With Specified Nonchemical Characteristic Of Liquid Crystal Material Patents (Class 349/167)
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Patent number: 12099282Abstract: A tunable optical lens having an adjustable focal length includes an electro-active material layer, and a control electrode having a plurality of electrode components, wherein the control electrode includes at least two electrode patterns each of which is configured to generate one or more different diffraction zones, and the at least two electrode patterns are configured to generate different phase profiles from each other with respect to light transmitted through the at least two electrode patterns, when a voltage is applied to the control electrode.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: September 24, 2024Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Dmitriy Evgenyevich Piskunov, Svetlana Vladimirovna Danilova, Nikolay Victorovich Muravev
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Patent number: 11928549Abstract: Methods and systems as described herein provide for retrieving information about a product using a composite tag affixed to the product and that is optically scanned by a scanning device at any point throughout the supply chain of the product. The process includes retrieving an image comprising an optically encoded tag and an irreversible threshold indicator and sensing a characteristic of the irreversible threshold indicator, which indicate a state change of an environment to which the product was exposed. The data encoded in the optically encoded tag is resolved to instructions to query a web service, wherein the web service provides data regarding the product in response to receiving the query and the product data is presented in combination with information for interpreting the state change on the product.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Provindre, Inc.Inventors: Leslie Young Harvill, David Gross, E. Paul Salcedo
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Patent number: 11874577Abstract: A see-through window display includes a display panel having a plurality of pixels and a drive circuit that applies a voltage according to input gray scale data to the plurality of pixels, in which the display panel includes a first substrate having a pixel electrode, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first polarizer provided on the first substrate having a first polarization axis, and a second polarizer provided on the second substrate having a second polarization axis, and when a transmittance of each of the pixels when the drive circuit applies a minimum voltage to the pixel is set to TW and a transmittance of each of the pixels when the drive circuit applies a maximum voltage to the pixel is set to TB, the display panel has a normally white characteristic satisfying TW>TB.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Fumikazu Shimoshikiryoh
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Patent number: 11644698Abstract: The Kerr effect depends very strongly on the temperature and is associated with high operating voltages. The present invention relates to an electrically controllable optical element which comprises a cell (D) filled with a starting mixture (K) and having two substrates (1a, 1b) and a conductive layer (2a, 2b) applied onto the inner surface of the respective substrate (1a, 1b), wherein the starting mixture (K) comprises a mixture of dipolar, rod-shaped molecules (5) and semi-mesogenes (4) as active constituents, and wherein the starting mixture (K) forms a thin layer having a wide-meshed, anisotropic network (9) produced by photo-polymerization between the structured or/and flat conductive layers (2a, 2b), which are applied onto a substrate (1a, 1b), in a thin-film cell (D). According to the invention, an optically active surface profile (O) is incorporated on the inner surface of a substrate (1a or 1b) or into the substrate (1a or 1b) or both substrates (1a and 1b).Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignees: FokusTec GmbHInventors: Klaus Hoffmann, Joachim Stumpe, Thomas Fischer, Michael Rutloh
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Patent number: 11500267Abstract: A variable diaphragm is provided. The variable diaphragm includes: first and second substrates opposite to each other; a light detector on a side of the first substrate distal to the second substrate, and configured to detect an intensity of incident light and generate a first signal; an electrowetting microfluid medium layer between the first and second substrates, and including transparent and opaque fluid mediums immiscible with each other, wherein an aperture of the variable diaphragm is formed by the transparent fluid medium, and one of the transparent and opaque fluid mediums is conductive; and a driving electrode between the first and second substrates, and configured to receive a driving voltage corresponding to the first signal and for driving the electrowetting microfluid medium layer, so as to change an area of an orthographic projection of the opaque fluid medium fluid medium on the second substrate, thereby changing a diameter of the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Xianqin Meng
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Patent number: 11281066Abstract: A light distribution control device includes: first upper electrodes and second upper electrodes disposed alternately in a first direction; first lower electrodes and second lower electrodes disposed alternately in a second direction that crosses the first direction; light transmissive regions disposed between an upper electrode set consisting of the first upper electrodes and the second upper electrodes and a lower electrode set consisting of the first lower electrodes and second lower electrodes; and colored electrophoretic particles and a dispersion medium contained in a space between light transmissive regions. Each of the first upper electrodes extends along the space between light transmissive regions. Each of the second upper electrodes extends along a line of light transmissive regions. Each of the first lower electrodes extends along the space between light transmissive regions. Each of the second lower electrodes extends along a line of light transmissive regions.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: TIANMA JAPAN, LTD.Inventors: Kunihiro Shiota, Ken Sumiyoshi, Masanori Shirokawa
