Abstract: A photoinitiator is represented by general formula (I): ##STR1## where n is an integer of 1 or greater; A and B are each a trans cyclohexane ring or a benzene ring, the benzene ring being allowed to include a fluorine atom or a methyl group as a substituent, the benzene ring adjacent to a carbonyl group being allowed to include a fluorine atom or a methyl group as a substituent; p and q are each 0 or 1, p and q are not simultaneously 0; X is an alkyl group of C.sub.1 through C.sub.3 or hydrogen atom, Y is a methyl group, ethyl group or alkoxy group of C.sub.1 through C.sub.3, and Z is a methyl group, ethyl group, alkyl-substituted phenyl group or a group represented by general formula (II), Y and Z being allowed to bonded together to form a ring: ##STR2## where A, B, n, p and q are identical with those in general formula (I).

Abstract: A liquid crystal element is equipped with at least one polarizer provided on a light entering side thereof, an insulating substrate on which transparent electrodes, a light reflecting member having a light reflecting surface on one side thereof, and a liquid crystal layer sealed between the insulating substrate and the reflecting member, in which liquid crystal molecules and liquid-crystalline polymers are both twist-aligned through a same angle. In the case of a dark display, incident light linearly polarized enters the liquid crystal layer, becoming circularly polarized light at the reflection surface, and after being reflected, when outgoing, the light becomes a linearly polarized light having a plane of polarization rotated through an angle of 90.degree. as compared with that of the incident light.

Abstract: A retardation film made of a polymerized liquid crystal material of the present invention includes: a first region having a first flat surface pattern; and a second region having a second flat surface pattern, wherein a thickness in the first region is different from that in the second region, thereby retardations in the first region and in the second region are different from each other.

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 SiO.sub.2 and HfO.sub.2. 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: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal electro-optical device comprising a liquid crystal polymer complex layer having a liquid crystal and a polymer, wherein said liquid crystal and said polymer are aligned in the same direction when no electric field is applied, and an electrode structure formed on each side of said liquid crystal polymer complex layer for applying an electric field to said liquid crystal polymer complex layer to align said liquid crystal along the electric field so as to render said liquid crystal polymer complex layer in a light-scattering state.

Abstract: Known liquid crystal cells have a nematic liquid crystal configuration and, in accordance with this configuration, are referred to as TN or STN cells. It is true that such cells are adequate for many applications. However, their image quality is dependent to a very great extent on the user's angle of view. Furthermore, TN and STN cells require a continuously applied signal voltage if it is intended to display or store information on one. Bistable liquid crystal cells having a ferroelectric, chiral smectic liquid crystal layer do not have these disadvantages of nematic display cells. However, the commercial production of such bistable display cells has scarcely become established to date. This is in particular because they are not very suitable for reliably storing information or do not permit absolutely equivalent switching between the two bistable positions of the director. The invention now proposes a novel, bistable liquid crystal cell which avoids precisely these disadvantages.

Abstract: The display device, which is devoid of display defects and capable of being drived with low power, comprises a large number of microcapsules 10 in which disperse systems of charged particles 2 in a liquid dispersion medium 4 are encapsulated, and a pair of transparent electrodes 14 faced to each other disposed such that these microcapsules 10 is sandwiched therebetween. The diameters of the charged particles 2 are about 1/1000 to about 1/5 of the particle diameters of the microcapsules 10, and the charged particles 2 are dispersed such that the dispersion degree of the particle diamter distribution, expressed as volume-average particle diameter/number-average particle diameter, ranges from 1 to about 2, where the volume-average particle diameter indicates an average particle diameter derived from a volume-based particle diameter distribution and the number-average particle diameter indicates an average particle diameter derived from a number-based particle diameter distribution.

Abstract: Methods for loading and alignment of liquid crystal polymers in electro-optic and electro-active devices comprise in-situ polymerisation between substrates of monomer material in the presence of a cationic initiator. This allows for the synthesis of liquid crystal polymers containing polyether backbones.

Abstract: This invention provides, in an easy manner, a film-like moulded article which shows a selective reflection of a wavelength and circularly polarized light. A suitable environment for formation of a liquid crystalline phase is prepared by forming a moulded article (thin film-like moulded article) using a cellulose derivative which can form the liquid crystalline phase (e.g. a water-insoluble cellulose derivative such as ethyl cellulose), and allowing the moulded article to absorb a highly volatile organic solvent by contact with its vapour. After formation of the liquid crystalline phase, removal of the organic solvent provides the object moulded article. The thin film-like moulded article can be employed for an optical element of a circular polarized light-generator or a decoration material.

Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display element for use in an electronic apparatus wherein the display element operates in a PDLC mode or reverse PDLC mode providing for reduction of visual display haze, improved display contrast. The particular medium includes a liquid crystal portion and a polymer portion and may include a chiral component. In cases where visual display haze and contract is a particular problem in the utility of the reverse PDLC display element, such as in the case where the display element is combined with a solar battery, a sufficient amount of dichroic dye is added to the liquid crystal portion of the medium, and, further, a compound showing no fluorescence emission with respect to a liquid crystal portion, or a polymer or a chiral polymer precursor portion of the medium, is employed.

Abstract: Liquid crystal composite materials containing organic compounds enable the lowering of the drive voltage of liquid crystal display devices and of liquid crystal display devices of a polymer-dispersion type. The liquid crystal composite materials can be used in liquid crystal display devices and PDLC devices with a scattering layer having a liquid crystal and a polymer between the electrodes. A ter phenyl derivative can also favorably be used in the liquid crystal composite materials and in the liquid crystal display devices.

Abstract: Liquid crystal polymer materials used in liquid crystal devices, piezoelectric devices, pyroelectric devices and recording media are described.

Abstract: A method for the loading and alignment of liquid crystal polymers in electro-optic and electro-active devices by in-situ polymerization between substrates of liquid crystal monomers. The molecular weight of the resulting liquid crystal polymer is controlled by the addition of a chain transfer reagent, for example, a thiol-containing compound which may be a liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display having a liquid crystal mixture of cholesteric and nematic liquid crystal materials and a method of manufacturing the display. A polymer-liquid crystal mixture, obtained by mixing a mixture of cholesteric and nematic liquid crystals with a polymer compound, is sealed in a plurality of cells between two substrates having respective electrodes. Various mixtures are used in different cells so that different colors can be displayed.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device is described. The device has a pair of substrates having at least an electrode film and an alignment film, and a complex made of a ferroelectric liquid crystal material and a polymer material disposed between the substrates. The complex has a network structure such that the network structure stabilizes the orientation of molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material. Directions of pretilt angles of the molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material located at interfaces between the substrates and the ferroelectric liquid crystal material are substantially identical. The ferroelectric liquid crystal material has a chevron layer structure, and a bending direction of the chevron layer structure is substantially identical to the directions of the pretilt angles of the molecules at the interfaces.

Abstract: This invention is comprised of new nonlinear optic polymers and a new Lanir-Blodgett (LB) film deposition scheme for which these polymers were designed. The invention is unique because it produces an electro-optic film which has never undergone electric-field poling nor high temperature treatment. It eliminates the dilution effect of the long hydrophobic alkyl groups, and creates stronger ionic bonds between the polymer chains. Finally, the invention reduces the time to make a film of a given thickness by at least half by virtue of depositing two polymer layers per stroke. The new polymers are comprised of asymmetric chromophores linked head-to-head by alternating two different kinds of bridging groups. One of the bridging groups contains one or more ionic groups, and the other bridging group contains one or more non-ionic, hydrophilic groups.

Abstract: An electrooptical system is disclosed in which a PDLC film is positioned between 2 electrode layers. The PDLC film contains a liquid crystal mixture forming microdroplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix. The liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of formula I ##STR1## wherein R, A.sup.1, A.sup.2, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, Q, Y and n as herein defined, and one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds. The PDLC film exhibits improved switching times, especially at low temperatures.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element comprising a pair of substrates with electrodes and a liquid crystal/polymer composite material which is composed of a liquid crystal and a polymer and interposed between the pair of substrates, wherein the polymer phase of the liquid crystal/polymer composite material is a polymeric cured product of a polymerizable curable material comprising an addition-polymerizable compound presented by the following formula (1):CXY=CZ--CO--O--R--OH (1)wherein each of X, Y and Z is --H or --CH.sub.3, and R is a bivalent hydrocarbon group which has 4 to 8 carbon atoms in total and at least one carbon atom between the carbon atom bonded to the ester linkage and the carbon atom bonded to the hydroxyl group in the formula (1), and may have at least one linkage selected from the group consisting of an ether linkage, an ester linkage and a carbonate linkage, substituted for one or more carbon--carbon linkages.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device including: a liquid crystal/polymer composite film including matrix polymer composed mainly of a transparent resin having an ionic dissociative group and, dispersed therein, a liquid crystal particle; and conductive substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal/polymer composite film therebetween, at least one of the conductive substrates being transparent.

Abstract: This invention is a method of manufacturing liquid crystal device, wherein a high molecular liquid crystal layer of the device is formed by applying a high moleculer liquid crystal solution to form an active layer on the substrate and evaporating the solvent, and as high molecule liquid crystal, for example, high molecular liquid crystal having a structure formula as following is utilized.

