Abstract: In the driving of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal panel in which an antiferroelectric liquid crystal is inserted between a pair of substrates having a plurality of scanning electrodes and signal electrodes on the opposing surfaces thereof and there are arranged matrix forming pixels, by providing the period for bringing all the pixels simultaneously to the antiferroelectric state each time the display state of any one of the pixels is changed, the setting to the antiferroelectric state is completely carried out so that the period required for the writing of the pixels can be reduced, even if the length of the selection period for setting to the antiferroelectric state is the same as that of the selection period for setting to the ferroelectric state.

Abstract: Provided are an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition consisting essentially of (a) a swallow-tailed compound of the formula (1), (b) an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compound of the formula (2), and (c) a phenyl ester compound of the formula (3), and a liquid crystal display device using the composition, ##STR1## The above anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition has an anti-ferroelectric phase in a broad temperature range, has a high response time I in the transition from an anti-ferroelectric state to a ferroelectric state and a proper response time II in the transition from a ferroelectric state to an anti-ferroelectric state, and can therefore provide an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal display device having high display quality.

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: An antiferroelectric liquid crystal display apparatus with a high display quality is provided wherein the display screen in the absence of an applied voltage is free from unevenness when power is turned off. An intrinsic antiferroelectric axis direction is set at the midpoint between the average molecular axis direction when the liquid crystal panel is in a rightward-tilted antiferroelectric state and that when it is in a leftward-tilted antiferroelectric state, and the polarization axis of a polarizer is oriented in the same direction as the intrinsic antiferroeelctric axis direction. The rightward-tilted antiferroelectric state refers to a displacement from the average molecular axis direction in the antiferroelectric state, after returning from the rightward-tilted ferroelectric state, while the leftward-tilted antiferroelectric state refers to a displacement from the average molecular axis direction in the antiferroelectric state, after returning from the leftward-tilted ferroelectric state.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a first electrode substrate having a transparent electrode array, and a second electrode substrate having a second transparent electrode array which extends perpendicularly to the electrode array of the first substrate. The substrates overlap each other with separation walls interposed therebetween. The separation walls are formed in the spaces between individual transparent electrodes of one of the arrays and extend in parallel therewith. Liquid crystal, such as antiferroelectric liquid crystal, fills the space between the two electrode substrates. The liquid crystal near the separation walls is not properly oriented, and light leaks therethrough in the dark state of the liquid crystal. To prevent the light leakage, metal electrodes are formed along the separation walls so that the metal electrodes intercept the light passing through the liquid crystal near the separation walls. Thus, a high display contrast is realized.

Abstract: A manufacturing method includes a process of once heating a liquid crystal material to a temperature at which an isotropic phase appears therein and then cooling the liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal material being a ferroelectric liquid crystal or antiferroelectric liquid crystal, to be performed under an applied AC electric field which generates an electroclinic effect in a temperature range of from a temperature 20.degree. C. above a phase transition temperature at which a transition in phase occurs from a smectic A phase to a chiral smectic C phase to a temperature 20.degree. C. below the phase transition temperature.

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: The present invention relates to an antiferroelectric liquid crystal display device, by which a time (namely, a ferroelectric saturation time tr) required for transition of the state of a liquid crystal, which has been in a dark state, to a saturated bright state is reduced. A method of establishing a precedent driving period in such a manner as to be precedent to a selective driving period and of obtaining a value, at which the ferroelectric saturation time tr is minimized, of a synthetic voltage from a scanning signal and a display signal in the precedent driving period. A device using the value obtained by this method. In the precedent driving period, a voltage, whose voltage value is .vertline.Vx.vertline., is applied to the liquid crystal. In a selective driving period, a voltage, which is different in polarity from the voltage value .vertline.Vx.vertline. and has a voltage value is .vertline.Vz.vertline., is applied thereto. In other periods, a voltage having a voltage value of 0 is applied thereto.

Abstract: An antiferroelectric liquid crystal display device includes: an active matrix type LC cell and an antiferroelectric liquid crystal sealed in the cell. Liquid crystal molecules aligned to one of a first aligning direction and a second aligning direction are aligned in the other aligning direction in accordance with an applied voltage, thus forming a plurality of regions of different alignment states in a range shorter than a wavelength of light in a visible light band, and directions of said directors are changed in accordance with a ratio of regions in a first alignment state to regions in a second alignment state. The liquid crystal molecules may behave along a predetermined cone by a phase transition precursor in accordance with an applied voltage. The liquid crystal molecules may behave so as to be inclined in a direction perpendicular to an electric field, in accordance with an applied voltage.

