Abstract: A liquid crystal device is formed by a pair of substrates each having thereon electrodes, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so as to be movable along surfaces of the substrates. The liquid crystal is disposed over regions extending between the surfaces of the substrates including an effective optical modulation region, a first peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region and a second peripheral region formed along a part or an entirety of outer periphery of the first peripheral region. The liquid crystal is disposed to have a higher liquid crystal molecular pretilt angle in the first peripheral region than in the effective optical modulation region. The liquid crystal is disposed in a random alignment state free from uniaxial alignment characteristic or in a layer structure in the second peripheral region.

Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal display includes a first substrate provided with a common electrode, a second substrate provided with a pixel electrode, the second substrate being arranged to extend in parallel to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal cell which includes a nematic liquid crystal with a splay distortion. In the liquid crystal domains of a first type which are different in tilted-up direction of liquid crystal molecules coexist, and domains of a second type which are different in twist direction of liquid crystal molecules coexist. The liquid crystal may include a polymer that is a polymerized monomer or oligomer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having improved and broadened viewing angle characteristics. The device includes a liquid crystal cell of the twisted nematic type for driving sandwiched by a pair of upper and lower polarizing plates in which at least one compensating film is inserted between the liquid crystal cell and the upper polarizing plate or between the liquid crystal cell and the lower polarizing plate. Alternatively, two compensating films are respectively inserted between the liquid crystal cell and the upper polarizing plate and between the liquid crystal cell and the lower polarizing plate. The compensating film consists essentially of a liquid crystalline polymer showing optically a positive uniaxiality, the liquid crystalline polymer being fixed in a nematic hybrid orientational order.

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: Disclosed is a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal cell filled with a liquid crystal material capable of exhibiting a smectic phase, said cell including upper and lower substrates each having in order an electrode and an orientation film in contact with the liquid crystal material, a cross angle e formed by the orientation treatment directions of the orientation films is 180.degree.-.delta. or 360.degree.-.delta. (0.degree.<.delta..ltoreq.90.degree.). Also disclosed is a process for preparing the above-mentioned liquid crystal device comprising treating the orientation films and preparing the liquid crystal cell so as to have the orientation treatment directions of the orientation films form the cross angle .THETA. within the above range in the cell.

Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel and drive means for driving the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes a pair of oppositely disposed substrates each having an electrode thereon, an alignment film disposed over the electrode on at least one of the substrates, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates; the liquid crystal being composed of a plurality of liquid crystal layers each composed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The drive means is suitable for applying to the liquid crystal an electric field insufficient to cause a switching of the liquid crystal but sufficient to cause a reversible change of the liquid crystal layers into a bookshelf structure. As a result, the liquid crystal panel can be provided with a good switching characteristic while effectively suppressing deleterious liquid crystal molecular movement.

Abstract: A polyimide alignment film based on pyromellitic dianhydride and a bis(4-aminophenoxy) aromatic compound, such as 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene or 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene, providing low tilt angles of from 1 to 2 degrees when used in liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: An electrode substrate is placed on a stage heated at temperature in a range of from 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. in such a manner that an alignment film of the electrode substrate faces upwards. Thereafter, a rubbing treatment is applied by a roller having the rubbing cloth wound therearound by moving a stage while rubbing the surface of the alignment film by rotating the roller in a state where the electrode substrate is sufficiently heated. Here, as the alignment film is softened by the described heat treatment, the rubbing process is facilitated. This permits a uniform C2 orientation without defects to be achieved in smectic liquid crystals.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device such as an FLC display which is significantly reduced for the temperature dependence of the liquid crystal properties. A liquid crystal optical device 31 in which a plurality of transparent substrates 2a, 2b are opposed to each other at a predetermined gap 32, with transparent electrodes 3a, 3b and liquid crystal alignment films 4a, 4b being disposed, respectively, to the opposing surfaces and ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) 30 is disposed in the gap 32, wherein the ferroelectric liquid crystal 30 has a layer texture 30A, and the change of the layer tilt angle is less than 3.degree. within an entire temperature range in the smectic C* phase.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline light modulating pixel includes first and second cell wall structures and nematic liquid crystal within a UV cured polymer network disposed therebetween. The first and second cell wall structures cooperate with the liquid crystal to form four liquid crystal domains within the pixel. The liquid crystal in each of the domains exhibits a twisted nematic liquid crystal structure and the orientation of the liquid crystal director of the liquid crystal adjacent one of the cell wall structures in at least two domains is different. The polymer network stabilizes the four domain structure at both high field and zero field conditions.

