Containing Nonchiral Additive Having No Specified Mesophase Patents (Class 252/299.5)
  • Publication number: 20040200994
    Abstract: A compound having formula (6) 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Peter M. Kazmaier
  • Publication number: 20040195547
    Abstract: A compound having formula (4) 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Peter M. Kazmaier
  • Patent number: 6800220
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an optically active polyester comprising at least constituent units represented by the general formula (I) and the general formula (II): wherein Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represents a bivalent aromatic group or a bivalent heteroaromatic group, and X1 and X2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an electron-withdrawing group, wherein A represents a bivalent substituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yumoto, Mitsuyoshi Ichihashi, Kouya Kawabata
  • Publication number: 20040185185
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a layer of a liquid crystal material contained between two spaced-apart cell walls (2, 4) provided with electrode structures (12, 14) for applying an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material. At least one of the cell walls (2) is provided with an alignment structure (10) for inducing a desired local orientation of molecules of the liquid crystal material adjacent thereto. The liquid crystal material includes non-polymerisable low molecular weight surfactant molecules. The invention also provides a liquid crystal composition for use in the device and a method of manufacturing the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen Christopher Kitson, Neil Carter, Michael Bernard Cinderey
  • Patent number: 6790382
    Abstract: An inorganic liquid or glass of hybrid composition including an inorganic component; and a template component, wherein the inorganic component and the template component are present in composition in a ratio that provides an intermediate range structural order to the composition. The intermediate range structural order results in the formation of metallotropic liquid crystals and anisotropic glasses. Methods of preparing the composition are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: James D. Martin, Todd A. Thornton
  • Patent number: 6783697
    Abstract: Disclosed is a binder-loaded type charge-transport liquid crystal material which comprises a liquid crystal compound and a binder and, in spite of the presence of the binder, can substantially retain the properties inherent in the liquid crystal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Hanna, Kyoko Kogo
  • Publication number: 20040164274
    Abstract: The invention provides methods of forming a cholesteric liquid crystal layer that include forming a cholesteric liquid crystal composition, depositing the cholesteric liquid crystal composition onto a substrate, and initially drying the cholesteric liquid crystal composition at a temperature at or below about 90° C. so that the cholesteric liquid crystal composition has at least 80% solids remaining. The invention also provides methods of forming a cholesteric liquid crystal layer that include forming a cholesteric liquid crystal composition, depositing the cholesteric liquid crystal composition onto a substrate, and initially drying the cholesteric liquid crystal composition at a temperature at or below about 90° C., wherein the drying is accomplished using a technique that provides little or no airflow. The invention further provides a cholesteric liquid crystal composition that includes at least one cholesteric liquid crystal precursor and 1,3-dioxolane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven D. Solomonson, Marc D. Radcliffe, Richard J. Pokorny
  • Publication number: 20040164275
    Abstract: The invention provides a cholesteric liquid crystal composition that includes at least one cholesteric liquid crystal precursor, and at least one non-liquid crystalline additive that is a non-liquid crystalline compound of formula I 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Terence D. Spawn, Marc D. Radcliffe, Richard J. Pokorny
  • Publication number: 20040140450
    Abstract: Liquid crystalline polymer having repeat units derived from 4,4′-biphenol, terephthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid in a limited compositional range have melting points of 400° C. or more, and are useful for molded articles and for films, particularly for uses where good high temperature resistance is needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Marion G. Waggoner, Michael Robert Samuels
  • Publication number: 20040140451
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline composition which comprises, as components
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: BASF Drucksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Meyer, Hiroki Ishida, Peter Schuhmacher, Horst Neumann
  • Publication number: 20040135119
