Abstract: An electro-optical display device comprising a liquid crystal layer achieves switching using an electric field component which is predominantly parallel to the surface of the liquid crystal layer. Low dependence of image contrast on viewing angle is achieved by selection of parameters including pretilt angle .alpha..sub.0, orientation angle .beta..sub.0, etc. of the liquid crystal molecules in the layer. Reflection mode devices are described.

Abstract: An electro-optical display device comprising a liquid crystal layer achieves switching using an electric field component which is predominantly parallel to the surface of the liquid crystal layer. Low dependence of image contrast on viewing angle is achieved by selection of parameters including orientation angle .beta..sub.o, and others, of the liquid crystal molecules in the layer.

Abstract: A liquid alignment layer characterized by comprising two or more types of polymers wherein a difference between the maximum SP value and the minimum SP value in said polymers being at least 1, and a liquid crystal display device provided with this liquid crystal alignment layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display according to this invention has a pair of transparent electrodes, a non-chiral smectic liquid crystal therebetween, a polarizer and an analyzer which are attached to the electrodes. The smectic layers are perpendicular to the electrodes and the liquid crystal has a twisted structure where the twist angle is twice the molecular tilt angle. In this configuration, the molecular director is forced to continuously rotate along the cone surface formed by the requirement that the molecules are tilted with respect to the layer normal and pinned at the surfaces. The basic principles of the optical modulation in the present invention are similar to those in twist nematic liquid crystal structures.

Abstract: A method for the formation of orientation film of a liquid crystal display. The method comprises the steps of forming polyvinyl-4-fluorocinnamate (hereinafter "PVCN-F") film on the surfaces of two opposite substrates and irradiating the two PVCN-F films formed with linearly polarized UV lights having different energy. The method in accordance with the present invention is capable of not only providing the pretilt angle to a fabricated LCD but also adjusting it by illuminating two substrates with linearly polarized UV beams having different energies from each other, respectively. In addition, the LCD fabricated by the method according to the present invention requires a much lower driving voltage, as compared with the conventional LCD having an orientation film of planar structure. Furthermore, phase distortion and light scattering phenomena do not occur in the LCD, so that display characteristics such as contrast and the like can be improved.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention, includes: a liquid crystal layer, an electrode applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer, a pair of alignment layers in contact with the liquid crystal layer and a pair of substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal layer, each of the pair of substrates including the electrode and the alignment layer. The liquid crystal layer having a liquid crystal material with negative dielectric anisotropy and at least first and second regions, the pair of alignment layers aligns liquid crystal molecules substantially vertical to planes of the pair of substrates when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal molecules at least in each of first and second regions tilt in different directions when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer.

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: In a liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a twisted nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between a first substrate having a common electrode and a second substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, the twisted nematic liquid crystal having a splay distortion when no voltage is applied, a scan line is inserted between a pixel electrode and a signal electrode.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including: a liquid crystal layer; a liquid crystal alignment film in contact with the liquid crystal layer; a first substrate and a second substrate which are disposed so as to face each other with the liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween; a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix on a surface, facing the liquid crystal layer, of the first substrate; and a counter electrode formed on a surface, facing the liquid crystal layer, of the second substrate. In the liquid crystal display device, a black matrix covering at least portions between the pixel electrodes is formed over the surface of the first substrate, facing the liquid crystal layer; the black matrix is formed in a taper shape having a taper angle .theta. smaller than 90 degrees; and the liquid crystal alignment film provides a pretilt angle larger than one-half of the taper angle .theta..

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 display apparatus of the invention includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates with alignment films formed at interfaces between the liquid crystal layer and the respective substrates. The alignment films regulate aligning conditions of liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer. In the liquid crystal display apparatus, the liquid crystal layer includes two or more liquid crystal layer regions of different aligning conditions, and at least one of the alignment films has surface tensions which are different from each other in surface regions thereof corresponding to the respective liquid crystal layer regions of different aligning conditions.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display, including the steps of forming an orientation film on a major surface of each of first and second substrates, performing an orientation treatment for the orientation films, performing an orientation relaxation treatment for a portion of the orientation film of each of the first and second substrates, thereby forming a first region and a second region whose orientation degree is smaller than the orientation degree of the first region, arranging the first and second substrates so that the first and second regions of the first substrate and the second and first regions of the second substrate oppose each other, respectively, and that a liquid crystal material has a splay deformation, and injecting the liquid crystal material between the first and second substrates thus arranged to oppose each other.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device which includes a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates; and an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer is disclosed. The liquid crystal layers includes liquid crystal molecules, and is divided into a plurality of regions having different twist angles from one another.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. In fabricating a liquid crystal display device, the method enables liquid crystal alignment operation to be easily and accurately carried out in such a way that liquid crystal alignment is changed between adjacent minute regions. An alignment film is formed on a glass substrate formed with transparent electrodes, and then rubbing operation is performed using a rubbing cloth in one direction with respect to the alignment film, so that the alignment film is caused to maintain a high pretilt condition. After a mask substrate is so positioned as to register with the glass substrate, ultraviolet light irradiation is effected to form a high-pretilt keeping region and a low-pretilt keeping region on the surface of the alignment film. In the display device, it is arranged that one high-pretilt keeping region is disposed opposite one low-pretilt keeping region.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a pair of substrates; a pair of electrodes formed on the pair of substrates; a pair of alignment films formed on the pair of electrodes; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of alignment films, wherein at least one of the alignment films have a property of aligning liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer with a pretilt angle, the property being provided by a new bond formation reaction or bond cleavage reaction of molecular chains caused by irradiating the at least one alignment film with light.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a plurality of pixel elements, the optical transmissivity of which is varied by suitable electrical signals. The liquid crystal display device has electrodes which apply electric fields to a liquid crystal layer, the electric fields having components in a direction generally parallel to the liquid crystal layer. Each pixel element has at least one pixel electrode which extends in a common direction as a signal electrode and common electrodes which extend over several pixel elements. The common electrodes may be on the same side of the liquid crystal layer as the pixel and signal electrodes, or they may be on opposite sides. Each pixel may have two pixel electrodes with the signal electrode disposed therebetween, and there are then a pair of common electrodes with the pixel electrodes therebetween. The common electrodes may be common to adjacent pixel elements. The pixel electrodes and the common electrodes may be separated by an insulating film.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical compensatory sheet which comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer provided thereon, wherein the optically anisotropic layer comprises a compound having a discotic structure unit in its molecule and has negative birefringence, and the discotic structure unit has a plane inclined from a plane of the transparent support at an angle varying along a direction of depth of the anisotropic layer. A liquid crystal display and a color liquid crystal display provided with the optical compensatory sheet are also disclosed.