Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a chiral dopant compound represented by the following formula: wherein: R1, R2 are independently aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl, alkaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, NHCOR7, NHSO2R7, COOR7, OCOR7, aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl, alkaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine with either R1 or R2 to form a carbocylic or heterocyclic ring; R5 and R6 are independently hydrogen, CH2, CH, alkyl or aryl either substituted or unsubstituted, COOR7, or combine with L to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R7 is aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted; L is the non-metallic elements required to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, or a single bond or a double bond; m is 1-3; n is 0-12.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a chiral dopant compound represented by the following formula: wherein: R1, R2 are independently aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl, alkaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, NHCOR7, NHSO2R7, COOR7, OCOR7, aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl, alkaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine with either R1 or R2 to form a carbocylic or heterocyclic ring; R5 and R6 are independently hydrogen, CH2, CH, alkyl or aryl either substituted or unsubstituted, COOR7, or combine with L to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R7 is aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted; L is the non-metallic elements required to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, or a single bond or a double bond; m is 1-3; n is 0-12.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photoalignable material comprising a photoactive stilbazolium-containing polymer of formula I: wherein, Ma, Mb, Mc are monomer units making up the polymer; x, y, z, are mole fractions of the monomer units Ma, Mb, Mc, wherein in each case 0<x?1; 0?y<1, 0?z<1; Sa and Sb are spacer units; Za is a stilbazolium unit which can undergo photochemical isomerization/dimerization reactions; Zb is a stilbazole unit, and n varies from 4 to 10,000. The present invention also relates to a display using a layer of the photoaligned material and methods for aligning the orientation layer as well as orienting a liquid crystal layer applied to the photoaligned orientation layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chiral compound, and an article utilizing the same, represented by the following structures I-1, I-2, I-3, or 1-4: wherein the chiral compound demonstrates thermochromic temperature insensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phototunable chiral dopant represented by the following structure: wherein: A, B, C and D are independent divalent groups; X and Z are any independently selected substituent; n is an integer and independently varies from 0 to 3; q is an integer and independently varies from 0 to 5; RNG1 and RNG2 independently represent any ring group; m represents an integer independently varying from 0 to 4; p represents an integer independently varying from 1 to 4; Q independently represents a carbon C—RC, or nitrogen, wherein RC is independently hydrogen or any substituent. The invention also relates to the use of the dopant in a liquid crystalline composition and a display containing the same, as well as a material composition comprising an enantiomeric excess of one enantiomer of the compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phototunable chiral dopant represented by the following structure: wherein: A, B, C and D are independent divalent groups; X and Z are any independently selected substituent; n is an integer and independently varies from 0 to 3; q is an integer and independently varies from 0 to 5; RNG1 and RNG2 independently represent any ring group; m represents an integer independently varying from 0 to 4; p represents an integer independently varying from 1 to 4; Q independently represents a carbon C—RC, or nitrogen, wherein RC is independently hydrogen or any substituent. The invention also relates to the use of the dopant in a liquid crystalline composition and a display containing the same, as well as a material composition comprising an enantiomeric excess of one enantiomer of the compound.

Abstract: A process for forming a fixed liquid crystal layer having a predetermined tilt on an orientation layer comprises: a) adding a predetermined amount of an onium salt to a liquid crystal pre-polymer coating solution containing a liquid crystal pre-polymer and a UV initiator selected from the group consisting of benzophenone and acetophenone and their derivatives; benzoin, benzoin ethers, benzil, benzil ketals, fluorenone, xanthanone, alpha and beta naphthyl carbonyl compounds and ketones; b) coating the solution over the orientation layer; c) drying the coating to form a layer; and then d) UV irradiating the layer to fix the liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: Conjugation agents of the formula: are described, wherein Sx is —S—, —SO— or —SO2—; Rs is a carbon-containing substituent that does not include a cyano group; each R is a substituent, with at least one R having a reaction site that is not a carboxylic acid; n is 0-5; each A is carbon or nitrogen, with the proviso that no more than three A can be nitrogen; and Sx—Rs is a leaving group. The conjugation agents have good thiol reactivity and selectivity, and good stability with regard to hydrolysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the chemical separation of the enantiomers of 1,1?-spirobiindane-6,6?-diol derivatives comprising providing a racemic chiral 1,1?-spirobiindane-6,6?-diol derivative, reacting a nonracemic chiral component with the racemic chiral 1,1?-spirobiindane-6,6?-diol derivative to afford a mixture of diastereomeric diesters, separating the mixture of diastereomeric diesters to provide a substantially pure individual diastereomeric diester, and chemically removing the ester groups from the substantially pure individual diastereomeric diester to provide a nonracemic chiral 1,1?-spirobiindane-6,6?-diol derivative.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bistable polymer dispersed liquid crystal display comprising a support, at least one patterned first conductor layer having thereon at least one dried imaging layer comprising a substantial monolayer of isolated domains of liquid crystal material dispersed in a continuous polymer matrix, wherein said dried imaging layer further comprises at least one absorber colorant, and wherein said isolated domains have a size distribution such that the coefficient of variation (cv) is less than 0.35.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multilayer film comprising a substrate bearing an aligned liquid crystal layer wherein the liquid crystal layer contains a Lewis acid. Such a film is useful for aligning a liquid crystal material to an increased tilt angle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multilayer film comprising a substrate bearing an aligned liquid crystal layer wherein the liquid crystal layer contains an onium salt represented by formula (I): (R)bM+X???I wherein: each R is an independently selected straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group or an aromatic group and b is 2, 3, or 4; M+ is a cation chosen from periodic group Va, VIa, and VIIa of the Periodic Table of Elements; and X? is a counter-ion; provided the salt may be present as an oligomeric or polymeric form of the salt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a class of compounds useful as chiral dopants, which compounds are available in both enantiomeric forms, in liquid-crystal formulations. Such formulations are advantageous in displays and various other products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multilayer film comprising a substrate bearing an aligned liquid crystal layer wherein the aligned liquid crystal layer contains an azolium salt represented by formula (I): wherein the subscripts represent the ring positions and each X is independently N or C—R; each Z is independently N, N—R, C—(R)(R), 0, S, S02, SO, C?O, C?S, or C?NR; each R group is independently hydrogen or a substituent; and Y is a charge balancing anion, which may be a separate moiety or part of an X, Z, or R; provided two or more X, Z and R groups may form a ring; provided the salt may be part of an oligomer or polymer. Such a film provides a predetermined increase in pre-tilt angle for use in liquid crystal devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel class of compounds useful as chiral dopants, which compounds are available in both enantiomeric forms. Another aspect of the invention relates to such compounds having a enantiomeric excess of one enantiomeric form, which are useful in liquid crystal formulations. Such formulations are advantageous in displays and various other products.

Abstract: A tubeless pneumatic tire having a pair of beads characterized in that the area of the bead beneath the bead core comprises a layer of cellular elastomeric material.