Abstract: Chromonic azo dyes are particular types of chromonic molecules that are alignable homeotropically (aggregated molecules stack perpendicularly to the surface) on different types of substrates, often without the need of any special surface treatment. This feature enables the optimization of a detection device with increased sensitivity based of the alignment distortion created by a biological immune complex.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film, a thin film manufacturing apparatus, a display substrate and a method for manufacturing a display substrate are provided. The method for manufacturing the thin film includes: providing a substrate with a pixel defining layer; forming an ink in a pixel region defined by the pixel defining layer; and drying the ink to form the thin film. The drying the ink includes generating a control electric field that enables a solute in the ink to move away from a boundary of the pixel region and move towards a center region of the pixel region under control of the control electric field.

Abstract: A polarizer includes a first polarizing layer. The polarizing layer is configured for polarizing light. The first polarizing layer has a first absorption axis. The first absorption axis is a curved line.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, being widely used in the fields such as electronic tags, electronic papers, business cards and flexible display screens or the like, and a driving method for the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device has an upper substrate, a lower substrate and one or more layers of an encapsulated liquid crystal sandwiched between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The layers of the encapsulated liquid crystal include two different liquid crystal microcapsules uniformly mixed. Combined with a driving method of a combination of high-low voltage and high-low temperature, a color display effect of high contrast and repeatable writing can be achieved.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment includes a light source; a first substrate on which a first alignment layer is formed; a second substrate on which a second alignment layer is formed; a liquid crystal layer between the first and second alignment layers; and an electrode layer on one of the first and second substrates, the electrode layer applying an electric field to liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer along a direction parallel to the first and second substrates, wherein when the electric field is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are twistedly arranged from the second alignment layer to the first alignment layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel including a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate, an opposed substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the TFT array substrate and the opposed substrate. A lower polarizer is disposed on a side of the TFT array substrate facing away from the liquid crystal layer, and the opposed substrate is provided with a polarization analyzer. The polarization analyzer includes a plurality of polarization regions and a plurality of non-polarization regions. A portion of the polarization analyzer corresponding to the polarization region is a polarization device, and the polarization regions and non-polarization regions are arranged alternately. The LCD can improve the security and confidentiality of the information displayed on the LCD when a user views the information. And special eyeglasses and display apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) comprises a light source configured to provide a first light having a first wavelength, a first wavelength conversion layer configured to convert the first light into a second light having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength, and a first optical shutter which overlaps the first wavelength conversion layer, is configured to adjust transmittance of the first light or the second light, and comprises liquid crystal molecules and dichromatic dye.

Abstract: Provided is an optically anisotropic sheet that gives a thin optically anisotropic film that can be transferred to a display device. The optically anisotropic sheet includes a substrate, a liquid crystal cured film, and a sticky adhesive layer in this order. The liquid crystal cured film is a film that has a thickness of 5 ?m or less and is cured with a polymerizable liquid crystal compound aligned. The sticking force (F1) between the liquid crystal cured film and the sticky adhesive layer is greater than the substrate sticking force (F4).

Abstract: The instant invention relates to electro-optical switching elements and displays comprising them. In particular, it relates to electro-optical switching elements comprising one or more light conversion means capable to convert light (e.g. ambient light and/or light from a backlight system), wherein each of said light conversion means o is capable to convert the state of polarization of the light from non-polarized light either to linear polarized light or to circular polarized light and, at the same time, o optionally is capable to shift the wavelength of the light to longer values and—at least one of said conversion means o is capable to shift the wavelength of the light to longer values and—a liquid crystal material, which is capable of switching,—one or more means to polarize light, and—optionally a means for illumination such as e.g. a backlight.

Abstract: A see-through display device (100A) according to the present invention includes a first substrate (11) and a second substrate (12) disposed opposing to each other and a light modulation layer (17) disposed between the first substrate (11) and the second substrate (12). The light modulation layer (17) contains at least two types of materials which come into a bleached state or a colored state depending on an applied voltage and which have visible light absorption spectra different from each other.

