Containing Pleochroic Dye Patents (Class 252/299.1)
  • Patent number: 11789302
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition with which a light absorption anisotropic film having a high alignment degree can be formed. The light absorption anisotropic film is used with the liquid crystal composition, a laminate, and an image display device. The liquid crystal composition contains a linear polymer liquid crystalline compound having a repeating unit; a low-molecular-weight liquid crystalline compound having a maximum absorption wavelength of 390 nm or less in a solution; and a dichroic substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Hoshino, Teruki Niori
  • Patent number: 11722648
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to reflective displays, and more particularly to reflective displays configured to display images with customized and improved viewing parameters. In one aspect, a reflective display comprises a plurality of light-reflective microfacets configured to display an image by reflecting light incident thereon from a light source, wherein light rays reflected by different ones of the microfacets are directed in non-parallel directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: MirraViz, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Baumgart, Stephen Christopher Kekoa Hager, Ye Yuan, Michael Wang
  • Patent number: 11656393
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laminate used in an image display device the laminate including an optically anisotropic layer, a light-absorbing anisotropic layer, a refractive index-adjusting layer, and an oxygen shielding layer in this order, where the light-absorbing anisotropic layer is formed of a composition containing dichroic azo coloring agent and liquid crystalline compounds, where the dichroic azo coloring agent compound is 10% to 30% by mass with respect to a mass of a total solid content of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer, a degree of alignment of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer is 0.92 or higher, the refractive index-adjusting layer is formed of a composition containing a crosslinkable group compound, and has an in-plane average refractive index of 1.55 to 1.70 (550 nm ?), and an angle formed by an in-plane slow axis of the optically anisotropic layer and an absorption axis of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer is 45°±10°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoya Shibata, Jun Takeda, Yuta Fukushima, Ayako Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 11619771
    Abstract: Systems including one or both of a light emitter or a light receiver or a detectable object; and an optical filter adjacent one or both of the light emitter or the light receiver, wherein the optical filter includes at least one wavelength transmission selective layer an absorber component, wherein the wavelength transmission selective layer at least partially reduces the transmission of wavelengths from 701 nm to 849 nm incident thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Neeraj Sharma, Guanglei Du, John A. Wheatley, Matthew E. Sousa, Jeremy O. Swanson
  • Patent number: 11592614
    Abstract: Improvements to gratings for use in waveguides and methods of producing them are described herein. Deep surface relief gratings (SRGs) may offer many advantages over conventional SRGs and Bragg gratings, an important one being a higher S-diffraction efficiency. In one embodiment, deep SRGs can be implemented as polymer surface relief gratings or evacuated Bragg gratings (EBGs). EBGs can be formed by first recording a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) grating. Removing the liquid crystal from the cured grating provides a polymer surface relief grating. Polymer surface relief gratings have many applications including for use in waveguide-based displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: DigiLens Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan David Waldern, Alastair John Grant, Milan Momcilo Popovich, Shibu Abraham, Baeddan George Hill, Tsung-Jui Ho
  • Patent number: 11466213
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium having negative dielectric anisotropy comprising one or more compounds of formula I and one or more compounds selected from the group of the compounds of the formulae IIA, IIB and IIC, wherein the groups and parameters have the meanings indicated in claim 1, to a guest-host liquid crystal medium derived therefrom comprising one or more dichroic dyes and the use of said medium in devices such as light shutters, switchable windows, switchable mirrors and guest-host displays. The invention further relates to devices containing the liquid crystalline medium according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Jung-Min Lee, Hyun-Woo Bae, Dong-Mee Song, Yong-Kuk Yun
  • Patent number: 11205565
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring and/or controlling the extent of denaturation and/or bond cleavages of proteins on any surface (e.g., biological tissues, biofilms, etc.). In one embodiment, a low power laser (e.g., a 5 mW, 362 nm diode laser) is directed through a biological sample to a photodetector. The sample is heated by a set of radiant heaters to between about 220° C. and about 250° C. in a time period of between 10 seconds to 60 seconds. The baseline transmissivity of the sample is monitored continuously throughout treatment of the biological sample via continuous monitoring of the signal voltage detected at the photodetector. Upon detection of increase in relative transmissivity in the biological sample, the heating treatment is concluded and the biological sample is removed for in situ protein identification as part of an imaging MALDI-MS measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
