Abstract: Transflective liquid crystal displays and fabrication methods thereof. A single gap transflective liquid crystal display includes a first substrate with a reflective region and a transmissive region. A second substrate opposes the first substrate with a gap therebetween. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first and second substrates. A color filter is disposed on the first substrate, wherein the color filter is thicker in the transmissive region than in the reflective region, wherein a recess is formed at the reflective region. A first alignment layer is conformably formed on the color filter, forming a second recess in the reflective region. The second recess is filled with a second alignment, wherein the first and second alignment layers provide different orientations and pre-tilt angles for the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A substrate for a liquid crystal panel having an alignment film, wherein an evaporated film is formed as the alignment film on the substrate, and wherein a portion of the evaporated film corresponding to each single pixel is split into a plurality of segments, and the evaporated film is formed with a different evaporation angle on each of the segments. The evaporation angle ? which is different for each of the plurality of segments is set within a range of 80°???88° with respect to the layer normal to the substrate, and the plurality of split segments have approximately equal areas.

Abstract: A bistable nematic liquid crystal device includes an array of upstanding features (10) on at least one cell wall (2). The features (10) have a shape and/or orientation to induce the liquid crystal director adjacent the features (10) to adopt two different tilt angles in substantially the same azimuthal direction. The arrangement is such that two stable liquid crystal molecular configurations can exist after suitable electrical signals have been applied to the electrodes (12, 14).

Abstract: An ion beam irradiation device includes a vacuum chamber and a stage on which at least two substrates may be mounted such that each substrate has an inclination angle to a horizontal plane of the vacuum chamber. The stage moves in one direction. An ion gun provided in the vacuum chamber produces ion beams that irradiate the substrates. In a single pass through the vacuum chamber, the alignment layers disposed on multiple substrates may be aligned. The substrates can be aligned such that the ion beam irradiates multiple substrates simultaneously and/or such that the ion beam irradiates the multiple substrates sequentially.

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: A bistable nematic liquid crystal device includes an array of upstanding features (10) on at least one cell wall (2). The features (10) have a shape and/or orientation to induce the liquid crystal director adjacent the features (10) to adopt two different tilt angles in substantially the same azimuthal direction. The arrangement is such that two stable liquid crystal molecular configurations can exist after suitable electrical signals have been applied to the electrodes (12, 14).

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display comprising first and second substrates provided opposing one another; a liquid crystal layer made of liquid crystal material that is injected between the first and second substrates; pixel electrodes and a common electrode formed on at least one of the substrates, the pixel electrodes and common electrode generating an electric field that acts on the liquid crystal layer; and domain formation means for controlling a slanting direction of liquid crystal molecules within the liquid crystal layer, wherein m is an integer satisfying the following: h/2(?/wp)1/2?2?m?h/2(?/wp)1/2+2 where m is a number of domains formed by dividing the pixel electrodes by the domain formation means, w is a length of a first direction of the pixel electrodes, h is a length of a second direction of the pixel electrodes, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and p is a width of a second direction of the domain formation means.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell having a first substrate with a plurality of parallel columns of director alignment material disposed on a surface of the first substrate. Each one of the columns has a longitudinal axis disposed at an oblique angle with respect the surface of the first substrate. Each one of the columns terminates in a distal end having a surface substantially flat and substantially parallel to the surface of the first substrate. A second substrate is provided. A liquid crystal material is disposed between the surfaces of the first and second substrates with portions of such liquid crystal material being in contact with the parallel columns of director alignment material. A method for forming a liquid crystal substrate structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate in a chamber.

