Abstract: A liquid crystal material which exhibits an antiferroelectric phase while the liquid crystal material is in a bulk state, is sealed between substrates. The liquid crystal layer sealed between the substrates exhibits a mixed phase wherein the liquid crystal layer contains liquid crystal molecules aligned in a plurality of alignment states which differ from each other in the alignment order of the liquid crystal molecules forming adjoining smectic layers. The direction of the director of the liquid crystal layer varies continuously in accordance with the polarity and magnitude of a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer. Gradation display can be achieved by arranging polarization plates such that the substrates are sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: A liquid crystal layer is sealed between a pair of substrates on which opposite electrodes are formed. The liquid crystal layer is formed of a liquid crystal which exhibits an antiferroelectric phase while the liquid crystal is in a bulk state. When the liquid crystal is sealed between the substrates as the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal exhibits a ferrielectric phase wherein liquid crystal molecules aligned in a first state of being aligned in a first direction and liquid crystal molecules aligned in a second state of being aligned in a second direction are present in predetermined order. In accordance with the polarity and magnitude of a voltage applied between the opposite electrodes, the ratio of the number of liquid crystal molecules aligned in the first state to the number of liquid crystal molecules aligned in the second state varies such that the direction of the director of the liquid crystal layer varies continuously.

Abstract: A liquid crystal material is sealed between substrates. The liquid crystal material exhibits an antiferroelectric phase while the liquid crystal is in a bulk state. In the liquid crystal layer sealed between the substrates, due to aligning forces of alignment films, liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a state wherein there is no correlation in molecular order between adjoining smectic layers, and the director of the liquid crystal layer is substantially coincident with the direction of a normal line of the smectic layers. The director varies continuously in accordance with the polarity and magnitude of a voltage applied between electrodes formed on the substrates. Arranging polarization plates so that the substrates are sandwiched therebetween enables a gradation to be displayed.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescence device is placed as a back light of a liquid crystal display panel. The organic electroluminescence device is constituted by a front electrode (#112) having transparency to visible light, a rear electrode (#113) having reflection to visible light and an organic electroluminescence layer (#114) for emitting light as a predetermined voltage is applied between the front and rear electrodes. A scatter control member (#120), located between the liquid crystal panel and the organic electroluminescence panel, passes incident light within a predetermined range without scattering and passes light outside the predetermined range with scattering. Preferably, the scatter control member is constituted by a plurality of lightguiding portions (#121) having transparency to visible light and a plurality of reflection films (#122) having a reflection property to visible light.

Abstract: A gate drive circuit in a power converter includes a voltage-driven switching device, and a gate drive circuit connected to the voltage-driven switching device for driving the same. The gate drive circuit includes a detection device for detecting a physical quantity in the switching device, and an operation device for changing a gate drive condition of the switching device. When an output of the detection means becomes a value outside a specified value at a turn-on or turn-off operation of the switching device, the operation device changes the gate drive condition instantaneously or for a predetermined time to reduce a voltage applied to the switching device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a first substrate having a plurality of first electrodes formed thereon, a second substrate having at east one second electrode opposed to at least one of the plurality of first electrodes, an aligning film covering at least one of combinations, one combination of which being consisted of the surfaces of the first electrodes and at least one portion of a surface of the first substrate and the other combination of which being consisted of the surface of the second electrode and at least one portion of a surface of the second substrate, a sealing member for bonding the first and second substrates with a predetermined gap therebetween so that surfaces of the first and second substrates on which the first and second electrodes are formed respectively are opposed to each other, and a liquid crystal material sealed in a space area encircled by the first and second substrates disposed in an opposing fashion and the sealing member.

Abstract: There are provided a position and velocity control system for producing a velocity command signal in response to a position command signal and a signal representing a current position and velocity of a servo motor, a current control system for supplying a drive current to the servo motor in response to the velocity command signal, and a communication system for transmitting data between the two systems by means of a bilateral communication line. A servo control system is thereby separated between the current control system and the position and velocity control system and connected to each other through the communication system.