Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes: a plurality of pixels including right-eye pixels and left-eye pixels; a display screen constructed of the plurality of pixels; a first substrate including a first display electrode; a second substrate including a second display electrode arranged to oppose the first display electrode; a polarizing layer disposed in at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate; and a reflection film disposed in one of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the polarizing layer has first regions arranged to correspond to the right-eye pixels and second regions arranged to correspond to the left-eye pixels, the first regions selectively transmitting first polarized light while the second regions selectively transmitting second polarized light which is different from the first polarized light.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device comprising first and second substrates having first and second principal surfaces which are opposed to each other with a space left therebetween, first and second alignment layers are formed on the first and the second principal surfaces of the first and the second substrates. The first alignment layer is subjected to a first aligning treatment in a first aligning treatment direction while a second alignment layer is subjected to a second aligning treatment in a second aligning treatment direction which shifts from the first aligning treatment direction by a predetermined slight angle. Interposed between the first and the second alignment layers, a liquid crystal layer comprises a plurality of liquid crystal molecules each of which is twist aligned by a twist angle equal to the predetermined slight angle.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device comprising first and second substrates having first and second principal surfaces which are opposed to each other with a space left therebetween, first and second alignment layers are formed on the first and the second principal surfaces of the first and the second substrates. The first alignment layer is subjected to a first aligning treatment in a first aligning treatment direction while a second alignment layer is subjected to a second aligning treatment in a second aligning treatment direction which shifts from the first aligning treatment direction by a predetermined slight angle. Interposed between the first and the second alignment layers, a liquid crystal layer comprises a plurality of liquid crystal molecules each of which is twist aligned by a twist angle equal to the predetermined slight angle.

Abstract: A LC cell is manufactured by the method including the steps of: rubbing a first alignment layer coating a first substrate, such that the first alignment layer has a first pretilt angle associated therewith; exposing said second alignment layer coating a first substrate to light such that said second alignment layer has at least one second pretilt angle associated therewith; and providing a liquid crystal material between said first and second substrates. The materials for the first and second alignment layers include a polyimide and a polysiloxane based material.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device wherein the drive voltage is comparatively low, and the optical scattering performance, optical transmissivity and contrast ratio are higher than in the conventional reflective liquid crystal display device. In a liquid crystal display device (1) constituted by sandwiching a liquid crystal layer (70) between a pair of substrates (10, 60), there are provided a perpendicular alignment film (31) including a monomolecular film formed by molecules of a sulphur compound of straight chain structure on the face of at least one substrate (10) of the substrates on the side of the liquid crystal layer and a horizontal alignment film (32) formed by molecules of sulphur compound of different straight chain structure or a fluorine derivative of cysteine etc. An alignment control film different from conventionally can be provided.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is furnished with: a liquid crystal display element having a pair of substrates, to which alignment members are provided to their respective opposing surfaces, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the pair of substrates; an alignment mechanism for providing at least two different director configurations simultaneously on different arbitrary regions used for display in the liquid crystal layer; and a reflection film provided to at least one of the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations; wherein the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations are used for a reflection display section for showing reflection display and a transmission display section for showing transmission display, respectively.

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: This invention provide a liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal layer between two substrates each of which has an electrode, wherein the liquid crystal layer concomitantly has at least two micro-regions, and the electrode on one of the substrates has an opening, in the region of which there is provided a second electrode for controlling the initial orientation of the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display has improved properties such as high contrast, quick response and excellent properties for an angle of visibility and can be manufactured without troublesome steps such as a photoresist step.

Abstract: A bistable nematic liquid crystal device cell (1) is provided with a surface alignment grating on at least one cell wall (3) and a surface treatment on the other wall (4). Such treatment may be a homeotropic alignment or a planar alignment with or without an alignment direction, and zero or a non zero pretilt. The surface profile on the monograting is asymmetric with its grove height to width selected to give approximately equal energy within nematic material (2) in its two allowed alignment arrangements. The monograting may be formed by a photolithographic process or by embossing of a plastics material. The cell (1) is switched by dc pulses coupling to a flexoelectric coefficient in the material (2), or by use of a two frequency addressing scheme and a suitable two frequency material. Polarizers (13,13′) either side of the cell (1) distinguish between the two switched states. The cell walls (3,4) may be rigid or flexible, and are coated with electrode structures (6,7), e.g.

