Patents by Inventor Lachezar Komitov
Lachezar Komitov has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11988913Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device comprising a first portion, a second portion and a liquid crystal layer, wherein said first portion comprises a first substrate, said first substrate at least partially covered by a first electrode layer, wherein said second portion comprises a second substrate, said second substrate at least partially covered by a second electrode layer, wherein at least one of said first and second electrode layers comprises a plurality of electrodes that are electrically insulated of each other, wherein one of said first and second electrode layers is at least partially covered by said at least one photovoltaic semiconductor conversion layer and wherein said first portion is parallel to said second portion and at least one of them is transparent, wherein said liquid crystal layer is disposed between said first and second portions.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2020Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: HIGHVISTEC GMBHInventors: Lachezar Komitov, Mohammed Ibn Elhaj
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Publication number: 20230004052Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between said first and second substrate; wherein an electrode structure is deposited on at least one of said first and second substrates, said electrode structure comprising: a first electrode layer; an insulating layer; a second electrode layer; wherein said electrode structure comprises holes extending through said second electrode layer and said insulating layer, such that said insulating layer is discontinuous, and wherein each hole is adapted to generate local fringe fields with azimuthal degenerate direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2020Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicant: HIGHVISTEC GMBHInventors: Lachezar KOMITOV, Mohammed IBN ELHAJ
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Publication number: 20220365382Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device comprising a first portion, a second portion and a liquid crystal layer, wherein said first portion comprises a first substrate, said first substrate at least partially covered by a first electrode layer, wherein said second portion comprises a second substrate, said second substrate at least partially covered by a second electrode layer, wherein at least one of said first and second electrode layers comprises a plurality of electrodes that are electrically insulated of each other, wherein one of said first and second electrode layers is at least partially covered by said at least one photovoltaic semiconductor conversion layer and wherein said first portion is parallel to said second portion and at least one of them is transparent, wherein said liquid crystal layer is disposed between said first and second portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2020Publication date: November 17, 2022Applicant: HIGHVISTEC GMBHInventors: Lachezar KOMITOV, Mohammed IBN ELHAJ
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Patent number: 9239494Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, the liquid crystal layer comprising a nematic liquid crystal material and a polymer network. The polymer network is anchored to said first substrate and is configured to alternatingly induce splay deformation and bend deformation of the nematic liquid crystal material along a line parallel with the first substrate. Hereby, the relaxation time ?fall of the liquid crystal device is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Inventors: Lachezar Komitov, Gurumurthy Hegde, Seung Hee Lee
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Publication number: 20130114008Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, the liquid crystal layer comprising a nematic liquid crystal material and a polymer network. The polymer network is anchored to said first substrate and is configured to alternatingly induce splay deformation and bend deformation of the nematic liquid crystal material along a line parallel with the first substrate. Hereby, the relaxation time ?fall of the liquid crystal device is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: Lachezar KomitovInventors: Lachezar KOMITOV, Gurumurthy Hegde, Seung Hee Lee
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Patent number: 8081272Abstract: In a preparation method, a chiral or cholesteric liquid crystal, a photoreactive monomer, and a photoinitiator are disposed in a liquid crystal cell. A principal surface of the liquid crystal cell is illuminated with ultraviolet light selected to have a non-uniform ultraviolet light intensity profile in the liquid crystal cell. The illuminating cooperates with the photoinitiator to polymerize at least a portion of the photoreactive monomer near the principal surface to generate a polymer network having a density corresponding to the non-uniform ultraviolet light intensity profile. The polymer network biases the liquid crystal toward a selected helical alignment direction. In some embodiments, the illuminating includes illuminating with first and second ultraviolet light intensity profiles to produce surface and volume polymer network components.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignees: Kent State UniversityInventors: Lachezar Komitov, Liang-Chy Chien, Sang Hwa Kim
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Publication number: 20110129622Abstract: A polymer for use in an alignment layer for a liquid crystal material is provided. The polymer comprises a polymer backbone comprising a plurality of repeating units, said repeating units being divided into at least two groups, wherein each repeating unit in a first group of said repeating units is functionalized with a pendant sidechain of a first type S1; each repeating unit in a second group of said repeating units is functionalized with a pendant sidechain of a second type S2; said first type of sidechain S1 comprising a fluorine substituted hydrocarbon group; and said second type of sidechain S2 comprising a siloxane. The polymer of the invention promotes homeotropic alignment of liquid crystal materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2009Publication date: June 2, 2011Inventors: Lachezar Komitov, Giancarlo Galli, Emo Chiellini, Andrea Morelli