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Patent number: 11265980Abstract: A device includes a plurality of first LEDs, a plurality of second LEDs, at least one controllable current source that is configured to generate at least one bias current for driving the plurality of first LEDs and the plurality of second LEDs, and a plurality of measurement circuits, each of which is configured to measure a current-voltage (I-V) performance characteristic of at least one of the plurality of first LEDs. A property of a first bias current of the at least one bias current is determined as a function of at least two measurements of the I-V performance characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of first LEDs, and the at least two measurements of the I-V performance characteristic are acquired while the first bias current is applied to the at least one of the plurality of first LEDs and the plurality of second LEDs.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2020Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Michael Yee, Ramakrishna Chilukuri, William Thomas Blank, Ilias Pappas
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Patent number: 11209688Abstract: Provided are a method for producing a reflective layer having excellent diffuse reflectivity and a reflective layer having excellent diffuse reflectivity. The method for producing a reflective layer of the present invention includes Step 1 of applying a composition containing a liquid crystal compound and a chiral agent onto a substrate and heating the applied composition to align the liquid crystal compound into a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase state, and Step 2 of forming a reflective layer by cooling or heating the composition so that the helical twisting power of the chiral agent contained in the composition in the cholesteric liquid crystalline phase state increases by 5% or more.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Shunya Katoh, Rie Takasago
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Patent number: 11143693Abstract: A system includes a plurality of first LEDs, a plurality of second LEDs, a first controllable current source that is configured to generate a first bias current for driving a first one of the plurality of first LEDs and a plurality of first ones of the plurality of second LEDs, a first measurement circuit that is configured to measure a first current-voltage (I-V) performance characteristic of the first one of the plurality of first LEDs, and a lens that is arranged to receive light from the plurality of second LEDs. A property of the first bias current is determined as a function of at least two measurements of the first I-V performance characteristic that are acquired while the first bias current is applied to the first one of the plurality of first LEDs and the plurality of first ones of the plurality of second LEDs.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Michael Yee, Ramakrishna Chilukuri, William Thomas Blank, Ilias Pappas
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Patent number: 10529266Abstract: An electronic apparatus with a detection function includes a normal function circuit, a dummy function circuit and a processing module. The normal function circuit operates according to an operation signal. The dummy function circuit operates to generate a result signal according to a test signal and is a small size circuit of the normal function circuit. The test signal and operation signal are same function signals, and the test signal has an electrical characteristic larger than that of the operation signal. The processing module generates the operation signal and the test signal at the same time, accumulates an operation time of the dummy function circuit, and determines whether the dummy function circuit is faulty by detecting the result signal. When the dummy function circuit is faulty, the processing module calculates a remaining lifetime of the normal function circuit according to the test signal, the operation signal and the operation time.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATIONInventor: Yu-Jung Huang
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Patent number: 10473944Abstract: A display device, a glasses-free three-dimensional display system and virtual reality (VR) glasses are disclosed. The display device includes a backlight; a polarizer disposed on a light-emitting side of the backlight and a plurality of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) stacked on a light-emitting side of the polarizer. Each LCD includes a plurality of light adjusting units; the light adjusting units of the plurality of LCDs are staggered from each other; and the light adjusting unit is configured to allow light emitted by the backlight to be refracted and emitted to a target position or be totally reflected.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ming Yang, Qian Wang, Xiaochuan Chen, Wenqing Zhao, Pengcheng Lu, Rui Xu, Lei Wang, Xiaochen Niu, Jian Gao, Haisheng Wang
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Patent number: 10422792Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices and kits for detecting binding between two molecules using a liquid crystal.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADOInventors: Daniel K. Schwartz, Patrick S. Noonan
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Patent number: 10382844Abstract: An optical switch with a plurality of actuators includes a controller configured to control the operation of a plurality of channels, where each channel has at least one electrical driver and at least one actuator, by interleaving periods of voltage switching output with periods of no voltage switching output for one or more drivers whilst the output voltage is switching from one level to another level. Alternatively, an optical switch with a plurality of actuators comprises a controller configured to control the operation of a plurality of channels, where each channel has at least one electrical driver and at least one actuator, by switching the output voltage from one level to another level for at least one driver of a first channel whilst at least one oilier driver of at least one other channel is in a relatively high impedance mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2015Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Huber+Suhner Polatis LimitedInventor: Ramses Pierco