    Inventors: Erica Belmont, Franco Basile, James Rundel, Andrew Goodenough
  • Patent number: 11181674
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical element including a layer comprising anisotropic optical function and alignment capability. The layer is formed from a composition comprising polymerizable liquid crystals and one or more photo-orientable substances. Alignment on top of the layer is achieved by exposure to linearly polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ROLIC TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Fabien Xavier Delbaere, Richard Frantz, Qian Tang, Jean-Francois Eckert, Patricia Scandiucci De Freitas, Hubert Seiberle
  • Patent number: 11101332
    Abstract: An OLED display panel and a display device are provided. The OLED display panel includes an array substrate, a circular polarizing plate disposed on one side of the array substrate, a first stack structure disposed between the array substrate and the circular polarizing plate, and at least one touch-control electrode layer disposed on one side of the first stack structure facing towards and/or facing away the circular polarizing plate. The first stack structure comprising at least one touch-control electrode substrate and at least one compensation film. A sum of phase retardation of the at least one touch-control electrode substrate and the at least one compensation film with respect to a beam of light at a same frequency is smaller than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: Shanghai Tianma Micro-Electronics Co., Ltd., Tianma Micro-Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Zeng, Qijun Yao, Xingyao Zhou, Lihua Wang
  • Patent number: 10962696
    Abstract: A linear polarizer may be formed a blue dichroic dye compound, having a maximum dichroic ratio Kd?12 in an entire visible wavelength range, and a red dichroic dye compound, having a maximum dichroic ratio Kd?16 in the entire visible wavelength range. The linear polarizer has a dichroic ratio Kd?18 and a thickness of less than or equal to 2 micrometers. The linear polarizer may form an achromatic polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Light Polymers Holding
    Inventors: Evgeny Morozov, Chih-Hao Huang, Valeriy Kuzmin
  • Patent number: 10927260
    Abstract: Provided are a coloring composition with which a light absorption anisotropic film having excellent durability can be formed, a light absorption anisotropic film, a laminate, and an image display device. A coloring composition according to the invention contains a dichroic dye compound having a structure represented by Formula (1D) and a liquid crystalline compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Hoshino, Masaki Ota, Masatoshi Mizumura, Takashi Katou, Yoshiaki Takada, Yoji Ito, Daisuke Kashiwagi, Yuya Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10847725
    Abstract: Provided is an electron-accepting substance precursor comprising a sulfonic acid ester compound represented by formula (1). (In the formula, R1-R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or a straight-chain or branched C1-6 alkyl group. R5 represents a C2-20 monovalent hydrocarbon group which may be substituted. A1 represents —O— or —S—. A2 represents a group having a valence of (n+1) and derived from naphthalene or anthracene. A3 represents a group having a valence of m and derived from perfluorinated biphenyl. m represents an integer satisfying 2?m?4. n represents an integer satisfying 1?n?4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ota, Toshiyuki Endo
  • Patent number: 10465114
    Abstract: A liquid-crystalline medium which is suitable for use in a guest-host system. An LC device, preferably a device for the regulation of the passage of energy, containing the liquid-crystalline medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Junge, Andreas Beyer, Ursula Patwal, Peer Kirsch, Susann Beck
  • Patent number: 10442992
    Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal composition has negative dielectric anisotropy and contains at least one polar compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (1) as a first additive, and the liquid crystal display device includes the composition. In formula (1), R1 is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons or the like; R2 is a group represented by —OH, —OR0, —NH2, —NHR0 or —N(R0)2, in which R0 is alkyl having 1 to 5 carbons; ring A and ring B are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene or the like; Z1 is a single bond or the like; Sp1 and Sp2 are independently a single bond, alkylene having 1 to 7 carbons or the like; and a is 0 to 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: JNC CORPORATION, JNC PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Saito, Kazuhiro Ogita, Fumitaka Kondo
  • Patent number: 10323188
    Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more pleochroic dyes and one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formulae I, II and III, in which the parameters have the meaning indicated in Claim 1, and to components comprising these media for high-frequency technology, in particular phase shifters and microwave array antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Wittek, Dagmar Klass, Peer Kirsch
  • Patent number: 10280181
    Abstract: A coloring composition containing one or more species of compounds represented by Formula (I) or Formula (II) below, wherein each of R1 and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or substituent, each of Ar1 to Ar8 independently represents an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group or optionally substituted heterocyclic group, and each of L1 and L2 independently represents a divalent linking group which interrupts ? electron conjugated system:
