Abstract: A composite material includes a cholesteric liquid crystal; a polymer which is distributed in phase-separated domains and provides an effective form-retention property for the composite material; and an additional material which is dissolved in the cholesteric liquid crystal and maintains a cholesteric phase of the liquid crystal and bistability of a focal conic state and a planar state of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: Monocular and stereoscopic color display systems, wherein passive cholesteric liquid crystal (LC) filter/mirrors and active variable retarder type LC arrays are used in combination to produce low cost, high resolution, multicolor and full color displays, suitable for use as advertising, automotive, aircraft, computer, games and electron instrumentation displays.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display assembly (10) can function in either a transparent or reflective mode. The assembly consists of a reflective-type liquid crystal display cell (12) placed in front of an electrochromic panel (14). When a display driver (16) activates the electrochromic panel, it absorbs light. When the driver energizes segments (15) of the reflective-type liquid crystal display cell, they become reflective, providing a visual image to an observer. When the electrochromic panel is not activated by the driver, it is transparent or translucent, allowing the observer to see completely through the liquid crystal display assembly.

Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal display ("LCD") and methods of operating and manufacturing the LCD. The LCD includes: (1) a controllable cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) located between first and second substrates, the controllable CLC selectively exhibiting an "on" state and an "off" state and having a circular polarity of a predetermined handedness when the controllable CLC is in the "on" state and (2) a circular polarizer, located proximate the first substrate and having a circular polarity of a particular handedness, that cooperates with the controllable CLC to increase the difference between the relative brightness of the "on" state and the "off" state, whereby a contrast ratio of the cholesteric LCD is increased.

Abstract: A composite material includes a cholesteric liquid crystal; a polymer which is distributed in phase-separated domains and provides an effective form-retention property for the composite material; and an additional material which is dissolved in the cholesteric liquid crystal and maintains a cholesteric phase of the liquid crystal and bistability of a focal conic state and a planar state of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel including at least two liquid crystal layers, and a color filter having two color portions. One of the liquid crystal layers includes solid regions and liquid crystal dispersing regions arranged adjacent to the solid regions. Picture electrodes are arranged on the first plate, on the liquid crystal dispersing regions, and on the solid regions, at positions corresponding to the color portions of the color filter. A common electrode is arranged on the second plate. The picture elements on the liquid crystal dispersing regions and on the solid regions are connected to the conductors on the first plate by connecting members extending through the solid regions. Therefore, the liquid crystal layers can be independently controlled.

Abstract: A compact lightweight display system which can be used as a collimating eyepiece is provided. The system utilizes a cholesteric liquid crystal device in combination with an optical doublet. A partially reflective coating is at the interface between the two singlets which comprise the doublet. The design of this system reduces the number of element to air and/or element to element interfaces, thus reducing losses and ghosting while making a sturdier, more vibration tolerant display system.

Abstract: A new liquid crystalline light modulating cell and material are characterized by liquid crystalline light modulating material of liquid crystal and polymer, the liquid crystal being a chiral nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy and including chiral material in an amount effective to form focal conic and twisted planar textures, the polymer being distributed in phase separated domains in the liquid crystal cell in an amount that stabilizes the focal conic and twisted planar textures in the absence of a field and permits the liquid crystal to change textures upon the application of a field. In one embodiment, the material is light scattering in a field-OFF condition and optically clear in a field-ON condition, while in another embodiment, the material is optically clear in a field-OFF condition and light scattering in a field-ON condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical elements having image-forming, color- and polarization-selective reflection and containing cholesteric liquid crystals, and to the preparation and use of these elements. In the wavelength- and polarization-selective elements which form an optical image, at least one cholesteric liquid crystal is enclosed in the cavity of constant thickness between two light-transmitting substrates having curved surfaces in such a way that the helix axis of the liquid crystal is aligned perpendicular to the curved surface of the light-transmitting substrates. The elements are suitable for use as beam splitters or recombiners in projection displays.

Abstract: An improvement in a light modulating chiral nematic liquid crystal adapted to form focal conic and twisted planar textures and a liquid crystal device employing such a material, the improvement wherein the liquid crystal material includes a plurality of essentially distinct regions within which the liquid crystal has different pitch lengths, whereby the liquid crystal can be made to reflect different wavelengths of light in different regions. The regions are created by including in the chiral nematic liquid crystal composition, a chiral material adapted to change its chirality upon photo-irradiation, in an amount effective to change the pitch length of the liquid crystal composition upon photo-irradiation. By exposing different regions of the material to increasing amounts of photo-irradiation, the pitch length of each region can be selectively tuned to reflect light of a different wavelength.

Abstract: Surfactant-containing multistable cholesteric liquid crystal displays exhibit ultra fast response times with both video speed and gray scale capability.

Abstract: A light modulating apparatus containing cholesteric liquid crystals capable of indefinite zero field retention of optical images, including full color and complete gray scale capability, is described. This invention is predicated on establishment of zero field multistable liquid crystal domains representing a continuous distribution of states ranging from the highly reflective planar to the light-scattering focal-conic structures. The zero field multistable domain structure stability is achieved by controlling solid surface-liquid crystal boundary interactions to provide essential equalization of the total system energy of each of the domain structures. This is the first time this equalization, and thus zero field multistability, has been achieved without the use of a polymer gel addition to create rigid polydomains in the liquid crystal mix.