Abstract: A pixel electrode and a counter electrode of an active matrix liquid crystal display unit are respectively covered with orientation layers differently rubbed, one end portion of the pixel electrode forms an accumulating capacitor together with a gate line and a gate insulating layer inserted therebetween, and the one end portion is varied in width along the gate line so as to confine a disclination line into the liquid crystal over the gate line.

Abstract: A surface mode liquid crystal device is made by forming a cell containing a mixture of a liquid crystal and a pre-polymer. An electric field is applied across the cell to arrange the liquid crystal in a predetermined surface mode state, such as the V state in the case of a pi-cell configuration. The liquid crystal is held in this state by the field while the pre-polymer is polymerized or cross-linked, for instance by ultraviolet irradiation. The electric field is then removed. The polymer stabilizes the predetermined surface mode state, for instance preventing relaxation of the V state to twist or splay state in the pi-cell configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a structure of a liquid crystal (LC) cell using an antiferroelectric liquid crystal. The LC cell includes: an electrode substrate with color filters; an opposite electrode substrate; a first alignment film provided on the electrode substrate with color filters; a second alignment film provided on the opposite electrode substrate; an antiferroelectric liquid crystal provided between the first and second alignment films; and the electrode substrate with color filters and the opposite electrode substrate being superimposed so as to face each other through the first alignment film, the antiferroelectric liquid crystal, and the second alignment film. In the present invention, an alignment process of the first alignment film is performed based on a rubbing density larger than the rubbing density of the second alignment film so that an angle of layer rotation of the antiferroelectric liquid crystal is defined within a predetermined allowable angle range.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lightweight and small liquid crystal display which achieves low power consumption and in which the optical anisotropy of the liquid crystal material is compensated for in order to enhance the viewing angle characteristics and the response speed of the liquid crystal material. Display electrodes and a common electrode are formed on one of the substrates. The orientation of the liquid crystal material is of the HAN (hybrid alignment nematic) type. This compensates for the optical anisotropy of the liquid crystal material and improves the response speed.

Abstract: An optical device of the present invention, includes: an anisotropic layer containing anisotropic molecules, and an alignment layer adjacent the anisotropic layer. The alignment layer serves to align the anisotropic molecules in an adjacent surface region of said anisotropic layer. The alignment layer also includes a twisted molecular structure so as to define a twisted optical retarder.

Abstract: A twisted liquid crystal device includes a liquid crystal layer and first and second alignment layers disposed in opposite sides of the liquid crystal layer. The first and second alignment layers have respective alignment directions which are mutually inclined. A first linear polarizer is disposed on the opposite side of the first alignment layer to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes apply a variable voltage across the liquid crystal layer which has a twisted liquid crystal structure. The liquid crystal layer is arranged for operation in surface switching mode with first and second regions of the liquid crystal layer adjacent the alignment layers being mutually optically de-coupled so as to define, within the liquid crystal layer when in use, a pair of separate, active optical retarders having mutually inclined optic axes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each provided with an electrode, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates. At least one of the substrates is provided with an alignment control film of a polyimide represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## in which A denotes a planar tetravalent organic residue group; B denotes a divalent group represented by --CR.sub.1 (R.sub.2)-- where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently denote H or alkyl group; a, b and c are independently 0 or 1; x and y are independently an integer of at least 0 and x+y=at least 1; and n is an integer of at least 2.

Abstract: As a compensator for use in an OCB mode liquid crystal display there is provided a compensating film capable of making color compensation and attaining such a viewing angle expansion as has not been attainable heretofore. A compensating film for a liquid crystal display, constituted by at least one layer of a compensating film to be used in an OCB mode liquid crystal display, the compensating film being formed by a discotic liquid crystalline material having a fixed orientation form of a discotic liquid crystal, the compensating film being disposed between a driving liquid crystal cell and a pair of upper and lower polarizing plates, and the orientation form being a hybrid orientation in which the angle between discotic liquid crystal directors near the upper interface of the film and the film plane and the angle between discotic liquid crystal directors near the lower interface of the film and film plane are different from each other.

