Abstract: A color liquid crystal display using reflective color filters using layers of cholesteric liquid crystals is disclosed. The reflective color filters have two different center wavelengths and bandwidths per layer and are stacked in two layers to provide colored light for displays. With various numbers of layers in the stack, different polarization levels are provided. The pixels in the display of the invention are arranged such that multiple adjacent sub-pixels in a layer with the same color makes the color filters easier to manufacture.

Abstract: Disclosed are super broadband circularly polarizing film materials and novels methods of fabricating and using the same. The circularly polarizing materials are made from a film of material, such as a CLC polymer having a cholesteric order, in which a liquid crystal material, such as a nematic liquid crystal material, is distributed in a non-linear fashion across the thickness of the film in a plurality of liquid crystal-rich and liquid crystal-depleted sites in the CLC polymer. The pitch of the helices of the CLC molecules in the polyermized CLC material varies in a non-linear (e.g. exponential) manner along the depth dimension (i.e. transverse to the surface) thereof. The resulting circularly polarizing materials have reflection and transmission characteristics over bands of operation approaching 2000 nm. Depending on the final spiral structure of the materials utilized, the CLC circularly polarizing materials reflect either left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A light controlling film is disclosed, comprising a polymerized polymer network varying spatially in a direction normal to the film surface, where the polymerized polymer network is a crosslinked high molecular weight polymeric material mixed with a low molecular weight nematic material exhibiting cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) order, wherein an electric field impressed in the film controls the reflection bandwidth of circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A color liquid crystal display using reflective color filters using layers of cholesteric liquid crystals is disclosed. The reflective color filters have two different center wavelengths and bandwidths per layer and are stacked in two layers to provide colored light for displays. With various numbers of layers in the stack, different polarization levels are provided. The pixels in the display of the invention are arranged such that multiple adjacent sub-pixels in a layer with the same color makes the color filters easier to manufacture.

Abstract: A method of producing an iridescent reflecting surface on an object is presented. Flakes of dry non metallic reflecting material such as cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material are applied to the surface so that the flakes are parallel with the surface and bound with a binder to the surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are super broadband circularly polarizing film materials and novels methods of fabricating and using the same. The circularly polarizing materials are made from polymerizable CLC film material having a cholesteric order, in which a liquid crystal material, such as a nematic liquid crystal material, is distributed in a non-linear fashion across the thickness of the film in a plurality of liquid crystal-rich and liquid crystal-depleted sites in the CLC polymer. The pitch of the helices of the CLC molecules in the polyermized CLC material varies in a non-linear (e.g. exponential) manner along the depth dimension (i.e. transverse to the surface) thereof. The resulting circularly polarizing materials have reflection and transmission characteristics over bands of operation approaching 2000 nm. Depending on the final spiral structure of the polymeriable CLC materials utilized, the CLC circularly polarizing materials reflect either left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A light controlling film is disclosed, comprising a polymerized polymer network varying spatially in a direction normal to the film surface, where the polymerized polymer network is a crosslinked high molecular weight polymeric material mixed with a low molecular weight nematic material exhibiting cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) order, wherein an electric field impressed in the film controls the reflection bandwidth of circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A film for forming a 3D display body capable of obtaining a 3D image having higher display quality and a higher cubic feeling, by developing a 3D image containing right-eye image display portions a and left-eye display portions b in mixtures, wherein a laminate phase difference film 3 is formed by laminating, on a transparent support member 1, a plurality of phase differences films 3′ such as a polycarbonate film or stretched PVA film having birefringence in such a fashion that the optical axes thereof cross one another; predetermined portions of the laminate phase difference film 3 are removed; an appropriate synthetic resin 6 is packed into the removed portions and are set to the right-eye image display portions a; and portions of the laminate phase difference film 3 other than the right-eye image display portions a are set to the left-eye image display portions b.

Abstract: Reflective color filters using layers of cholesteric liquid crystals with two different center wavelengths and bandwidths per layer are stacked in two layers to provide colored light for displays. With a two layer stack circularly polarized light of one handedness can be provided. With a two layer stack circulary unpolarized colored light can be provided. With a broadband polarizing filter overlapping other filters in the stack a black matrix can be provided by reflecting all colors and transmitting no light in the overlapping areas. When broadband reflective cholesteric liquid crystals are used two primary colors can be reflected in the same pixel of a display making reflective layers with two reflective portions per layer possible. Color displays having three linear sub-pixels with three primary colors or with four sub-pixels of white, blue, green, and red in a pixel with two colors in a top row and two colors on a bottom row can are made with two colors per layer in two layer stacks.

Abstract: A light controlling film is disclosed, comprising a polymerized polymer network varying spatially in a direction normal to the film surface, where the polymerized polymer network is a crosslinked high molecular weight polymeric material mixed with a low molecular weight nematic material exibiting cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) order, wherein wherein an electric field impressed in the film controls the reflection of circularly polarized light.