Abstract: 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, such that a reflective region is over the reflective electrode and a transmissive region is over the transparent electrode, which is not covered by the reflective electrode. 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 through the reflective region is twice the light path passing through the transmissive region.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes two substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates and two alignment films, each being provided on one surface of associated one of the substrates so as to face the liquid crystal layer. The device defines multiple picture elements. At least one of the two alignment films is made of a polymer material that includes a main chain, an atomic group having a bond that is selectively cut when exposed to an actinic ray and a side chain bonded to the main chain via the atomic group. The polymer material with the side chain can give a pretilt angle of greater than 85 degrees but 90 degrees or less to liquid crystal molecules. The polymer material without the side chain can give a pretilt angle of 2 degrees to 15 degrees to the liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: A method of forming a liquid-crystal display device having a display cell comprises forming retardation foils on substrates using polymerized or vitrified liquid-crystal material wherein the liquid-crystal molecules of the polymerized or vitrified liquid-crystal material have a tilt angle with respect to a plane parallel to the substrates and so that the retardation foils have substantially complementary indicatrices and so that each one of the retardation foils brings about the compensation of approximately half the display cell in the driven state.

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes a TFT array substrate, pixel electrodes, thin film transistors electrically connected to the pixel electrodes, scanning lines and data lines connected thereto, and a nitride film disposed at least on surfaces of the data lines provided above the TFT array substrate.

Abstract: To provide an electro-optical liquid-crystal displays with low addressing voltages and low to moderate multiplex ratios, in particular STN displays, organic alignment layers of low layer thickness are utilized.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element 10 is composed of a pair of boards 11 and 15 that sandwiches liquid crystals 13 having negative dielectric anisotropy, wherein one of the pair of boards 11 and 15 is a transparent board 11, the liquid crystal display element 10 is further composed of inorganic alignment layers 12 and 14 provided on each side of the pair of boards 11 and 15, which faces toward the liquid crystals 13, so as to orientate a pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystals 13 to 3 to 10 degrees.

Abstract: A slit pattern, which is an orientation control element extending in an oblique direction relative to an edge of a pixel electrode on a surface of a TFT substrate, is formed in the pixel electrode to extend in a substantially parallel direction to an extending direction of a bank-shaped pattern. Furthermore, as an orientation control element, fine slit patterns (concave portions in the pixel electrode) are formed locally in a part near the edge of the pixel electrode except in the pixel electrode to extend in an oblique direction relative to an extending direction of the edge.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display having alignment films with different surface polarities. The alignment films induce an internal electric field through the liquid crystal. Because of the induced internal electric field, initial liquid crystal alignment, and subsequent liquid crystal alignments, can be performed without an externally applied electric field.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a layer of a chiral smectic liquid crystal, a pair of substrates oppositely disposed to sandwich the liquid crystal and each provided with an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal, at least one of the substrates being provided with a uniaxial aligning axis for aligning the liquid crystal, and a polarizer disposed on at least one of the substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate; a second substrate cohered to the first substrate with a separation from the first substrate; a first orientation film formed on an inner surface of the first substrate; a second orientation film formed on an inner surface of the second substrate; and a liquid crystal injected between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first orientation film and the second orientation film are formed to face each other, and the thickness of the first orientation film or the second orientation film is formed differently in different portions.

Abstract: A bistable nematic liquid crystal device cell is provided with a surface alignment grating on at least one cell wall and a surface treatment on the other wall. 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 groove height to width selected to give approximately equal energy within the nematic material in its two allowed alignment arrangements. The monograting may be formed by a photolithographic process or by embossing of a plastics material. The cell is switched by dc pulses coupling to a flexoelectric coefficient in the material, or by use of a two frequency addressing scheme and a suitable two frequency material. Polarisers either side of the cell distinguish between the two switched states. The cell walls may be rigid or flexible, and are coated with electrode structures, e.g.