Abstract: Herein are disclosed methods by which a layer of oriented chromonic material may be transferred from a flexible substrate to a receiving substrate, so as to form a subassembly for use in the assembly of liquid crystal cells. The oriented chromonic material layer may function as an alignment layer for aligning liquid crystal material, and may also incorporate a pleochroic dye so to function as a polarizing layer. An oriented chromonic material layer of relatively large area can be transferred, which enables the production of relatively large liquid crystal cells for use in, e.g., autodarkening filters such as used for eye protection in welding operations. Curved liquid crystal cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device capable of improving a contrast ratio is provided. The device includes a first substrate including a first alignment film and a first polarizing film having a first transmission axis parallel to an alignment direction of the first alignment film, a second substrate including a second alignment film and a second polarizing film having a second transmission axis perpendicular to the first transmission axis of the first polarizing film, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, the liquid crystal layer including a dichroic dye, wherein the liquid crystal is aligned in horizontal direction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal electro-optical device comprises a pair of substrates, at least one of them being light-transmitting, electrodes provided on said substrates, an electro-optical modulating layer being sandwiched by said pair of substrates, and a black coating formed between the electro-optical modulating layer and one of the substrates. The electro-optical modulating layer comprises a dichroic dye and a liquid crystal material embedded in a transparent material which is cured except in a portion situated under the black coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel with improved image contrast comprising an array of pixel regions and a sequence of a recycling backlight structure comprising broadband rear interference polar (RI-Polar) having a transmission axis AB with preset orientation, a spatial intensity modulation structure comprising a broadband front interference polar (FI-Polar) having a transmission axis approximately parallel to the transmission axis AB, a spectral filtering structure, and antireflection means. Each said pixel region spatially encompasses a plurality of subpixel regions. The RI-Polar and FI-Polar are multilayer structures of stacked layers. At least one layer of each structure is optically anisotropic, made by means of Cascade Crystallization Process and characterized by a globally ordered biaxial crystalline structure with an intermolecular spacing of 3.4±0.3 ? in the direction approximately parallel to the transmission axis AB.

Abstract: The present invention provides a driving method using a liquid crystal light modulating device including transparent electrodes which each have a horizontally alignment film; and a liquid crystal composition which contains at least a chiral dopant, a dichroic dye and a host liquid crystal. The transparent electrodes face each other to have a cell gap having a width of 10 ?m or less therebetween. The liquid crystal composition is filled into the cell gap, and has a positive dielectric constant anisotropy. The driving method attains display-switching by (a) applying a higher voltage than a threshold voltage of the liquid crystal composition into the device so as to be transparent and colorless, (b) applying a lower voltage than a threshold voltage so as to be light-scattered white, or (c) applying no voltage so as to be colored.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a layer of liquid crystal material (3) between spaced-apart cell walls (1,2), and electrodes (5) provided on at least one cell wall for applying an electric field across at least a part of said liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal material has anisotropic light-absorbing particles dispersed therein and substantially aligned therewith. The invention also provides a composition for use in the display.

