Abstract: Variable viewing angle liquid crystal display screen systems are disclosed. They are useful, e.g. in automatic teller machines where, during parts of a transaction with a user, it is undesirable that information on screen can be read by others. In accordance with the invention, interposed in a conventional display arrangement of reflector (2), backlight (1), diffuser (3), optional brightness enhancer (4, 5) and transmission type screen (6) are a collimator (10) and a variable diffuser (11). If the variable diffuser (11) is set to transparent, the light passing through the transmission type screen (6) is still collimated and accordingly the display on the screen is only effectively visible over a narrow viewing angle. If the diffuser (11) is set to diffuse the collimated light, then the display is visible over a very wide range of angles.

Abstract: In a first variant of this pressure sensor with a substrate and a diaphragm which are joined together parallel to each other in a defined spaced relationship, forming a chamber sealed at least at the edge, the chamber-side surface of the diaphragm is completely covered with a diaphragm electrode. The chamber-side surface of the substrate supports a reference electrode consisting of an outer portion, which extends along the edge of the chamber and whose capacitance is virtually pressure-independent, and a pressure-dependent central portion, which is located at the center of the substrate and is connected with the outer portion via a connecting portion. The remainder of the substrate surface is covered with a measuring electrode spaced from the reference electrode by a constant distance.

Abstract: A process of making an orienting layer on a substrate for aligning liquid crystal molecules, especially of a large-scale liquid crystal display, includes moving the substrate (14) at a distance of 50 to 100 mm from a target (11) past the target in a substrate motion direction (15) and providing the target with a length l in a direction perpendicular to the substrate motion direction and parallel to the substrate surface (S) at least equal to the width s of the substrate (14); sputtering material from the target (11) onto the substrate surface (S) by forming a gas plasma in a vacuum chamber containing the target; and orienting the target (14) relative to the substrate so that the cathode surface (CS) of the target is inclined at a surface inclination angle a of from 60.degree. to 85.degree. to the substrate surface so that the material is sputtered obliquely onto the substrate surface to form the orienting layer.

Abstract: Resistive and capacitive absolute pressure sensors are disclosed which are made by surface micromachining and thin-film techniques. In the case of a capacitive sensor, the electrodes have a high insulation resistance relative to each other, the diaphragm exhibits only little tensile strain in the finished condition, no sublimation step is necessary to prevent the diaphragm from sticking to the substrate, the diaphragm provides a measurement signal over a wide pressure range even if its rests against the substrate, the measurement signal is virtually temperature-independent, and only few chemical-vapor-deposition and photolithographic steps are necessary.

Abstract: This method comprises the following steps, which are compatible with thin-film technology: forming a bottom electrode (2) on an insulating substrate (1), depositing a humidity-sensitive polymer layer (5) of uniform thickness on the bottom electrode (2) leaving contact areas (3a, 3b) uncovered, activating surface bonds of the polymer layer (5), applying a colloidal dispersion of SiO.sub.2 or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 particles (6) of uniform grain size as a thin layer to the polymer layer (5) and subsequently drying it, depositing a cover electrode (7) on the particles (6) still evenly distributed on the polymer layer (5) after the drying of the dispersion, and removing the particles (6) together with the portions of the cover electrode (7) overlying them.

Abstract: A moisture sensor is manufactured by applying a thin layer of tantalum oxide to a moisture insensitive substrate and placing at least two electrodes on the tantalum oxide layer. The tantalum oxide layer comprises the oxide of a highly resistive low density tantalum where the tantalum in the layer applied to the substrate has a density of less than 15 g/cm.sup.3. The low density tantalum may be applied by cathode sputtering and the oxide may be formed by anodic oxidation.

Abstract: A moisture sensor comprises a moisture-sensitive layer formed from the oxide of highly resistive porous low density tantalum on a moisture-insensitive substrate. Between the substrate and the moisture-sensitive tantalum oxide layer there is a base electrode of an anodically oxidizable metal, preferably tantalum, of a density higher than the density of the low density tantalum from which the tantalum oxide layer is formed. A covering electrode partially covering the tantalum oxide layer has windows through which the water vapor containing medium can penetrate into the moisture-sensitive tantalum oxide layer. The inactive regions of the tantalum oxide layer disposed below the windows are removed to increase the rate of response.

Abstract: A moisture sensor including a thin layer of tantalum oxide applied to a moisture insensitive substrate and at least two electrodes placed on the tantalum oxide layer spaced apart from each other wherein the tantalum oxide layer comprises the oxide of a highly resistive low density tantalum where the tantalum in the layer applied to the substrate has a density of less than 15 g/cm.sup.3.