Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the opposing electrodes. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region. In the device, liquid crystal molecules in the peripheral region have a pretilt angle which is larger than a pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules in the effective optical modulation region. As a result, a local pressure irregularity or a cell thickness change caused by a liquid crystal molecular movement along an extension of the device is effectively suppressed.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device of a cell structure having a suppressed increase of cell thickness along a cell side is constituted by disposing a ferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of electrode plates each sequentially provided with an electrode, an insulating film and an alignment film on a substrate. The alignment film is provided with a surface unevenness for suppressing a liquid crystal movement causing the increase in cell thickness. The surface unevenness is provided to the alignment film directly or to the insulating film below the alignment film, e.g., by wet forming the relevant film by using at least two solvents having different boiling points or dispersing fine particles within the relevant film, optionally followed by removal of the fine particles.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ferroelectric liquid crystal device in which a pair of substrates and having electrodes are arranged so that the electrode surfaces face each other, a sealing agent is provided in the peripheral edge portions of the substrates, a liquid crystal injection port is opened in a part of the sealing agent, and a liquid crystal is injected from the injection port into a gap between both of the substrates. An intersection angle which is formed by the rubbing direction to orient the liquid crystal and the direction to inject the liquid crystal from the injection port lies within a range from -45.degree. to +45.degree..

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is formed by disposing a chiral smectic liquid crystal between a pair of substrates, each having thereon a group of electrodes for driving the chiral smectic liquid crystal and an alignment control film comprising a fluorine-containing polyimide provided with a uniaxial rubbing axis such that the uniaxial alignment axes provided to the pair of substrates intersect each other at a prescribed intersection angle. In the device, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned to provide a director forming a pre-tilt angle with the polyimide film surfaces of the substrates, whereby formation of splay alignment state in the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules is suppressed. The liquid crystal device provides an improved contrast and also a broad drive margin.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device of a cell structure having a suppressed increase of cell thickness along a cell side is constituted by disposing a ferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of electrode plates each sequentially provided with an electrode, an insulating film and an alignment film on a substrate. The aligment film is provided with a surface unevenness for suppressing a liquid crystal movement causing the increase in cell thickness. The surface unevenness is provided to the aligment film directly or to the insulating film below the alignment film, e.g., by wet forming the relevant film by using at least two solvents having different boiling points or dispersing fine particles within the relevant film, optionally followed by removal of the fine particles.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each having thereon a group of display electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. Liquid crystal movement causing yellowing or local increase in liquid crystal layer thickness is minimized in the device by forming a substantial in liquid crystal layer thickness between a pixel part and a non-pixel part and/or by forming a groove having minute convexities with a maximum diameter of at least 0.1 .mu.m at non-pixel parts on a substrate so that the groove extends in a direction forming an angle of 45-135 degrees with a normal to smectic layers of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: There is provided a ferroelectric liquid crystal device wherein the yellowing due to a cell thickness increase or occurrence of voids is suppressed. The ferroelectric liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates each having thereon a group of electrodes for liquid crystal drive, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates, wherein thermosetting adhesive particles and thermoplastic polymer particles having a diameter which is 1.5-5 times the liquid crystal layer thickness are dispersed and pressed between the substrates. The polymer particles preferably have a glass transition temperature of at most -20.degree. C.

Abstract: A rubbing apparatus is provided with an even number of, e.g., two, rubbing rollers. The two rollers are provided with rubbing clothes wound thereabout and each planted with pile yarn so that the standing directions with inclination of the pile yarn of the two rubbing rollers are parallel to the rotating direction of the rollers and mutually opposite to each other. A plurality of substrates each having an alignment control film thereon are successively rubbed by the rubbing rollers while the rotating direction of the rollers is changed for each substrate. As a result, the substrates are provided with a uniform alignment power free from irregularity. At the same time, the inclination of the pile yarn during the rubbing treatment is prevented, whereby the rubbing cloth can be used for an extended period.

