Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a bottom substrate with thin film transistors and pixel electrodes, and a top substrate with a black matrix and color filters. Each pixel electrode has an opening pattern, and each color filter has a groove corresponding to the opening pattern. A common electrode is formed on the black matrix and the color filters, and vertical alignment layers are formed on the common electrode and the pixel electrodes, respectively. A liquid crystal layer bearing negative dielectric anisotropy is interposed between the substrates. The liquid crystal layer contains monomers, and a polymer is formed at the liquid crystal layer between the opening pattern of the pixel electrode and the groove of the color filter.

Abstract: An electro-optically active polymer gel material comprising a high molecular weight alignment polymer adapted to be homogeneously dispersed throughout a liquid crystal to control the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules and/or confer mechanical stability is provided. The electro-optically active polymer gel comprises a homogenous gel in which the polymer strands of the gel are provided in low concentration and are well solvated by the small molecule liquid crystal without producing unacceptable slowing of its electrooptic response. During formation of the gel, a desired orientation is locked into the gel by physical or chemical cross-linking of the polymer chains. The electro-optically active polymer is then utilized to direct the orientation in the liquid crystal gel in the “field off” state of a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a liquid crystal display device, in which a pretilt angle and a tilt direction upon application of a voltage of liquid crystal molecules are controlled by using a polymer and is to provide a method for producing a liquid crystal display device that provides good display characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimension display apparatus which includes a liquid crystal display; a first polarizer on the rear surface of the liquid crystal display; a second polarizer on the front surface of the liquid crystal display; a liquid crystal polymer being on the second polarizer and including a chiral dopant and liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal polymer is divided into first regions through which incident light is not polarized and second regions through which the incident light is polarized at 90 degrees. A third polarizer on the liquid crystal polymer selectively transmits the incident light from the liquid crystal polymer. A light source below the first polarizer.

Abstract: An electrically tunable microlens array. The array is formed by pattern photopolymerization of photoreactive mixtures comprising a polymerizable material and liquid crystals; wherein the photopolymerization is characterized by the interaction of multiple-wave mixing. The liquid crystals are contained as droplets in regions between the polymerized material.

Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal display with gray scales is disclosed which includes a substrate, a patterned first conductor disposed over the substrate, and a layer including a cholesteric liquid crystal material dispersed over the first patterned conductor. The display further includes a patterned second conductor disposed over the lay including cholesteric liquid crystal, and control means for applying voltages across particular portions of the patterned first and second conductors to cause electric fields to portions of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer to directly change its reflectance into a plurality of reflectance. The gray scale of the display can be obtained by a single pulse voltage independent of the initial state of the said display.

Abstract: Simplified manufacturing method for active matrix type semipermeable liquid crystal display devices also having improved productivity. In a manufacturing method for an active matrix type semipermeable liquid crystal display device, an interlayered insulator film is formed and processed in process A for forming an interlayered insulator film on a silicon layer forming the source and drain of the TFT; in a process B for forming a photoresist layer on the interlayered insulator film; in a process C for forming the photoresist layer in a designated pattern using a mask formed with a pattern below the resolution limit in the section for forming the reflecting electrode; in a process D for patterning the photoresist layer made in process C as the etching mask for etching the interlayered insulator film. After the process D, a source electrode, signal lines, drain electrode and reflecting electrode are simultaneously formed from the metallic film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal polyester resin comprising 1 to 500 mmol % of a recurring unit derived from 4-hydroxyisophthalic acid and/or salicylic acid as a comonomer and 10 to 5,000 ppm in terms of an alkali metal of an alkali metal compound. This resin has excellent colorability, improved heat resistance and high mechanical properties.

Abstract: Two electric fields that are directed to respective directions rectangular relative to each other are selectively applied to polymer dispersed liquid crystal by means of electrodes arranged to sandwich the polymer dispersed liquid crystal and electrodes arranged along a substrate to uniformly orient the liquid crystal in either of the directions. While conventional polymer dispersed liquid crystal is adapted to utilize scatter of light in a randomly oriented state, the polymer dispersed liquid crystal of this invention is adapted to utilize a uniformly oriented state to improve the efficiency of scattering light. The present invention is also applicable to devices where polymer dispersed liquid crystal has a memory property.