    Abstract: The invention relates to chiral compounds of formula I wherein X1,X2,X1,X2,x1,x2,y1,y2,B,C,U1,U2,V1,V2,W1 and W2 have the meaning given in claim 1, to liquid crystal mixtures comprising at least one chiral compound of formula I, to chiral linear or crosslinked liquid crystal polymers obtainable by polymerizing a polymerizade mixture comprising at least one chiral compound of formula I, to the use of chiral compound of formula I and mixtures and polymers obtained thereof in liquid crystal display, active and passive optical elements, adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions, diagnostics, liquid crystal pigments, for decorative and security applications, nonlinear optics, optical information storage or as chiral dopants, and to a liquid crystal display comprising a mixture comprising at least one chiral compound of formula I.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Andreas Taugerbeck, Peer Kirsch, Detlef Pauluth, Joachim Krause, Juliane Suermann, Michael Heckmeier
  • Patent number: 6753046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystalline compound of the formula I wherein X1 and R1 are defined as in claim 1. The invention further relates to a liquid crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds of positive dielectric anisotropy containing one or more compounds of formula I and its use in electrooptical displays and projection systems, in particular reflective displays and displays based on a birefringence effect, such as OCB displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Atsutaka Manabe, Matthias Bremer
  • Publication number: 20040115367
    Abstract: A A compound having formula (2) 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Peter M. Kazmaier, David Rider, Peter G. Odell
  • Publication number: 20040113122
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition including:
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Peter M. Kazmaier
  • Publication number: 20040113123
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition including:
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Peter M. Kazmaier
  • Publication number: 20040099841
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal compound, a gelling agent comprising a hydrogen-bonded compound with polymerizable double bonds at both ends to form a gelatinizable mixture with the liquid crystal compound, and a photoinitiator causing a polymerization reaction of the hydrogen-bonded compound of the gelling agent is disclosed. Because the denatured liquid crystal composition, obtainable by photo polymerization of the non-denatured liquid crystal composition, has alignment direction self-control characteristics, the liquid crystal composition can be reversibly changed between the isotropic state and the aligned gelatinized state by controlling the temperature conditions not only in a non-denatured state but also in a denatured state. A liquid crystal display element using the liquid crystal composition, a method for manufacturing the same, and a method for controlling the same are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicants: Takashi KATO, JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kato, Norihiro Mizoshita
  • Patent number: 6740255
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photo-responsive liquid crystal composition which is composed of a liquid crystalline compound and a gelling agent, an information-recording medium and an information-recording process making use of the information-recording medium. The gelling agent consists of a photochromic compound having a group capable of forming an intermolecular hydrogen bond in its molecule as well as a photo-responding site of a specific structure. The composition can exist in any state of gel of a first phase and gel of a second phase and can undergo changes in state between the gel of the first phase and the gel of the second phase. The information-recording medium has a recording layer formed of the composition, and the information-recording process utilizes changes in state between the gel phases in the recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kato, Masaya Moriyama, Norihiro Mizoshita
  • Patent number: 6737126
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal mixture, especially for a liquid crystal cell for a color liquid crystal display (LCD), comprising a liquid crystal material and a dye, wherein said dye has a dipole, preferably a permanent dipole. The invention further relates to a liquid crystal cell for a color liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal mixture, substrate plates or substrate means for comprising said liquid crystal mixture, electrodes for applying an electric field to said liquid crystal mixture and a voltage source for applying a voltage to said electrodes, wherein said liquid crystal mixture comprises a dye with optical anisotropic properties having a dipole, preferably a permanent dipole. The invention further relates to a use of a dye with a dipole for a liquid crystal mixture, especially for a liquid crystal cell and/or liquid crystal displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Sony International (Europe) GmbH
    Inventors: Akio Yasuda, David Bloor, Graham Cross, Gordon Love, Akira Masutani
  • Publication number: 20040079921