Abstract: A pixel electrode is located in a pixel area defined by the intersections of the two adjacent gate lines and the two adjacent data lines, and has two linear openings extending in the transverse direction, which divide the pixel electrodes into three rectangular portions arranged in the longitudinal direction. The portions are connected in turn, and each portion of the pixel electrode has an X-shaped projection formed by the X-shaped member thereunder, and portions of the gate insulating film and the passivation film on the member. Since the gate insulating film and the passivation film are also located on the gate lines and the data lines, and the layered structure on the wires acts as peripheral projections of the pixel electrode. Each area enclosed by the projections, the openings and the peripheral projections is in a shape of equilateral trapezoid. The areas may be defined as the areas where the pixel electrode is in direct contact with the substrate.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal electro-optical device is offered which can operate at high speeds and easily oriented. The value of the surface tension of liquid crystal-orienting layers is 40 dynes/cm or more, and these layers are rubbed in antiparallel directions to each other. This reduces the pretilt angle of the molecules of a nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between two substrates. The anisotropy of the dielectric constant of the nematic liquid crystal is positive.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a bottom substrate with a gate wire, a data wire and thin film transistors, and a top substrate with color filters. In a method for fabricating the liquid crystal display, a pixel electrode is formed on the bottom substrate at each pixel area using a first mask such that the pixel electrode has a first region with a smooth surface, and a second region with a rough surface. A common electrode is formed on the top substrate using a second mask such that the common electrode has a first region with a smooth surface, and a second region with a rough surface. The bottom substrate and the top substrate are assembled together, and a liquid crystal is injected between the bottom and the top substrates.

Abstract: In a laser processing method for accurately forming a convexo-concave structure on the surface of a glass substrate, a periodic optical intensity distribution of a laser beam is obtained by an interference between diffracted light beams of +1 degree and −1 degree emitted from a phase mask, onto which the laser beam is irradiated, in the vicinity of the emission side of the phase mask, and a glass substrate, on which a thin film is formed, is set in the area where the periodic optical intensity distribution is provided. As a result, the thin film is evaporated or ablated depending on the periodic optical intensity, thereby a diffraction grating, which has the same period as that of the varying optical intensity, is formed on the glass substrate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element including a first electrode substrate having a first transparent substrate, a first electrode formed on the first substrate, and a first alignment layer formed on the first substrate. The liquid crystal display element further includes a second electrode substrate having a second transparent substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate, and a second alignment layer formed on the second substrate. The liquid crystal display element also has a light modulating layer of a smectic liquid crystal material which is sandwiched between the first and second electrode substrates and which has a thresholdless voltage-transmittance characteristic and a spontaneous polarization of 120 nC/cm2 or less. Further, the polarity force component of the surface free energy of each of the first and second alignment layers is 13 dyn/cm or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display comprising first and second substrates provided opposing one another; a liquid crystal layer made of liquid crystal material that is injected between the first and second substrates; pixel electrodes and a common electrode formed on at least one of the substrates, the pixel electrodes and common electrode generating an electric field that acts on the liquid crystal layer; and domain formation means for controlling a slanting direction of liquid crystal molecules within the liquid crystal layer, wherein m is an integer satisfying the following: h/2(&pgr;/wp)½−2≦m≦h/2(&pgr;/wp)½+2 where m is a number of domains formed by dividing the pixel electrodes by the domain formation means, w is a length of a first direction of the pixel electrodes, h is a length of a second direction of the pixel electrodes, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and p is a width of a second direction of the domain formation means.

