Abstract: In a method and apparatus of aligning liquid crystal, a first ion beam is formed. The first ion beam is transformed into a second ion beam having transformed cross-section. The second ion beam advances toward a thin film including carbon-carbon double bond. The second ion beam forms a first angle with respect to the thin film. The second ion beam is transformed into an atomic beam. The atomic beam is irradiated onto the thin film to break the carbon-carbon double bond. The carbon-carbon double bond is broken to form a polarized functional group for aligning a liquid crystal molecule.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided, which includes: first and second panels facing each other, interposing a gap therebetween, and first and second field generating electrodes, respectively; a liquid crystal layer filled in the gap and including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules; first and second tilt direction defining members disposed on the first and the second panels, respectively, and giving a first tilt direction to a group of the liquid crystal molecules; and a third tilt direction defining member disposed on one of the first and the second panels and giving a second tilt direction oblique to the first tilt direction to the group of the liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal between substrates and alignment layers disposed on the inner surface sides of the substrates. The alignment layer is made from a material including polyamic acid containing a diamine component and polyimide containing a diamine component different from the diamine component of the polyamic acid. The alignment layer is subjected to alignment treatment by irradiation of light. UV light can be irradiated in the oblique direction onto the alignment layer through a mask having openings. A reflecting plate can be arranged between a UV light source and the mask. Also, bank structures having a thickness from 0.1 to 0.15 ?m can be provided on the alignment layer of the TFT substrate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, in which a liquid crystal layer is supported by a liquid crystal substrate, in which an orientation-controlling layer is formed on a surface of the liquid crystal substrate to regulate an orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in the predetermined direction, and the orientation-controlling layer is formed by an incorporated additive added to the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coated sheet that may form a coated layer having a uniform film thickness by a coating liquid even when a substrate has a large area. A method for manufacturing a coated sheet to form a coated layer by a process including a process (1) for coating a coating liquid including a resin material and a solvent on a substrate, and a drying process (2) for drying a coated liquid, wherein a value L obtained in drying process (2) satisfies a following relationship; L = ? 0 T ? ? ? [ mN / m ] × ( h ? [ m ] ) 3 ? ? [ mPa · sec ] ? ? ? t > 1.9 × 10 - 13 ? [ m 4 / sec ] (where: T: total period of drying process [sec]; ?: surface tension of coated liquid [mN/m]; h: thickness of coated liquid [m]; and ?: viscosity of coated liquid [mPa·sec]).

Abstract: A roll printing device, a roll printing method, and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the same.. The roll printing device includes a dispenser; an anilox roll to receive a designated material dispensed by the dispenser; a printing roll engaged with the anilox roll to rotate with the printing roll to receive the designated material supplied from the anilox roll; and a substrate stage fixed below the printing roll for mounting a substrate. The printing roll is movable on the substrate stage to deposit the designated material on the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for rubbing an alignment layer by which a defective rubbing due to a load can be prevented by installing a head at an upper portion of a frame, the apparatus including a frame, a rubbing table to which a substrate having an alignment layer is loaded, a rubbing roll disposed at an upper portion of the rubbing table inside the frame, and a head disposed at an upper portion of the frame that supports the rubbing roll.

Abstract: A roll stocker includes a plurality of roll fixing units for fixing a plurality of rubbing rolls; shaft connection parts having a plurality of radially extended end portions connected with each roll fixing unit; and a rotational shaft for fixing the center of the shaft connection parts and rotating the shaft connection parts. A plurality of rubbing rolls can be rotated, and by keeping the plurality of rubbing rolls in storage in the closed roll stocker, contamination of a rubbing cloth due to external particles can be prevented, space utilization can be enhanced, and deviation of eccentricity of the rubbing rolls kept in storage can be prevented.

Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent hydrogen or a C1–C4 alkyl group or together represent a C1–C4 alkylene group or a cycloalkylene group; and (ii) mechanically rendering the layer liquid crystal aligning; a liquid crystal alignment layer obtainable by the above-mentioned method; a liquid crystal device incorporating the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer; a liquid crystal display comprising the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer or the above-mentioned liquid crystal device; and the use of the polythiophene according to formula (I) for aligning liquid crystals.