Abstract: A pixel electrode and a counter electrode of an active matrix liquid crystal display unit are respectively covered with orientation layers differently rubbed, one end portion of the pixel electrode forms an accumulating capacitor together with a gate line and a gate insulating layer inserted therebetween, and the one end portion is varied in width along the gate line so as to confine a disclination line into the liquid crystal over the gate line.

Abstract: A LC cell is manufactured by the method including the steps of: rubbing a first alignment layer coating a first substrate, such that the first alignment layer has a first pretilt angle associated therewith; exposing said second alignment layer coating a first substrate to light such that said second alignment layer has at least one second pretilt angle associated therewith; and providing a liquid crystal material between said first and second substrates. The materials for the first and second alignment layers include a polyimide and a polysiloxane based material.

Abstract: Liquid crystal display (LCD) has sub-pixel domains in each of pixels to obtain a wide viewing angle. The sub-pixel domains are formed by divided orientation alignment in which the sub-pixel domain are subjected to rubbing in different directions opposite to each other. The liquid crystal has a splay-type TN deformation structure in the first sub-pixel domain and a normal TN deformation structure in the second sub-pixel domain. The pre-tilt angles of the liquid crystal in the first domain and second domain are selected to obtain a wide viewing angle. The LCD has a shield pattern for shielding disclination causing afterimages and storage capacitor electrodes having a function as signal lines.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a polarization plate, a twisted-mode type liquid crystal layer having coexistent regions with different twisted directions of liquid crystal orientations and different tilt angles of liquid crystal molecules within one pixel, and a compensation layer, having biaxial refractive anisotropy, interposed between the polarization plate and the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell includes scanning and signal electrodes, and a bistable nematic liquid crystal material sealed therein. The material has liquid crystal molecules alignable in first and second metastable aligned states by selective application of twist select voltages smaller than a reset voltage after application of the reset voltage. A tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled in the first and second metastable aligned states in accordance with an effective value of a voltage applied between the opposing electrodes. A row driver, in accordance with display data, supplies a reset potential for applying the reset voltage between the electrodes, and a write-period voltage for designating a period for applying a voltage with an effective value according to the display data between the electrodes, to scanning electrodes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device minimized in image retention phenomenon, comprising: a first insulating substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix and a first alignment film provided on the inner surface thereof, said insulating substrate comprising a plurality of thin film transistors associated with each of the pixel electrodes; a second insulating substrate disposed opposed to the first insulating substrate, said second insulating substrate having facing electrodes and a second alignment film formed on the inner surface thereof; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and the second insulating substrates; and at least one of the first and the second alignment films having a thickness of 60 nm or less.

Abstract: On one of a pair of substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal, a pair of signal lines, a pair of scanning lines intersecting these signal lines at right angles, a picture element electrode arranged in the region surrounded by the signal lines and the scanning lines, and a first alignment layer on which alignment treatment is applied in a first alignment direction, are formed. On the other of the substrates, a counter electrode, and a second alignment layer on which alignment treatment is applied in a second alignment direction, are formed. The alignment treatments on the first and second alignment layers are mutually carried out so that the side of the picture element electrode at which an optical leakage caused by disclination of a liquid crystal appears largest is near one of the pair of signal lines.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display including: a first transparent substrate coated with a first alignment layer, a second transparent substrate coated with a second alignment layer, the second substrate facing the first transparent substrate, a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, a polarizer attached on the outer surfaces of the substrates, a pair of electrodes formed on the first substrates, and a driving circuit applying signal voltage to the electrodes. The liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the first substrate is rotated by applying the voltage, but, the liquid crystal molecule adjacent to the second substrate is fixed regardless of the applied voltage. The electrode pair, substantially straight data and common electrodes, are inclined at an angle with respect to a gate line.

Abstract: An in-plane switching liquid crystal display device includes an inorganic alignment layer having low anchoring energy and an organic alignment layer having higher anchoring energy than that of the inorganic alignment layer. Applying the voltage between electrodes, only liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the inorganic alignment layer are affected by the electric field to be twisted about 90.degree. in the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is formed by a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. At least one substrate has thereon a laminar structure including an electrode, an electrical property control layer and an alignment control layer contacting the liquid crystal disposed in this order on the substrate. The alignment control layer has a thickness of at most 100 .ANG., has been subjected to a uniaxial aligning treatment and has a volume resistivity larger than that of the electrical property control layer. The liquid crystal device thus constituted may exhibit a reduced influence of reverse electric field and a suppressed switching asymmetry over a wide temperature range.