Abstract: A domain-divided twisted nematic crystal cell and method of fabricating thereof. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of providing first and second substrates, forming a photo-alignment layer in each domain of the first substrate having two or more domains, wherein thicknesses of the photo-alignment layers corresponding to the domains are different from each other. A pretilt angle in each domain is formed by light irradiation on the photo-alignment layer, wherein the pretilt angles corresponding to the domains are different from each other due to the different thicknesses of the photo-alignment layer in different domains. The first and second substrates are positioned to face each other, and liquid crystal is injected between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a polyimide alignment layer, having a bistable liquid crystal material and a polymer stabilizer in an amount effective to stabilize the liquid crystal the liquid crystal preferably having a low or medium pretilt angle to eliminate undesired states and stripe tendency and to increase hysteresis. The device has a low driving voltage, low power consumption and fast switching.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises chiral smectic liquid crystal, two substrates and electrodes for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal to form pixels, each provided with an active element connected to an associated electrode on at least one substrate. The liquid crystal alignment forms domains D1 and D2, wherein the liquid crystal is aligned to provide an average molecular axis in a monostable alignment state under no voltage application, is tilted from such state in one direction when supplied with a voltage of a first polarity at a tilting angle which varies with the magnitude of the supplied voltage, and is tilted in the other direction when supplied with a voltage of a second and opposite polarity. Maximum tilting angles &bgr;1 and &bgr;2, formed under application of the voltages of the first and second polarities, respectively, satisfy: &bgr;1>&bgr;2>0 in domain D1 and 0<&bgr;1<&bgr;2 in domain D2.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is characterized by comprising first and second substrates on a surface of which electrodes are formed, a liquid crystal material with ferroelectricity or antiferroelectricity interposed between the first and second electrodes, and an orientation film and disposed between the electrode or electrodes formed on the surface of said first and/or second substrate whose surface has been subjected to a process which gives optically uniaxial orientation to the liquid crystal material, wherein said orientation film has a pretilt angle of 1.6 to 3.1 degree with respect to a nematic liquid crystal. Further, a value of a polar term of surface tension on the surface of the orientation film ranges from 11 to 15 dyne/cm.

Abstract: A bistable nematic liquid crystal device cell is provided with a surface alignment grating on at least one cell wall and a surface treatment on the other wall. 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 groove height to width selected to give approximately equal energy within the nematic material in its two allowed alignment arrangements. The monograting may be formed by a photolithographic process or by embossing of a plastics material. The cell is switched by dc pulses coupling to a flexoelectric coefficient in the material, or by use of a two frequency addressing scheme and a suitable two frequency material. Polarisers either side of the cell distinguish between the two switched states. The cell walls may be rigid or flexible, and are coated with electrode structures, e.g.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal element comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal and a pair of substantially parallel substrates having opposite surfaces between which the ferroelectric liquid crystal is sealed. The substrates are provided with electrodes to which voltages are applied, and are subjected to one axis orientation treatment so as to orient the ferroelectric liquid crystal. The ferroelectric liquid crystal has an orientation state represented by the following condition: &thgr;<&agr;+&dgr; wherein &agr; is a pretilt angle of the ferroelectric liquid crystal, &thgr; is a tilt angle, and &dgr; is an inclination angle of an Sm*C layer. The ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibits at least two stable states in orientation. An angle &thgr;a ½ between optical axes of these two stable states and the tilt angle &thgr; of the ferroelectric liquid crystal satisfy the condition &thgr;>&thgr;a>{fraction (&thgr;/2)}.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device which displays images by changing light transmission through formation of a bend alignment state of the liquid crystal, a large pretilt angle domain is formed on at least either the surface of the pixel electrode or the surface of the counter electrode and the large pretilt angle domain is so conditioned as to cause a larger pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules than the surrounding region does. This permits quick, reliable transition from a splay alignment state to the bend alignment state. Such transition is also facilitated by adding a chiral agent to a liquid crystal. A combination of the large pretilt angle domain and a chiral agent further facilitates occurrence of the transition.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display element having a good display performance which is not influenced by the deterioration with the time course and the history of applied voltage. The liquid crystal display element comprises: a first electrode substrate having a first transparent substrate, a first electrode formed on the first substrate, and a first alignment layer formed on the first substrate; a second electrode substrate having a second transparent substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate, and a second alignment layer formed on the second substrate; and a light modulating layer of a smectic liquid crystal material which is sandwiched between the first and second electrode substrates and which has a thresholdless voltage-transmittance characteristic and a spontaneous polarization of 120 nC/cm2 or less, wherein the polarity force component of the surface free energy of each of the first and second alignment layers is 13 dyn/cm or less.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal device in which a pair of substrates each having an electrode and a liquid crystal orientation control layer are disposed opposite to each other leaving a predetermined gap therebetween and liquid crystal is disposed in the gap, a plurality of grooves are formed on each of the inner surface contacting the liquid crystal, the section of the inner surfaces in a direction along the grooves has such a shape that repetitive asymmetrical projections are formed and the radius of curvature of the grooves in a direction intersecting the grooves is set to 0.1 &mgr;m or more.