Abstract: A stacked liquid cell, such as a stacked liquid crystal cell, comprises a stack of liquid layers and substrate layers between which the liquid layers are dispersed. The stack comprises a liquid and polymeric substrate layers made from a stratified-phase-separated composite. Being part of a stratified-phase-separated composite, in particular one manufactured in accordance with a single-substrate method, the polymeric layer may have a relative small thickness compared a conventional substrate layer which results in a stacked liquid cell having a reduced thickness or, more particular, a stacked liquid cell having a reduced thickness between subjacent liquid layers giving a reduction in parallax effects. A method of manufacturing a liquid cell involves stratifying, on a substrate, a layer of stratified-phase-separable composition into a liquid layer and a polymeric layer to form a stratified-phase-separated composite, the polymeric layer serving as one of the substrate of the liquid cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display in which a polymeric component included in a liquid crystal layer is polymerized while adjusting a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer to regulate the direction of alignment of liquid crystal molecules during polymerization and a method of manufacturing the same. The invention provides a liquid crystal display in which image sticking is mitigated and a method of manufacturing the same. In a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display in which a liquid crystal composition including a polymeric component that is optically or thermally polymerized is sealed between substrates and in which the polymeric component is polymerized while applying a voltage to the liquid crystal composition to regulate the direction of alignment of liquid crystal molecules during driving, a configuration is employed such that a polymerization initiator in the liquid crystal composition has a concentration x that satisfies 0≦x≦0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polymerizable liquid-crystalline compounds for the production of optical elements having color- and polarization-selective reflection, and to optical elements comprising these compounds in monomeric or polymerized form.

Abstract: Optical diffusion element comprises a layer of polymer particles self-fused together, each polymer particle having a refractivity varying from the center to the periphery thereof and a component for the periphery having a glass transition temperature that is desirably lower than 100° C. The optical diffusion element is desirably provided with an optical transparent layer in contact with the polymer particle layer.

Abstract: A polymer or organic light emitting display may be formed on a substrate by patterning the light emitting material using a screen printing technique. In this way, displays may be formed economically, overcoming the difficulties associated with photoprocessing light emitting materials. A binary optic material may be selectively incorporated into sol gel coatings coated over light emitting elements formed from the light emitting material. A tricolor display may be produced using a light emitting material that produces a single color.

Abstract: A stratified-phase-separated composite comprises a liquid layer, such as a liquid crystal layer, and a polymeric layer. In order to obtain a more complete stratification resulting in less liquid being present in the polymeric layer, the polymeric layer is crosslinked. The stratified composite is preferably obtained by photo-polymerization induced phase-separation of a phase-separable composition provided on a single substrate or dispersed between two opposite substrates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal material provided between two substrates. The invention further relates to methods of providing such a liquid crystal device and to its use for decorative, cosmetic, diagnostic and security applications or for optical information storage.

Abstract: A known display device consists of a sheet-like support which is covered with liquid thermocromic crystals. The crystals are tempered by individual power supply to individual heatable elements, which lie close to the crystals and are placed between the sheet-like support and the crystals. The crystals assume different shades of color dependent on the given temperature so that hereby the color of the crystals will form a certain pattern. In order to improve the possibilities to control the tempering of the individual crystals and also protect them from being effected by the ambient temperature and from mechanical damage, the crystals have an underlying arrangement which is controlled to cool down th crystals and/or keep the sheet-like support of the crystals at a certain temperature. This temperature is lower than the temperature, at which the crystals are colored. Further the crystals are covered by a coating of lacquer over the complete sheet-like support.

Abstract: A liquid crystal/cured composite layer is formed by sandwiching a mixture of a liquid crystal with an uncured curable compound i.e. a curable compound represented by a structure of an acryloyl group—(OR1)n—O-mesogen structural portion-O—(R2O)m-acryloyl group structure (wherein each of R1 and R2 is a C2-6 alkylene group, and each of n and m is from 1 to 10), between a pair of substrates provided with transparent electrodes, and curing the curable compound.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystal display device comprising two substrates facing and spaced from each other, at least one of the substrates being transparent, electrodes positioned to establish an electric field in the space between the two substrates, one or more photoinitiator or enhancing (PIE) elements located between the substrates, one or more polymer elements located primarily in the vicinities of the PIE elements, the polymer elements located between the two substrates and having been polymerized in situ in response to the PIE material carried on or within the PIE elements, and electrooptic material filling at least a portion of the space between the two substrates.