Abstract: A method includes exposing an alignment material to an interference pattern to cause a chemical reaction in the alignment material and exposing the alignment material to a liquid crystal, where the liquid crystal aligns relative to the alignment material based on the interference pattern.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal device using carbon films capable of aligning liquid crystal molecules simultaneously with deposition, a manufacturing apparatus of the liquid crystal device, a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device and a forming method of an alignment film. The liquid crystal device comprises: substrates 1a and 1b opposing to each other and including electrodes; an optical cell formed between the opposing electrodes; liquid crystal molecules 2 filled in the optical cell; carbon films 5a and 5b deposited adhered on a side of at least one of the substrates 1a and 1b, which is exposed to the liquid crystal molecules 2, in order to align the liquid crystal molecules 2.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device, which includes a liquid crystal layer, a pair of electrodes for use to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal layer, and at least one inorganic alignment film. The inorganic alignment film makes direct contact with the liquid crystal layer and is made of a crystalline conductive film where crystal grains are oriented in a predetermined direction preferentially.

Abstract: Devices and systems for the detection of ligands comprising at least one receptor and an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline, where an amplified signal is produced as a result of receptor binding to a ligand are provided. Also provided are methods for the automatic detection of ligands.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a pretilt angle direction for a liquid crystal cell comprising the steps of first setting the magnitude of pretilt angle and a plurality of pretilt angle directions in an alignment layer. This first step is achieved by irradiating linearly the alignment layer with polarized or unpolarized UV light. One of the plurality of pretilt angle directions is then selected by exposing the alignment layer to UV light a second time.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of substrates with alignment layers formed thereon, and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates. Each pixel has pixel display portions CA, CB and non-display portions DA, EA, DB, EB. The pixel display portions are treated for realizing alignment in a different manner from the non-display portions and the alignment of the pixel display portions is controlled by the alignment of the non-display portions. Moreover, the alignment treatment is executed by the irradiation with ultraviolet rays in an inclined direction.

Abstract: A method for preparing an alignment layer surface provides a surface on the alignment layer. The surface is bombarded with ions, and reactive gas is introduced to the ion beam to saturate dangling bonds on the surface. Another method for preparing an alignment layer surface provides a surface on the alignment layer. The surface is bombarded with ions and quenched with a reactive component to saturate dangling bonds on the surface.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes providing a first substrate, forming an alignment layer on the first substrate using an ink jet method to form a plurality of holes that expose portions of the first substrate, and forming a spacer within each of the plurality of holes using the ink jet method.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an alignment layer of a liquid crystal display device includes a dispenser dropping an alignment material, an anilox roll receiving the dropped alignment material, a doctor roll evenly spreading the dropped alignment material coated onto the anilox roll, and a printing roll receiving the alignment material from the anilox roll, and transferring the alignment material onto a substrate, wherein the printing roll has a plurality of masks each having a numerical aperture of about 5% to 25%.

Abstract: It is possible to enhance the utilization efficiency of a light source and impart an orientation control performance and a pretilt angle to an orientation film in a short treatment time. Substrates to which orientation films are applied are mounted on stages which are sequentially transported to a main irradiation region and a sub-irradiation region. Light flux irradiated from a light source device having a single light source receives polarization treatment at a polarization unit, thus generating main polarized light and sub-polarized light. The main polarized light is irradiated to the orientation film formed on the substrate which is transported to a main irradiation region, thus imparting orientation control performance to the orientation film. Subsequently, the substrate is transported to a sub-irradiation region, and sub-polarized light is irradiated to the orientation film to which orientation control performance is already imparted, thus imparting a pretilt angle to the orientation film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment treating agent containing a polyamic acid which is represented by the following formula (I) and exhibits a reduced viscosity of from 0.05 to 5.0 dl/g (in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone at 30° C. at a concentration of 0.5 g/dl) or a polyimide obtained by cyclodehydration thereof: wherein R1 represents a tetravalent organic group, at least 20 mol % of which has a fused alicyclic structure composed of two to five rings, and all of the carbonyl groups are directly bonded to the alicyclic structure and that any two carbonyl groups are not bonded to adjacent carbon atoms of the alicyclic structure; R2 is a bivalent organic group, from 20 to 100 mol % of which has in the side-chain structure at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of C5-20 long-chain alkyl, C5-20 fluoroalkyl, alicyclic structures and aromatic ring structures; and L is a positive integer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer confined between first and second substrates, an electrode formed on the first substrate so as to create an electric field acting generally parallel to a plane of the liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of pixels being defined in the liquid crystal layer, wherein each of the pixels includes therein a plurality of domains having respective orientations for liquid crystal molecules, such that the orientation is different between a domain and another domain within the plane of the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus include a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer arranged between the pair of substrates; a plurality of electrodes formed on one substrate, and an alignment control layer formed on a face of at least one of the pair of substrates and being in contact with the liquid crystal layer. An optical characteristic is charged in response to a molecular alignment condition of the liquid crystal layer, and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is set to a substantially constant thickness by spacers. A surface of the alignment control layer on the at least one of the pair of substrates which is in contact with the liquid crystal layer has stepped difference portions and on a surface formed in a display pixel, an inclination degree of a stepped difference portion in said alignment control layer is less than 1.