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Katoh, Masatoshi Mizumura
  • Patent number: 10215899
    Abstract: A liquid crystal (LC) display device uses a phase difference film which increases front contrast of the device, and a polarization plate. The film includes a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer thereon, the first layer formed by fixing an LC compound in a homogeneous alignment state, has an order parameter (OP) of 0.75 to 0.95, and layer thickness of 0.3 ?m to 3.0 ?m, the second layer formed by fixing an LC compound in a homeotropic alignment state, has an OP of 0.60 to 0.95, and layer thickness of 0.3 ?m to 3.0 ?m, the OP which is denoted by OP=(A??A?)/(2A?+A?), “A?” which represents absorbance of the LC compound regarding light polarized parallel to an alignment direction, and “A?” which represents absorbance of the LC compound regarding light polarized vertical to the alignment direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Takeda, Shunya Katoh, Michio Nagai, Yoji Ito, Masaya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10197854
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display panel disposed on the backlight unit, wherein the backlight unit includes a light source unit and a plurality of optical sheets, wherein an optical sheet closest to the liquid crystal display panel among the plurality of optical sheets is a polarizing optical sheet and includes a base film and an optical pattern disposed on a surface of the base film, wherein at least one of the base film and the optical pattern includes an aligned organic fluorescent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyunwoo Lee, Donghoon Kim, Kang-woo Lee
  • Patent number: 10011773
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device that includes a particular color filter containing a material containing chiral liquid crystals and a particular dye and/or pigment. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that can prevent a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and solve the problem of display defects, such as white spots, variations in alignment, and burn-in. Because liquid crystal display devices according to the present invention characteristically prevent a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and reduces the occurrence of display defects, such as burn-in, the liquid crystal display devices are particularly useful as liquid crystal display devices in IPS mode and FFS mode for active-matrix driving and can be applied to household electrical appliances, automobiles, production facilities, measuring and analytical instruments, and communication devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: DIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenari Akiyama, Isa Nishiyama, Seiji Fanakura, Katsunori Shimada
  • Patent number: 10005960
    Abstract: Provided is a composition which is to be a raw material of a polarizing film having excellent light fastness. The composition includes a polymerizable liquid crystal compound and a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein E represents an electron attractive group having at least 3 carbon atoms or the following group: wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; Ar represents a group selected from the following groups: and A represents a group selected from the following groups: wherein R2, R3 and R4, and l, m, n, p, and q are defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Noriyuki Hida, Haruki Okawa
  • Patent number: 9809752
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device that includes a particular color filter containing a material containing chiral liquid crystals and a particular pigment. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that can prevent a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and solve the problem of display defects, such as white spots, variations in alignment, and burn-in. Because liquid crystal display devices according to the present invention characteristically prevent a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and reduces the occurrence of display defects, such as burn-in, the liquid crystal display devices are particularly useful as liquid crystal display devices in IPS mode and FFS mode for active-matrix driving and can be applied to household electrical appliances, automobiles, production facilities, measuring and analytical instruments, and communication devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: DIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuaki Hatsusaka, Hidenari Akiyama, Akira Kimura, Seiji Funakura, Katsunori Shimada
  • Patent number: 9771518
    Abstract: An optical device is provided, which includes a first transparent substrate, a second transparent substrate, and a liquid-crystal material disposed between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate. The liquid-crystal material includes a photo responsive material with a chemical structure of: wherein A1 is A2 and A3 are independently X is halogen. R is H, C1-12 alkyl group, or C1-12 alkoxy group. R? is C1-12 alkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chien-Wen Lin, Yi-Lang Tsai, Jong-Lieh Yang, Shih-Hsien Liu, Chao-Wu Liaw, Kung-Lung Cheng
  • Patent number: 9759974