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Patent number: 10310318Abstract: A display apparatus includes a first substrate, a first shielding layer, a first optical film, a second substrate, and a display medium. The first shielding layer is located on the first substrate and has a first alignment pattern. The first optical film is located on the first substrate. The first optical film has a second alignment pattern on a side edge of the first optical film. The first alignment pattern and the second alignment pattern are overlapped with each other. The second substrate is located opposite to the first substrate. The display medium is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Au Optronics CorporationInventors: Min-Chou Lu, Chun-Sheng Li
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Patent number: 10304390Abstract: A voltage-programmed display system allows measurement of effects on pixels in a panel that includes both active pixels and reference pixels coupled to a supply line and a programming line. The reference pixels are controlled so that they are not subject to substantial changes due to aging and operating conditions over time. A readout circuit is coupled to the active pixels and the reference pixels for reading at least one of current, voltage or charge from the pixels when they are supplied with known input signals. The readout circuit is subject to changes due to aging and operating conditions over time, but the readout values from the reference pixels are used to adjust the readout values from the active pixels to compensate for the unwanted effects.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Ignis Innovation Inc.Inventors: Gholamreza Chaji, Joseph Marcel Dionne, Yaser Azizi, Javid Jaffari, Abbas Hormati, Tong Liu, Stefan Alexander
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Patent number: 9526141Abstract: A system and method for the automatic color/brightness adjustment of a video display screen, panel, module or other display component comprising light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). The system and method incorporate a reference LED and a light sensor on each module and use decay information sensed from each reference LED to determine the amount of decay experienced by the display LEDs in the modules. Each module will be adjusted to have one uniform color/brightness level based on the decay information sensed from each reference LED.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2012Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Lighthouse Technologies LimitedInventors: Shinsaku Kikkawa, Kui Lai Curie Chan
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Patent number: 9402290Abstract: A system and method for the automatic color/brightness adjustment of a video display screen, panel, module or other display component comprising light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). The system and method incorporate a reference LED and a light sensor on each module and use decay information sensed from each reference LED to determine the amount of decay experienced by the display LEDs in the modules. Each module will be adjusted to have one uniform color/brightness level based on the decay information sensed from each reference LED.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignees: Lighthouse Technologies Limited, Lighthouse Technologies (Huizhou) LimitedInventors: Shinsaku Kikkawa, Kui Lai Curie Chan
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Patent number: 9291855Abstract: A light modulation layer of a display panel in the present invention includes shape-anisotropic members and liquid crystal molecules. The projected area of the shape-anisotropic members on a first substrate and a second substrate is changed by altering the voltage applied to the light modulation layer, which changes the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. According to the present invention, it is possible to increase light use efficiency with a simple configuration and to control light/dark switching in both directions at a high switching speed. The present invention is applicable to a television.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Eiji Satoh, Kohzoh Nakamura, Hisashi Watanabe, Takahiro Nakahara
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Patent number: 9238776Abstract: Methods of forming a liquid crystal blue phase from composite materials having a chiral nematic liquid crystal host and a bent-shape molecule are described. The stable temperature range of the liquid crystal blue phase may be improved by controlling the thickness of the composite materials. For example, a given composition may have a maximum stable temperature range for the liquid crystal blue phase at about 1 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2012Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: East China University of Science and TechnologyInventor: Zhigang Zheng
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Patent number: 9234136Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having a negative dielectric anisotropy which contains at least one self-aligning additive, especially at least one additive selected from the group of the compounds of the formula IA to ID in which R1A, R1B, R1C, L1-12, R1D, Ring l, u, v, w, x, y, z and m have the meanings indicated in Claim 4 and to the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the VA, PSA and PS-VA effect in LC displays.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2012Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBHInventors: Graziano Archetti, Andreas Taugerbeck, Renate Bender, Ming-Chou Wu
