Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a birefringence improving agent that can realize a satisfactory white display even in a liquid crystal display device in which a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition is used and which can reduce the birefringence and has a large cell gap; a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display device that use the birefringence improving agent; and a compound that can be used in a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a birefringence improving agent that can realize a satisfactory white display even in a liquid crystal display device in which a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition is used and which can reduce the birefringence and has a large cell gap; a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display device that use the birefringence improving agent; and a compound that can be used in a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A system having a ferroelectric liquid host material and a small amount of polymer additive is provided. In an embodiment, the polymer additive improves the physical characteristics of the system. In an embodiment, the system can be used in FLC applications.

Abstract: A system having a vertically-aligned negative delta E nematic liquid crystal host material and a small amount of liquid crystal polymer is provided. The liquid crystal polymer improves the switching speed of a vertically aligned nematic system without sacrificing contrast or viewing angle.

Abstract: A system having a vertically-aligned negative delta E nematic liquid crystal host material and a small amount of liquid crystal polymer is provided. The liquid crystal polymer improves the switching speed of a vertically aligned nematic system without sacrificing contrast or viewing angle.

Abstract: Provided are compounds useful for use in liquid crystal mixtures to improve the properties of the mixture. In embodiments, the compound has two cyclohexyl ring and a tail containing one more fluorine atoms.

Abstract: Provided are compounds useful for use in liquid crystal mixtures to improve the properties of the mixture. In embodiments, the compound has two cyclohexyl ring and a tail containing one more fluorine atoms.

Abstract: A system having a vertically-aligned negative delta E nematic liquid crystal host material and a small amount of liquid crystal polymer is provided. The liquid crystal polymer improves the switching speed of a vertically aligned nematic system without sacrificing contrast or viewing angle.

Abstract: Provided is a method for measuring one or more properties of liquid crystals in an automated manner. Also provided is a liquid crystal analysis instrument (LCAS) that automatically measures one or more properties of liquid crystals.

Abstract: A system having a ferroelectric liquid host material and a small amount of polymer additive is provided. In an embodiment, the polymer additive improves the physical characteristics of the system. In an embodiment, the system can be used in FLC applications.

Abstract: Provided is a method for measuring one or more properties of liquid crystals in an automated manner. Also provided is a liquid crystal analysis instrument (LCAS) that automatically measures one or more properties of liquid crystals.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound represented by the following formula is provided to enhance the contrast of a liquid crystal device using ferroeloctric liquid crystal: R1 is an alkyl group having 4 to 6 carbon atoms. R2 is an alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms. X1 and X2 are each independently hydrogen ox fluorine.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound represented by the following formula is provided to enhance the contrast of a liquid crystal device using ferroeloctric liquid crystal: R1 is an alkyl group having 4 to 6 carbon atoms. R2 is an alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms. X1 and X2 are each independently hydrogen ox fluorine.

Abstract: The invention relates to chiral nonracemic liquid crystal compounds having achiral tails comprising a perfluoroalkyl terminal portion which are useful as components in liquid crystal to impart high polarization to the mixture. The materials of this invention can be combined with known liquid crystal host materials to impart improved properties. Chiral nonracemic compounds of this invention can function as additives or dopants in host materials to impart chirality into an LC material.

Abstract: The invention provides LC compositions that exhibit V-shaped switching when aligned in an analog device configuration and exhibit bistability when aligned in a bookshelf-type device configuration. The invention more specifically provides LC compositions of formula 1 and particularly chiral nonracemic compounds of formula 1 which exhibit bistable switching as well as V-shaped switching when aligned in appropriate device configurations. The invention also provides methods of using the compounds of the invention in making LC compositions and electooptical devices comprising an aligned layer of the compositions of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides organogermanium compounds and liquid crystal compositions comprising such a compound.

Abstract: Provided are additive liquid crystalline compounds that, when added to one or more other components, form a mixture which can be supercooled. One class of additive liquid crystalline compounds are silyl-containing liquid crystalline compounds. Also provided are devices incorporating one or more silyl-containing liquid crystalline compounds described herein and optionally one or more other components. The invention also includes the method of using liquid crystalline mixtures containing silyl-containing liquid crystalline compounds to suppress the crystallization, in a liquid crystal cell, of these mixtures at temperatures below their crystallization point.

Abstract: The invention relates to chiral nonracemic liquid crystal compounds which are useful as components in liquid crystal compositions to impart high polarization to the mixture. The materials of this invention can be combined with liquid crystal host materials to impart improved properties to mixtures. Chiral nonracemic compounds of this invention can function as additives or dopants in host materials to impart chirality into an LC material.

Abstract: Compounds useful as components of LC and FLC compositions which in turn are useful in the manufacture of optical devices. Compounds of this invention have a silane tail, which can contain more than one Si. Compounds of this invention can include those with disilane tails. The invention provides LC compositions containing one or more of the silanes of this invention. Addition of one or more of the compounds of this invention to LC compositions can result in significant improvement in optical or LC properties. In particular, the compounds of this invention can significantly lower the melting point, freezing point or both of an LC composition resulting in significant improvement in device stability.

Abstract: Compounds that are useful as components in liquid crystal compositions, particularly in ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions. Compounds of the invention are rod-like molecules with a mesogenic (generally linear) core to which an alkene tail and an alkyl or alkoxy tail with a perfluoroalkyl terminal portion are bonded. Compounds of the invention can contain a variety of one, two or three ring cores, wherein the rings maybe aromatic or alicyclic. Alkenes of the invention are useful as components to improve LC properties of mixtures, for example, to lower melting point of lower freezing point, of LC compositions.