    Abstract: A reflective display device includes a pixel structure (200) and a liquid crystal (210) containing a dye. The pixel structure (200) provides the liquid crystal (210) with a first tilt state and a second tilt state that are stable absent application of an electric field. In the first tilt state, the liquid crystal (210) is in an untwisted configuration. In the second tilt state, the liquid crystal (210) is in a twisted configuration, and the dye has an effective absorption that is higher than an effective absorption of the dye when the liquid crystal (210) is in the first tilt state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen Kitson, Mario Ariosto Matranga, Timothy Taphouse, Daniel M. Younger, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 9734776
    Abstract: A display device includes a display unit that displays an image, an illuminating unit that irradiates light to the display unit, a plurality of electrodes that are arranged on the display unit, an applying unit that applies an electric signal to the electrodes, a detecting unit that detects electrical changes of the electrodes occurring due to the electric signal, and a control unit that controls the display unit or the illuminating unit based on temperature information of the electrodes indicated by the electrical changes. Each of the electrodes includes a plurality of extension portions, and a coupling portion that couples one ends of the extension portions. A longitudinal direction of each of the extension portions is along the other direction perpendicular to the one direction. The control unit controls the display unit or the illuminating unit based on a temperature distribution of each of the electrodes in the other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Toshinori Uehara
  • Patent number: 9701905
    Abstract: The application relates to a liquid-crystalline medium comprising at least one dichroic dye having a rylene structure which absorbs red light. The application furthermore relates to a device, preferably a device for the regulation of the passage of energy through a light-transmitting area, which contains the liquid-crystalline medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Junge, Andreas Beyer, Ursula Patwal, Peer Kirsch, Susann Beck, Casper Laurens Van Oosten, Felix Fritz Rudolf Schlosser
  • Patent number: 9683171
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display device which prevents a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in ion density (ID) therein and which overcomes problems of defective display such as dropouts, uneven alignment, and screen burn-in. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention prevents a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in ion density (ID) therein and reduces defective display such as screen burn-in; hence, such a liquid crystal display device is properly used as liquid crystal display devices of a VA mode and PSVA mode which involve active matrix driving and can be applied to liquid crystal display devices of liquid crystal TV sets, monitors, mobile phones, and smartphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: DIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Ogawa, Yoshinori Iwashita, Seiji Funakura, Katsunori Shimada
  • Patent number: 9620719
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, useful in ink jet printing methods, that prevent clogging during dispensing, achieve stable dispensing, prevent precipitating of content matter during dispensing, and prevent phase separation during film formation. Also disclosed are uniform, homogenous, functional films formed using the compositions and manufacturing methods therefor, as well as organic EL devices and other such display devices and manufacturing methods therefor. The compositions contain a functional material and a solvent comprising at least one benzene derivative having one or more substituents, whereby the substituents have at least three carbon atoms in total.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, CAMBRIDGE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Sadao Kanbe, Shunichi Seki
  • Patent number: 9441158
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which prevents a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in ion density (ID) therein and which overcomes problems of defective display such as dropouts, uneven alignment, and screen burn-in. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention prevents a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in ion density (ID) therein and reduces defective display such as screen burn-in; hence, such a liquid crystal display device is properly used as liquid crystal display devices of a VA mode and PSVA mode which involve active matrix driving and can be applied to liquid crystal display devices of liquid crystal TV sets, monitors, mobile phones, and smartphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: DIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Ogawa, Yoshinori Iwashita, Seiji Funakura, Isao Oshiumi, Katsunori Shimada
  • Patent number: 9410084
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that prevents a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) and an increase in the ion density (ID) in the liquid crystal layer, and resolves the problems of display defects, such as white streaks, variations in alignment, and image sticking. Since a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention has a feature of preventing a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) and an increase in the ion density (ID) in the liquid crystal layer, and suppressing the occurrence of display defects such as image sticking, the liquid crystal display device is particularly useful for active matrix driving liquid crystal display devices with an IPS mode or an FFS mode and can be applied to liquid crystal display devices such as liquid crystal televisions, monitors, cellular phones, and smart phones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: DIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Kuriyama, Jouji Kawamura, Seiji Funakura, Katsunori Shimada