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Patent number: 9085730Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal (LC) composition, a LC cell thereof, and a LC device thereof. The LC composition comprises (i) a mixture of two or more nematic liquid crystals, and (ii) at least one chiral dopant. The mixture of the liquid crystals can exist in a blue phase within a temperature range of from about 12-60° C. such as 21-28° C. The LC device can be a blue phase mode liquid crystal display (BPLCD) based on such a room-temperature blue phase LC. The BPLCD requires no alignment, and it exhibits merits such as a fast switching time (e.g. sub-millisecond), a low switching voltage and a large field-induced birefringence, among others.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Kent State UniversityInventors: Liang-Chy Chien, Lu Lu, Jeoung Yeon Hwang
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Patent number: 9016937Abstract: An electrical temperature sensor (10) comprises a liquid crystalline material (12). First and second electrically conductive contacts (14), (16), having a spaced relationship therebetween, contact the liquid crystalline material (12). An electric property measuring device is electrically connected to the first and second contacts (14), (16) and is arranged to measure an electric property of the liquid crystalline material (12). The liquid crystalline material (12) has a transition temperature T at which it undergoes a phase change between polar and non-polar phases. The phase change between polar and non-polar phases causes a change in said electric property of the liquid crystalline material (12).Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Syngenta LimitedInventors: Helen Frances Gleeson, Ingo Dierking, Sarabjot Kaur, Bruce Donaldson Grieve, Neville Christopher Paul Woodyatt, Paul Douglas Brimicombe
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Patent number: 8999196Abstract: The invention is to provide a new liquid crystal compound having a high clearing point, a good compatibility with other compounds, a small viscosity, and a high stability to heat, light and so forth; compound (1) is provided: R1CF2nR2??(1) wherein, for example, R1 is alkyl having 4 to 10 carbons or —(CH2)2—CH?CH2, R2 is alkyl having 2 to 10 carbons, n is 8, and R1 and R2 are not allowed to be straight-chain alkyl having an identical number of carbons.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignees: JNC Corporation, JNC Petrochemical CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Tanaka, Sayaka Fujimori
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Patent number: 8974694Abstract: A cholesteric liquid-crystal composition is described, which contains a liquid-crystal component and a chiral agent, and has a selective reflection wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 800 nm at 25° C.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignees: JNC Corporation, JNC Petrochemical CorporationInventors: Yasuhiro Haseba, Koki Sago, Takafumi Kuninobu, Shin-Ichi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8968842Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal composition including an alkenyl liquid crystal and an antioxidant component including at least one selected from an antioxidant and a derivative thereof. In an embodiment, the antioxidant component is present in an amount of greater than 0 ppm and equal to or less than about 10,000 ppm relative to the total weight of the liquid crystal composition.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jihong Bae, Kyungmin Kim, Min-Jae Kim, Min-Hee Kim, Euna Kim, Joon-Hyung Park, Keunchan Oh, Jinhyeong Lee
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Patent number: 8961824Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature thereof, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large negative dielectric anisotropy and specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light and heat, or having a suitable balance regarding at least two of the characteristics; an AM device having short response time, a large voltage holding ratio and contrast ratio, and a long life. A liquid crystal composition has a nematic phase and contains a specific straight-chain compound as a first component and a specific compound having a large dielectric anisotropy as second component, and may contain a specific compound having a high maximum temperature or small viscosity as a third component and a specific compound having a high maximum temperature or large dielectric anisotropy as a fourth component, and a liquid crystal display device includes the composition.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignees: JNC Corporation, JNC Petrochemical CorporationInventors: Takayoshi Yanai, Norikatsu Hattori, Hiroyuki Tanaka
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Patent number: 8956549Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium, characterised in that it contains a polymerisable component (A) containing one more polymerisable compounds and a liquid-crystalline component (B) containing one more compounds of the general formula I in which R, rings A1 and A2, Z1, Z2, Y1, Y2, X0 and r are as defined in Claim 1.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: Seung-Eun Lee, Eun Young Kim, Dong-Mee Song, Kyung-Ah Park, Sang-Hyun Park, Eun-Kyu Lee
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Patent number: 8945420Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-optical liquid-crystal display which contains, as dielectric, a liquid-crystalline medium having negative dielectric anisotropy and includes a backlight which essentially only emits light having a wavelength of 400 nm or more or has, between the liquid-crystal layer and the backlight, a cut-off filter which essentially only allows light having a wavelength of 420 nm or more to pass through. In particular, the liquid-crystalline medium comprises a) a (first) dielectrically negative component (component A) which consists of one or more dielectrically negative compounds of the formula I in which the parameters have the meanings indicated in claim 2, and a further (second) dielectrically negative component (component B).Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: Atsutaka Manabe, Kazuaki Tarumi, Hubert Spreitzer, Axel Jansen, Melanie Klasen-Memmer