    Abstract: Cubic liquid crystalline gel precursors, bulk cubic liquid crystalline gels, and dispersions of cubic liquid crystalline gel particles, and methods for their preparation, are disclosed. The precursors, gels, and dispersions can be used as skin penetration enhancers. The precursors, gels, and dispersions are prepared by methods employing hydrotropes that do not detrimentally affect the cubic liquid crystalline structure of the gels and particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Matthew Lawrence Lynch, Patrick Thomas Spicer
  • Publication number: 20040076769
    Abstract: A chiral nematic liquid crystal composition has minimal temperature dependency of the natural pitch and temperature dependency of the wavelength selective reflection and low temperature storage stability thereof is excellent. A chiral nematic liquid crystal composition with a broad liquid crystal temperature range is used in a bistable liquid crystal display element, and a bistable liquid crystal display element comprising the liquid crystal composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: DAINIPPON INK AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Nakata, Kiyofumi Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20040058091
    Abstract: Optically anisotropic films based on sulfoderivatives of 1,8-naphthoylene-1′,2′-benzimidazole are disclosed. These compounds form stable lyotropic liquid crystal systems that exhibit excellent optical properties with films that are significantly thinner that the current state of the art. The lyotropic liquid crystal systems may be deposited on substrates for use in a wide variety of commercial applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Tatyana Ya. Dutova, Elena N. Sidorenko
  • Publication number: 20040056233
    Abstract: Disclosed are liquid crystalline polymer compositions, which are melt moldable, and which contain a perfluorinated polymer, and a particulate aramid, and optionally contain hollow glass or quartz spheres, and which usually have low dielectric constants. They are particularly useful as electrical connectors and substrates for other electronic applications which use high frequency signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Robert Samuels, Michael Joseph Molitor
  • Patent number: 6703084
    Abstract: A quinone compound represented by formula (1) or (2) below: (wherein X1 to X4 independently represents an oxygen atom, sulfur atom or N—R1; R1 represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group or heterocyclic group; Ar1 to Ar4 independently represents an atomic group necessary for forming an aromatic ring or aromatic rings, where at least one of such aromatic rings formed by Ar1 and Ar2 and at least one of such aromatic rings formed by Ar3 and Ar4 have substituent selected from the group consisting of alkylthio group, arylthio group, heteroarylthio group and —N(R2)(R3) group; and R2 and R3 independently represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group or heterocyclic group, where R2 and R3 may be linked together to form a ring) was disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Katoh
  • Patent number: 6702956
    Abstract: A liquid crystal polyester resin mixture having a stabilized plastication time and accordingly possible to be molded in constant cycles and giving a molded article excellent in mechanical properties and thermal stability is provided. The liquid crystal polyester resin mixture comprises 100 parts by weight of a liquid crystal polyester resin composition which comprises 100 parts by weight of a liquid crystal polyester and from 0 to 150 parts by weight of a filler, and either from 0.001 to 5 parts by weight of a fatty acid amide having a formula; R1—CO—NH2 (wherein R1 denotes a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon of 10 to 30 carbons) or from 0.001 to 2 parts by weight of a high molecular weight polyethylene with a molecular weight of 10,000 or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Mituo Maeda, Satoshi Nagano, Manabu Hirakawa
  • Publication number: 20040041124
    Abstract: A substantially colorless and optically anisotropic material is obtained from substantially colorless and optically anisotropic micelles. The micelles are oriented in a definite direction. The optically anisotropic material is usable in optical films and polarization elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Keiichi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 6699532
    Abstract: An optically active compound of the general formula (1) useful as a chiral dopant, and use thereof for a liquid crystal composition, the above optically active compound having a remarkably large helical twisting power (HTP) of as large as 50 or more and having a property that the helical pitch induced decreases in length with an increase in temperature, so that the optically active compound has an excellent value as a chiral dopant for a nematic liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuki Motoyama, Masahiro Johno
  • Patent number: 6695976
    Abstract: In a water-continuous system and a polymerization method, the water-continuous system comprises a polymerizable aromatic compound as an oil, water and a non-ionic surfactant, wherein the polymerizable aromatic compound is a component from the group consisting of: thiophene, furan and alkyl, alkoxy or alkylenedioxy derivatives of thiophene and furan. The non-ionic surfactant is an alkyl polyethoxylate and/or an alkyl polyglucoside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventors: Franz-Hubert Haegel, Julia Schlüpen, Joachim Walter Schultze, Stephan Winkels
