Abstract: A quinoxaline compound of the formula (I) according to claim 1 characterized by having at least one quinoxaline-2,6 (or 2,7)-diyl group is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics and a high contrast. A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing the liquid crystal composition between a pair of electrode plates. The liquid crystal device is used as a display panel constituting a display apparatus providing good display characteristics.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising at least one compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent, R.sub.2 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms; X.sub.1 denotes a single bond, ##STR2## and at least one compound represented by the following formula (II): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent, at least one of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 being optically active; and X.sub.2 and X.sub.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising: at least one compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent of C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkoxy group; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 respectively denote a single bond, --O--, ##STR2## at least one compound represented by the following formula (II): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 respectively denote a single bond, --O--, ##STR4## Z.sub.1 denotes ##STR5## --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 -- or a single bond; ##STR6## respectively denote ##STR7## denotes ##STR8## with proviso that at least one of ##STR9## and at least one compound represented by the following formula (III): ##STR10## wherein R.sub.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition is provided with a fast response speed and a less temperature dependency of the response speed by containing at least one mesomorphic compound represented by the formula (1) below: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes an alkyl group having 1-16 carbon atoms and capable of having a substituent; R.sub.2 denotes an alkyl group, alkoxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, acyloxy group or alkoxycarbonyloxy group each having 1-16 carbon atoms and capable of having a substituent; and ##STR2## respectively denotes ##STR3## each capable of having a substituent.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition, comprising at least three mesomorphic compounds represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein C* denotes an asymmetric carbon atom; E denotes a mesomorphic compound residue including a divalent 6-membered ring-containing group capable of having a substituent; and A and B are mutually different groups respectively selected from the class of (a) methyl group, (b) linear or branched alkyl groups having 2-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent, (c) linear or branched alkyloxy groups having 1-18 carbon atoms, (d) linear or branched alkyloxyalkyl groups having 2-18 carbon atoms, (e) linear or branched alkyloxycarbonyl groups having 2-18 carbon atoms, (f) linear or branched alkyloxycarbonylmethyl groups having 3-18 carbon atoms; (g) chlorine or bromine, (h) fluorine, (i) trifluoromethyl group, and (j) cyano group; the above-mentioned at least three mesomorphic compounds belonging to at least three mutually different series of compounds which are diffe

Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes: a liquid crystal disposed between a pair of substrates; at least one of which has thereon an alignment film comprising a polyimide or polyamide imide formed by reaction between a diamine component of formula (1) shown below and at least two acid components selected from tetracarboxylic acid components having a structure of formula (2) shown below at least including a naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid component, and dicarboxylic acid components having a structure of formula (3) shown below; ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently denote an alkyl group or a fluoroalkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms; ##STR2## wherein A and B respectively denote a tetravalent or divalent organic residue comprising an aromatic ring, aromatic polycyclic ring or condensed polycyclic ring.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound of the formula (I) according to claim 1 characterized by having at least one cyclic group selected from .beta. class including, e.g., thiazole-2,5-diyl, benzoxazole-2,5-diyl, indan-2,5-diyl, and quinoxaline-2,6-diyl and also having a linkage of Y.sup.1 (CH.sub.2).sub.m Y.sup.2, where Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are --CH.sub.2 --, --O--, --COO-- or --OCO-- and m is 1-16, is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics. A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing the liquid crystal composition between a pair of substrates. The liquid crystal device is used as a display panel constituting a liquid crystal apparatus providing good display characteristics.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is formed by applying an alignment film on at least one of a pair of substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal, preferably a chiral smectic liquid crystal. The alignment is formed by a dehydro-cyclization product of a polyamide acid which in turn is a reaction product of naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid or its derivative with a diamine or its derivative. The liquid crystal device provides a high contrast display, particularly by multiplexing drive, which is free from after-image because of quick responsiveness.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a liquid crystal between a pair of substrates; at least one of which has thereon an alignment film comprising a polymer selected from Polymers (I)-(III) below:Polymer (I) which is a polymer composite comprising at least two polymer components including a polyamide represented by a structural unit of the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 independently denote an alkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms or a fluoroalkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms;Polymer (II) which is a composite polyamide having at least two species of dicarboxylic acid-originated units each represented by formula (2) below: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.21 denotes a divalent organic residue group including an aromatic ring; and a diamine-originated unit represented by formula (3) below: ##STR3## wherein R.sub.22 and R.sub.