Abstract: A chiral smectic liquid crystal device is constituted by a chiral smectic liquid crystal, and a pair of substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal with their opposite surfaces that are provided with electrodes for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal and uniaxial alignment axes which are parallel or substantially parallel to each other and identical in direction. The liquid crystal device is provided with excellent bistability and freeness from "burning" if the liquid crystal is placed in the alignment state characterized in that (A) a relationship of .alpha.<H is satisfied, wherein a denotes a pretilt angle and H denotes a tilt angle, respectively, of the liquid crystal and (B) the liquid crystal provides at least two stable states of optical axes which form an angle 2.theta.a therebetween satisfying H>.theta.a>H/2.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell is constituted by a pair of substrates respectively provided with scanning electrodes or data electrodes and uniaxial alignment axes which are substantially parallel with each other and substantially in the same direction, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. At least one of the substrates is provided with ridges having a height at least one third of the spacing between the substrates or stripe transparent electrodes having thereon a stripe conductor film extending in the longitudinal direction of an associated one of the stripe transparent electrodes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device suitable as a display device is produced through a process wherein a chiral smectic liquid crystal is injected into a blank cell in a temperature where two higher temperature phases, such as isotropic phase and cholesteric phase or cholesteric phase and smectic A phase, of the liquid crystal are co-present. As a result, the liquid crystal injection is completed in a relatively short period to provide the liquid crystal device with a uniform alignment characteristic of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: There is provided a ferroelectric liquid crystal device wherein the yellowing due to a cell thickness increase or occurrence of voids is suppressed. The ferroelectric liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates each having thereon a group of electrodes for liquid crystal drive, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates, wherein thermosetting adhesive particles and thermoplastic polymer particles having a diameter which is 1.5-5 times the liquid crystal layer thickness are dispersed and pressed between the substrates. The polymer particles preferably have a glass transition temperature of at most -20.degree. C.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each having thereon a group of display electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. Liquid crystal movement causing yellowing or local increase in liquid crystal layer thickness is minimized in the device by forming a substantial in liquid crystal layer thickness between a pixel part and a non-pixel part and/or by forming a groove having minute convexities with a maximum diameter of at least 0.1 .mu.m at non-pixel parts on a substrate so that the groove extends in a direction forming an angle of 45-135 degrees with a normal to smectic layers of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device, particularly a ferroelectric liquid crystal device, with improved homogeneity of initial alignment and bistability is provided by using an alignment film formed by rubbing with at least two rubbing rollers rotating at different speeds. Further a liquid crystal device, particularly a ferroelectric liquid crystal device, with improved drive characteristic as well as suppressed liquid crystal movement is provided by using an alignment film formed by plural times of rubbing under different conditions.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device is formed by a first substrate having thereon elongated transparent electrodes constituting data electrodes, a second substrate having thereon elongated transparent electrodes constituting scanning electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the first and second substrates. At least one of the first and second substrates has minute stripe elevation in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the elongated transparent electrodes on each of the elongated transparent electrodes, whereby a liquid crystal molecular movement causing a deterioration in display quality is suppressed.

Abstract: A rubbing apparatus is provided with an even number of, e.g., two, rubbing rollers. The two rollers are provided with rubbing clothes wound thereabout and each planted with pile yarn so that the standing directions with inclination of the pile yarn of the two rubbing rollers are parallel to the rotating direction of the rollers and mutually opposite to each other. A plurality of substrates each having an alignment control film thereon are successively rubbed by the rubbing rollers while the rotating direction of the rollers is changed for each substrate. As a result, the substrates are provided with a uniform alignment power free from irregularity. At the same time, the inclination of the pile yarn during the rubbing treatment is prevented, whereby the rubbing cloth can be used for an extended period.

Abstract: A rubbing apparatus for imparting an alignment control power with respect to alignment of liquid crystal molecules to an alignment film on a transparent substrate of a liquid crystal device by rubbing the alignment film with a rubbing roller while the rubbing roller is rotated and kept in contact with the transparent substrate having thereon the alignment film, comprising: measuring means for measuring a three-dimensional stress imposed on the transparent substrate by the rubbing roller when the rubbing roller is brought into contact with the transparent substrate, and control means for controlling the three-dimensional stress so as to provide a prescribed stress to effect a rubbing treatment. The measuring means may perform the measurement by breaking up a stress into two stress components in directions perpendicular and parallel to the rubbing direction, respectively. The measurement of a stress may be performed by measuring a load imposed on the transparent substrate.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device of a cell structure having a suppressed increase of cell thickness along a cell side is constituted by disposing a ferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of electrode plates each sequentially provided with an electrode, an insulating film and an alignment film on a substrate. The alignment film is provided with a surface unevenness for suppressing a liquid crystal movement causing the increase in cell thickness. The surface unevenness is provided to the alignment film directly or to the insulating film below the alignment film, e.g., by wet forming the relevant film by using at least two solvents having different boiling points or dispersing fine particles within the relavant film, optionally followed by removal of the fine particles.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device, particularly a ferroelectric liquid crystal device, is constituted by disposing a liquid crystal disposed between a pair of rubbing-treated substrates. The uniaxial alignment control force exerted by rubbing is gradually weakened as the rubbing treatment is successively applied to a large number of substrates. This is compensated by varying a rubbing condition, such as a relative moving speed, a rotational speed, or a pressing depth against the substrate of a rubbing roller. Alternatively, such a change in uniaxial alignment control force with time may be utilized for compensating for a difference in uniaxial alignment control force attributable to a difference in stripe electrode extension relative to the rubbing direction.

Abstract: There is provided a ferroelectric liquid crystal device wherein the yellowing due to a cell thickness increase or occurrence of voids is suppressed. The ferroelectric liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates each having thereon a group of electrodes for liquid crystal drive, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates, wherein thermosetting adhesive particles and thermoplastic polymer particles having a diameter which is 1.5-5 times the liquid crystal layer thickness are dispersed and pressed between the substrates. The polymer particles preferably have a glass transition temperature of at most -20.degree. C.