  • Patent number: 6695977
    Abstract: Improved liquid crystalline materials may be prepared by doping liquid crystalline materials with chiral, uncharged metal compounds of formula [(P1—Y1—A1—Y2—M1—Y3—)nL]2Me or [(P1—Y1—A1—Y2—M1—Y3—)nL]Me(L′(—Y6—M2—Y5—A2—Y4—P2)n′)m. Groups P1 and P2 may be, independently, hydrogen, C1-C12-alkyl groups, polymerizable groups, or radicals containing a polymerizable group. Y1 to Y6 may be, independently, single chemical bonds, ether groups, thio groups, carbonyl groups, acid groups, etc. Groups A1 and A2 are spacers having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and M1 and M2 are mesogenic groups. Me may be a transition metal from the fourth, fifth or sixth period of the periodic table, except for technetium, silver, cadmium, gold, mercury, or any of the lanthanoids, or Me may be a main group element from group 14 (IUPAC system), except for carbon and lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Prechtl, Sylke Haremza, Robert Parker, Kathrin Kürschner, Manfred Braun, Antje Hahn, Ralf Fleischer
  • Publication number: 20040033320
    Abstract: A conduction inhibitor including an epoxy resin or the like is mixed into a liquid crystal material. Specifically, the conduction inhibitor is formed by a bisphenol F epoxy resin, and mixing proportion is set to 0.1 wt % to 10 wt %. When such a conduction inhibitor is mixed, electrical conduction caused by ions due to an impurity or the like existing in the liquid crystal material can be suppressed, thereby maintaining a voltage holding ratio high when a liquid crystal display cell and a liquid crystal display are structured by using the liquid crystal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicants: INTERNATIONAL DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Momoi, Junta Yamamichi
  • Patent number: 6682787
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal composition by which the state of molecular orientation of a liquid crystalline compound can be stably maintained even when no electric field is caused to effect on, and moreover the state of molecular orientation of the liquid crystalline compound can be changed, and a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal displaying method by which a displayed state can be stably retained even after the action of an electric field is ceased, and moreover the displayed state can be dissolved with ease. The liquid crystal composition contains a liquid crystalline compound and a liquid crystal orientation state-regulating agent for regulating the orientated state of the liquid crystalline compound by gelling, wherein a phase transition temperature between an isotropic liquid phase and a liquid crystal phase in the liquid crystalline compound is higher than a gelling temperature by the liquid crystal orientation state-regulating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kato, Norihiro Mizoshita, Kenji Hanabusa
  • Publication number: 20040011994
    Abstract: The invention provides an optically active polyesteramide comprising at least a structural unit represented by the following general formula (I) and a structural unit represented by the following general formula (II).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yumoto, Mitsuyoshi Ichihashi, Keiichiro Hayashi, Ryuichi Kuroiwa
  • Publication number: 20040013821
    Abstract: An electroconductive polypropylene type resin foamed sheet comprising a polypropylene type resin foamed sheet, and an electroconductive coating material layer and, preferably, a resin layer, formed on at least one side of the foamed sheet, and having a density of at least 180 kgm−3 and less than 850 kgm−3, wherein the resin layer has a surface resistance of less than 1012 &OHgr;/□. A container made of such an electroconductive polypropylene type resin foamed sheet is useful for packaging an electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Yuichi Kadoya, Hirokazu Kawauchi, Eitaroh Fututaka
  • Publication number: 20040011995
    Abstract: In color printing, and in the fine arts, cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) color inks are known to possess much higher color saturation and brightness than conventional pigment and dyed based inks. However, prior art CLC ink formulations are inconvenient because in the liquid phase they have to be confined in cells, and in the solid phase, they have to be applied at high temperature, and have to be aligned by some means to produce the optimum color. This invention solves the problem encountered in the CLC prior art, by making pre-aligned CLC platelets or flakes of appropriate thickness and size and mixing them in appropriate host fluids producing a novel CLC ink which can be applied at room temperature and without the need for alignment. The new pre-aligned room temperature CLC ink can be used as a substitute for conventional inks in almost all printing and plotting, and manual drawing and painting. Using the notch filter CLC platelets, the brightness is further enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Sadeg M. Faris
  • Publication number: 20040007691
