Abstract: Optical sensors comprising a fluidic channel through which fluid carrying magnetised beads may be passed, an optical source for illuminating fluid as is passes through the channel, a sensor for detecting fluorescence emitted by the beads when illuminated by the optical source, and magnet means arranged to temporarily capture and retain the magnetic beads at an assay point in the fluidic channel illuminated by the optical source and monitored by the sensor. Methods and further apparatus relating to the same.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an electrode structure for a multilayer semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor layer having a first electrode layer in contact therewith and a second electrode layer separated there-from by a dielectric layer (8), the method comprising the steps of; applying a patterning material (20) only to selected areas of a support layer within the device so as to define the arrangement of the first electrode layer thereon; applying to the support layer a catalyst (24) adapted to be responsive to the patterning material (20); applying a conductive material (26) to the support layer so as to form the first electrode layer thereon; wherein the support layer, the patterning material (20) and the catalyst (24) cooperate such that the conductive material (26) is only deposited on the selected areas of the support layer to which the catalyst (24) has been applied. An thin film transistor (2) having a gate insulator layer (8) comprising an epoxide material.

Abstract: Liquid crystal compounds of Formula (I) for use in liquid crystal devices contains a dioxatetralin unit within the mesogenic liquid crystal core. The dioxatetralin unit may be located at any position within the mesogenic core of the liquid crystal compound, either at the terminus of the liquid crystal core or alternatively substantially in the middle of the liquid crystal core. The compounds of the invention exhibit fast switching and may be used in liquid crystal mixtures for particular use in imaging or display media, such as monitors or televisions.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal reflecting device comprising a cell (1) formed by two cell walls (3, 4) spaced apart by spacers (5) to contain a layer (2) of a liquid crystal material, electrode structures (6, 7) on the inner faces of the walls, and a surface alignment on one or both walls to align the liquid crystal material, a diffuse specular reflector is provided by a mirror base layer (21) formed by at least two different materials that are at least partly immiscible relative to one another forming a rough surface onto which a reflective layer (22) is coated. The mirror base layer (21) is formed by at least two different polymer and/or monomer materials that are at least partly immiscible relative to one another. The reflector layer (22) may be a single sheet, formed into a plurality of separate reflector elements, or patterned into electrodes.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal reflecting device comprising a cell (1) formed by two cell walls (3, 4) spaced apart by spacers (5) to contain a layer (2) of a liquid crystal material, electrode structures (6, 7) on the inner faces of the walls, and a surface alignment on one or both walls to align the liquid crystal material, a diffuse specular reflector is provided by a mirror base layer (21) formed by at least two different materials that are at least partly immiscible relative to one another forming a rough surface onto which a reflective layer (22) is coated. The mirror base layer (21) is formed by at least two different polymer and/or monomer materials that are at least partly immiscible relative to one another. The reflector layer (22) may be a single sheet, formed into a plurality of separate reflector elements, or patterned into electrodes.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a ferroelectric liquid crystal cell, alignment layers provided on the inside surfaces of the substrate structures for imparting a preferred alignment to the molecules of the liquid crystal layer in the vicinity of the layers are formed by deposition of two different alignment solutions, such as LQT120 and JALS212 for example, on the substrate structures. A mixture of the alignment solutions was applied by spin coating and subsequently the solvent was evaporated by prebaking prior to a further baking step and a rubbing step to impart a preferred alignment direction. The resulting alignment layers have a speckled structure in which areas of one type are interspersed within areas of another type. The different areas have different alignment properties which serve to control switching of molecules of the liquid crystal material between alignment states in response to an applied electric field.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprises a host material capable of exhibiting a smectic C phase, and a chiral dopant material which imparts or enhances chirality in the host material. The composition exhibits &tgr;-Vmin curves. The chiral dopant material comprises at least first and second chiral centers. The chiral centers individually produce, in the liquid crystal composition, different and complementary temperature coefficients of spontaneous polarization within a predetermined temperature range. The chiral centers are present in the liquid crystal composition in relative amounts such that regions of the &tgr;-Vmin curves across the predetermined temperature range are substantially coincident.