Abstract: A method for driving an antiferroelectric liquid crystal display includes the steps of causing antiferroelectric liquid crystal molecules to undergo a phase-transition into only one of positive and negative ferroelectric phases, and causing the antiferroelectric liquid crystal molecules to undergo a phase-transition into an antiferroelectric phase. The step of causing liquid crystal molecules to undergo a phase-transition into only one of positive and negative ferroelectric phases is realized by applying a selection voltage to the liquid crystal molecules. The step of causing the antiferroelectric liquid crystal molecules to undergo a phase-transition into an antiferroeletric phase is realized by applying a direct compansating voltage to the antiferroelectric liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: A method of aligning a liquid crystal includes a step of fixing on a hot plate and heating a liquid crystal cell in which a liquid crystal composed of a ferroelectric liquid crystal material sealed between electrode substrates respectively having alignment films having applied thereto a uniaxial alignment by rubbing. According to the described method, a pressure is applied to the liquid crystal cell by a roller, and a portion subjected to an application of pressure is moved by moving the roller. Further, the liquid crystal is heated within a temperature range between a phase transition temperature of SmA phase SmC* phase and a temperature 10° C. below the phase transition temperature, and the portion subjected to an application of pressure is moved in the same direction as the rubbing direction, thereby achieving the C2 orientation at higher yield.

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: An optical element includes a liquid crystal layer; and at least one alignment layer in contact with the liquid crystal layer, the at least one alignment layer being formed from a mixture including a first reactive mesogen and a second reactive mesogen. Each of the first and second reactive mesogens have at least one polymerizable functional group, and a number of polymerizable functional groups of the second reactive mesogen is smaller than that of the first reactive mesogen. A ratio of the second reactive mesogen to the first reactive mesogen in the mixture is determined so as to provide a predetermined pretilt angle with liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed in a uniform alignment state between the substrates. At least one of the substrate has a surface contacting the liquid crystal and including a first region having a larger uniaxial alignment control force and a second region having a smaller or substantially no uniaxial alignment control force, respectively acting on the liquid crystal. In the device, phase transition from liquid phase to mesomorphic phase on temperature decrease, of the liquid crystal has been initiated from a portion contacting the first region and enlarged toward the second region to place the liquid crystal in a uniform alignment state, thus ensuring an increased effective voltage applied to the liquid crystal while retaining a good alignment characteristic to improve drive and display characteristics.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal electro-optical device is offered which can operate at high speeds and easily oriented. The value of the surface tension of liquid crystal-orienting layers is 40 dynes/cm or more, and these layers are rubbed in antiparallel directions to each other. This reduces the pretilt angle of the molecules of a nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between two substrates. The anisotropy of the dielectric constant of the nematic liquid crystal is positive.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell is formed by bonding a first substrate on which a first electrode and a first aligning film are formed, and a second substrate on which a second electrode and a second aligning film are formed by a seal member. A liquid crystal is filled in the liquid crystal cell. The thicknesses of the aligning films are set to 10 nm to 35 nm. An aligning treatment is performed twice on each of the aligning films in the opposite directions. The first aligning treatment is performed to give a pretilt angle of 5 degrees to the liquid crystal, and the second aligning treatment is performed to give a pretilt angle of 6 degrees to the liquid crystal, with the result that a pretilt angle of 1 degree is actually given to the liquid crystal. The glass-transition temperatures of the aligning films are selected to be about 250.degree. C., so that the aligning films are not transformed at the time of baking the seal member.