    Abstract: An optically active compound of the general formula (1) useful as a chiral dopant, and use thereof for a liquid crystal composition, 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Yuki Motoyama, Masahiro Johno
  • Patent number: 6667793
    Abstract: Liquid crystal pigments comprising at least one layer of liquid crystalline polymer material with a helically twisted molecular structure wherein the helical axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the layer and which show reflection of circularly polarized light, some prepared in which the bandwidth of the reflected wavelength band is at least 100 nm. These pigments are suitable for use in reflective films or coatings for decorative applications, cosmetic compositions, and pharmaceutical compositions, optical elements, and security applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft
    Inventors: Mark Goulding, Matthias Kuntz, Mark Verrall, David Coates
  • Publication number: 20030232154
    Abstract: Method of producing nematic liquid-crystal devices, wherein a low zenithal anchoring energy of the liquid crystal is obtained on at least one of its confinement plates by the steps consisting in:
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Sandrine Lamarque-Forget, Sebastien Jacquier, Ivan Dozov, Luc Faget
  • Publication number: 20030222242
    Abstract: A liquid crystalline gel composition including a liquid crystalline compound, and a gelling agent having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1): 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Harada, Takuzo Aida, Woo-Dong Jang
  • Patent number: 6649226
    Abstract: A dissociating substance and its salt are added to a liquid crystal to keep the amount of ions included in the liquid crystal constant under temperature variation and to prevent alignment disorder in the liquid crystal due to static electricity and unevenness or spots due to excessive ion accumulation, leading to improved reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimikazu Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6645576
    Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display device is provided, in which an after image remaining after removing an application of a direct current voltage is suppressed. The active matrix liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal molecule having negative dielectric anisotropy and a dopant having a dissociative group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Iwakabe, Masuyuki Ohta, Shigeru Matsuyama, Hitoshi Oaku, Katsumi Kondo
  • Patent number: 6645578
    Abstract: An alignment structure useful in a liquid crystal display device comprising a substrate having disposed thereon an oriented film of a lyotropic nematic liquid crystalline material. Particularly useful lyotropic materials include a class of nematic liquid crystalline compounds known as chromonics. The substrates can be made by coating the lyotropic liquid crystal material onto the substrate to provide an oriented film of the lyotropic material. The alignment structure can also include one or more polarizing dyes or other additives and can thus be made to perform polarizing, retarding and/or color filtering functions in addition to alignment and orientation functions. Liquid crystal displays containing such alignment structures and methods of making such displays are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Hassan Sahouani, Kim M. Vogel
  • Patent number: 6645577
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition is principally constituted by at least a liquid crystal and a gel-forming compound which forms a gel with the liquid crystal. The gel-forming compound has a discotic liquid crystal phase and assumes a supermolecular structure when it is mixed with the liquid crystal. The supermolecular structure may preferably have at least one intermolecular interacting side having at least one —CONH— group allowing multi-dimensional intermolecular interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomonari Horikiri
  • Publication number: 20030197157
    Abstract: A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in accordance with the invention preferably comprise a homogeneous mixture of a nematic liquid crystal and a multifunctional pentaacrylate monomer, in combination with photoinitiator, coinitiator and cross-linking agent. Optionally, a surfactant such as octanoic acid may also be added. The PDLC material is exposed to coherent light to produce an interference pattern inside the material. Photopolymerization of the new PDLC material produces a hologram of clearly separated liquid crystal domains and cured polymer domains. Volume transmission gratings made with the new PDLC material can be electrically switched between nearly 100% diffraction efficiency and nearly 0% diffraction efficiency. By increasing the frequency of the switching voltage, switching voltages in the range of 50 Vrms can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: RICHARD L. SUTHERLAND, LALQUDI V. NATARAJAN, VINCE P. TONDIGLIA, TIMOTHY J. BUNNING, W. WADE ADAMS
  • Publication number: 20030193039
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystalline polyester resin composition to produce a molded article without generating black foreign materials even if exposed to high temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoshi Okamoto, Manabu Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 6633348