Abstract: ?I! An optically active compound of the formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a linear alkyl group, each of X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or one of X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom and the other is a fluorine atom, each of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or one of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom and the other is a fluorine atom, m is an integer of 3 to 10, and C* is an asymmetric carbon atom,?II! an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition consisting essentially of the optically active compound of the above formula (1) and a compound of the formula (2), ##STR2## and ?III! a ferrielectric liquid crystal composition consisting essentially of the optically active compound of the formula (1) and a compound of the formula (3).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display has a pair of transparent electrodes, an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal therebetween, a polarizer and an analyzer attached to the electrodes. The smectic layers are perpendicular to the electrodes and the liquid crystal has a twisted structure. The directors on the surfaces on the two electrodes are symmetrically aligned with respect to the polarization axis of the polarizer so that the average optical axis of the liquid crystal coincides with the polarization axis of the polarizer. In absence of applied electric field, the incident light through the polarizer passes through the liquid crystal slab with maintaining its polarization. However, when an electric field is applied, the liquid crystal molecules experiences some degree of distortion and the average optical axis rotates. Therefore, the incident light passes through the liquid crystal slab with rotating the polarization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spatial light modulator comprising a photoconductor having a current rectifying function and a liquid crystal layer having an antiferroelectric phase as a phase of the liquid crystal located between a pair of transparent electrodes, having a wide viewing angle and high-speed response, capable of reproducing a light-input dynamic picture including half-tone display, and being stable and reliable. Moreover, a liquid crystal display device which can be downsized by comprising a spatial light modulator, comprises a photoconductor having current rectifying function and a liquid crystal layer having the antiferroelectric phase as a phase of the liquid crystal located between a pair of transparent electrodes, a display device to input light to the photoconductor and a power source to apply the driving voltage to the spatial light modulator can be provided.

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: An antiferroelectric liquid crystal device of the present invention includes at least a first antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell and a second antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell, wherein the first and second antiferroelectric liquid crystal cells respectively have an antiferroelectric liquid crystal material interposed between a pair of electrode substrates each having an electrode film and an alignment layer, and the first and second antiferroelectric liquid crystal cells are disposed so that a normal to an antiferroelectric liquid crystal layer of the first antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell is orthogonal to a normal to an antiferroelectric liquid crystal layer of the second antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell.

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: An anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compound of the following general formula (1), and an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition containing it, ##STR1## wherein R is a linear alkyl group, A is --O-- or --COO--, m is an integer of 5 or greater, n is an integer of 1 to 3, each of X and Y is independently a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, and C* is asymmetric carbon.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel has a memory function that is reliable for a long time. The panel employs a ferroelectric or antiferroelectric liquid crystal material involving at least two kinds of layer structures of minimum energy. The layer structures are defined at least by (1) a c-director parameter that is in parallel with substrates of the panel and has at least one minimal value, or (2) an a-director parameter that is orthogonal to the substrates and has at least one maximal value. Due to these layer structures, the panel is stable, resistant to mechanical and electrical stress, reliable in operation, and excellent in memory function.

Abstract: Striped electrodes are formed on upper and lower substrates respectively, and a plurality of partition members are formed in a striped fashion so that a plurality of parallel sealed linear interstices R, each having a rectangular section, are formed between the substrates. A upper-side rubbing direction crosses a lower-side rubbing direction at a predetermined angle, and the direction of extension of each of the partition members is caused to fall within the above cross angle. An antiferroelectric liquid crystal is sealed in the linear interstices, and the liquid crystal panel is cooled while proceeding from one end of the linear interstices to the other end thereof. The layer normal direction of liquid crystal molecular layer becoming irregular between the upper and lower substrates is prevented by the employment of the cross rubbing method to thereby avoid the occurrence of defects in the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A method of driving an antiferroelectric liquid crystal device, comprising a pair of substrates, each providing electrodes, insulating films and orientation films in this order thereon, which is arranged so as to be opposed to each other and interposes an antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition between the orientation films, wherein electrode on either one of the substrates comprises a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes in a matrix form and a thin film transistor at each point of intersection of the matrix, which comprises transmitting a signal from the scanning electrode to the thin film transistor to turn on and synchronistically applying a zero or positive selective voltage waveform corresponding to a desired display to the signal electrode of odd-numbered frames and a zero or negative selective voltage waveform corresponding to the desired display to the signal electrode of even-numbered frames.

Abstract: A liquid crystal electro-optical device has electrodes, a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent, thin-film transistors provided on one of the pair of substrates, and a ferroelectric or antiferroelectric liquid crystal material, or a ferroelectric or antiferroelectric liquid crystal material mixed with a polymer compound held between the pair of substrates. A particular relationship is established between spontaneous polarization of the liquid crystal material, a capacitance between pixel electrodes, a pulse voltage applied to gates of the transistors, a time constant of a pixel, a residual pixel voltage immediately before application of the next pulse, and other parameters.