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Patent number: 8932484Abstract: The liquid crystal composition has a negative dielectric anisotropy, and contains a specific bicyclic compound having a large optical anisotropy and negative dielectric anisotropy as a first component and a specific tricyclic compound having a large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and may contain a specific compound having a small viscosity as a third component, a specific compound having a large dielectric anisotropy and a small viscosity as a fourth component and a specific compound having a large dielectric anisotropy as a fifth component, and the liquid crystal display device includes the composition.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignees: JNC Corporation, JNC Petrochemical CorporationInventors: Norikatsu Hattori, Kazuhiko Saigusa
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Patent number: 8920674Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one characteristic including a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature thereof, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, dielectric anisotropy and specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and heat, or a liquid crystal composition having a suitable balance regarding at least two characteristics; and an AM device having a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio and contrast ratio and a long life; a liquid crystal composition has a negative dielectric anisotropy and contains a compound having a low minimum temperature as a first component and a compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and may contain a compound having a small viscosity as a third component and a compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy as a fourth component, and a liquid crystal display device containing the composition.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignees: JNC Corporation, JNC Petrochemical CorporationInventors: Takayoshi Yanai, Norikatsu Hattori, Hiroyuki Tanaka
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Patent number: 8804092Abstract: The present invention relates to modulation elements for electromagnetic radiation and to modulation devices and systems comprising these devices, such as e.g. television screens and computer monitors, as well as to micrometer wave components. The modulation elements according to the invention comprise a mesogenic modulation medium with a dielectric anisotropy, which shows two or more distinct transitions upon application of an electric field. The mesogenic modulation media used in the modulation elements for electromagnetic radiation are also a subject of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: Dagmar Klement, Atsutaka Manabe, Nobuo Kubo
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Patent number: 8790545Abstract: A composition for a liquid crystal film includes: 100 parts by weight of a vertically aligned liquid crystal mixture; 0.001-20 parts by weight of a chiral dopant; and 50-900 parts by weight of a solvent.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Dae-Hee Lee, Belyaev Sergey, Moon-Soo Park
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Publication number: 20140184968Abstract: Provided is a novel liquid crystal display device without deterioration of display quality. The liquid crystal display device includes a pixel for displaying a still image with a frame frequency of 1 Hz or lower. The pixel includes a liquid crystal element which includes a liquid crystal layer and has a cell gap of d (?m). The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal composition which includes a liquid crystal material. The helical pitch of the liquid crystal material is longer than or equal to 4d ?m and shorter than or equal to 8d ?m. With this structure, a change in voltage applied to a pixel can be kept within an acceptable range of a deviation in gray level for displaying the same image. Thus, flickers due to a low refresh rate can be reduced, which leads to an increase in display quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhiro NIIKURA, Momoko KATO, Daisuke KUBOTA, Makoto IKENAGA
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Patent number: 8760750Abstract: The thermally switched absorptive optical shutter may be a self-regulating “switchable absorber” device that may absorb approximately 100% of incoming light above a threshold temperature, and may absorb approximately 50% of incoming light below a threshold temperature. The shutter may be formed by placing a thermotropic depolarizes between two absorptive polarizers. This control over the flow of radiant energy may occur independently of the thermal conductivity or insulation of the shutter device and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. This has energy-efficiency implications as it can be used to regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The shutter device has unique optical properties that are not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or other building materials.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Ravenbrick LLCInventors: Richard M. Powers, Wil McCarthy
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Patent number: 8755105Abstract: The thermally switched reflective optical shutter is a self-regulating “switchable mirror” device that reflects up to 100% of incident radiant energy above a threshold temperature, and reflects up to 50% of incident radiant energy below a threshold temperature. Control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating value of the device, and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The device can be used as a construction material to efficiently regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The device can be tailored to transmit sufficient visible light to see through in both the transparent and reflective states, while still providing significant control over the total energy transmission across the device.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Ravenbrick LLCInventors: Richard M. Powers, Wil McCarthy