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display including a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer intervening between the first and second substrates and containing liquid crystal substances different from each other, a sum of values each calculated from a formula: X&agr;(RTlogP&agr;+HE&agr;) for all the liquid crystal substances in the liquid crystal layer being 32 kJ/mol or higher, wherein X&agr; denotes a molar fraction of a component &agr; in the liquid crystal layer, P&agr; denotes a distribution ratio of the component &agr; between an aqueous phase and a 1-octanol phase, HE&agr; denotes a hydration energy for 1 mol of the component &agr;, R denotes a gas constant of 8.3 J/K·mol, and T denotes a temperature of 300 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Shohara, Takeshi Yamamoto, Natsuko Maya, Nobuko Fukuoka, Katsuyuki Naito
  • Publication number: 20030183804
    Abstract: An inorganic liquid or glass of hybrid composition including an inorganic component; and a template component, wherein the inorganic component and the template component are present in composition in a ratio that provides an intermediate range structural order to the composition. The intermediate range structural order results in the formation of metallotropic liquid crystals and anisotropic glasses. Methods of preparing the composition are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: James D. Martin, Todd A. Thornton
  • Patent number: 6602563
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display which carries out matrix driving of a chiral nematic liquid crystal composition, which is capable of displaying an image theron continuously after an electric field applied thereto is turned off, by applying an electric field to the liquid crystal composition through a plurality of scan electrodes and a plurality of data electrodes which face and cross each other with the liquid crystal composition in-between. The nematic liquid crystal which is the main element of the liquid crystal composition mainly contains a liquid crystalline ester compound, a liquid crystalline stilbene compound, a liquid crystalline terphenyl compound or a liquid crystalline tolane compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Takeshi Kitahora, Fumie Motoori, Hideaki Ueda
  • Patent number: 6599442
    Abstract: Helical arrays comprising structurally different chiral non-racemic molecules or molecular entities that control the helical sense of the helical array provide a method for temperature measurement with a unique characteristic in that the temperature dependent chiral biases of the competing structurally different chiral non-racemic entities control the helical sense population since these biases differ in their temperature dependence. By varying the composition of the chiral non-racemic entities, the temperature at which the helical sense population is equal and how the helical sense population varies as a function of temperature can be controlled. In this way, competing structurally different non-racemic chiral groups can be varied in their composition so that a helical array can be formed under their effect and be sensitive to temperature over a wide temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Polytechnic University
    Inventor: Mark M. Green
  • Publication number: 20030136943
    Abstract: Semiconductor liquid crystal compositions and methods for making such compositions are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a liquid crystal composition including a solvent and semiconductor particles in the solvent. The solvent and the semiconductor particles are in an effective amount in the liquid crystal composition to form a liquid crystal phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Regents of University of California
    Inventors: A. Paul Alivisatos, Liang-shi Li
  • Publication number: 20030127627
    Abstract: A smectic liquid crystal mixture comprising a smectic liquid crystal base mixture and at least one dopant, which is either a complex ligand or an organic material, in a concentration of 0.01 to 5.0 weight percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: Clariant International Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruki Amakawa, Toshiaki Nonaka, Hans-Rolf Dubal, Rainer Wingen
  • Publication number: 20030122105
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal compound containing at least one polymerizable group, two or more kinds of photoreactive chiral compounds that undergo isomerization when respectively irradiated with light beams having mutually different wavelengths and exhibit mutually different HTPs after isomerization, and a polymerization initiator; a selectively reflective film produced using the liquid crystal compound; and a method for producing the selectively reflective film. Instead of the two or more kinds of photoreactive chiral compounds, a single photoreactive chiral compound that undergoes reversible isomerization when irradiated with either of two light beams having mutually different wavelengths may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuyoshi Ichihashi