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising at least one compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent, R.sub.2 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-14 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 respectively denote a single bond, --O--, ##STR2## m is 0-7; and n is 0 or 1; and at least one compound represented by the following formula (II): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.3 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; R.sub.4 denotes a linear alkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms; X.sub.3 denotes a single bond, --O--, ##STR4## Y denotes ##STR5## --CH.sub.2 O-- or --OCH.sub.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising at least one optically active compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent, at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 being optically active; X.sub.1 denotes --O--, ##STR2## and X.sub.2 denotes a single bond, --O--, ##STR3## and at least one compound represented by the following formula (II): ##STR4## wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 respectively denote a linear or branched optically inactive alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having an alkoxy group of 1-12 carbon atoms; X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 respectively denote a single bond, --O--, ##STR5## and m and n are respectively 0, 1 or 2 with proviso that both of m and n are not 0.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of including one or two or more non-neighboring methylene groups which can be replaced with ##STR2## wherein X denotes halogen; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 respectively denote ##STR3## Z.sub.1 denotes ##STR4## A.sub.1 denotes a single bond, ##STR5## and Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 respectively denote H, F, Cl, Br, --CH.sub.3 or --CF.sub.3 with the proviso that Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 are not simultaneously H. The mesomorphic compound is effective for providing a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition showing an improved low-temperature operation characteristic and a decreased temperature-dependence of response speed.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition is provided with a fast response speed and a less temperature dependency of the response speed by containing at least one mesomorphic compound represented by the formula (1) below: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes an alkyl group having 1-16 carbon atoms and capable of having a substituent; R.sub.2 denotes an alkyl group, alkoxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, acyloxy group or alkoxycarbonyloxy group each having 1-16 carbon atoms and capable of having a substituent; and ##STR2## respectively denotes ##STR3## each capable of having a substituent.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound of the formula (I) according to claim 1 is suitable as a component for liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising at least one compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 respectively denote a single bond, --O--, ##STR2## Y.sub.1 denotes --CH.sub.2 O-- or --OCH.sub.2 --; and m and n are respectively 1 or 2; and at least one compound represented by the following formula (II): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.3 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; X.sub.3 denotes a single bond, --O-- or ##STR4## Z denotes a single bond or ##STR5## and p is an integer of 1-12.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound of the formula (I) according to Claim 1 and an optically active compound of the formula (II) according to Claim 2 are suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics and having an improved helical pitch at a cholesteric phase or a chiral smectic C phase. The above liquid crystal composition is useful as an element of a liquid crystal device providing a good display characteristics including a gradation display.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising at least one compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent, at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 being optically active; and X.sub.1 denotes a single bond, --O--, ##STR2## and at least one compound represented by the following formula (II): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 respectively denote a single bond, --O--, ##STR4## and m and n are respectively 0, 1 or 2 with proviso that m+n=2 or more.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. At least one of the pair of substrates has thereon an alignment film of a polyimide having a recurring unit of the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes a tetravalent organic residue; and X.sub.1 -X.sub.8 independently denote an alkyl group having 1-15 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1-15 carbon atoms, CF.sub.3 group, halogen or hydrogen atom with the proviso that at least one of X.sub.1 -X.sub.4 is not hydrogen atom and at least one of X.sub.5 -X.sub.8 is not hydrogen atom.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 respectively denote an alkyl group or alkoxy group each having 4-16 carbon atoms optionally substituted, halogen, --CN or --CF.sub.3. The mesomorphic compound is effective for providing a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition showing an improved low-temperature operation characteristic and a decreased temperature-dependence of response speed.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising: at least one optically active compound represented by the following formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.3 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; X.sub.3 denotes a single bond, ##STR2## Z.sub.1 denotes a single bond or ##STR3## and m is 1-12; at least one compound represented by the following formula (III): ##STR4## wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent, at lease one of R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 being optically active; X.sub.4 denotes a single bond, ##STR5## and X.sub.5 denotes a single bond, ##STR6## and at least one compound represented by the following formula (I) or (IV): ##STR7## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent of C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkoxy group; X.sub.1 and X.sub.