Abstract: The invention relates to light emitting devices (2) with variable output color. More specifically, the inventions provides a color conversion cell (10) which can be positioned in front of a light source (4) in order to generate other color or color temperatures. Typically the light source is a light emitting diode (LED) which is power efficient but emits in a narrow and fixed spectra. The new colors are generated by photoluminescence in fluorescent dyes contained in the cell. The color converting of the cell is electrically controllable, preferably by controlling the orientation, density or distribution of the fluorescent dyes, or by controlling a pathlength of the light in the cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel with improved image contrast comprising an array of pixel regions and a sequence of a recycling backlight structure comprising broadband rear interference polar (RI-Polar) having a transmission axis AB with preset orientation, a spatial intensity modulation structure comprising a broadband front interference polar (FI-Polar) having a transmission axis approximately parallel to the transmission axis AB, a spectral filtering structure, and antireflection means. Each said pixel region spatially encompasses a plurality of subpixel regions. The RI-Polar and FI-Polar are multilayer structures of stacked layers. At least one layer of each structure is optically anisotropic, made by means of Cascade Crystallization Process and characterized by a globally ordered biaxial crystalline structure with an intermolecular spacing of 3.4±0.3 ? in the direction approximately parallel to the transmission axis AB.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device capable of improving a contrast ratio is provided. The device includes a first substrate including a first alignment film and a first polarizing film having a first transmission axis parallel to an alignment direction of the first alignment film, a second substrate including a second alignment film and a second polarizing film having a second transmission axis perpendicular to the first transmission axis of the first polarizing film, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, the liquid crystal layer including a dichroic dye, wherein the liquid crystal is aligned in horizontal direction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device including a first electrode substrate, a second electrode substrate and a liquid crystal layer is provided. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate. The liquid crystal layer comprises liquid crystal molecules and particles. The liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned when the applied voltage between the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate is less than a threshold voltage. The arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules is changed so as to produce optical changes in the liquid crystal device when the applied voltage between the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate is not less than the threshold voltage.

Abstract: An electrophoretic liquid crystal display device comprises: two opposed cell walls enclosing a layer of an electrophoretic composition comprising a liquid crystal material having finely divided pigment particles dispersed therein; a plurality of electrode structures on an inner surface of each cell wall for applying an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material, overlapping regions of opposed electrode structures on each cell wall defining pixels; wherein the liquid crystal material has a dielectric anisotropy greater than about 2 or less than about ?2; and wherein at least one of said cell walls is translucent and has an inner surface that is of low energy or induces a substantially homeotropic local alignment of adjacent molecules of said liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A transparent display comprising a transmittance control block and a display block is provided. The transparent display transmits an optical image from a front surface to a back surface. The optical image is projected onto the front surface. A first image is displayed on the transparent display and superimposed onto the optical image. The transmittance control block is mounted to the front surface side. The transmittance control block comprises a guest-host liquid crystal layer and transparent electrodes. The transmittance of the light incident to the guest-host liquid crystal layer is able to be adjusted. The guest-host liquid crystal is mounted between the transparent electrodes. The display block is mounted to the back surface side. The display block comprises an organo-electroluminescence device. The first image is displayed on the display block.

Abstract: Poly-azo compound selected from the group consisting compounds of the formula (I) and compounds of the formula (II), (wherein, Me represents copper, nickel, zinc or iron, A represents a naphthyl group having 1 to 3 sulfonic groups and further optionally having an alkyl group or alkoxy group, R1 and R2 represent each independently a hydrogen atom, alkyl group or alkoxy group, and R3 represents an amino group or hydroxyl group.).

Abstract: An LCOS panel has a back plane, a plurality of pixel electrodes positioned on a surface of the back plane, a light absorbent layer positioned on the pixel electrodes, a micro dichroic layer positioned on the light absorbent layer, and a liquid crystal layer filled between the micro dichroic layer and the front plane.

Abstract: An efficient technique for producing deterministically polarized single photons uses liquid-crystal hosts of either monomeric or oligomeric/polymeric form to preferentially align the single emitters for maximum excitation efficiency. Deterministic molecular alignment also provides deterministically polarized output photons; using planar-aligned cholesteric liquid crystal hosts as 1-D photonic-band-gap microcavities tunable to the emitter fluorescence band to increase source efficiency, using liquid crystal technology to prevent emitter bleaching. Emitters comprise soluble dyes, inorganic nanocrystals or trivalent rare-earth chelates.

Abstract: The LC information display contains a layer of liquid crystal situated between the front and the rear panels with functional layers, and the liquid crystal has parameters providing interference maximum or minimum of transmission or reflection at the exit of the display and/or at the boundary of at least two functional layers and/or between the LC layer and a functional layer, for at least one linearly polarized component of light, and for at least one wavelength. The disclosed invention allows optimizing transmission of light through optically anisotropic functional layers of the display, which leads to substantial increase of its effectiveness.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polyvinyl alcohol type polarizing film or plate which comprises a water-soluble dye having the formula (1) in a free acid form or a copper complex salt thereof.