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Patent number: 7916255Abstract: A liquid crystal device is provided, having one or several display segments, a first display substrate, a second display substrate, a layer of liquid crystal material disposed between the first and second substrate; and layer of conductive material disposed on the substrates. The conductive layers form electrodes for applying an electric field across the liquid crystal for switching the liquid crystal material between a first optical state and a second optical state different from the first optical state. Image features of the display are further defined by the inclusion of a layer of patterned non-conductive or passive dielectric material on at least one of the substrates, the patterned material forming a mask defining image elements of the display segments.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2005Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Inventors: Lachezar Komitov, Andriy Kozachenko
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Patent number: 7907236Abstract: An electro-optic device including a liquid crystal material is disclosed, comprising antiferroelectric liquid crystals with large molecular tilt ? of about 45° degrees, disposed between two flat glass or polymer substrates. The liquid crystal molecules are preferably oriented parallel to the substrates (so-called HAF texture). The device is e.g. placed between two crossed polarizers so that in field-off conditions the impinging light is not passing through the device due to the isotropic optical properties of the antiferreoelectric liquid crystal aligned in HAF texture. An applied electric field induces a continuous transition of the optically isotropic antiferreoelectric (AF) state to ferroelectric (F) one which is birefringent enabling the transmission of light. The field-induced continuous switching between the optically isotropic antiferreoelectric state and the birefringent ferroelectric state enables the generation and fast switching of high contrast as well as generation of grey scale levels.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2007Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Inventors: Lachezar Komitov, Nils Olsson, Bertil Helgee
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Patent number: 7876385Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device driven by a linear coupling, such as ferroelectric and/or flexoelectric coupling, between an inhomogenous in-plane electric field generated by an electrode pattern over a first sub-volume of the bulk layer adjacent to said electrode pattern and liquid crystals in a polarized state comprised in said first sub-volume and/or in an optional alignment layer applied on said electrode pattern said polarization being stronger than any possible similar liquid crystal polarization of the bulk layer outside said first sub-volume, said alignment layer, and/or a second sub-volume of the bulk layer adjacent the inner surface of the other substrate, or an optional second alignment layer or an optional electrode pattern applied thereon.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Inventor: Lachezar Komitov
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Patent number: 7575788Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer for use as a surface-director alignment layer in a liquid crystal device, the polymer comprising a polymeric backbone and side-chains attached thereto, wherein the polymeric backbone lacks directly coupled ring structures, and each side-chain of at least some of the side-chains comprises at least two unsubstituted and/or substituted phenyls coupled via a coupling selected from the group consisting of a carbon-carbon single bond (—), a carbon-carbon double bond containing unit (—CH?CH—), a carbon-carbon triple bond containing unit (—C?C—), a methylene ether unit (—CH2O—), an ethylene ether unit (—CH2CH2O—), an ester unit (—COO—) and an azo unit (—N?N—), exhibits a permanent and/or induced dipole moment that in ordered phase provides dielectric anisotropy, and is attached to the polymeric backbone via at least two spacing atoms.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2004Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Ecsibeo PPF2 ABInventors: Lachezar Komitov, Bertil Helgee
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Publication number: 20090152772Abstract: In a preparation method, a chiral or cholesteric liquid crystal, a photoreactive monomer, and a photoinitiator are disposed in a liquid crystal cell. A principal surface of the liquid crystal cell is illuminated with ultraviolet light selected to have a non-uniform ultraviolet light intensity profile in the liquid crystal cell. The illuminating cooperates with the photoinitiator to polymerize at least a portion of the photoreactive monomer near the principal surface to generate a polymer network having a density corresponding to the non-uniform ultraviolet light intensity profile. The polymer network biases the liquid crystal toward a selected helical alignment direction. In some embodiments, the illuminating includes illuminating with first and second ultraviolet light intensity profiles to produce surface and volume polymer network components.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2009Publication date: June 18, 2009Inventors: Lachezar Komitov, Liang-Chy Chien, Sang Hwa Kim
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Patent number: 7527747Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal bulk layer and a dynamic surface-director alignment layer, wherein the liquid crystal bulk layer comprises a liquid crystalline material possessing a phase sequence consisting of isotropic phase, nematic phase and optionally crystalline phase(s), and the surface-director alignment layer comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystalline polysiloxane. The invention also relates to a method for its manufacturing.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2005Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Ecsibeo PPFI ABInventors: Bertil Helgee, Lachezar Komitov
