Abstract: A composition containing a smectic C compound, having a .DELTA..epsilon. of negative value and enabling to effect a high speed response; a ferroelectric chiral smectic C liquid crystal composition using the same; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device using the ferroelectric chiral smectic C liquid crystal composition are provided,which composition containing a smectic C compound comprises at least one compound expressed by the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent different linear alkyl groups of 1 to 9 C, andat least one compound-expressed by the formula (II) ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each represent the same or different linear alkyl groups of 1 to 18 C and X is H or F.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device includes: a pair of insulating substrates having alignment films and electrodes thereon; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of insulating substrates, the liquid crystal layer including a ferroelectric liquid crystal material being capable of exhibiting at least the smectic A phase and the chiral smectic C phase in its phase sequence, and the ferroelectric liquid crystal device being driven by switching an optic axis of the liquid crystal layer by selectively applying a driving voltage to at least one of the electrodes, wherein ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer have a tilt angle of 8.degree. or less at a (Tc-1).degree.C. where Tc.degree.C. is an uppermost temperature limit of the chiral smectic C phase of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer. The ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules have pretilt directions defined by first direction vectors obtained by orthogonally projecting first imaginary vectors to each surface of a pair of substrates. The first imaginary vectors are parallel to the liquid crystal molecules in the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer in the vicinity of the substrates and directed away from each surface of the pair of substrates toward a center portion of the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer in its thickness direction. The ferroelectric liquid crystal layer has a chevron layered structure. A bending direction of the smectic layers is the same direction as the first direction vector obtained by orthogonally projecting a second imaginary vector to the substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate having a single-crystalline silicon layer on one surface thereof; a transparent second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate, the surface of the first substrate having the single-crystalline silicon layer thereon facing the second substrate with a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween; and a plurality of circuit elements formed in the single-crystalline silicon layer in a corresponding relationship to each of a plurality of pixel areas formed on the surface of the first substrate which faces the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A method of driving an antiferroelectric liquid crystal device, comprising a pair of substrates, each providing electrodes, insulating films and orientation films in this order thereon, which is arranged so as to be opposed to each other and interposes an antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition between the orientation films, wherein electrode on either one of the substrates comprises a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes in a matrix form and a thin film transistor at each point of intersection of the matrix, which comprises transmitting a signal from the scanning electrode to the thin film transistor to turn on and synchronistically applying a zero or positive selective voltage waveform corresponding to a desired display to the signal electrode of odd-numbered frames and a zero or negative selective voltage waveform corresponding to the desired display to the signal electrode of even-numbered frames.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates having respective electrodes formed on opposed surfaces thereof, a ferroelectric liquid crystal sandwiched between the pair of substrates, a pixel formed between the opposed electrodes, and partition walls formed on the electrodes and dividing the pixel into differently-sized partition areas.

Abstract: A composition containing a smectic C compound, having a .DELTA..epsilon. of negative value and enabling to effect a high speed response; a ferroelectric chiral smectic C liquid crystal composition using the same; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device using the ferroelectric chiral smectic C liquid crystal composition are provided,which composition containing a smectic C compound comprises at least one compound expressed by the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent different linear alkyl groups of 1 to 9 C, andat least one compound expressed by the formula (II) ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each represent the same or different linear alkyl groups of 1 to 18 C and X is H or F.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device having a pair of substrates each provided with voltage applying means, an orientation control layer formed on at least one of the substrates, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal composition disposed between the pair of substrates, the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising at least one compound (a) having an optically active group of the formula (I): ##STR1## at least one compound (b) which is reverse to the compound (a) in the direction of a helical pitch induced in a nematic phase and at least one liquid crystal compound (c) exhibiting a smectic C phase, the liquid crystal composition exhibiting at least a smectic C phase, smectic A phase and nematic phase.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal cell including a pair of substrates opposite to each other, each substrate having an electrode film and an orientation control layer thereon, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal filled between the substrates; and a pair of polarizing plates which are provided opposite to each other in the state of "cross nicol" on both sides of the liquid crystal cell; the ferroelectric liquid crystal being bistable in the liquid crystal cell, the polarizing plates being oriented in such a manner that one of their polarizing directions conforms to one of extinction positions of the ferroelectric liquid crystal under no electric field, the liquid crystal cell being applied with an alternating voltage for changing which has a positive portion which gives an apparent tilt angle from one stable state, and a negative portion which gives an apparent tilt angle relative to the other stable state, resulting in display with gray scale.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture containing at least one chiral compound, having negative dielectric anisotropy and exhibiting a chiral smectic C phase includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following general Formula I and a compound represented by the following general Formula II: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different straight-chain or branched chain alkyl groups having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; X.sup.1 is a single bond, --O--, --COO--, or --OCO--; X.sup.2 is --O-- or --OCO--; Y is --COO-- or --CH.sub.2 O--; A and B are independently a group including a six membered ring which can be substituted by halogen, a cyano group, a lower alkoxy group, or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; and Z is a single bond, --COO--, or --OCO--.