Abstract: A hybrid analog/binary electro-optic modulator using a twisted ferroelectric liquid crystal structure is provided. Ferroelectric liquid crystals with a tilt angle of between about 20.degree. and about 25.degree., preferably about 22.5.degree. are used. Rubbing directions for the two cell walls (relative to one another) can be varied from about 45.degree. to about 90.degree.. In one embodiment, a weak buffing force is used resulting in a relatively weak anchoring energy at the surface, aligning the liquid crystal molecules without locking the molecules into the buffing directions and a high pre-tilt structure for the molecules close to the surface boundaries. In one embodiment, strong buffing is used with buffing directions offset about 45.degree.. Use of this invention provides relatively fast response time, low required driving voltage, high contrast, and/or the ability to achieve both analog and binary operations.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a polyimide alignment layer, having a bistable liquid crystal material and a polymer stabilizer in an amount effective to stabilize the liquid crystal, preferably about 2 weight percent, associated with the liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal having a low pretilt angle, to eliminate stripe tendency and to increase hysteresis. The device has a low driving voltage, low power consumption and fast switching.

Abstract: A novel compound of N-substituted aromatic polyamide is prepared by introducing an aralkyl group to the N-position of an aromatic polyamide by metalizing the aromatic polyamide, then reacting the metalized polyamide with an aralkyl halide.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display (FLCD), which comprises a cell including a layer of chiral smetic ferroelectric liquid crystal material contained between two substrates and at least one alignment layer for determining the surface alignment of the molecules in the liquid crystal material, is manufactured as follows. After selection of a suitable material for the alignment layer, the cell is filled by introducing liquid crystal material between the substrates to which the alignment layer is applied. After filling of the cell, a heat treatment is applied to the cell by raising the cell to an elevated temperature and maintaining the cell at that temperature for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display element composed of a pair of transparent substrates, each provided with a transparent electrode layer and an alignment layer on a surface facing the other substrate, and a liquid crystal layer enclosed therebetween, a pair of polarizers provided on both sides of the liquid crystal display element, and at least one optical phase difference plate having inclined refractive index ellipsoid, positioned between the liquid crystal display element and the pair of polarizers, wherein the alignment layer aligns in different directions divided liquid crystal layers which have been prepared by dividing the liquid crystal layer at different ratios with respect to each pixel, and the liquid crystal layer made of a liquid crystal material whose change in refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.

Abstract: A treating method for liquid crystal alignment, which comprises applying polarized ultraviolet or electron rays to a polymer thin film formed on a substrate, in a predetermined direction relative to the substrate surface, and using the substrate to align liquid crystal without rubbing treatment, wherein the polymer thin film is a polyimide resin containing a repeating unit of the formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 is a tetravalent organic group having an alicyclic structure, and R.sup.2 is a bivalent organic group), which is obtained by dehydration ring-closure of a polyimide precursor having a reduced viscosity of from 0.05 to 3.0 dl/g (in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone at temperature of 300.degree. C. at a concentration of 0.

Abstract: Bombardment of the surface of a substrate with a film layer is used to create alignment layers for liquid crystal displays. By using bombardment of the surface at an angle, both direct creation of the alignment layer or indirect deposition of the alignment layer material onto a glass plate can be achieved.

Abstract: Related to a liquid-crystal alignment film that can align liquid-crystal molecules without resort to the rubbing.The liquid-crystal alignment film of the present invention comprises a resin (e.g., a polyimide) containing a photoisomerizable and dichroic structural unit (e.g., a stilbene derivative), and is furnished with the ability to align liquid-crystal molecules when a film formed of the resin is irradiated with linearly polarized light; the ability to align liquid-crystal molecules being held and fixed.The liquid-crystal alignment film of the present invention is used in electric-filed driven type liquid-crystal display devices.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is characterized by comprising first and second substrates on a surface of which electrodes are formed, a liquid crystal material with ferroelectricity or antiferroelectricity interposed between the first and second electrodes, and an orientation film and disposed between the electrode or electrodes formed on the surface of said first and/or second substrate whose surface has been subjected to a process which gives optically uniaxial orientation to the liquid crystal material, wherein said orientation film has a pretilt angle of 1.6 to 3.1 degree with respect to a nematic liquid crystal. Further, a value of a polar term of surface tension on the surface of the orientation film ranges from 11 to 15 dyne/cm.