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Patent number: 8711312Abstract: A liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal material exhibiting a blue phase is provided to achieve higher contrast. Further, the power consumption of the liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal exhibiting a blue phase is reduced. In a liquid crystal display device including: a first substrate provided with a pixel electrode layer (also referred to as a first electrode layer); and a second substrate provided with a common electrode layer (also referred to as a second electrode layer), between which a liquid crystal layer exhibiting a blue phase is interposed, the pixel electrode layer and the common electrode layer project into the liquid crystal layer and are arranged so that the adjacent pixel electrode layer and common electrode layer engage with each other at a distance with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Kubota, Akio Yamashita, Tetsuji Ishitani, Tomohiro Tamura
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Patent number: 8696932Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid-crystalline polymer composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of a liquid-crystalline polymer and 1-150 parts by weight of the total weight of talc particles (A) and talc particles (B), wherein talc particles (A) have an aspect ratio of 3.1-5.0 and a median particle diameter of 5-100 ?m; and talc particles (B) have an aspect ratio of 1.0-3.0 and a median particle diameter of 5-100 ?m; wherein the weight ratio of talc particles (A)/talc particles (B) is from 1/9 to 9/1, and wherein the liquid-crystalline polymer composition according to the present invention exhibits improved molding flowability without impairing mechanical properties.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Ueno Fine Chemicals Industry, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroto Uchida, Hitoshi Tsuchiya
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Patent number: 8675167Abstract: A polymer dispersed display apparatus includes a polymer layer, and a plurality of liquid crystal drops dispersed in the polymer layer. Quantum dots emitting a plurality of colors of light are mixed in the liquid crystal drops. Therefore, the polymer dispersed display apparatus displays colors without the need for a color filter. Thus, the polymer dispersed display apparatus need not include a polarization plate and a color filter, so that a light usage efficiency of the polymer dispersed display apparatus increases.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae-eun Jang, Seung-nam Cha, Jae-eun Jung, Yong-wan Jin
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Patent number: 8658057Abstract: A liquid crystal polyester resin composition for camera modules is used, the composition including, based on 100 parts by mass of the composition as a whole, (A) 49.5 to 69.5 parts by mass of a liquid crystal polyester, (B) 30.0 to 50.0 parts by mass of an irregular form or spherical powder having a Mohs hardness of 5 or higher and a primary particle diameter of 5 ?m or less, and (C) 0.5 to 5.0 parts by mass of carbon black. The use of the resin composition allows a reduction in the amount of dust generated (particles falling off) during the production of the camera, the use of the camera, and the operation of the camera modules. The resin composition has high surface hardness, is excellent in balance between heat resistance, stiffness, moldability, and resistance to falling of particles off a surface, and causes no malfunction during autofocus control.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy CorporationInventors: Toshio Nakayama, Satoshi Murouchi
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Patent number: 8654303Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention is arranged such that a retardation of a liquid crystal layer which obtained while no voltage is applied falls within ±(a value which is one-tenth of a main wavelength) of a value obtained by adding natural number times the main wavelength to a total retardation of at least one optical compensation film. This allows suppression of a transmittance during no voltage application.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2008Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yohei Nakanishi
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Patent number: 8610867Abstract: Provided are a liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display (LCD) including the liquid crystal composition. The LCD includes a first display panel a second display panel facing the first display panel, and a liquid crystal composition disposed between the first display panel and the second display panel. If a dielectric constant in a direction parallel to a long axis of liquid crystals is defined as a horizontal dielectric constant ??, a dielectric constant in a direction perpendicular to the long axis of the liquid crystals is defined as a vertical dielectric constant ??, and the difference between the vertical dielectric constant ?? and the horizontal dielectric constant ?? is defined as dielectric anisotropy ??, then a ratio ??/?? of the dielectric anisotropy ?? to the vertical dielectric constant ?? of the liquid crystal composition is 0.5 or less.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Dong-Gyu Kim, Kyoung-Ju Shin, Jong-Ho Son, Yong-Kuk Yun, Jun-Pyo Lee, Seunng-Soo Baek
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Patent number: 8603596Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an illuminator and a liquid crystal panel for performing displaying by using light which is emitted from the illuminator. The liquid crystal panel includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer provided therebetween. The liquid crystal layer is formed of a liquid crystal material which contains molecules having at least one of a carbon-carbon triple bond and a polycyclic group. The illuminator includes a light source causing primary generation of at least blue light, among other light which is used for displaying.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koichi Miyachi
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Patent number: 8551358Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium, characterised in that it contains a polymerisable component (A) containing one more polymerisable compounds and a liquid-crystalline component (B) containing one more compounds of the general formula I in which R, rings A1 and A2, Z1, Z2, Y1, Y2, X0 and r are as defined in Claim 1.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2009Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Merck Patent GmbHInventors: Seung-Eun Lee, Eun Young Kim, Dong-Mee Song, Kyung-Ah Park, Sang-Hyun Park, Eun-Kyu Lee