Abstract: In the liquid crystal display, a liquid crystal layer is provided between a first insulating substrate and a second insulating substrate. A plurality of first electrodes are arranged in parallel on the first insulating substrate in a first direction, and a first insulating layer is formed on the entire surface of the first insulating substrate and covers the first electrodes. A semiconductor layer is formed on the first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer is formed thereon and covers the entire surface of the first insulating substrate. This triple-layered structure constitutes a switching element array. A plurality of second electrodes are arranged in parallel on the second insulating electrode in a second direction crossing the first direction. Thus, the switching element array sandwiched between the first and second electrodes is used for driving the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device having a pair of substrates each provided with voltage application means, an orientation control layer formed on at least one of the substrates, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal composition formed between the pair of substrates, the device being characterized in that the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprises at least one compound (a) having an optically active group of the formula (I): ##STR1## and at least one compound (b) which is reverse to the compound (a) in the direction of a helical pitch induced in a nematic phase, the liquid crystal composition exhibiting at least a smectic C phase, smectic A phase and nematic phase at least 20 .mu.m in helical pitch.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device comprising a substrate of a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes in the form of a matrix, a switching device formed at each intersecting point of the electrodes, a liquid crystal cell injected with a ferroelectric liquid crystal and a drive controlling means which can apply a signal having a polarity opposite to that of the signal corresponding to a required display from the signal electrode in synchronization with that the signal is applied from the scanning electrode to turn the switching device ON; apply a signal corresponding to the required display from the signal electrode in synchronization with that the signal is applied again from the scanning electrode after a predetermined period of time to turn the switching device ON; and apply a signal from the signal electrode so that the voltage applied to the liquid crystal may be zero in synchronization with that the signal is applied again from the scanning electrode after a pred

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition including: at least one optically active compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, the same or different, a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, k represents an integer of 0 or 1, and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom; andat least one compound selected from the group consisting of: compounds of the formula (II): ##STR2## where R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxy group having 1-15 carbon atoms, ##STR3## and ##STR4## each represents ##STR5## X represents --O--, --CO-- or a single bond, m and n are independently an integer of 0 or 1; compounds of the formula (III): ##STR6## where R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are, the same or different, a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxy group having 1-15 carbon atoms, and p is an integer of 0 or 1;said ferroelectric liquid crystal composition exhibiting at least nematic phase, smectic A phase and smectic C phase.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising a specific fluorophenyl compound (I) and a specific pyrimidine compound (II) and optionally a specific benzoate compound (III), which exhibits a high-speed response in room temperature and is useful for liquid crystal display devices of large capacity.

Abstract: An optically active compound represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, ##STR2## is a 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene group, ##STR3## is a 1,4-phenylene or 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene group, X is a mono-, di- or tri-fluoromethyl group, W is a straight or branched chain or cyclic alkylene group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or a straight or branched chain alkenylene group having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, Y is a bond or --COO--, and Z is a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a phenyl group or a hydrogen atom, which is useful as a component of ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions or as a device utilizing said composition.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising at least one compound represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, the same or different, a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and each asterisk represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and at least one compound represented by the formula (II): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, the same or different, a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and each asterisk represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and liquid crystal device incorporating same.

Abstract: Novel derivatives of aromatic carboxylic acid esters which are useful as a dopant for liquid crystal compositions, and smectic liquid crystal compositions containing at least one of said derivatives.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition suitable to large capacity display which contains from 0.01 to 1% by weight of a liquid crystal or liquid crystal-compatible compound having a fluoroalkyl group in ferroelectric liquid crystals exhibiting a smectic C phase.

Abstract: An improved ferroelectric liquid crystal device comprising a pair of substrates each provided with voltage applying means, at least one of the substrates having an orientation control layer, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer comprising specific .gamma.-lactone derivatives, which is useful as a liquid crystal shutter, liquid crystal display device or the like.