Abstract: A device and method for making full color cholesteric displays such as a narrow band and a broad band cholesteric display using high birefringence LC materials with color filtering processes. The invention includes positioning slant reflector(s) in the transmissive portion of the display to reflect backlight into reflection pixels. The LCD can display the same color images in both reflective and transmissive modes, maintain good readability in any ambient, has low power consumption, high brightness, full color capability and has a fabrication process that is compatible with conventional LCD fabrication.

Abstract: A high reflection and transmission transflective liquid crystal display (TLCD) that requires only a single cell gap. Instead of reducing the cell gap of the R sub-pixel region, the invention reduces the birefringence change ?n of reflective pixels (R) so that the total retardation change ?nd of R is equal to that of the transmissive pixels (T). This is realized by a partial switching of the pixels of approximately 45 degrees which occurs in the reflective pixel (R) region of the single cell gap by applying fringing fields, generated by a discontinuous electrode, to the molecules in the reflective pixel (R) region of the cell gap.

Abstract: The achromatic quarter-wave film of this invention has a laminated twisted nematic liquid crystal film sandwiched between two uniaxial polymer films to provide a optical component which converts linearly polarized light into circularly polarized radiation which upon reflection back through said optical component is blocked from outward radiation by the polarizer for the initial incident wide spectrum light thus realizing wider broadband width for full color flat panel displays.

Abstract: Transflective twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal displays(LCDs) having enhanced transmission efficiencies. Due to the use of circularly polarized light, the novel TN transflective LCD uses a new operation mode between the conventional First and Second Minimums, which alters the retardation value of the reflection and the transmission portions, where the retardation values each include a cell gap spacing. This results in the cell gap spacing in the transmission portion of the transflective LCD to be approximately triple the cell gap spacing in the reflection portion of the transflective LCD whereby the transmission efficiency increases to approximately 90 percent.

Abstract: Transmissive liquid crystal displays having response time that can be approximately 2 to approximately 3 times faster than conventional displays. The displays adjust the rubbing angles to above approximately 20 degrees and preferably between approximately 30 and approximately 40 degrees. The displays have fast response times, enhanced brightness and increased gray scale linearity while maintaining wide viewing angle.

Abstract: A device structure for single cell gap reflective and transflective liquid crystal displays (TF-LCDs). For an entirely reflective LCD, the imbedded wire-grid polarizer (WGP) serves as a polarization-dependent for the ambient light. For a transflective TF-LCD, the WGP only covers the reflective pixels. The disclosure also includes a method of using single cell gap liquid crystal displays (LCDs) without phase retardation films by providing a single cell gap LCD having reflective pixels and transmissive pixels, covering solely the reflective pixels, with at least one of: a wire grid polarizer and a broadband cholesteric reflector (BCR), reflecting ambient light off the reflective pixels; and passing back light through the transmissive pixels whereby the cell gap LCD obtains high contrast ratios without using phase retardation films.

Abstract: Reflective liquid crystal light valves are disclosed. A liquid crystal cell is also disclosed comprising a transparent electrode, a reflective electrode, and a twisted nematic liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. A first alignment layer with a first alignment direction disposed on the transparent electrode. A second alignment layer with a second alignment direction disposed on the reflective electrode, wherein a first included angle ? is between the first and second alignment directions. A polarizing device is disposed on the exterior of the transparent electrode to provide an incident beam having a polarization direction, wherein a second included angle ? is between the first alignment direction and the polarization direction. A relationship between the first included angle ? and the second included angle ? satisfies ?/2<?<?/2+30° or 90°+?/2<?<?/2+120°.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display having at least one of high contrast ratio, high reflectance, and low color dispersion is disclosed. Based on the total boundary residual retardation, the corresponding compensation film and polar conditions may be calculated. Using the compensation film and polarizer conditions, a general film compensated reflective twisted-nametic liquid crystal display (GF-RTN-LCD) may be obtained.

Abstract: An electrode array structure in a pixel area of a fringe field switching mode LCD (FFS-LCD). A comb-shaped common electrode includes a first bar extending in a first direction and a plurality of first teeth extending in a second direction from the first bar, wherein each first tooth comprises a first bone having a plurality of discontinuous first trapezoidal protrusions on each side thereof. A comb-shaped pixel electrode comprises a second bar extending in the first direction and a plurality of second teeth extending in the second direction from the second bar, wherein each second tooth comprises a second bone having a plurality of discontinuous second trapezoidal protrusions on each side thereof.

Abstract: A quarter-wave film having a wide bandwidth is invented. A preferred device configuration includes a chromatic half-wave film adjacent to a twisted nematic liquid crystal (TN-LC) film. When a linear polarizer is attached to the side of chromatic half-wave film and the angles of all the optical components are properly set, the combination of chromatic half-wave film and TN-LC film behaves as a broadband quarter-wave film. Based on this idea, a broadband circular polarizer is invented if the linear polarizer, the chromatic half-wave film and the TN-LC film are combined together. In addition, this idea can also be applied to reflective liquid crystal display devices, which include a linear polarizer, a chromatic half-wave film, a TN-LC cell and a reflector.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display with a single LC cell gap. Each of a plurality of pixel regions comprises a reflective region and a transmissive region. A liquid crystal cell wall structure between the upper and lower substrates creates a first channel at reflective region and a second channel at transmissive region. A first liquid crystal layer is filled into the first channel of the reflective region. A second liquid crystal layer is filled into the second channel of the transmissive region.