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Patent number: 8545718Abstract: A wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid-crystal polyester resin composition, comprising 5 to 40 parts by volume of titanium oxide (B) and 5 to 40 parts by volume of barium sulfate (C) with respect to 100 parts by volume of a wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid-crystal polyester (A); wherein the total of the (B) component and the (C) component with respect to 100 parts by volume of the (A) component is 15 to 45 parts by volume.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy CorporationInventors: Toshio Nakayama, Miyuki Shiraishi
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Patent number: 8545719Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal polyester composition, comprising (i) 100 parts by weight of a liquid crystal polyester, and (ii) 65 to 100 parts by weight of a combination of a fibrous filler with a plate-like filler, wherein the fibrous filler has a number-average fiber diameter of 5 to 15 ?m, and a number-average aspect ratio of 20 to 40, and a content ratio by weight of the fibrous filler to the plate-like filler is more than 1.0 and 1.6 or less; and a process for producing the liquid crystal polyester composition comprising a step of melt-kneading the above respective components with one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Shintaro Komatsu, Yoshiyuki Fukuhara, Hiroshi Harada
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Patent number: 8477484Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a case having an opening, and at least one retaining section is adjacent to the opening. At least one retaining pin is arranged in each of the at least one retaining section. The electronic apparatus further includes a cover to cover the opening. The cover includes at least one fixing section engaging with the at least one retaining section. A receiving chamber is arranged in each of the at least one fixing section to receive a clamp section of a resilient piece clamping the at least one retaining pin. The resilient piece is movable when the retaining pin is clamped by the clamp section arranged in the receiving chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Chih-Hao Lin
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Patent number: 8349209Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal composition having an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase used in an element driven in a state of an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase, which comprises a compound 1 having the clearing point T1 and a compound 2 having the clearing point T2, and which has the clearing point Tx, wherein the liquid crystal composition comprises 10 to 80 wt % of compound 1 and 20 to 90 wt % of compound 2, and wherein the clearing point T1, the clearing point T2 and the clearing point Tx of the liquid crystal composition satisfy the following conditions: T1>T2 T1?Tx?100° C.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignees: JNC Corporation, JNC Petrochemical CorporationInventors: Yasuhiro Haseba, Hirotsugu Kikuchi
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Publication number: 20120327356Abstract: An unpolarized light beam phase modulator emitting in a given wavelength range comprises at least one cell containing a liquid crystal having a helical structure and means for applying a voltage to said cell, said liquid crystal having a torsion elastic constant greater than its twisting elastic constant so as to ensure continuous stable behavior voltage-wise, said liquid crystal having a sufficient number of turns and in which the axis of the turns is in the light-propagation direction, making it possible to obtain an optical effect generated by the liquid crystal on the electrical field that is identical regardless of the direction of this electrical field, said cell being transparent in said wavelength range.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2011Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventors: Umberto Rossini, Bruno Mourey
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Patent number: 8329058Abstract: A photodisplay device in which an optically addressed image can be viewed indefinitely, erased and readdressed with a new image is disclosed. Optically responsive reversible photochiral materials are incorporated into a bistable cholesteric liquid crystal in an electrooptic display cell. A high resolution image exposed on the cell is fixed by a low voltage pulse to unpatterned electrodes and can be, at a later time, erased with a high voltage pulse.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2007Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignees: Kent Displays Incorporated, Kent State UniversityInventors: Quan Li, Lisa M. Green, J. William Doane, Asad A. Khan, Nithya Venkataraman, Irina Shiyanovskaya
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Publication number: 20120293763Abstract: This invention provides an exposure apparatus that can inhibit visual recognition of display unevenness at a joint portion even if scanning temporarily stops during scanning exposure, as well as a liquid crystal display device and a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device. This invention is an exposure apparatus for exposing a photoalignment film provided on a substrate. The exposure apparatus includes a light source and a photomask, and exposes the photoalignment film through the photomask while scanning the light source or the substrate. When a direction in which the light source or the substrate is scanned is taken as a scanning direction, and a direction that is orthogonal to the scanning direction is taken as a vertical direction, the photomask includes a first region and a second region that is adjacent to the first region in the vertical direction. The first region includes a plurality of first transparent portions inside a first light-shielding portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2010Publication date: November 22, 2012Inventors: Iichiro Inoue, Koichi Miyachi