substrates. The alignment layer is a photo-reactive material layer, and the photo-reactive material layer is a photo-reactive alignment layer which has been subjected to linearly polarized light irradiation to selectively derive a photochemical reaction.

Abstract: An active-matrix liquid crystal display device employing the in-plane switching mode in which an electric field substantially parallel to the substrate surface is applied to the liquid crystals, characterized by weak torsional anchoring of the liquid crystal molecules and the alignment layer surface at the liquid crystal/alignment layer interface to an extent that the extrapolation length which expresses the strength of said torsional anchoring will become not less than 10% of the gap between the substrates. For obtaining such weak torsional anchoring, an organic alignment layer comprising a polymer and/or oligomer having long-chain alkylene and/or fluoro groups, or an inorganic alignment layer formed by oblique evaporation technique, or a photo-reactive alignment layer formed by linearly polarized light irradiation is used.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium comprising a substrate and formed thereon an information recording layer comprising at least two organic dyes having different chemical structures and continuous playback ability of 10.sup.5 times or more at a playback laser power of 0.5 to 1.5 mW, is excellent in readout light stability (durability) and reflectance.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a deformed toner having a narrow toner particle size distribution, a simple manufacturing method of same, and an imaging apparatus using same.The toner particles are characterized in having an average diameter of d (d is in a range of 4-15 .mu.m), and that a volumetric fraction of the particles having the diameter in a range of d.+-.0.2 d equals to or exceeds 90% of total volume of the particles, and further, when a specific surface area of the toner per 1 cm.sup.3 determined by a BET method is expressed by A (m.sup.2/ g) and a specific gravity of the particle is expressed by D (g/cm.sup.3), A of the particles stands in a range expressed by an equation, 7/(D.multidot.d).ltoreq.A.ltoreq.10/(D.multidot.d).An image having a preferable definition can be obtained by improving a resolution of image by making the particle size distribution of toner particles narrow, and providing the toner having an electrification charge at least 10 .mu.C/g with a narrow distribution.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium comprising a substrate and formed thereon an information recording layer comprising at least two organic dyes having different chemical structures and continuous playback ability of 10.sup.5 times or more at a playback laser power of 0.5 to 1.5 mW, is excellent in readout light stability (durability) and reflectance.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device which comprises at least one pair of counterposed substrates, a ferroelectric liquid crystal material provided between the substrates, means for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal material and provided at the substrates, an alignment-controlling layer provided on the surface on the liquid crystal material side of each of the substrates, and a sealing member at the peripheral edges of the substrates, the alignment-controlling layer being a film of an organic polymer whose .beta. dispersion temperature is higher than the curing temperature of a sealant for the sealing member, preferably at least 200.degree. C., has a good alignment state of ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules achieved by cooling alone without any application of an electric field and has good display qualities such as a high contrast.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element comprising a pair of substrates, a pair of electrodes provided on the respective substrates, at least one of which is transparent and a liquid crystal layer disposed between said substrates, the liquid crystal layer comprising a nematic liquid crystal, which exhibits a positive dielectric constant anisotropy and contains an optically active substance, the liquid crystal moleccule orientation direction in the liquid crystal layer is twisted in the range of 200.degree. to 250.degree. from the one substrate surface toward the other substrate surface so as to form a helical structure therein. A polyimide orientation film is provided between the electrodes and the liquid crystal layer. The polyimide orientation film is one made of a polyimide prepared by reacting a diamine compound having a long-chain hydrocarbon group or a diamine compound having a trifluoromethyl group with a tetracarboxylic dianhydride and causes a pretilt angle of at least 3.degree.

Abstract: The element comprises a pair of transparent substrates, a pair of light-transmitting electrodes each provided on the respective substrates, a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates and orientation control films for the molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal provided between the electrodes and the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer. The orientation control film controls a tile angle of a biphenyle series nematic liquid crystal having biphenyl ring system below 1.5.degree. and causes a uniform molecule orientation characteristic and a memory property for the ferroelectric liquid crystal element of smectic C* liquid crystal and having a liquid crystal layer thickness of even more than 4 .mu.m.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound of the formula: R.sub.2 --X.sub.1 --Y.sub.1 --C(O)S--Y.sub.2 --Z, wherein R.sub.2 is preferably C.sub.7-14 alkyl; X.sub.1 is --COO-- or --OCO; ##STR1## and Z is --NO.sub.2 or --CN, shows a smectic phase, is large in positive delectric anisotropy and can give a liquid crystal composition suitable for use in a thermal address display device.

Abstract: Orientation control films are coated on a pair of transparent substrates on the side contiguous to the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer and rubbed for aligning molecules thereof. The films are made of a polyimide polymer prepared by ring closure by heating and dehydrating of a polyamic acid which is synthesized by condensing, for example, pyromellitic dianhydride with 4,4'-diaminoterphenyl. A contrast ratio of the ferroelectric liquid crystal element is improved while keeping a high response characteristic of the ferroelectric liquid crystal materials.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical modulation element is disclosed. The modulation element comprises two transparent substrates positioned so as to face each other; a transparent electrode provided on the facing surface of the transparent substrates; a transparent insulating/orientation control layer provided on each of the facing surfaces of the transparent electrodes, having insulating properties and orientating the liquid crystal molecules in the proximity thereof in a preferential direction substantially parallel to the surfaces of the substrates; a liquid crystal layer exhibiting ferroelectricity, sandwiched between the insulating/orientation control layers; and means for polarizing light passing through said liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising two substrates being provided in parallel to each other at a given distance and each having a Nesa film on the counterposed surface, at least one of the substrates being transparent, and a liquid crystal being filled between the substrates, the counterposed surfaces of the substrates each being coated with polymer of organosilicone compound having groups reacting with the substrates to a thickness of 300-1,500 .ANG. as an alignment film. The device has thick alignment films and good electrooptical characteristics.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises transparent electrode substrates having an aligning coating film of a homogeneous mixture comprising a silanol oligomer modified by an aromatic ring-containing silane group, and an organic polymer at the electrode side, where the heat resistance and adhesiveness of the coating film to the electrode substrates are improved without any undercoating film therebetween.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell being capable of display with liquid crystal molecules aligned towards a predetermined direction has its display characteristics made greatly dependent on the properties of an alignment film coming into contact with the molecules of the liquid crystal. A louver having a predetermined angle is disposed between the substrate on which the alignment film is to be formed and an evaporation material source to pass a material evaporated from the evaporation material for deposition onto the substrate. The thus formed film exhibits a very great orientation controlling power of biaxial anisotropy. This forming method of the alignment film also allows the easy formation of the alignment film on a large substrate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element comprising a pair of substrates, a pair of electrodes provided on the respective substrates, at least one of which is transparent and a liquid crystal layer disposed between said substrates, the liquid crystal layer comprising a nematic liquid crystal, which exhibits a positive dielectric constant anisotropy and contains an optically active substance, the liquid crystal moleccule orientation direction in the liquid crystal layer is twisted in the range of 200.degree. to 250.degree. from the one substrate surface toward the other substrate surface so as to form a helical structure therein. A polyimide orientation film is provided between the electrodes and the liquid crystal layer. The polyimide orientation film is one made of a polyimide prepared by reacting a diamine compound having a long-chain hydrocarbon group or a diamine compound having a trifluoromethyl group with a tetracarboxylic dianhydride and causes a pretilt angle of at least 3.degree.