Abstract: A light-modulating, electrically responsive privacy screen includes a transparent substrate and an electrically conductive layer formed over the substrate. The privacy screen further includes a light-modulating layer disposed over the electrically conductive layer and including at least one dispersable light-modulating material and coalescence limiting material into which the dispersible light-modulating material(s) is provided so that such dispersible light-modulating material coalesces to form a set domains having at least two optical states, the first optical state being present in the absence of an electrical field and the second being caused by the application of an electrical field and wherein one of the optical states cause the light-modulating layer to be transparent and the other optical state causes the light-modulating layer to restrict a user viewing through the privacy screen and thereby provide an appropriate level of privacy.

Abstract: A neutral polarizer has a dichroic polarizing sheet and a polarizing and scattering sheet laminated on the dichroic polarizing sheet. The polarizing and scattering sheet has anisotropy in light scattering properties depending on a direction of polarization, and has an optical axis showing intense scattering properties. Scattering intensity of linearly polarized light having a polarization direction of the optical axis is greatly dependent on wavelength. An absorption axis of the dichroic polarizing sheet and the optical axis of the polarizing and scattering sheet are in parallel to each other. A liquid crystal display is provided so that this neutral polarizer is disposed on a light source side of a liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: Liquid crystal pigments comprising at least one layer of liquid crystalline polymer material with a helically twisted molecular structure wherein the helical axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the layer and which show reflection of circularly polarized light, some prepared in which the bandwidth of the reflected wavelength band is at least 100 nm. These pigments are suitable for use in reflective films or coatings for decorative applications, cosmetic compositions, and pharmaceutical compositions, optical elements, and security applications.

Abstract: New photopolymerizable liquid crystalline dioxetane compounds are provided having the general formula I: wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from straight or branched C1-C4 alkyl and hydrogen; X and X′ are independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, a single covalent bond, —O—CO—, —CO—O—, and —O—CO—O—; Y and Y′ are spacer groups having each independently 1 to 30 carbon atoms (linear or branched), in which the carbon chain may be interrupted by oxygen in the ether function or by sulfur in the thioether function; Z and Z′ are independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, a single covalent bond, —O—CO—, —CO—O—, and —O—CO—O—; and M is any suitable mesogenic group. Also, compositions are provided containing one or more compounds of formula I, as well as methods of preparing said compounds and compositions.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises first and second opposed spaced-apart cell walls enclosing a layer of a liquid crystal material. Electrodes are provided on at least one cell wall for applying an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material. The first cell wall is provided with a first surface layer substantially comprising a polymerised aligned mesogenic material, which surface layer is in contact with the liquid crystal material. Preferably the alignment of the polymerised mesogenic material is substantially uniform across substantially the entire area of the display. The inner surface of the second cell wall may be provided with a similar second surface layer, preferably wherein the anchoring energy and/or order parameter of the liquid crystal adjacent the two surface layers is different.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The method comprises filling the space between two facing substrates with a mixture of pre-polymer and liquid crystal material, applying an external source of energy to initiate a polymerization, wherein as the polymerization proceeds a phase separation of the polymer and liquid crystal is generally also proceeding, after initiation of polymerization and before completion thereof, adjusting a parameter that affects one or both of the rates of polymerization and phase separation, so as to produce a variation in the polymerized structure, wherein the variation is a result of the rates of polymerization and phase separation being adjusted during the course of polymerization.

Abstract: Sheet-like structures obtainable by thermal curing and having a crosslinked cholesteric liquid crystalline ordered structure are suitable, for example, for decorative coatings, for producing security marks, pigmentary particles, polarizers, color filters and IR reflectors.

Abstract: An O-plate compensator is manufactured by dissolving a polyimide polymer material incorporating a plurality of bulky side-chain groups in a first solvent to form a first solution, applying the first solution to a substrate, evaporating the first solvent to form an alignment layer, buffing the alignment layer, dissolving a polymerizable liquid crystal material in a second solvent to form a second solution, applying the second solution to the alignment layer, evaporating the second solvent to form a thin film of polymerizable liquid crystal material (with a nematic phase, an alignment-layer interface having a liquid crystal pretilt angle of between approximately 25 and 65 degrees, and an air interface), adjusting the temperature of the thin film to obtain a uniform specified orientation of a director of the thin film, and polymerizing the thin film with ultraviolet radiation to achieve a liquid crystal pretilt angle of between approximately 25 and 65 degrees at the air interface.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device has a liquid crystal layer of a liquid crystal composition comprising a discotic mesomorphic compound and a rod-shaped mesomorphic compound. The discotic mesomorphic compound and the rod-shaped mesomorphic compound are essentially mutually different in molecular structure and refractive index anisotropy and are co-present in the liquid crystal layer in a mutual phase separation state, thus improving a light-scattering performance of the liquid crystal device.