Abstract: A multi-domain liquid crystal display includes multiple liquid crystal alignment domains per pixel. In certain embodiments, only a single mechanical buffing step is required per substrate to provide the multiple domains per pixel. A continuous base underlying mechanically buffed alignment layer is provided, and a reactive alignment layer is provided thereon. The reactive alignment layer is doped so as to cause twist of molecules therein. The reactive layer may be photo-polymerizable and patterned so as to form an array of alignment portions and expose/uncover a corresponding array of areas of the underlying buffed alignment layer. Thus, liquid crystal molecules contacting the patterned reactive alignment portions are aligned in one direction while liquid crystal molecules contacting the exposed mechanically buffed polyimide layer are aligned in another direction. Multiple domains are thus provided, with only a single mechanical buffing step being necessary.

Abstract: A first substrate has at least scanning signal electrodes, video signal electrodes and pixel electrodes, all of which constitute display pixels, and active elements. A first alignment layer is formed, directly or via an insulating layer, as a top layer on the electrodes constituting the display pixels and the active elements. A second substrate which is bonded to the first substrate with a very small interval provided in between is provided with a second alignment layer that is formed so as to confront the first alignment layer. A liquid crystal layer is provided in a space between the first and second alignment layers. The electrodes constituting the display pixels are formed so as to apply, to the liquid crystal layer, an electric field that is substantially parallel with the surfaces of the first and second substrates and are connected to an external control device for controlling the electric field in accordance with a desired display pattern.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a first electrode pattern formed on the first substrate, a first molecular orientation film, formed on the first substrate to cover the first electrode pattern, for orienting liquid crystal molecules. The display device further includes a second substrate formed in a position parallel to and apart from the first substrate, a second electrode pattern formed on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, a second molecular orientation film, formed on the second substrate to cover the second electrode pattern, for orienting the liquid crystal molecules. And the display device further includes a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer filled in a gap between the first molecular orientation film and the second molecular orientation film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-domain liquid-crystal display device comprising two substantially parallel substrates which are provided with an electrode layer and an orientation layer. A layer of a nematically ordered liquid-crystalline material comprising a chiral dopant is sandwiched between the substrates. The layer is structured in such a manner that the pixels of the layer are composed of at least two types of sub-pixels in which the twist senses of the liquid-crystalline material are mutually opposite. This construction in accordance with the invention is achieved by differentiating the composition of the chiral dopant in the different types of sub-pixels. This is attained by employing isomerizable chiral dopants and/or diffusion techniques in combination with local exposure of the liquid-crystal layer. The invention also provides methods of manufacturing such multi-domain liquid-crystal display devices.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each having thereon an electrode, and a smectic liquid crystal having a plurality of smectic liquid crystal layers disposed between the substrates. The smectic liquid crystal is disposed to form a first region wherein the smectic liquid crystal layers are aligned to have a layer inclination angle smaller than a calculated layer inclination angle based on a temperature-dependent layer spacing-changing characteristic or are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the substrates to form a bookshelf structure, and a second region wherein the smectic liquid crystal layers are aligned to form a chevron structure having a substantial layer inclination angle or having a layer inclination angle substantially equal to a calculated layer inclination angle based on a temperature-dependent layer spacing-changing characteristic.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell comprises two cell walls spaced apart to enclose a layer of liquid crystal material. The cell walls carry electrode structures, e.g. arranged in rows and columns to give an x, y matrix of addressable elements or pixels. The liquid crystal material is aligned by a grating (grooved) structure on one or both cell walls. This grating structure is a bigrating with one symmetrical grating and an asymmetric grating which may be orthogonal to the symmetric grating. The grooves of the asymmetric grating varying their depth or asymmetry along the lengths to give a locally varying pretilt whose longer range average provides a pretilt in a preferred range, e.g. about 2-24 degrees.

Abstract: An optical component includes a substrate or cell having two spaced-apart substrates, one or more orientation layers on the substrates and one or more anisotropic layers of cross-linked liquid crystalline monomers or oligomers with locally different orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. The surfaces of the orientation layers adjacent the liquid crystalline layers have orientation patterns with a defined parallel or fan-like line structure in locally limited regions. The average spacing between the lines of the fan-like line structure is not greater than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer and the angle between neighboring lines is not greater than 3.degree..