Abstract: A light control device and an imaging device suitable for the effective and stabilized driving of a Guest-Host type liquid crystal element. A light control device which is provided with a light controlling GH cell and a UV cut filter provided on the light incident side of the GH cell and which is therefore reduced significantly in the quantity of ultraviolet ray applied to the GH cell, thereby preventing the photodecomposition or photodegradation of materials constituting a liquid crystal layer in the GH cell; and an imaging device such as a CCD camera having this light control device disposed on the optical path thereof.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element includes two substrates, a liquid crystal layer, and at least two electrodes. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the substrates and includes liquid crystal molecules and dichroic dye molecules. The at least two electrodes are provided on the substrates so as to face each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed between them, and define one of multiple unit regions. In each unit region, the liquid crystal layer includes first and second liquid crystal regions within a range, which is approximately half or less as long as the wavelength of visible radiation as measured in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the substrates. The orientation directions of each pair of liquid crystal molecules in the first and second liquid crystal regions have azimuthal directions defining an angle of approximately 90 degrees while no voltage is being applied between the electrodes.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device for displaying colors by transmission and reflection modes and a method for producing such devices, whereby the additive color mixing can be used, the structure is simplified, the driving-voltage is lower, the contrast is higher, the response speed is higher, and the screen can be larger. This objective can be achieved by a method including the following steps: mixing 0.001 to 20 wt % of dichromatic melanotic pigment into chiral nematic liquid crystal mixed with chiral dopant; preparing a mixture of the liquid crystal and prepolymer to be polymerized into transparent polymeric solid; inserting the mixture into the space between two conductive substrates, wherein at least one of which is transparent; and irradiating ultra-violet light or neighboring short-wavelength light onto the mixture.

Abstract: A structure (1) for reflecting light uses at least two materials having different refractive indices. The structure (1) for reflecting light includes a first material (2) having light transmittance, and a plurality of fine structures (3) made of a second material, placed within the first material (2), with regularity sufficient to express reflection functions of light based on diffraction and scattering actions.

Abstract: A light control device and an imaging device suitable for the effective and stabilized driving of a Guest-Host type liquid crystal element. A light control device (23) which is provided with a light controlling GH cell (12) and a UV cut filter (65) provided on the light incident side of the GH cell (12), and which is therefore reduced significantly in the quantity of ultraviolet ray applied to the GH cell (12), thereby preventing the photodecompositon or photodegradation of materials constituting a liquid crystal layer in the GH cell (12); and an imaging device such as a CCD camera (50) having this light control device disposed on the optical path thereof.

Abstract: An electrophoresis display capable of displaying colors, yet having high contrast and a high reflectance on displaying white color. The electrophoresis display device includes a dispersion medium containing a liquid crystal and electrophoretic particles made of titania, etc. being dispersed in the dispersion medium, wherein the dispersion medium contains a dichroic coloring matter having dichroism with a high dichroic ratio as a first coloring matter and a dichroic coloring matter having dichroism with a low dichroic ratio and/or an isotropic coloring matter as a second coloring matter, provided that the first coloring matter and the second coloring matter have complementary colors each other. In this manner, white, black, and color displays are realized by a single capsule.

Abstract: A light control device includes a GH cell and a polarizer wherein a host material is made of a negative type liquid crystal whose dielectric anisotropy is negative and a guest material is made of a dichromatic positive type dye. The polarizer is provided at a side of light incident on the polarizer. A cell gap ranges from 2 &mgr;m to 4 &mgr;m, at least, in an effective light path.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polyvinyl alcohol type polarizing film or plate which comprises a water-soluble dye having the formula (1) in a free acid form or a copper complex salt thereof. The said polarizing plate has excellent polarizing performance capability and durability, and is suitably used for the green channel of a liquid crystal projector when B in formula (1) is a benzoylamino group and the water-soluble dye has a wavelength for maximum absorption (&lgr;max) of 520 nm or more and less than 580 nm.