Abstract: A process for alignment of rod-like liquid crystal molecules comprises the steps of: forming an orientation layer for vertical alignment on a support; and forming a liquid crystal layer containing rod-like liquid crystal molecules on the orientation layer to align the rod-like liquid crystal molecules at an average inclined angle of 50 to 90°.

Abstract: A device main body is formed portable, which includes (i) an information writing/erasing section which erases information recorded in a liquid crystal paper and returns the liquid crystal paper into an initialized state in which information recording is possible, and records information previously stored in the device main body into the initialized liquid crystal paper as required, and (ii) a sheet holding section which holds the liquid crystal paper in such a manner that the liquid crystal paper can be transported to an information erasure position and an information recording position in the information writing/erasing section and that the liquid crystal paper is curved at portions thereof other than those at which information recording and erasing is carried out. With this, it is possible to provide an information recording device with improved operability, such as improved portability and capability of easily reading out information at any place.

Abstract: A polarization-sensitive beam splitter comprising at least one transparent wedge-shaped element of a birefringent material is made by providing each one of two substrate plates with an orientation layer, whereafter the substrate plates are arranged with their orientation layers facing each other while forming a wedge-shaped interspace. The interspace is filled with a liquid crystalline monomer composition, which is subsequently cured while forming a wedge-shaped element of a uniaxially oriented polymer material. After possible removal of the substrate plates, two or three of such wedge-shaped elements can be joined to a Wollaston prism for use in the pick-up element of a magneto-optical recording system.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel crosslinkable, photoactive polymers from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof, and to their use as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems. The polymers contain as side-chains photo-crosslinkable groups of the following formula: The broken line indicates the point of linkage to the polymer main chain. In addition, A, B each independently of the other represents unsubstituted or optionally fluoro-, chloro-, cyano-, alkyl-, alkoxy-, fluoroalkyl- or fluoroalkoxy-substituted phenylene, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl, piperidine-1,4-diyl, piperazine-1,4-diyl; C represents unsubstituted or optionally fluoro-, chloro-, cyano-, alkyl-, alkoxy-, fluoroalkyl- or fluoroalkoxy-substituted phenylene, or pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, pyridine-2,5-diyl, 2,5-thiophenylene, 2,5-furanylene, 1,4- or 2,6-naphthylene.

Abstract: A cholesteric film is formed into an optical device comprising a plurality of layers. The cholesteric film is initially placed in a first predetermined state, for instance heating to a first predetermined temperature, and is then irradiated with narrow band UV radiation. The properties of an upper layer of the film are fixed, for instance for reflecting normally incident infrared radiation of a particular handedness. This process is repeated for different wavelengths of UV fixing radiation so as to penetrate to different depths from the surface of the film in order to form the layers. This method may be used to produce a filter of reduced sensitivity to angle of incidence. In addition to the infrared reflecting layer, red and green reflecting layers are provided. For normally incident radiation, the red and green layers reflect red and green parts R and G, whereas the blue part B of the spectrum is transmitted.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic film obtained from a mixture comprising a polymer and a liquid crystal compound, wherein retardation of the optically anisotropic film at 80° C., 60° C. or 0° C. measured from a normal direction is 20-97%, 20-99% or 101-150%, respectively, of retardation at 30° C., and an absolute value of a deviation in retardation by said liquid crystal compound is not greater than 6% when the optically anisotropic film is held at 30% for 200 hours, has the temperature dependence in accordance with the temperature dependence of retardation of a liquid crystal display cell, and a small variation of retardation by the liquid crystal compound with the lapse of time, and thus is suitable for use in a liquid crystal display apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is an optical element comprising a biopolymer having an oriented structure and a photoresponsive compound, such as a photochromic compound, wherein at least a portion of the photoresponsive compound is incorporated within the oriented structure of the biopolymer and wherein the oriented structure is laminar with the planes of the laminar orientation being aligned perpendicular to a surface of the optical element. Preferably, the biopolymer is a liquid crystal polypeptide, such as ferroelectric liquid crystal poly(&ggr;-methyl-L-glutamate), and the photochromic compound is bacteriorhodopsin. Such optical elements may be utilized in a holographic grating, in an optical correlator system such as for pattern recognition, in a dynamic holographic recording system, and in an optical switch.