Abstract: A substrate for a liquid crystal display device, which is used as one of a pair of substrates provided so as to face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The substrate includes a plate, an electrodeposition layer formation electrode and an electrodeposition layer provided so that the electrodeposition layer formation electrode is disposed closer to the plate than the electrodeposition layer. The electrodeposition layer formation electrode includes a region having a surface conductivity lower than that of another region in each pixel region and the low surface conductivity region has a shape of at least one line. The surface of the electrodeposition layer has a concave shape having a lowermost portion at a position corresponding to the low surface conductivity region so that liquid crystal regions each having a different orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules partitioned by the low surface conductivity region are formed.

Abstract: On the output side of an optical fiber which optically amplifies a wavelength division multiplexed signal light to output amplified signal light, a first optical divider is provided. The amplified signal light is partially divided by the divider and is converted to an electric signal by an photoelectric converter. The electric signal is compared with a prescribed reference value. The multiplexed signal light is controlled depending on a comparison result. Moreover, a second optical divider is provided. A part of the amplified signal light is made incident on a variable wavelength band-pass light filter which selectively passes signal light of a prescribed wavelength. The light filter is swept with a sweep signal whereby the number of channels of the signal light is detected. The foregoing reference value is set depending on the number of the channels of the signal light by a reference voltage generation circuit. The optical amplifier is controlled depending on the reference value.

Abstract: An alignment-film in which the pretilt angle is changed by ultraviolet irradiation, a material for forming the same, a liquid crystal display device using the alignment film, a method for producing an alignment-film formation material, and a method for producing an alignment film. Ultraviolet irradiation causes large changes in pretilt angle but few changes in electrical characteristics, and a liquid crystal display device free from deterioration of the liquid crystal, image sticking, or the occurrence of flicker results. A first polymer forms the underlying principal layer and a second polymer forms thereon a surface layer thinner than the principal layer. The first polymer may exhibit a small change in electrical characteristics due to ultraviolet radiation and the second polymer may exhibit a large change in pretilt angle due to ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the opposing electrodes. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region. In the device, liquid crystal molecules in the peripheral region have a pretilt angle which is larger than a pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules in the effective optical modulation region. As a result, a local pressure irregularity or a cell thickness change caused by a liquid crystal molecular movement along an extension of the device is effectively suppressed.

Abstract: A twisted nematic type of liquid crystal device comprises two cell walls enclosing a layer of a nematic or long pitch cholesteric liquid crystal material. The device has both an alignment direction and a surface tilt provided by an asymmetric grooves structure alignment on one or both walls. The alignment treatment may be provided by a shaped layer of a photolithographic material. Embossing, ruling, or transferred from a carrier layer material may alternatively provide the alignment. The amount of twist may be multiples of about 90.degree. and the device arranged between two polarisers.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device used for electro-optical devices, in which each parameter of the liquid crystal having layer structures is specified to provide a liquid crystal high in stress resistance and capable of gray scale display. The liquid crystal held between a pair of parallel substrates is either ferroelectric or antiferroelectric and represents layer structures. A plurality of substrate interface tilt angles can be set for the layer structures. The layer structures can be configured asymmetric or symmetric about a plane intermediate between the parallel substrates. With this configuration, a liquid crystal device is constructed having a plurality of layer structures including at least one layer structure, which has (1) a substrate interface layer tilt angle of 0.degree. to 3.degree. and the c director pretilt of 3.degree. to 5.degree., or (2) a substrate interface layer tilt angle of 4.degree. to 7.degree. and the c director pretilt of 0.degree. to 3.degree.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition contains a mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; X.sub.1 denotes a single bond, --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--; X.sub.2 denotes a single bond, --OCH.sub.2 --, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--; n is an integer of 3-16; and A.sub.1, denotes ##STR2## and a mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (B): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.2 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 independently denote a single bond, --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--; m is an integer of 3-16; and A.sub.2 denotes ##STR4## The liquid crystal composition may preferably be formulated as a chiral smectic liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition is useful in providing a liquid crystal device using the liquid crystal composition with a good alignment characteristic, a good drive characteristic, and a high contrast ratio.