Abstract: A method of making nematic liquid crystal devices where low energy zenith anchoring of the liquid crystal is obtained over confinement plates. A polymer or copolymer is deposited based on PVC onto a substrate. The polymer deposit is stabilized. An azimuth orientation is defined for the deposit to induce controlled azimuth anchoring of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A method of forming an inorganic alignment film is provided comprising a first milling step of irradiating ion beams to a surface of a base substrate, on which the inorganic alignment film is to be formed, from a direction inclined at a predetermined angle ?a with respect to a direction orthogonal to the surface of the base substrate, a film-forming step of forming a film made substantially of an inorganic material on the base substrate to which the ion beams are irradiated, and a second milling step of irradiating ion beams to a surface of the film from a direction inclined at a predetermined angle ?b with respect to the direction orthogonal to the surface of the film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell having a first substrate with a rubbed layer provided thereon, a second substrate with a photo-aligned layer provided thereon, and a liquid crystal material provided between the substrates.

Abstract: A gamma correction LCD panel and a fabrication of the same are provided. In the method, a lower substrate is firstly painted with a photo-alignment material. An exposing step is then introduced to have the photo-alignment material absorbed different amounts of light exposure so as to create various photo-aligning effects with respect to RGB pixel devices. The lower substrate is then assembled with an upper substrate and has an LC layer inter-filled. Upon such an arrangement, the LC layers with respect to RGB illumination can be thus provided with various transparencies for further adjust the RGB gamma curves individually.

Abstract: A light irradiating device for a photo-alignment process comprises an optical system and a first polarizer polarizing the light from the optical system. The light from the first polarizer is obliquely irradiated at an angle with respect to a normal direction of a stage on which a substrate is placed.

Abstract: A fabrication method for a liquid crystal display. A pair of substrates is provided. An alignment layer is formed on the respective substrates. An energy beam is irradiated on a predetermined area of at least one of the alignment layers. The alignment layer is rubbed to form a first pretilt-angle area in the predetermined area exposed to the energy beam, and a second pretilt-angle area not exposed to the energy beam. The pair of substrates are bonded with a preset gap therebetween, and a liquid crystal layer is inserted between the substrates. The liquid crystals corresponding to the first pretilt angle area have a first pretilt angle of ?1, while those corresponding to the second pretilt angle area have a second pretilt angle of ?2.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for forming an alignment layer to align the orientation direction of liquid crystals. In an apparatus 10 for forming an alignment layer according to the present invention, the shape of an edge 32a of a mask 12 for forming a slit 14 is determined by integrating the orientation direction of liquid crystals. The liquid crystals can be uniformly oriented by the edge 32a having such shape. This leads to the manufacturing of a liquid crystal display free from irregularity in brightness and color.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubbing machine with realigning functions for use in an LCD manufacturing process and also to a rubbing method which is conducted using the same. The rubbing machine is used to determine the direction of alignment by rubbing an alignment film coated on a substrate disposed on a stage. In this rubbing machine, an realigning section for realigning a rubbing cloth is disposed on the portion of a rubbing roll in such a manner that the realigning section be in contact with the rubbing cloth.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises first and second substrates; a first alignment layer on the first substrate, wherein the first alignment layer includes (spacer S is oxygen, m=10˜10,000), the functional group R includes photo-sensitive constituents and/or non-photo-sensitive constituents, the photo-sensitive constituent includes a material selected from the group consisting of cinnamoyl derivatives, the non-photo-sensitive constituent includes a material selected from the group consisting of CnH2n, CnH2n+1, CnH2nOH, COCnH2n+1, COCnH2n, CnH2n+1?xFx, CnH2n?(x?1)F(x?1), CnH2n?xFxOH, COCnH2n+1?xFx (n=1˜10, x=1˜2n+1), and a combination thereof; and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an alignment layer of a liquid crystal display device includes a dispenser dropping an alignment material, an anilox roll receiving the dropped alignment material, a doctor roll evenly spreading the dropped alignment material coated onto the anilox roll, and a printing roll receiving the alignment material from the anilox roll, and transferring the alignment material onto a substrate, wherein the printing roll has a plurality of masks each having a numerical aperture of about 5% to 25%.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal layer, an alignment layer orientating the liquid crystal layer, and a driving circuit that drives the liquid crystal layer. The alignment layer is divided into a plurality of specified regions, each having a recognizable size. The orientation direction of adjacent regions is different from one another. This makes it difficult to resolve a displayed image from directions other than that from the front of the display, and instead a fixed pattern is seen when the display is viewed from directions other than that from the front. This fixed pattern can be chosen as desired and can be, e.g., a figure or a trade name of a product.