Abstract: Disclosed are super broadband circularly polarizing film materials and novels methods of fabricating and using the same. The circularly polarizing materials are made from polymerizable CLC film material having a cholesteric order, in which a liquid crystal material, such as a nematic liquid crystal material, is distributed in a non-linear fashion across the thickness of the film in a plurality of liquid crystal-rich and liquid crystal-depleted sites in the CLC polymer. The pitch of the helices of the CLC molecules in the polyermized CLC material varies in a non-linear (e.g. exponential) manner along the depth dimension (i.e. transverse to the surface) thereof. The resulting circularly polarizing materials have reflection and transmission characteristics over bands of operation approaching 2000 nm. Depending on the final spiral structure of the polymeriable CLC materials utilized, the CLC circularly polarizing materials reflect either left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A computer-based system for producing a multi-color multilayer image on a substrate using multi-colored cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) pigment materials made from CLC flakes tuned to predetermined bands of color. A computer-controlled image generator automatically generates an image specifying a pattern over which binder material is to be applied to a substrate by a binder material applicator. A plurality of CLC pigment applicators automatically apply patterns of different-color CLC pigment material to a pattern of binder material applied to the substrate, binding thereto as the binder material dries. An output device is used to automatically return the substrate to a different one of CLC pigment applicators after each application of a pattern of different-color CLC pigment material to the pattern of binder material.

Abstract: A method of printing using dry pigments is introduced, wherein a binder material is applied to the surface of an object uniformly or in a pattern, and then dry pigment is applied to the binder material in a pattern or uniformly. The dry pigment sticks to the patterned binder, or the patterned pigment may be bound to the uniform binder, to produce a pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed are super broadband circularly polarizing film materials and novels methods of fabricating and using the same. The circularly polarizing materials are made from a film of material, such as a CLC polymer having a cholesteric order, in which a liquid crystal material, such as a nematic liquid crystal material, is distributed in a non-linear fashion across the thickness of the film in a plurality of liquid crystal-rich and liquid crystal-depleted sites in the CLC polymer. The pitch of the helices of the CLC molecules in the polyermized CLC material varies in a non-linear (e.g. exponential) manner along the depth dimension (i.e. transverse to the surface) thereof. The resulting circularly polarizing materials have reflection and transmission characteristics over bands of operation approaching 2000 nm. Depending on the final spiral structure of the materials utilized, the CLC circularly polarizing materials reflect either left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A light controlling film is disclosed, comprising a polymerized polymer network varying spatially in a direction normal to the film surface, where the polymerized polymer network is a crosslinked high molecular weight polymeric material mixed with a low molecular weight nematic material exibiting cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) order, wherein wherein an electric field impressed in the film controls the reflection of circularly polarized light.

Abstract: Reflective color filters using layers of cholesteric liquid crystals with two different center wavelengths and bandwidths per layer are stacked in two layers to provide colored light for displays. With a two layer stack circularly polarized light of one handedness can be provided. With a four layer stack unpolarized colored light can be provided. With a broadband polarizing filter overlapping other filters in the stack a black matrix can be provided by reflecting all colors and transmitting no light in the overlapping areas. When broadband reflective cholesteric liquid crystals are used two primary colors can be reflected in the same pixel of a display making reflective layers with two reflective portions per layer possible. Color displays having three linear sub-pixels with three primary colors or with four sub-pixels of white, blue, green, and red in a pixel with two colors in a top row and two colors on a bottom row can are made with two colors per layer in two layer stacks.

Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal polarizing device includes a substrate, an alignment layer, and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer including multiple domains, each of said domains skewed at an angle relative to a plane parallel to said substrate. The device may be used in combination with a liquid crystal cell to fabricate a reflective liquid crystal display (LCD). In various embodiments, the reflective LCD may be a normally white mode or normally black mode device. In another variation, the liquid crystal cell may include a 90° twisted nematic liquid crystal.

Abstract: A computer-controlled system for producing a multi-color image on a substrate using multi-colored cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) pigment materials made from CLC flakes tuned to predetermined bands of color. An image generator automatically generates an image specifying a pattern over which binder material is to be applied to a substrate by a binder material applicator. A plurality of CLC pigment applicators automatically apply patterns of different-color CLC pigment material to the pattern of binder material, which binds thereto as the binder material dries according to its drying characteristics. An output device is used to automatically return the substrate to a different one of CLC pigment applicators after each application of a pattern of different-color CLC pigment material to the pattern of binder material. The output device automatically repeats the return of the substrate to the CLC pigment applicators until all bands of color in the multi-color image are rendered.

Abstract: A light controlling film is disclosed, comprising a polymerized polymer network varying spatially in a direction normal to the film surface, where the polymerized polymer network is a crosslinked high molecular weight polymeric material mixed with a low molecular weight nematic material exhibiting cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) order, wherein an electric field impressed in the film controls the reflection bandwidth of circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A method of printing using dry pigments is introduced, wherein a binder material is applied to the surface of an object uniformly or in a pattern, and then dry pigment is applied to the binder material in a pattern or uniformly. The dry pigment sticks to the patterned binder, or the patterned pigment may be bound to the uniform binder, to produce a pattern.