Abstract: An electric field that is parallel with a TFT substrate is formed by a pair of electrodes formed on the TFT substrate. Liquid crystal molecules in a light modulating layer are caused to respond electro-optically to the electric field. The light modulating layer is constituted of a liquid crystal material, an optically active substance, and a dichroic dye. The spiral pitch p [&mgr;m] of the light modulating layer, the cell thickness d [&mgr;m], the twist angle n of liquid crystal molecules, and the interelectrode interval L [&mgr;m] are set in ranges of 1≦p≦15, 1≦d≦10, n≦300°, and L<25.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element includes two substrates, a liquid crystal layer, and at least two electrodes. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the substrates and includes liquid crystal molecules and dichroic dye molecules. The at least two electrodes are provided on the substrates so as to face each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed between them, and define one of multiple unit regions. In each unit region, the liquid crystal layer includes first and second liquid crystal regions within a range, which is approximately half or less as long as the wavelength of visible radiation as measured in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the substrates. The orientation directions of each pair of liquid crystal molecules in the first and second liquid crystal regions have azimuthal directions defining an angle of approximately 90 degrees while no voltage is being applied between the electrodes.

Abstract: A device (100, 140, 150) for differentially absorbing light, depending on the state of linear polarization of the light, is disclosed. This polarizing effect is induced and controllable by the level of ambient light impinging on the device. The device (100, 140) may be used as an anti-glare vision protection device which selectively absorbs specularly reflected sunlight in brightly lit environments while permitting all light to pass in dimly lit environments. The device (100) includes a carrying medium which may be a film (142) or opposed substrates (112) that are sealed. A film or the opposed substrates carry a mixture (120) of fluid material (124) and photochromic dyestuffs (122), wherein the photochromic material is activated upon the detection of ultraviolet light so as to absorb some of the light and wherein the energization of the photochromic material effects the material so as to simultaneously selectively absorb the specularly reflected sunlight.

Abstract: An LCD having a liquid crystal layer with dye for compensating color shift is disclosed. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between a lower panel and an upper panel. The liquid crystal molecules are aligned vertical to the upper and lower panels, and the dye molecules have their major axes aligned parallel to the major axes of the liquid crystal molecules. In order to reduce of the transmittance, the dye may be such that light absorption curve of the dye coincides with light transmittance curve of a red color filter.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display, including a substrate and pixels arrayed on the substrate, each of the pixels including an electric field sensitive layer which includes, an N-type liquid crystal material containing a liquid crystal substance, a dichroic dye and an isotropic dye, and particles dispersed in the N-type liquid crystal material and configured to migrate in the N-type liquid crystal material by electrophoresis.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is an electrically controllable system having variable light scattering and/or transmission, comprising a functional film (1, 21) provided with electrically conducting layers (2, 3, 22, 23), the said film having active elements in the form of polarizing particles, or of liquid crystals associated with dichroic dyes, and in suspension in a medium. The said system is provided with one or more means preventing/compensating for degradation by photoreduction of at least some of the active elements, especially degradation of the dichroic dyes and/or that of the polarizing particles.

Abstract: A reflecting film is formed on one substrate, and ¼ wavelength layer is arranged on this reflecting film. A liquid crystal layer comprises liquid crystal molecule, a polymer and dichroic dye, the polymer particles being dispersed in liquid crystal molecules. Using this configuration, a liquid crystal apparatus free from parallax is available. Because the dichroic dye is mixed in the liquid crystal layer, a light entering the liquid crystal layer upon non-application of voltage is absorbed by the dichroic dye, thus giving a light absorbing state. Upon application of voltage, there is available a light scattering state.