Abstract: A system for processing a multilayer liquid crystal film display material, with multiple irradiation apparatus (60) for applying a zone of polarized UV irradiation onto a substrate fed from a web (16) with incident light at a desired angle. Each irradiation apparatus (60) includes a UV light source (64), and one or more optional filters (82). A polarizer (90) is provided, sized and arranged to polarize light over the web (16) as it moves. The irradiation apparatus (60) employs an array of louvers (81) and/or a prism array (72). One irradiation apparatus (60) irradiates a first LPP1 layer (22) at a 0-degree alignment, in the web movement direction, the other irradiation apparatus (60) irradiates an LPP2 layer (26) with an orthogonal 90-degree alignment.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal layer, an alignment layer orientating the liquid crystal layer, and a driving circuit that drives the liquid crystal layer. The alignment layer is divided into a plurality of specified regions, each having a recognizable size. The orientation direction of adjacent regions is different from one another. This makes it difficult to resolve a displayed image from directions other than that from the front of the display, and instead a fixed pattern is seen when the display is viewed from directions other than that from the front. This fixed pattern can be chosen as desired and can be, e.g., a figure or a trade name of a product.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device, in which an orientation film does not deteriorate over time, contrast decreases slightly during longterm use, the axial orientation in the horizontal direction is high, and superior display quality is exhibited, and electronic equipment therewith are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a transflective display device having a single cell gap in which a liquid crystal molecule has at least two pretilt angles. A transparent electrode is formed on the inner surface of the lower substrate, and a reflective electrode is formed on a portion of the transparent electrode. Thus, creating a reflective region over the reflective electrode, and a transmissive region over the transparent electrode which is not covered by the reflective electrode. Using a photo-alignment process to form at least two alignment domains on each of the two alignment layers sandwiching a liquid crystal layer, the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecule in the reflective region is different from the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecule in the transmissive region, the reflective region and the transmissive region have the same phase retardation, and the light path passing through the reflective region is twice the light path passing through the transmissive region.

Abstract: Multi-domain liquid crystal cells having twist angles less than 90 degrees, and LCDs containing such liquid crystal cells, are provided. Such liquid crystal cells are stable, particularly at zero and high fields, and provide wide viewing angles. Also provided are methods of using an adjustable particle beam in combination with a mask to generate multi-domains alignments. Such methods are useful for producing liquid crystal cells in general, and for producing the novel multi-domain low twist angle liquid crystal cells of the present invention in particular.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device, includes the steps of (a) coating a material of which an alignment film is composed, on first and second substrates, (b) blowing gas to a surface of the material to dry the material, (c) rubbing the material for forming the alignment film, (d) arranging the first and second substrates such that the alignment films formed on the first and second substrates face each other, and filling a gap formed between the first and second substrates with liquid crystal.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates, at least one of the substrates being transparent, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates, and pixel electrodes and common electrodes and active elements being arranged on at least one substrate between the pair of substrates. The liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer is controlled to perform display by applying a voltage between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. An alignment layer is disposed on a surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer of each of the pair of substrates, and the alignment layer is made of an organic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamic acid group polymers and polyimide ester group polymers having a relative imidization ratio above 60%.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously fabricating a phase separated organic film and microstructures with liquid crystal having desired alignment is disclosed. The method includes the step of preparing a mixture of liquid crystal material, prepolymer, and polarization-sensitive material. The mixture is disposed on a substrate and a combination of UV or visible light or heat treatment is applied while simultaneously inducing phase separation so as to form a layer or microstructure of appropriately aligned liquid crystal material adjacent the substrate.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming an alignment layer for a liquid crystal cell that is made from a liquid crystal film that has been irradiated with light. The method includes the steps of disposing a liquid crystal film on a substrate and then irradiating the liquid crystal film with light. Also, a liquid crystal display that includes an alignment layer that is a liquid crystal film that has been irradiated with light.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device including a step of irradiating polarized UV light to an orientation film formed on a substrate. A power of the irradiating polarized UV light is set to a value which is less than 10 mJ/cm2.