Abstract: A surface mode liquid crystal device is made by forming a cell containing a mixture of a liquid crystal and a pre-polymer. An electric field is applied across the cell to arrange the liquid crystal in a predetermined surface mode state, such as the V state in the case of a pi-cell configuration. The liquid crystal is held in this state by the field while the pre-polymer is polymerized or cross-linked, for instance by ultraviolet irradiation. The electric field is then removed. The polymer stabilizes the predetermined surface mode state, for instance preventing relaxation of the V state to twist or splay state in the pi-cell configuration.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a counter substrate having a counter electrode and a multi-layered dielectric film both formed thereon, and an array substrate formed with pixel electrodes and thin-film transistors serving as switching elements. A layer of polymer dispersed liquid crystal material containing a UV-curable resin component and a liquid crystal component is sandwiched and sealed between the counter and array substrates. A light shielding film is formed over each thin-film transistor. The multi-layered dielectric film is a laminated structure of alternating thin-films of SiO2 and HfO2. Since the multi-layered dielectric film is of a nature capable of transmitting UV-rays of light therethrough, the UV-curable resin component positioned underneath the multi-layered dielectric film can be cured during the manufacture.

Abstract: In order to reduce the effects of impact on liquid crystal devices a polymer network is introduced into ferroelectric liquid crystal cells. A liquid crystal device comprises two spaced cell walls each bearing electrode structures and treated on at least one facing surface with an alignment layer, a layer of a smectic liquid crystal material enclosed between the cell walls, characterised in that the liquid crystal material contains a small amount of monomer. The liquid crystal material may also contain a photoinitiator. The monomer material may be cured to produce the polymer networks the curing many be carried out in the presence of an electric or magnetic field. Further, the monomer may be cured in an isotropic or liquid crystal phase.

Abstract: An electro-optic material that is characterized by short reaction times when working with a low drive voltage. For that, the electro-optic material has a lamellar liquid crystal (10), which contains one or more components and into which chiral molecules (20), whose longitudinal axes (m) are longer than the longitudinal axes of the molecules (10) forming the lamellar liquid crystal, are introduced at a predefined concentration, so that the longitudinal axes (m) of the chiral molecules (20) are tilted, without an external electric field, statistically by a predefined angle (&thgr;m) toward the normal (z) of the layer of the lamellar liquid crystal (10).

Abstract: A reflective type liquid crystal display device in accordance with the present invention includes a reflector film having excellent polarization preservation properties and an anisotropic diffusing film for diffusing only the light polarized in a particular direction. The anisotropic diffusing film is composed of a complex of liquid crystal and a polymer and selectively diffuses incident light. If a liquid crystal layer composed of dichroic dye and liquid crystal is employed, it becomes possible to carry out high contrast display with the anisotropic diffusing film and the reflector film and to prevent reflections of nearby objects appearing on the screen.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display of the present invention includes a first electrode provided on a substrate, a first liquid crystal layer provided on and in contact with the first electrode, a second electrode provided on and in contact with the first liquid crystal layer, a second liquid crystal layer provided on and in contact with the second electrode, and a third electrode provided on and in contact with the second liquid crystal layer. The display may further include a third liquid crystal layer provided on and in contact with the third electrode, and a fourth electrode provided on and in contact with a third liquid crystal layer. By reducing the thickness of the liquid crystal layers relative to a conventional liquid crystal display, and by providing a plurality of liquid crystal layers, the voltage level required to cause the liquid crystal display to change visual states is substantially reduced without affecting the degree of visual change exhibited by the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: Cationically curable adhesives and sealants with increased viscosities and improved rheological control and good storage stability are prepared using a cationically curable monomer and a thickening polymer which is the alkylation reaction product of poly(4-hydroxystyrene) or poly(2-hydroxystyrene) with a compound RX where R is allyl, methallyl, crotyl or prenyl and X is Cl, Br or I. The cationically curable monomer suitably includes at least one alkenyloxystyrene monomer. Such thickened adhesives are useful as edge sealants for flat panel display devices. A-stage curing of the adhesive with UV irradiation allows for near ambient temperature fixturing of the device assemblies and B-stage thermal curing of the adhesive can be conducted at much lower temperatures than are needed for glass frit sealants. The B-stage cured products have thermal resistance, outgassing and substrate adhesion properties adequate for flat panel display devices.