Abstract: A reflective guest-host liquid-crystal display device includes a first substrate for receiving incident light, on the inner surface of which transparent electrodes are formed; a second substrate which has a reflective film formed thereon and which is spaced to face the first substrate with a predetermined spacing; an electro-optical element held between the first and second substrates, which electro-optical element has a lamination structure including a guest-host liquid-crystal layer which contains a dichroic dye and which is uniformly oriented with respect to the transparent electrode, and an optical thin-film layer which has a predetermined optical anisotropic axis and which is formed at least on the reflective film, the optical thin-film layer being formed from a polymer liquid crystal having liquid crystal molecules which are uniaxially oriented along the optical anisotropic axis; and a passivation layer which is interposed between the optical thin-film layer and the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A filter for adjusting an amount of light, in which an ND filter 7 is loaded and unloaded by aperture blades not shown in the figure; (a) the ND filter 7 is loaded in the light path, and the liquid crystal cell is controlled to make the transmittance minimum by the controlling voltage, so as to attain the minimum transmittance; (b) the ND filter 7 is unloaded from the light path, and the liquid crystal cell is controlled to make the transmittance maximum by the controlling voltage, so as to attain the maximum transmittance; and the liquid crystal is controlled to have transmittance of an intermediate level by the controlling voltage, so as to attain intermediate transmittance.

Abstract: In a tablet integrated type liquid crystal display apparatus, a first transparent substrate is provided on a view side. The first substrate is a plastic substrate having a thickness equal to or thinner than 0.6 mm, and a counter electrode is formed on the first substrate. A second substrate on which a driving layer composed of switching elements and pixel electrodes respectively connected to the switching elements is formed. The second substrate is a glass substrate having a thickness in a range of 0.6 mm to 1.1 mm. A guest host liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the first substrate and the second substrate such that the guest host liquid crystal is driven by a voltage applied between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode. A tablet electrode layer may be provided between the first substrate and the counter electrode.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display, including a substrate and pixels arrayed on the substrate, each of the pixels including an electric field sensitive layer which includes, an N-type liquid crystal material containing a liquid crystal substance, a dichroic dye and an isotropic dye, and particles dispersed in the N-type liquid crystal material and configured to migrate in the N-type liquid crystal material by electrophoresis.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is an electrically controllable system having variable light scattering and/or transmission, comprising a functional film (1, 21) provided with electrically conducting layers (2, 3, 22, 23), the said film having active elements in the form of polarizing particles, or of liquid crystals associated with dichroic dyes, and in suspension in a medium. The said system is provided with one or more means preventing/compensating for degradation by photoreduction of at least some of the active elements, especially degradation of the dichroic dyes and/or that of the polarizing particles.

Abstract: A multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display device includes upper and lower substrates having upper and lower alignment layers, a pixel electrode on the lower substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the upper and lower alignment layers. The upper alignment layer is alignment-treated to define a specified alignment direction. The pixel electrode is arranged to define a desired pattern of slits or floating electrodes. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy (&Dgr;∈).

Abstract: A light control device includes a GH cell and a polarizer wherein a host material is made of a negative type liquid crystal whose dielectric anisotropy is negative and a guest material is made of a dichromatic positive type dye. The polarizer is provided at a side of light incident on the polarizer. A cell gap ranges from 2 &mgr;m to 4 &mgr;m, at least, in an effective light path.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel has a pair of substrates disposed almost parallel to each other. On each of the substrates, an electrode and an alignment film are formed. A liquid crystal layer having a negative dielectric anisotropy is sandwiched by the substrates. In the absence of voltage applied across the electrodes, the molecules of the liquid crystal layer align almost perpendicular to the substrates. In this liquid crystal layer, a dichroic dye, preferably a blue dichroic dye, is added to absorb the yellow component of an incident light. Instead of adding the dye into the liquid crystal layer, a color compensation layer containing the dye is formed on or adjacent to at least one of the substrates. The yellow component of an incident light to the liquid crystal panel is absorbed by the color compensation layer. As a result, the liquid crystal panel and the liquid crystal display using the panel do not show yellow coloring when the panel is observed from oblique directions.