Abstract: An array substrate for use in an in-plane switching liquid crystal display device has a plurality of common electrodes and a plurality of pixel electrodes. One of the common electrodes is formed at the same time with the plurality of pixel electrodes using a transparent conductive material. This transparent common electrode is connected to other common electrode through a common electrode connector. Therefore, aperture ratio can be increased. Further in the present invention, a capacitor electrode is disposed over the common line and then forms a first storage capacitor with a portion of the common line, and a pixel electrode connector is disposed over the gate line and then forms a second storage capacitor with a portion of the gate line. As a result, the IPS-LCD device can obtain an improved and stable capacitance from the two storage capacitors.

Abstract: A method of aligning a liquid crystal compound comprising a stretching treatment or rubbing treatment which allows the liquid crystal compound to be aligned in a direction different from the stretching direction or the rubbing direction is provided. A method of aligning a liquid crystal compound characterized in that the method comprises subjecting a polymeric film having hydroxyl groups to a) a stretching treatment and an esterifying treatment, or b) an esterifying treatment followed by a rubbing treatment; and then forming a layer of the liquid crystal compound on the film, so that the liquid crystal compound is aligned in a direction different from the stretching direction in case of a), or the liquid crystal compound is aligned in a direction almost perpendicular to the surface of the rubbed film in case of b).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device including vertical alignment layers formed on the substrates. The alignment layer having a polymer realizing vertical alignment is formed on the substrate an unpolarized ultraviolet light is then irradiated in the oblique direction at an angle not more than 45 degrees with respect to the surface of the alignment layer. The ultraviolet light has an exposure energy of 30 to 120 mJ/cm2 per percent of the polymer content realizing the vertical alignment of the alignment layer. The liquid crystal can thus align substantially vertically to the surface of the alignment layer, with a pretilt, and such an alignment is realized by the irradiation of the ultraviolet light, without rubbing.

Abstract: The invention is a method for creating a micropolarizer, including providing a first plate having a first and a second surface, providing a second plate having a first and a second surface. Then coating a polyimide on each of the first surface of the two plates followed by rubbing the polyimide coated upon the first surface of the first plate along a predetermined direction and rubbing the polyimide coated upon the first surface of the second plate along a direction having a predetermined angle in relation to the predetermined direction. An alignment process includes aligning the first plate and the second plate having the first surface of the first plate and the first surface of the second plate facing each other thereby creating a space there between. In conclusion there is a filling of a liquid crystal material in the space whereby a cell, or film is created.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a smectic LCD using oriented films that are treated by light radiation. Furthermore, the bonding of the LCD substrates is performed using light and pressure. The method includes forming a first substrate, a second substrate, and locating spacers on the first substrate. Then, oriented films are formed on the first and second substrates. Those substrates are then disposed in a facing relationship. Light irradiation then performs an orientation treatment on the oriented films. That light irradiation also bonds the substrates together. A liquid crystal is then interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a pretilt angle direction for a liquid crystal cell comprising the steps of first setting the magnitude of pretilt angle and a plurality of pretilt angle directions in an alignment layer. This first step is achieved by irradiating linearly the alignment layer with polarized or unpolarized UV light. One of the plurality of pretilt angle directions is then selected by exposing the alignment layer to UV light a second time.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal cell has a wall able to impart both the preferred tilt and preferred azimuthal alignment to the liquid-crystal molecules in use in the cell. The wall is made by exposing a material on it to oblique radiation which is circularly polarized or unpolarized, wherein multiple local zones of the material are exposed to radiation, the oblique angle of the radiation being uniform within each local zone but different between two or more zones and wherein locally different oblique radiation is applied in one radiation step by interposing a micro element array between the source of the radiation and the material.