Abstract: A device for controlling the polarization state of transmitted light comprises first and second cell walls enclosing a layer of a chiral liquid crystal material. The material has a uniformly orientated helical axis in the absence of an applied field, and electrodes for applying an electric field substantially normal to the helical axis. An applied electric field flexoelectrically couples to the molecules, causing distortion of the helical structure and hence changes the bulk birefringence of the cell.

Abstract: A device for controlling the polarization state of transmitted light comprises first and second cell walls enclosing a layer of a chiral liquid crystal material. The material has a uniformly orientated helical axis in the absence of an applied field, and electrodes for applying an electric field substantially normal to the helical axis. An applied electric field flexoelectrically couples to the molecules, causing distortion of the helical structure and hence changes the bulk birefringence of the cell.

Abstract: A pedestal system includes a cabinet having a bottom wall, a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a rear wall that cooperate to define a forwardly-opening aperture that slidably receives a plurality of drawer assemblies therein. The pedestal system further includes interchangeable face plates for covering the drawer assemblies, an attachment system for attaching a drawer lock/interlock assembly that locks the drawer assemblies in a closed position and prevents multiple drawer assemblies from being simultaneously opened, and a drawer divider for segmenting an interior space of each drawer assembly. The drawer lock/interlock system includes a cam assembly that allows a constant force to be applied to each drawer assembly while opening each drawer and activating the lock/interlock assembly. The pedestal system further includes an attachment system for attaching the pedestal system to a free-standing partition system.

Abstract: A tuneable laser device comprises first and second cell walls enclosing a layer of a liquid crystal material having a helical axis substantially normal to the inner surfaces of the cell walls in the absence of an applied field. The liquid crystal contains a fluorescent, phosphorescent, luminescent or rare-earth dye. The device includes electrodes for applying a transverse electric field substantially normal to the helical axis. The invention also provides a method of electrically adjusting the peak wavelength of a photonic band edge laser comprising a chiral nematic liquid crystal material having a helical axis and a fluorescent, phosphorescent, luminescent or rare-earth dye therein and optically pumped by a suitable light source. The method comprises applying an electric field substantially perpendicular to the helical axis so as to deform the helix by means of the flexoelectric effect.

Abstract: A pedestal system includes a cabinet having a bottom wall, a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a rear wall that cooperate to define a forwardly-opening aperture that slidably receives a plurality of drawer assemblies therein. The pedestal system further includes interchangeable face plates for covering the drawer assemblies, an attachment system for attaching a drawer lock/interlock assembly that locks the drawer assemblies in a closed position and prevents multiple drawer assemblies from being simultaneously opened, and a drawer divider for segmenting an interior space of each drawer assembly. The drawer lock/interlock system includes a cam assembly that allows a constant force to be applied to each drawer assembly while opening each drawer and activating the lock/interlock assembly. The pedestal system further includes an attachment system for attaching the pedestal system to a free-standing partition system.

Abstract: The present invention is a liquid crystal including a ferroelectric liquid crystal compound and a siloxane compound represented by the following general formula (I). ##STR1## (where m is an integer of 0 to 20, n is an integer of 0 to 8, p is 0 or 1, q is an integer of 0 to 2, R is an alkyl group such as methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group, or an organic residue group represented by the following general formula (II) ##STR2## where R* is an alkyl group having optical activity center and X is halogen).