Abstract: The synthesis of novel compound (I) is described: 5-bromo-2-iodopyrimidine may be used for the synthesis of a range of chemical compounds both known and novel. The synthesis of a number of novel liquid crystalline compounds is described.

Abstract: A circular dichroism optical element having the solidified layer of a liquid crystal polymer comprising a Grandjean oriented cholesteric liquid crystal phase, a liquid crystal display apparatus using the optical element, and a liquid crystal polymer composed of, as the component, a copolymer comprising at least two kinds of specific acrylic monomer units.

Abstract: Compounds of formula ##STR1## are provided which may be used in a variety of devices including liquid crystal devices, piezoelectric devices, pyroelectric devices and in optical recording media, wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are independently selected from H, CN, COCH.sub.3, CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3, m=at least 5; X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 are independently selected from formula (IA), ##STR2## wherein Y is selected from COO, OCO, O, S, CHOH, CHF, CH.sub.2 ; Q=(CH.sub.2).sub.n wherein one or more non-adjacent methylenes may be replaced by O and n=1-20; Z is selected from O, S, single covalent bond, COO, OCO; when Y is CH2 then n may also be O; formula (A) ##STR3## represents any mesogenic group; X3 and X.sub.4 are also independently selected from H, OH, OCOR.sup.1, COOH, CO.sub.2 R.sup.1 (CH.sub.2).sub.p OH, (CH.sub.2).sub.p CO.sub.2 H, --(CH.sub.2).sub.p OR.sup.1 or --(CH.sub.2).sub.p CO.sub.2 R.sup.1 and p=1-20, R.sup.1 =H or C.sub.1=16 alkyl, when R.sup.1 =C.sub.2-16 alkyl the terminal Ch.sub.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a cholesteric liquid-crystal polymer, an electrolyte, and an aqueous medium is hermetically interposed between a pair of electrodes and an electric field is applied to the assemblage to control the display color. The liquid crystal composition can be provided in the form of a transparent solution of a cholesteric liquid-crystal polymer (e.g. a cellulose derivative such as a hydroxyalkylcellulose), an electrolyte (e.g. a water-soluble inorganic salt), and an aqueous medium (e.g. an aqueous solvent with a water content of 80 to 100 weight %). Using a cholesteric liquid-crystal polymer, a display device whose display color can be controlled with an electric field is provided.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates; and an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer includes a polymer dispersed liquid crystal material having a polymer phase and a liquid crystal phase, and fulfills the conditions represented by: R.multidot..DELTA.n>0.3 and 8R<d where d represents the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the unit of micrometers, R represents the characteristic length of the liquid crystal phase in the unit of micrometers, and .DELTA.n represents the birefringence of a liquid crystal material forming the liquid crystal phase, and the liquid crystal phase fulfills the conditions represented by: R.multidot..DELTA.n>0.35 and d<1.

Abstract: A high efficiency, narrow spectral linewidth lasing pixel device that implements a low-voltage spatially patterned variable loss element placed inside an optically pumped high-gain laser cavity is disclosed. The output properties of this system make it useful for digital projection displays.

Abstract: In order to the effects of impact on liquid crystal devices a polymer network is introduced into ferroelectric liquid crystal cells. A liquid crystal device comprises two spaced cell walls each bearing electrode structures and treated on at least one facing surface with an alignment layer, a layer of a smectic liquid crystal material enclosed between the cell walls, characterised in that the liquid crystal material contains a small amount of monomer. The liquid crystal material may also contain a photoinitiator. The monomer material may be cured to produce the polymer network; the curing may be carried out in the presence of an electric or magnetic field. Further, the monomer may be cured in an isotropic or liquid crystal phase.

Abstract: An optical information storage material which can reversibly store said information comprising a polymeric material with a dependence of optical activity on temperature characterized in that the optical activity is substantially invariant at temperatures below Tg of said polymer, and variant at a temperatures at or near or above the Tg.