Abstract: A high speed multiplex-driven liquid crystal display device is capable of utilizing a bistable nematic liquid crystal medium while maintaining high contrast, fast switching capability and a wide viewing angle. The chiral nematic liquid crystal medium has a twisted structure wherein a first voltage waveform applied in a first time period brings on Frederick's transition followed by a selected second voltage waveform applied in a second time period capable of generating one of two selectable metastable states representing switchable bistable states.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates including a first substrate provided with a first alignment control layer which has been subjected to a uniaxial aligning treatment and a second substrate provided with a second alignment control layer which has not been subjected to a uniaxial aligning treatment, a sealing member disposed so as to seal up a peripheral portion of the first and second substrates to form a spacing therebetween, and a dispersion member (e.g., spacer beads or adhesive particles) and a liquid crystal disposed in the spacing while contacting the first and second aligning control layers. The dispersion member has been subjected to a surface treatment with a material constituting the second alignment control layer. The surface-treated dispersion member is effective in suppressing an occurrence of a reverse domain within a display region of the liquid crystal device, thus preventing flickering and improving a contrast.

Abstract: A twisted nematic liquid crystal device has a liquid crystal layer between a pair of alignment layers. Glass plates with electrodes are disposed on opposite sides of the layers. The alignment layers have their alignment directions disposed mutually perpendicular and at .+-.45.degree. with respect to adjacent linear polarizers. The pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules in a surface region of the layer adjacent the alignment layer is different to that of liquid crystal molecules in a surface region of the layer adjacent the alignment layer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses nanomechanical fabrication methods of hybrid aligned nematic (HAN) cells of liquid crystals for creating analog spatial light modulators and smart pixel arrays on conventionally fabricated VLSI integrated circuits. The liquid crystal material is encapsulated between a top substrate and a bottom substrate. The locally averaged direction of the long axis of the molecules of liquid crystals of the HAN cells varies smoothly from homogeneous alignment on a top substrate to homeotropic alignment on a bottom substrate. The bottom substrate causes a homeotropic alignment of the liquid crystal because of its porous microstructure.

Abstract: Reflective pixels composed of chromium are formed on a substrate and a polyimide film is provided on the substrate. Rubbing in two directions is conducted through a mask rubbing process. Transparent pixel electrodes, composed of indium tin oxide (ITO), are formed on a substrate, a polyimide film is formed on another substrate, and orientation processing is conducted in the same direction over the entire surface. A polymer dispersion liquid crystal is provided between these two substrates. The liquid crystal does not contain a chiral agent. The liquid crystal is divided into a left twist area having a left twist orientation state and a right twist area having a right twist orientation state. Between the substrates, the polymer and the liquid crystal are mutually orientation dispersed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal material put between a pair of substrates each comprising a transparent electrode and an alignment layer formed thereon in such a manner that the alignment layers are arranged inside so as to face each other, characterized in that at least one of said pair of substrates has an alignment layer formed thereon, which is capable of forming two or more different alignment states of the liquid crystal by an aligning processing in one direction, and at least one of said pair of substrates has an alignment layer formed thereon which generates a pretilt angle of the liquid crystal of at least 2.degree.. The device has a high contrast and less dependency of display characteristics on the viewing angle.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each having thereon at least an electrode and an alignment control layer, and a liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates. At least one of the alignment control layers has a thickness of at most 200 .ANG. or comprises polyimide. In the latter case, the pair of substrates have been subjected to mutually different aligning treatments. The liquid crystal composition comprises at least one species of a fluorine-containing mesomorphic compound in an amount of at least 70 wt. % comprising a fluorocarbon terminal portion and a hydrocarbon terminal portion, the terminal portions being connected with a central core, and having smectic mesophase or latent smectic mesophase, and comprises at least one species of a resistivity-modifying substance. The fluorine-containing mesomorphic compound comprises a compound having a fluorocarbon terminal portion containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom in an amount of at least 30 wt.

Abstract: A twisted nematic liquid crystal display which have a pixel divided into at least one is fabricated by using a UV light irradiated photo-polymer layer provided on a substrate, which includes a polysiloxane based material or polyvinylfluorocinnamate. The alignment direction and pretilt angle direction are adjusted by anchoring energy and flowing effect of liquid crystal material between substrates.