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 liquid crystal composition contains a mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; X.sub.1 denotes a single bond, --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--; and A.sub.1 denotes ##STR2## and a mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (B): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.3 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; X.sub.2 denotes a single bond, --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--; X.sub.3 denotes a single bond, --OCH.sub.2 --, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--; n is an integer of 3-16; and A.sub.2 denotes ##STR4## The liquid crystal composition may preferably be formulated as a chiral smectic liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition is useful in providing a liquid crystal device using the liquid crystal composition with a good alignment characteristic, a good drive characteristic, and a high contrast ratio.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device including a pair of substrates and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the substrates, is produced by a process including a step of forming an alignment control film of a polyimide through a sequence of forming a film of a polyimide precursor on a substrate, subjecting a surface of the film to a uniaxial aligning treatment and then baking the film to form an alignment control film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal cell filled with a liquid crystal material capable of exhibiting a smectic phase, said cell including upper and lower substrates each having in order an electrode and an orientation film in contact with the liquid crystal material, a cross angle .THETA. formed by the orientation treatment directions of the orientation films is 180.degree.-.delta. or 360.degree.-.delta. (0.degree.<.delta..ltoreq.90.degree.). Also disclosed is a process for preparing the above-mentioned liquid crystal device comprising treating the orientation films and preparing the liquid crystal cell so as to have the orientation treatment directions of the orientation films form the cross angle .THETA. within the above range in the cell.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by (a) a pair of base plates each having an orientation control film thereon, and (b) a liquid crystal composition interposed between the base plates. The liquid crystal composition comprises a mixture including at least one liquid crystal compound which has a temperature range in which it shows chiral smectic phase and at least one optically active substance which does not have a temperature range in which it shows chiral smectic phase. The liquid crystal composition has a temperature range in which it shows cholesteric phase and is placed in chiral smectic phase which has been formed through cholesteric phase on temperature decrease. The liquid crystal composition comprises liquid crystal molecules having long axes forming a pre-tilt in the chiral smectic phase.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a liquid crystal between a pair of substrates; at least one of which has thereon an alignment film comprising a polyimide formed by reaction between at least two acid components including an acid component of formula (1) below and at least one component of formula (2) or (3) below and a diamine component of formula (4) below: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently denote an alkyl group.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition contains a mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; X.sub.1 denotes a single bond, --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--; and A.sub.1 denotes ##STR2## and a mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (B): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.3 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 independently denote a single bond, --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--; m is an integer of 3-16; and A.sub.2 denotes ##STR4## or ##STR5## The liquid crystal composition may preferably be formulated as a chiral smectic liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition is useful in providing a liquid crystal device using the liquid crystal composition with a good alignment characteristic, a good drive characteristic, and a high and stable contrast ratio.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus having a pair of substrates with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween is disclosed. Also, a method for producing the same and a substrate are disclosed. In the liquid crystal display apparatus, an aligning film is formed on at least one of the pair of substrates, the surface of the aligning film is made rough for controlling pretilt angles of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer which are in contact with the surface of the aligning film, and the degrees of roughness are different among a plurality of prescribed regions.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is formed by disposing a chiral smectic liquid crystal between a pair of substrates, each having thereon a group of electrodes for driving the chiral smectic liquid crystal and an alignment control film comprising a fluorine-containing polyimide provided with a uniaxial rubbing axis such that the uniaxial alignment axes provided to the pair of substrates intersect each other at a prescribed intersection angle. In the device, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned to provide a director forming a pre-tilt angle with the polyimide film surfaces of the substrates, whereby formation of splay alignment state in the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules is suppressed. The liquid crystal device provides an improved contrast and also a broad drive margin.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer. The ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules have pretilt directions defined by first direction vectors obtained by orthogonally projecting first imaginary vectors to each surface of a pair of substrates. The first imaginary vectors are parallel to the liquid crystal molecules in the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer in the vicinity of the substrates and directed away from each surface of the pair of substrates toward a center portion of the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer in its thickness direction. The ferroelectric liquid crystal layer has a chevron layered structure. A bending direction of the smectic layers is the same direction as the first direction vector obtained by orthogonally projecting a second imaginary vector to the substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a first substrate on which a first group of belt-shaped electrodes are formed, a second substrate on which a second group of belt-shaped electrodes are formed so as to cross the first group of belt-shaped electrodes, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal arranged between the first and second, substrates. A first pretilt angle of the liquid crystal on the first group of belt-shaped electrodes differs from a second pretilt angle of the liquid crystal in the spaces among the belt-shaped electrodes. The difference in pretilt angles is created by forming a resist over the spaces between the belt-shaped electrode, rubbing, removing the resist, and rubbing again.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates disposed parallel to each other and each having on its inner surface an electrode, an insulating film and an alignment control film, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. The alignment control films on the pair of substrates are provided with uniaxial alignment axes in directions which are substantially parallel and opposite to each other. The ferroelectric liquid crystal is placed in an alignment state showing a pretilt angle .alpha. of 5 degrees <.alpha.<45 degrees formed by transition from a bistable state giving a lower apparent tilt angle to a bistable state giving a higher apparent tilt angle, the action of mechanical or electrical means, such as application of ultrasonic treatment, static load or AC electric field.