Abstract: Water impermeable, air permeable membrane assemblies are described herein. In some embodiments, the assemblies include a polymer membrane and at least one support structure. Certain assemblies are configured to provide an acoustic impedance having phase angle of +45 degrees to ?45 over a frequency range of 50 to 20,000 Hz.

Abstract: Water impermeable, air permeable membrane assemblies are described herein. In some embodiments, the assemblies include a polymer membrane and at least one support structure. Certain assemblies are configured to provide an acoustic impedance having phase angle of +45 degrees to ?45 over a frequency range of 50 to 20,000 Hz.

Abstract: An improved open ear hearing aid fitting for insertion into an ear canal is provided. The fitting offers enhanced acoustic performance while maintaining user comfort. The fitting comprises a polymeric body having at least one acoustic source and at least one aperture extending there through and a peripheral portion shaped to conform to surface of the ear canal. A porous material covers at least one aperture of the body.

Abstract: An improved open ear hearing aid fitting for insertion into an ear canal is provided. The fitting offers enhanced acoustic performance while maintaining user comfort. The fitting comprises a polymeric body having at least one acoustic source and at least one aperture extending there through and a peripheral portion shaped to conform to surface of the ear canal. A porous material covers at least one aperture of the body.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel hybrid polymer useful for alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. Hybrid polymers of this invention are prepared from at least one component selected from the group consisting of monomer, oligomer and polymer within the class of polyimides, poly(amic acids) and esters thereof and at least one component selected from the group consisting of addition monomer and functionalized addition polymer wherein the two components are covalently bonded to form a copolymer. The invention further describes liquid crystal optical elements such as all liquid crystal display products or modes, liquid crystal devices and liquid crystal optical films comprising the novel hybrid polymer alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel hybrid polymer useful for alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. Hybrid polymers of this invention are prepared from at least one component selected from the group consisting of monomer, oligomer and polymer within the class of polyimides, poly(amic acids) and esters thereof and at least one component selected from the group consisting of addition monomer and functionalized addition polymer wherein the two components are covalently bonded to form a copolymer. The invention further describes liquid crystal optical elements such as all liquid crystal display products or modes, liquid crystal devices and liquid crystal optical films comprising the novel hybrid polymer alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyamic acids and polyimide optical alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. The novel compositions comprise reactive diamines containing a C3–C20 linear or branched hydrocarbon chains containing 1 to 4 carbon—carbon double bonds. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays comprising the novel polyimide optical alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyamic acids and polyimide optical alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. The novel compositions comprise crosslinking diamines containing a C3–C22 linear or branched hydrocarbon chains containing 1 to 4 carbon—carbon double bonds. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays comprising the novel polyimide optical alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel hybrid polymer optical alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. Hybrid polymers of this invention are prepared from at least one component selected from the group consisting of monomer, macromonomer and polymer within the class of polyimides, poly(amic acids) and esters thereof and at least one component selected from the group consisting of addition monomer and functionalized addition polymer wherein the two components are covalently bonded to form a copolymer. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays comprising the novel branched hybrid polymer optical alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel hybrid polymer optical alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. Hybrid polymers of this invention comprise at least one component of a macromonomer or polymer within the class of polyimide, polyamic acids and esters thereof, and at least one additional component from the group consisting of an addition monomer, monomers and addition polymer that are covalently bonded with the first component to form a copolymer. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays comprising the novel branched hybrid polymer optical alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyimides, poly(amic acids) and poly(amide esters) thereof, and optical alignment layers derived therefrom, for inducing alignment of liquid crystals and liquid crystal displays. The novel compositions comprise side-chain polymers of the general formula I —L1—D—L2—Cf wherein D comprises 1 to 4 carbon-carbon double bonds, Cf is a monovalent C4 to C20 fluorocarbon radical and L1 and L2 are linking groups. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays and other liquid crystal devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel hybrid polymer optical alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. Hybrid polymers of this invention are prepared from at least one component selected from the group consisting of monomer, macromonomer and polymer within the class of polyimides, poly(amic acids) and esters thereof and at least one component selected from the group consisting of addition monomer and functionalized addition polymer wherein the two components are covalently bonded to form a copolymer. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays comprising the novel branched hybrid polymer optical alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel hybrid polymer optical alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. Hybrid polymers of this invention comprise at least one component of a macromonomer or polymer within the class of polyimide, polyamic acids and esters thereof, and at least one additional component from the group consisting of an addition monomer, monomers and addition polymer that are covalently bonded with the first component to form a copolymer. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays comprising the novel branched hybrid polymer optical alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amine compositions and the preparation of polyimides. The polyimides can be used for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium with polarized light in liquid crystal display elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyamic acids and polyimide optical alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. The novel compositions comprise crosslinking diamines containing a C3-C22 linear or branched hydrocarbon chains containing 1 to 4 carbon-carbon double bonds. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays comprising the novel polyimide optical alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amine compositions useful in the preparation of polyimides. The polyimides can be used for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium with polarized light in liquid crystal display elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical exposure system with partial polarization and collimation components that is useful for exposing alignment layers with light in order to align liquid crystals. The exposure system comprises at least one source of optical radiation, means for partially collimating said optical radiation, means for partially polarizing said optical radiation and means for transporting the substrate and radiation relative to one another. Other embodiments further comprise means for partially filtering the optical radiation and means for some portion of said optical radiation to be incident at an oblique angle relative to said substrate. Other embodiments include processes for aligning liquid crystals using the optical exposure systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel aromatic diamines useful in preparing polyimides for optical alignment layers in liquid crystal displays. The novel compositions comprise side-chains general formula I —L1—D—L2—Cf wherein D comprises 1 to 4 carbon-carbon double bonds, Cf is a monovalent C4 to C20 fluorocarbon radical and L1 and L2 are linking groups.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyamic acids and polyimide optical alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. The novel compositions comprise reactive diamines containing a C3-C20 linear or branched hydrocarbon chains containing 1 to 4 carbon-carbon double bonds. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays comprising the novel polyimide optical alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel aromatic diamines useful in preparing polyimides for optical alignment layers in liquid crystal displays.