Abstract: The invention relates to an optically biaxial film comprising an anisotropic material with deformed helically twisted structure and locally varying birefringence, to methods and materials for its preparation, to its uses as retardation or compensation film in optical devices like liquid crystal displays, and to compensators and liquid crystal displays comprising such a biaxial film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer film having negative optical dispersion, novel polymerisable compounds and liquid crystal (LC) materials for its preparation, and the use of the polymer film and novel compounds and materials in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a birefringent layer having negative optical dispersion, a liquid crystal (LC) medium for its preparation, and the use of the birefringent layer and the LC media in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of aligning reactive mesogens (RM) on a substrate subjected to particle beam treatment, to RM's oriented by said method, especially in form of thin layers, to oriented polymers and polymer films obtained from such oriented RM's and RM layers, and to the use of the RM's, layers, polymers and films in optical, electronic and electrooptical applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal (LC) material that aligns homeotropically on substrates with high or low surface energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymerisable liquid crystal (LC) material, to optically biaxial films prepared thereof, to novel polymerisable compounds used therein and to the use of the material and films in optical devices like compensators and LC displays (LCDs).

Abstract: The invention relates to a negative birefringent retardation film comprising polymerised liquid crystal (LC) material with helically twisted structure and planar orientation, its use in compensators and electrooptical displays like liquid crystal displays, and to compensators and liquid crystal displays comprising such a negative retardation film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal (LC) material that aligns homeotropically on substrates with high or low surface energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optically biaxial film comprising an anisotropic material with uniform helically twisted structure and a reflection wavelength below 400 nm, to methods and materials for its preparation, to its use as retardation or compensation film in optical devices like liquid crystal displays, and to compensators and liquid crystal displays comprising such a biaxial film.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical compensator for liquid crystal displays comprising at least one O plate retarder, and at least one twisted A plate retarder with a twist angle ? of more than 90°, and further relates to a liquid crystal display comprising such a compensator.

Abstract: Homeotropically oriented layers and films of liquid crystals especially on polymeric substrates. The layers and films, which also can be multi-layered films comprising a homeotropically aligned anisotropic film, are preparable by application of an orientation layer to the substrate. The orientation layer can be either an organic surfactant which is fixed in a matrix of a polymeric material or an inorganic thin layer such as aluminum or Al2O3.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alignment layer comprising a polymerized liquid crystal material with homeotrophic orientation, to methods of its preparation, to polymerizable liquid crystal compositions and liquid crystal polymers used for the preparation of the alignment layer, to liquid crystal devices comprising the alignment layer, and to a method of controlling the electrooptical steepness of a liquid crystal display comprising at least one alignment layer by varying the surface anchoring energy of the alignment layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of preparing films and multilayers comprising polymerized liquid crystal material with uniform orientation, to films and multilayers obtained by said process and their use for optical and electrooptical applications.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds of formula I wherein M1, M2 and M3 have the meanings recited in the disclosure, liquid crystalline mixtures and polymers containing them, and the use of the compounds of formula I, the liquid crystalline mixtures and the polymers containing them in optical and electrooptical devices like liquid crystal displays or projection systems, patterned films and optical elements like polarizers, retardation films, compensators, color filters, holographic elements or polarization beam splitters, for photoswitching, in anisotropic membranes for the permeation of gases or fluids, adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions, UV absorbers and sunscreens, diagnostics or liquid crystal pigments, for decorative and security applications, in nonlinear optics, optical information storage or as dopants.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical compensator for liquid crystal displays comprising: at least one O plate retarder (3, 3?), and at least one twisted A plate retarder (6, 6?) with a twist angle ? of more than 90°, and further relates to a liquid crystal display comprising such a compensator, a liquid crystal cell (1) and polarizers (2, 2?).

Abstract: The invention that relates to an optical compensator for liquid crystal displays comprising: at least one O plate retarder; at least one planar A plate reader; at least one negative C plate retarder; and further relates to a liquid crystal display comprising such a compensator.

Abstract: An optical compensator for liquid crystal displays comprising at least one O plate retarder, at least one low tilt A plate retarder, and at least one negative C plate retarder is described. Also described are liquid crystal displays comprising such a compensator.

Abstract: The invention relates to photoisomerizable compounds of formula I wherein A, Z, L, R, R1, k, m and r are defined herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of preparing films and multilayers comprising polymerized liquid crystal material with uniform orientation, to films and multilayers obtained by said process and their use for optical and electrooptical applications.

Abstract: Homeotropically oriented layers and films of liquid crystals especially on polymeric substrates. The layers and films, which also can be multi-layered films comprising a homeotropically aligned anisotropic film, are preparable by application of an orientation layer to the substrate. The orientation layer can be either an organic surfactant which is fixed in a matrix of a polymeric material or an inorganic thin layer such as aluminum or Al2O3.