  • Patent number: 9164195
    Abstract: A method of making optical films having a polymerized microstructured surface are described. The polymerized microstructured surface comprises the reaction product of a polymerizable resin composition comprising 10% to 100 wt-% of at least one biphenyl di(meth)acrylate monomer. The di(meth)acrylate monomer comprises a core biphenyl structure having two aromatic rings connected with a C—C bond. The biphenyl di(meth)acrylate monomer preferably comprises a sufficient amount of ortho and/or meta(meth)acrylate substituents such that the monomer is a liquid at 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Judith M. Invie, Bryan V. Hunt, Kyle J. Lindstrom, David B. Olson, Anthony M. Renstrom, Clinton L. Jones
  • Publication number: 20150146134
    Abstract: Provided are a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal display device including the same. The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing and separated from the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, and a light source providing light to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer includes cholesteric liquid crystal and a dichromic dye. The cholesteric liquid crystal includes nematic liquid crystal and an optically active material, and selectively reflects light having a certain wavelength, and the dichromic dye transmits light selectively reflected from the cholesteric liquid crystal. An amount of the dichromic dye is about 0.01 to about 10 wt % based on a total amount of the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Gi Heon KIM, Won Jae LEE, Chul Am KIM, Hojun RYU
  • Patent number: 9011988
    Abstract: A liquid-crystal compound denoted by general formula (I) below wherein each of the groups is defined and Dye denotes an azo dye residue denoted by general formula (II) with X and n also being defined. The azo liquid-crystal compound is capable of orientation with a high degree of orientation order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoji Goto
  • Patent number: 8956548
    Abstract: The present, invention relates to liquid crystal compositions having a smectic A structure for use in an optical device in which the composition is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes (12-15). In essence the composition includes a siloxane oligomer (component (a)) which may be seen to construct a layered SmA system of particular spacing and “strength”. Within this structure a low molar mass nematic mesogen (component (c)) is provided that may be considered to be that of a “plasticiser” which moderates the layer “strength”, while simultaneously providing tuneability to the properties of the composition, e.g. its refractive index or dielectric anisotropy. The addition of a side chain liquid crystal polysiloxane (component (d)) allows such systems to be further moderated since they can be considered as binding together the la>¾rs, both within a given layer and between layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: Dow Corning Corporation, Cambridge Enterprise Limited
    Inventors: Terry Victor Clapp, William Alden Crossland, Anthony Bernard Davey, Martin Grasmann, Jonathan Paul Hannington, Russell Keith King, Mikhael Pivnenko, Steven Robson, Huan Xu
  • Patent number: 8885124
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of preventing a decrease in voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in ion density (ID) and resolving the problem of display defects such as white spots, alignment unevenness, image sticking, and the like. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention is characterized by preventing a decrease in voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in ion density (ID) and suppressing the occurrence of display defects such as image sticking and the like, and is thus particularly useful for a VA-mode or PSVA-mode liquid crystal display device for active matrix driving, and can be applied to liquid crystal display devices such as a liquid crystal TV, a monitor, a cellular phone, a smart phone, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: DIC Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Kaneoya, Kiyofumi Takeuchi, Seiji Funakura, Katsunori Shimada
  • Patent number: 8860912
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display device capable of preventing a decrease in voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in ion density (ID) and resolving the problem of display defects such as white spots, alignment unevenness, image sticking, and the like. The liquid crystal display device prevents a decrease in voltage holding ratio (VHR) of a liquid crystal layer and an increase in ion density (ID) and suppressing the occurrence of display defects such as image sticking and the like. The liquid crystal display device is thus useful for a VA-mode or PSVA-mode liquid crystal display device for active matrix driving. The application of the device includes liquid crystal display devices such as liquid crystal TVs, monitors, cellular phones, and smart phones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: DIC Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Kaneoya, Kiyofumi Takeuchi, Akira Kimura, Seiji Funakura, Katsunori Shimada
  • Patent number: 8808813