Abstract: An optical storage medium with gray scale capability comprising: a plurality of facing substrates in series; alignment layers disposed on one or both sides of the substrates to give alignment layer pair(s) wherein at least one of the alignment layers of each of the alignment layer pair(s) is an optical alignment layer, and wherein the optical alignment layer(s) comprise anisotropically absorbing molecules or moieties; liquid crystal layers disposed between the alignment layer pair(s); wherein, each of the liquid crystal layer(s) comprises three or more alignment regions having three or more different alignment states; and, wherein the different alignment states are controlled by exposure of optical alignment layer(s) with polarized light of a wavelength or wavelengths within the absorption band of the anisotropically absorbing molecules or moieties therein, is described. The invention is also directed to compact disc, erasable compact discs, photographic storage devices, and storage displays.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each having thereon an electrode for voltage application, a chiral smectic liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates so as to assume at least two optically stable states. At least one of the substrates is provided with an alignment control layer having a thickness of at most 200 .ANG. or comprising polyimide. The substrates have been subjected to different aligning treatments at their opposite faces each contacting the composition.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates including a first substrate having a uniaxial alignment characteristic and a second substrate having a non-uniaxial alignment characteristic and a liquid crystal disposed between the first and second substrates. The first and second substrates are controlled to have surface potentials providing a difference therebetween of less than 50 mV in terms of an absolute value at their liquid crystal-contacting surfaces. As a result, the liquid crystal device is provided with an improved symmetry of switching threshold while retaining a good liquid crystal alignment characteristic.

Abstract: Photosensitive orientation material providing unidirectional LC alignment to generate a high pretilt angle for various LC compounds, and superior thermal stability, and being suitable for mass production, especially for active matrix LC displays, including polysiloxane, and a derivative of a cinnamoyl group.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystalline diffractive light valve for use in a diffractive projection system. The liquid crystal cell includes a transparent substrate and a reflective substrate treated to provide alternating stripes which cooperate with the liquid crystal to form liquid crystal domains extending across the thickness of the cell that will produce an appropriate phase difference in light reflected by the cell, irrespective of the polarization of incident light. The techniques embodied in the present invention are applicable to the creation of electrically controllable diffractive optical elements for ray optic, integrated optic or fiber optic utilization operated in either transmission or reflection. Diffractive patterns may be lithographically, holographically or interferometrically generated.

Abstract: A chiral smectic liquid crystal device with good planar homogeneity in a layer normal direction can be constituted by disposing a chiral smectic liquid crystal having no cholesteric phase between a pair of substrates having mutually different characters, particularly in terms of Iso-SmA phase transition temperature. The liquid crystal may preferably have a layer spacing-changing characteristic such that it provides a layer spacing d.sub.A at a first transition point where the layer spacing of the liquid crystal begins to decrease on temperature decrease in the vicinity of a transition temperature from SmA phase to SmC* phase and a layer spacing d.sub.min at a second transition point where the layer spacing of the liquid crystal begins to increase on further temperature decrease from the first transition point, satisfying 0.96.ltoreq.d.sub.min /d.sub.A.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the invention includes: a first substrate and a second substrate, each substrate having an electrode formed thereon; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a convex pattern formed on a surface of the second substrate so as to face the liquid crystal layer, the convex pattern having an alignment function for controlling an orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer so as to conduct a display in an electrically controlled birefringence mode.

Abstract: The invention provides optical modulation devices and displays of the DHFLCtype having a high contrast. Said modulation devices comprise a first substrate and a second substrate which are positioned substantially parallel to each other and which are provided, on their facing surfaces, with, in succession, an electrode layer and an orientation layer. This advantageous effect is achieved by using different orientation layers, the surfaced energy of the orientation layer of the first substrate being different from the surface energy of the orientation layer of the second substrate, said difference in surface energy being at least 5 mN/m. The orientation layer having the high surface energy is preferably made from rubbed polyimide, and the orientation layer having the low surface energy is preferably made from unrubbed polyorganosilsesquioxane. The optically active layer of the modulation devices in accordance with the invention exhibits a "tilted-bookshelf" structure.