Abstract: Using inhomogeneous sized liquid crystal (LC) droplets for lens and prisms. For forming a positive lens, the LC droplet size can gradually increase from the center to the side edges. For forming a negative lens, the LC droplet size can gradually decrease from the center to the side edges. The lens can be created by Ultra Violet light exposure to patterns. The lens can be tuned by applying voltage to the droplets. The inhomogeneous droplets can also be used in Fresnel lens and prisms. Applications of the invention can be used for eyeglasses, arrays, camera type zoom lenses and beam steering applications.

Abstract: An adaptive optical lens device, system and method of using the same is composed of at least two planar substrates and at least one homogeneous nematic liquid crystal (LC) layer. One planar substrate has a spherical or annular ring-shaped Fresnel grooved transparent electrode within it, the other has a transparent electrode coated on its inner surface. The thickness of the LC layer is uniform. When a voltage is applied across the LC layer, a centro-symmetrical gradient distribution of refractive index within LC layer will occur. Therefore, the LC layer causes light to focus. By controlling the applied voltage, the focal length of the lens is continuously tunable.

Abstract: High-dielectric colorless or virtually colorless dopants for low-voltage and tunable clearing temperature liquid-crystal devices. These dopant compounds help reduce the operation voltage for both polar and non-polar liquid-crystal (LC) mixtures. Methods for making and using these dopant compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: Novel structural configurations of a TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) which results in both fast response to input data and provides wide-viewing-angles. The structure of the device is comprised of one pixel electrode layer and two common electrode layers. The structure of the invention can be used with liquid crystal display television (LCD-TV) monitors that require both fast-response as well as wide-viewing-angle. In addition, other liquid crystal technologies which require high speed response would benefit from the TFT-LCD of the present invention.

Abstract: New tolane and bis-tolane compounds: in which X is F (fluoro), CN (cyano), OCF3 (trifluoromethoxy), or NCS (isothiocyanate) at least one of the pairs Y1 and Y2, Z1 and Z2, and A1 and A2 are fluoro groups. T1 for the tolanes is a triple bond. For the bis-tolane T1 and T2 are either both triple bonds or one of the two groups is a double bond. Rn or Rm may be an alkyl group, and alkenyl group, and alkoxy group, or an alkenoxy group. For the tolane compounds, Rn may be a: dioxane substituent: ?in which Rx may be as Rn or Rm above. These compounds exhibit useful nematic ranges and melting points. Also disclosed are eutectic mixtures including these compounds.

Abstract: Single cell gap transflective liquid crystal display which provides that the backlight traverses the reflective pixel portion twice and thereby follows a path similar to that of the ambient light. A slant reflector is built on the path of the back light to reflect the transmitted light to the reflective portion so that the back light and ambient light follow similar paths.

Abstract: Transmissive liquid crystal displays having response time that can be approximately 2 to approximately 3 times faster than conventional displays. The displays adjust the rubbing angles to above approximately 20 degrees and preferably between approximately 30 and approximately 40 degrees. The displays have fast response times, enhanced brightness and increased gray scale linearity while maintaining wide viewing angle.

Abstract: A quarter-wave film having a wide bandwidth is invented. A preferred device configuration includes a chromatic half-wave film adjacent to a twisted nematic liquid crystal (TN-LC) film. When a linear polarizer is attached to the side of chromatic half-wave film and the angles of all the optical components are properly set, the combination of chromatic half-wave film and TN-LC film behaves as a broadband quarter-wave film. Based on this idea, a broadband circular polarizer is invented if the linear polarizer, the chromatic half-wave film and the TN-LC film are combined together. In addition, this idea can also be applied to reflective liquid crystal display devices, which include a linear polarizer, a chromatic half-wave film, a TN-LC cell and a reflector.

Abstract: A device structure for single cell gap reflective and transflective liquid crystal displays (TF-LCDs). For an entirely reflective LCD, the imbedded wire-grid polarizer (WGP) serves as a polarization-dependent for the ambient light. For a transflective TF-LCD, the WGP only covers the reflective pixels. The disclosure also includes a method of using single cell gap liquid crystal displays (LCDs) without phase retardation films by providing a single cell gap LCD having reflective pixels and transmissive pixels, covering solely the reflective pixels, with at least one of: a wire grid polarizer and a broadband cholesteric reflector (BCR), reflecting ambient light off the reflective pixels; and passing back light through the transmissive pixels whereby the cell gap LCD obtains high contrast ratios without using phase retardation films.