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a liquid crystalline coating liquid that substantially does not contain a fine crystal. The method of producing a liquid crystalline coating liquid of the present invention contains a heating step of heating a treatment liquid containing a lyotropic liquid crystalline compound containing an impurity, and a solvent, a depositing step of depositing a deposit by cooling the treatment liquid after the heating step to a temperature lower than 40° C., and a removing step of removing the deposit from the treatment liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichi Matsuda, Toru Umemoto, Tadayuki Kameyama
  • Patent number: 8784684
    Abstract: A compound which has a benzoxazinone ring and an aromatic ring that directly bonds to the benzoxazinone ring, and has a mesogenic core substituted by a substituent having a polymerizable functional group is excellent in terms of durability, colorless, and exhibits a high ?n while having an azomethine bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shimamura, Mitsuyoshi Ichihashi
  • Publication number: 20140197361
    Abstract: A naphthopyran compound represented by the formula B1 and B2 are selected independently from the group consisting of a phenyl, naphthyl, or heterocyclic aromatic group, or may combine to form one or more aromatic rings. B1 and B2 may further include one or more substituents. R3, R4, R5, R6, and R16 are selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —Ra, —OH, —ORa, —O—CO—Ra, —CN, —NO2, —SO2Ra, —SORa, —SH, —SRa, —NH2, —NHRa, —NRaRa, or —NRbRc; or wherein R5 and R6 combine to form a cyclic group. Ra may include an alkyl, polycycloalkyl, alkenyl, polyalkenyl, haloalkyl, perhaloalkyl, alkynyl, polyalkynyl, hydroxyalkynyl, polyhydroxyalkynyl; or (C3-20)cycloalkyl group. Rb and Rc may include hydrogen or alkyl groups, or may combine to form a saturated heterocyclic group, or together with an adjacent phenyl group may form a julolidinyl group. R7 is a mesogenic group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: AlphaMicron Incorporated
    Inventors: Ludmila Sukhomlinova, Linli Su, Tamas Kosa, Bahman Taheri
  • Publication number: 20140145112
    Abstract: Co-topo-polymeric indicator compositions and methods for making and using the same are provided. Indicator compositions of the invention include a polymer and undergo a color change, which may be reversible or irreversible, in response to an applied stimulus, e.g., temperature. Aspects of methods of producing the compositions include setting a fluid co-topo-polymeric precursor composition into a solid product and then subjecting the solid product (either immediately or after a delay period) to polymerizing conditions to produce the desired indicator composition. Also provided are indicator devices that include the indicator compositions of the invention. The compositions of the invention find use in a variety of different applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Segan Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans O. Ribi
  • Patent number: 8734677
    Abstract: A liquid-crystal coating fluid which comprises: an azo compound represented by the following general formula (1); and a solvent to dissolve the azo compound: wherein Q1 is an aryl group which may have any substituent group; Q2 is an arylene group which may have any substituent group; R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, or a phenyl group which may have any substituent group; and M is a counter ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichi Matsuda, Kyoko Ishii, Tadayuki Kameyama
  • Publication number: 20140138579
    Abstract: A guest-host liquid crystal dye mixture comprising a calamatic, thermotropic liquid crystal as host and a dichroic fluorescent dye as guest, characterized in that the dichroic fluorescent dye is a multichromophoric dye containing at least a group with the general formula Ry-X1—C1, wherein Ry is a chromophore from the rylene family, C1 is a second chromophore and X1 is a spacer that interrupts the conjugation between Ry and C1, the spacer X1 is selected such that it introduces rigidity against bending or folding over an axis perpendicular to the length of the molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: PEER+ B.V.
    Inventors: Casper Laurens Van Oosten, Albertus Petrus Hendrikus Johannes Schenning
  • Patent number: 8623476
    Abstract: A polarizing element, containing: a transparent support; a light absorption anisotropic layer formed of a dichroic dye composition; and a transparent resin cured layer, with the layers being laminated in this order on the support, and with the composition containing at least one dichroic dye of formula (I) which has nematic mesomorphism but containing no liquid crystalline achromatic compound: wherein R1 to R4 are a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R5 and R6 are a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; L1 represents —N?N—, —CH?N—, —N?CH—, —C(?O)O—, —OC(?O)— or —CH?CH—; A1 represents a phenyl, naphthyl or aromatic heterocyclic group; B1 represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon or divalent aromatic heterocyclic group; and n is an integer from 1 to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Morishima, Eri Utagawa
  • Publication number: 20130342775
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high scattering smectic liquid crystal material and display device using the same. In the present invention, a series of smectic A phase liquid crystals having compact arrangement of crystal domains or a series of smectic liquid crystal mixed materials having a degree of order higher than that of the smectic A phase and an optical texture different from that of the smectic A phase are obtained by mixing a smectic liquid crystal with an organic compound having a high optical anisotropy (?n) or mixing different types of smectic phases. When used in a smectic stable state liquid crystal display pattern, these materials have high scattering properties and can effectively improve the contrast of a smectic liquid crystal display device. The present invention also improves contrast when it used in a reflective smectic liquid crystal display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Gang Sun, Wenlei Li, Huan Yin
