Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a pair of parallel base plates and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the base plates. One of the pair of parallel base plates is provided with a plurality of stepwise elevations disposed in the form of stripes, and has been implemented with a uniaxial orientation treatment in a direction parallel to the edges of the stepwise elevations. The stepwise elevation may be formed by a transparent electrode alone or in combination with an alignment control film disposed thereon. Because of the above features, alignment defects liable to develop from the edges of the elevations are removed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device having a cell structure comprising a pair of base plates and a smectic liquid crystal having cholesteric phase at a higher temperature side; the ratio (P/d) of the spiral pitch of the cholesteric phase (P) to the spacing between the pair of base plates (d) is 0.5 or more.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus having scanning electrodes, data electrodes, and ferroelectric liquid crystal material placed between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes. Scanning signals are applied sequentially to the scanning electrodes to select a scanning electrode. Data signals are applied in synchronization with the scanning signals to place a voltage at the intersection of the data electrode and the selected scanning electrode which will place the ferroelectric material at the intersection into the desired optical state. The scanning signals and the data signals are such that pixels located at the intersection of the non selected scanning electrodes and data electrodes receive an AC voltage superimposed onto a DC voltage. Pixels on selected scanning electrodes may also receive the AC voltage superimposed onto the DC voltage. The DC voltage has its polarity inverted with every vertical scanning period.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a pair of parallel base plates and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the base plates. One of the pair of parallel base plates is provided with a plurality of stepwise elevations disposed in the form of stripes, and has been implemented with a uniaxial orientation treatment in a direction parallel to the edges of the stepwise elevations. The stepwise elevation may be formed by a transparent electrode alone or in combination with an alignment control film disposed thereon. Because of the above features, alignment defects liable to develop from the edges of the elevations are removed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device having a first substrate on which a first group of belt-shaped electrodes are formed, a second substrate on which a second group of belt-shaped electrodes are formed so as to cross the first group of belt-shaped electrodes, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal arranged between the first and second substrates, wherein a first orientation film formed on the first group of belt-shaped electrodes and second orientation films formed in spaces among the belt-shaped electrodes are different.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a first substrate on which a first group of belt-shaped electrodes are formed, a second substrate on which a second group of belt-shaped electrodes are formed so as to cross the first group of belt-shaped electrodes, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal arranged between the first and second, substrates. A first pretilt angle of the liquid crystal on the first group of belt-shaped electrodes differs from a second pretilt angle of the liquid crystal in the spaces among the belt-shaped electrodes. The difference in pretilt angles is created by forming a resist over the spaces between the belt-shaped electrode, rubbing, removing the resist, and rubbing again.

Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus includes a liquid crystal device including scanning electrodes, data electrodes and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes. A scanning selection signal and a scanning nonselection signal are applied to the scanning electrodes. The data signals are applied to the data electrodes in phase with the scanning selection signal. The average voltage values of the data signals are varied during the period of applying a scanning selection signal.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device of a cell structure having a suppressed increase of cell thickness along a cell side is constituted by disposing a ferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of electrode plates each sequentially provided with an electrode, an insulating film and an alignment film on a substrate. The aligment film is provided with a surface unevenness for suppressing a liquid crystal movement causing the increase in cell thickness. The surface unevenness is provided to the aligment film directly or to the insulating film below the alignment film, e.g., by wet forming the relevant film by using at least two solvents having different boiling points or dispersing fine particles within the relevant film, optionally followed by removal of the fine particles.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a ferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of substrates having thereon electrodes for voltage application and provided with uniaxial alignment axes, as by rubbing, so as to provide a high pretilt angle of at least 10 degrees. A problematic liquid crystal movement in such a high-pretilt angle ferroelectric liquid crystal device is suppressed by improving a smectic layer structure therein, inclusive of a symmetry of pretilt angles at the pair of substrate boundary surfaces. Such an improved smectic layer structure is accomplished by a realigning treatment after cooling to the chiral smectic phase or in the final stage of the cooling to the chiral smectic phase as by application of an AC electric field and/or by repetitive heating-cooling in the chiral smectic phase. The improved smectic layer structure is represented by, e.g., an X-ray diffraction peak having an increased peak area and/or a decreased half-value width.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell is constituted by a pair of substrates respectively provided with scanning electrodes or data electrodes and uniaxial alignment axes which are substantially parallel with each other and substantially in the same direction, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. At least one of the substrates is provided with ridges having a height at least one third of the spacing between the substrates or stripe transparent electrodes having thereon a stripe conductor film extending in the longitudinal direction of an associated one of the stripe transparent electrodes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates respectively having thereon a group of stripe-shaped scanning electrodes and a group of stripe-shaped data electrodes disposed to intersect the scanning electrodes and a liquid crystal disposed between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes so as to form a pixel at each intersection of the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes. The liquid crystal device is driven by applying a scanning selection signal sequentially to the scanning electrodes, and applying data signals to the data electrodes while phase modulating the data signals depending on given gradation data. One unit period of data signal is divided into plural sections, the data signals in each section are phase-modulated in one direction in accordance with an increase in gradation data, and the data signals in mutually adjacent sections are phase-modulated in mutually opposite directions in accordance with an increase in gradation data.

Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus comprises a) a liquid crystal device comprising an electrode matrix composed of scanning electrodes and data electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal; and b) a driving means. The driving means includes a first drive means for applying a scanning selection signal two or more scanning electrodes apart in one vertical scanning so at to effect in one picture scanning in plural times of vertical scanning, and a second drive means for applying data signals in synchronism with the scanning selection signal.

Abstract: In a ferroelectric liquid crystal element, which is constituted by holding a chiral smectic liquid crystal exhibiting ferroelectricity between electrode substrates, and in which the liquid crystal presents a plurality of surface stabilization states according to an electric field applied through the electrode substrates, and an alternating electric field having a strength equal to or higher than a constant value is applied during a period for inhibiting transition of the surface stabilization state, and to a corresponding liquid crystal portion, within a range causing no transition, the strength of the alternating electric field to be applied during the period for inhibiting transition of the surface stabilization state, and to the corresponding liquid crystal portion is set to be equal to or lower than a predetermined value which does not cause the liquid crystal to flow.

Abstract: Driving apparatus including scanning electrodes and data electrodes, a liquid crystal assuming first and second optical states according to the polarity of a writing voltage applied thereto and disposed between the scanning and data electrodes, scanning-side and drive-side drivers, and a controller for controlling these drivers. The scanning-side drive supplies first and second scanning selections signals having mutually different voltage wave forms to the scanning electrodes so that the first and second scanning selection signals are applied alternately in respective vertical scanning periods. The data-side driver supplies data pulses to the data electrodes in synchronism with the first and second scanning selection signals so as to form one picture in at least four vertical scanning periods. The controller controls the scanning-side and data-side drivers so as to scroll each picture in at least four vertical scanning periods.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal element has a ferroelectric liquid crystal with an orientation state represented by .theta.<.alpha.+.delta. wherein .alpha. is a pretilt angle of the ferroelectric liquid crystal, .theta. is a tilt angle, and .delta. is an inclination angle of an Sm*C layer. In another embodiment is a liquid crystal element having a chiral smectic liquid crystal satisfying T.sub.1 /T.sub.2 <2.5 in a first orientation state wherein T.sub.2 is a pulse width threshold values of a portion in a second orientation state adjacent lightning and hairpin defects and T.sub.1 is a pulse width threshold value in a first orientation state of a portion outside of the T.sub.2 portion. In both embodiments, the ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibits at least two stable states in orientation. An angle .theta..sub.a midway between optical axes of these two stable states and the tilt angle 8 of the ferroelectric liquid crystal satisfy the condition .theta.>.theta..sub.a >.theta./2.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a pair of parallel base plates and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the base plates. One of the pair of parallel base plates is provided with a plurality of stepwise elevations disposed in the form of stripes, and has been implemented with a uniaxial orientation treatment in a direction parallel to the edges of the stepwise elevations. The stepwise elevation may be formed by a transparent electrode alone or in combination with an alignment control film disposed thereon. Because of the above features, alignment defects liable to develop from the edges of the elevations are removed.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device of a cell structure having a suppressed increase of cell thickness along a cell side is constituted by disposing a ferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of electrode plates each sequentially provided with an electrode, an insulating film and an alignment film on a substrate. The alignment film is provided with a surface unevenness for suppressing a liquid crystal movement causing the increase in cell thickness. The surface unevenness is provided to the alignment film directly or to the insulating film below the alignment film, e.g., by wet forming the relevant film by using at least two solvents having different boiling points or dispersing fine particles within the relavant film, optionally followed by removal of the fine particles.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a first substrate on which a first group of belt-shaped electrodes are formed, a second substrate on which a second group of belt-shaped electrodes are formed so as to cross the first group of belt-shaped electrodes, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal arranged between the first and second substrates. A first pretilt angle of the liquid crystal on the first group of belt-shaped electrodes differs from a second pretilt angle of the liquid crystal in the spaces among the belt-shaped electrodes. The difference in pretilt angles is created by forming a resist over the spaces between the belt-shaped electrodes, rubbing, removing the resist, and rubbing again.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device having a first substrate on which a first group of belt-shaped electrodes are formed, a second substrate on which a second group of belt-shaped electrodes are formed so as to cross the first group of belt-shaped electrodes, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal arranged between the first and second substrates, wherein a first orientation film formed on the first group of belt-shaped electrodes and second orientation films formed in spaces among the belt-shaped electrodes are different.

Abstract: Since a fluorescent lamp has a very wide temperature distribution, a large temperature non-uniformity also occurs on a display unit backlighted by the lamp. On the liquid crystal display, the ratio of pulses applied the information and scanning electrodes are controlled in accordance with the temperature change, the overcome the above problem. The ratio of a pulse peak value of a compensation phase part of a scanning selection signal to a pulse peak value of an auxiliary phase part of an information signal may be changed according to a change in temperature.