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Patent number: 7499125Abstract: In a preparation method, a chiral or cholesteric liquid crystal, a photoreactive monomer, and a photoinitiator are disposed in a liquid crystal cell. A principal surface of the liquid crystal cell is illuminated with ultraviolet light selected to have a non-uniform ultraviolet light intensity profile in the liquid crystal cell. The illuminating cooperates with the photoinitiator to polymerize at least a portion of the photoreactive monomer near the principal surface to generate a polymer network having a density corresponding to the non-uniform ultraviolet light intensity profile. The polymer network biases the liquid crystal toward a selected helical alignment direction. In some embodiments, the illuminating includes illuminating with first and second ultraviolet light intensity profiles to produce surface and volume polymer network components.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignees: Kent State University, Lachezar KomitovInventors: Lachezar Komitov, Liang-Chy Chien, Sang Hwa Kim
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Publication number: 20080204612Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device driven by a linear coupling, such as ferroelectric and/or flexoelectric coupling, between an inhomogenous in-plane electric field generated by an electrode pattern over a first sub-volume of the bulk layer adjacent to said electrode pattern and liquid crystals in a polarized state comprised in said first sub-volume and/or in an optional alignment layer applied on said electrode pattern said polarization being stronger than any possible similar liquid crystal polarization of the bulk layer outside said first sub-volume, said alignment layer, and/or a second sub-volume of the bulk layer adjacent the inner surface of the other substrate, or an optional second alignment layer or an optional electrode pattern applied thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2007Publication date: August 28, 2008Inventor: Lachezar Komitov
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Publication number: 20080049175Abstract: An electro-optic device including a liquid crystal material is disclosed, comprising antiferroelectric liquid crystals with large molecular tilt ? of about 45° degrees, disposed between two flat glass or polymer substrates. The liquid crystal molecules are preferably oriented parallel to the substrates (so-called HAF texture). The device is e.g. placed between two crossed polarizers so that in field-off conditions the impinging light is not passing through the device due to the isotropic optical properties of the antiferreoelectric liquid crystal aligned in HAF texture. An applied electric field induces a continuous transition of the optically isotropic antiferreoelectric (AF) state to ferroelectric (F) one which is birefringent enabling the transmission of light. The field-induced continuous switching between the optically isotropic antiferreoelectric state and the birefringent ferroelectric state enables the generation and fast switching of high contrast as well as generation of grey scale levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2007Publication date: February 28, 2008Applicant: Lachezar KomitovInventors: Lachezar Komitov, Nils Olsson, Bertil Helgee
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Publication number: 20080043190Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal bulk layer and a dynamic surface-director alignment layer, wherein the liquid crystal bulk layer comprises a liquid crystalline material possessing a phase sequence consisting of isotropic phase, nematic phase and optionally crystalline phase(s), and the surface-director alignment layer comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystalline polysiloxane. The invention also relates to a method for its manufacturing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2005Publication date: February 21, 2008Applicant: ECSIBEO PPF1 ABInventors: Bertil Helgee, Lachezar Komitov
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Publication number: 20070292633Abstract: A liquid crystal device is provided, having one or several display segments, a first display substrate, a second display substrate, a layer of liquid crystal material disposed between the first and second substrate; and layer of conductive material disposed on the substrates. The conductive layers form electrodes for applying an electric field across the liquid crystal for switching the liquid crystal material between a first optical state and a second optical state different from the first optical state. Image features of the display are further defined by the inclusion of a layer of patterned non-conductive or passive dielectric material on at least one of the substrates, the patterned material forming a mask defining image elements of the display segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2005Publication date: December 20, 2007Inventors: Lachezar Komitov, Andriy Kozachenko
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Patent number: 7298429Abstract: A fast and highly practical photoinduced switching liquid crystal device is provided. In the photoinduced switching liquid crystal device, in-plane switching of an optical anisotropic axis of dichroic nematic liquid crystal is performed at a high speed by light.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2001Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Japan Science and Technology AgencyInventors: Hiroshi Yokoyama, Jun Yamamoto, Lachezar Komitov
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Publication number: 20070098918Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal bulk layer and a surface-director alignment layer comprising side-chains arranged to interact with the bulk layer, wherein the orientation of the bulk layer molecules and the orientation of said side-chains each is directly controllable by an electric field via dielectric coupling, thus resulting in a decreased total time period (rise and decay times) needed to switch and relax the liquid crystal bulk molecules in response to an applied external field. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device and a method of controlling a liquid crystal bulk layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2004Publication date: May 3, 2007Inventors: Lachezar Komitov, Bertil Helgee, Johan Felix