  • Publication number: 20130258071
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal display device and to a liquid crystal medium having a negative dielectric anisotropy ??.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Eun-Kyu Lee, Seung-Eun Lee, Dong-Mee Song
  • Publication number: 20130187090
    Abstract: A liquid-crystal compound denoted by general formula (I) below wherein each of the groups is defined and Dye denotes an azo dye residue denoted by general formula (II) with X and n also being defined. The azo liquid-crystal compound is capable of orientation with a high degree of orientation order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoji Goto
  • Publication number: 20130155340
    Abstract: The present, invention relates to liquid crystal compositions having a smectic A structure for use in an optical device in which the composition is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes (12-15). In essence the composition includes a siloxane oligomer (component (a)) which may be seen to construct a layered SmA system of particular spacing and “strength”. Within this structure a low molar mass nematic mesogen (component (c)) is provided that may be considered to be that of a “plasticiser” which moderates the layer “strength”, while simultaneously providing tuneability to the properties of the composition, e.g. its refractive index or dielectric anisotropy. The addition of a side chain liquid crystal polysiloxane (component (d)) allows such systems to be further moderated since they can be considered as binding together the la>¾rs, both within a given layer and between layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Terry Victor Clapp, William Alden Crossland, Anthony Bernard Davey, Martin Grasmann, Jonathan Paul Hannington, Russell Keith King, Mikhael Pivnenko, Steven Robson, Huan Xu
  • Patent number: 8465671
    Abstract: There is provided a novel dichroic dye having liquid crystal properties, dichroic properties and polymerizable reactivity, the dichroic dye being used to form a color filter layer having excellent physical properties such as dichroic ratio, heat resistance, durability, high contrast ratio and polarizing properties, a composition comprising the same for color filter, a color filter array plate (an upper plate) prepared therefrom, and a liquid crystal display comprising the color filter array plate. The dichroic dye has a structure of R1-L1-M-L2-D (wherein, D is a dichroic structure, M is a structure with liquid crystal properties, R1 is a reactive end functional group, and L and L1 are linking structures that link R1, M, and D), and the composition for forming a color filter layer includes the dichroic dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Il Cho, Sin-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 8435333
    Abstract: Switchable gas permeation membranes in which a photo-switchable low-molecular-weight liquid crystalline (LC) material acts as the active element, and a method of making such membranes. Different LC eutectic mixtures were doped with mesogenic azo dyes and infused into track-etched porous membranes with regular cylindrical pores. Photo-induced isothermal phase changes in the imbibed mesogenic material afforded large, reversible changes in the permeability of the photo-switchable membrane to nitrogen. For example, membranes imbibed with a photo-switchable cyanobiphenyl LC material demonstrated low permeability in the nematic state, while the photo-generated isotropic state demonstrated a 16×-greater sorption coefficient. Both states obey a high linear sorption behavior in accordance with Henry's Law. In contrast, membranes imbibed with a photo-switchable phenyl benzoate LC material showed the opposite permeability behavior to the biphenyl-imbibed membrane, along with nonlinear sorption behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Marshall, Eric Glowacki
  • Publication number: 20130092874
    Abstract: Described is a black dichroic dye composition comprising 2 or more dyes, wherein at least one dye, generally a red dye and optionally a yellow dye, conforms to the formula A and at least one dye, usually a blue dye, conforms to the formula B Ar1—N?N—[Ar2—N?N—]qAr3—N?N—Ar4 (B) with symbols as defined in present claims. The dye composition is well suited for combination with liquid crystal material for use, inter alia, as polarizing film and/or in liquid crystal displays, showing, inter alia, high dichroic ratio and excellent compatibility with the LC material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Bacher, Gerardus De Keyzer, Urs Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20120319043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid-crystal emulsion for the use in a thermo-optical matrix to an early diagnosis of mammary gland neoplasmic lesions. It contains a mixture of thermotropic liquid crystals and polyvinyl alcohol. The liquid-crystal emulsion contains 14 to 48% by weight (on a dry matter basis) of the thermotropic compounds mixture and 50 to 86% by weight (on a dry matter basis) of polyvinyl alcohol. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing liquid-crystal emulsion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: BRASTER SA
    Inventors: Jacek Bernard Stepien, Henryk Jaremek, Grzegorz Franciszek Pielak