Abstract: A film of photosensitive material is illuminated from first and second sides with coherent polarized light so as to form an interference pattern within the film. Regions of cyclicly varying refractive index are provided in the film in accordance with the intensity of the interference patten, thereby forming an polarization sensitive refractive index grating. The refractive index grating may be used as a polarization and wavelength dependent mirror, patterned polarizer, beamsplitter or filter.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes substrates opposed to each other, a polymeric layer patterned into a predetermined pattern, and a liquid crystal layer at least partially surrounded by the polymeric layer. The polymeric layer and the liquid crystal layer are interposed between the substrates. The polymeric layer is at least partially formed by polymerizing a liquid crystalline polymerization precursor in a state where the molecules of the liquid crystalline polymerization precursor are aligned in a predetermined direction by an alignment regulating force of at least one of the substrates.

Abstract: For use in the display screen of a teleconferencing system, a shutter capable of assuming alternative transparent and scattering states and a method of manufacture therefor. In one embodiment, the shutter includes a film of a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) composition of a polymer and a liquid crystal material wherein the liquid crystal material makes up about 78% by weight of the film. The film is cured at a temperature ranging from about 32.degree. C. to about 38.degree. C., thereby decreasing the time it takes for the film to switch between the transparent and scattering states. The shutter further includes first and second layers of a transparent conductor for containing the film therebetween and driver circuitry, coupled to the film, for causing the film to have a response time equal to or less than 8 ms.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of retardation layers comprising high-molecular weight liquid-crystalline material for liquid-crystalline displays. The invention is directed to a retardation layer for a liquid-crystalline display comprising high-molecular weight liquid-crystalline material, wherein the dispersion has been adapted to that of the active liquid-crystalline cell by varying the mesogenic groups of the high-molecular weight liquid-crystalline material, so that the difference in dispersion between the active cell and the retardation layer in the wavelength area of 400-800 nm is not more than 0.1.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to monofunctional reactive terphenyls of formula I ##STR1## in which R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2 =CW--COO--, ##STR2## HWN--, CH.sub.2 =CH--, CH.sub.2 =CH--O-- or HS--CH.sub.2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --COO-- with W being H, Cl or alkyl with 1-5 C atoms and m being 1-7,P is alkylene with up to 12 C atoms, it being also possible for one or more non adjacent CH.sub.2 groups to be replaced by --O--,L.sup.1 is H or F,X is --O--, --S--, --COO--, --OCO-- or a single bond,u is 0 or 1,n is an integer 1 to 8, andm is an integer 2 to 8.

Abstract: A polymerizable, chiral compound of the formula (I):(Z--Y.sup.1 -A-O--CO--O-M-Y.sup.2).sub.n X (I)where:A, M, Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2, X, n and Z are as defined herein; and which compound is suitable for use in electro-optical displays or as chiral dopes for nematic or cholesteric liquid crystals for the production of layers which reflect in colors.

Abstract: A thin film comprising a discotic compound having diacetylene groups at the side chain moiety thereof, and a compound represented by formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group or an aryl group.

Abstract: A single substrate polymeric cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) device useful in display applications such as for high efficiency polarizers and color filters is created by a process that coats a first substrate with a polyimide layer and a second substrate with an amorphous fluoropolymer layer. Both layers are buffed and liquid CLC material is placed between the grooved layers. After annealing, the amorphous fluoropolymer coated substrate is removed, leaving the CLC material bonded to a single substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed are a film composed of an oriented polymer matrix and a liquid crystalline compound contained therein. The oriented polymer matrix is generally formed by polymerization of a discotic compound having a polymerizable group and a liquid crystalline compound. Further, a process for preparation of the film and a liquid crystal display in which the film is employed as liquid crystal of a liquid crystal cell, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device including a pair of electrode substrates and a display medium sandwiched between the electrode substrates and including a polymeric wall and liquid crystal regions at least partly surrounded by the polymeric wall. In this liquid crystal display device, the polymeric wall is tightly attached to both the electrode substrates. Furthermore, the invention also provides a method for producing a liquid crystal display device including a pair of electrode substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and a display medium including a polymeric wall and liquid crystal regions at least partly surrounded by the polymeric wall and sandwiched between the electrode substrates.

Abstract: Provided an image forming method comprising the steps of;forming electric charges on a recording layer by charging the recording medium comprising a conductive substrate and, provided thereon a photoconductive layer and a recording layer containing a polymeric liquid crystal compound, in this order;irradiating, after the step of charging, said recording medium with a light corresponding to an image information to move electric charges to said photoconductive layer; andwriting said image information by means of changing a birefringence of the recording layer caused by said movement of electric charges.

Abstract: A reversible display medium capable of repeatedly exhibiting a transparent state and a light-scattering state by an action of at least one of heat, electric field, and magnetic field, the medium comprising a substrate having thereon a recording layer comprising a side-chain high molecular weight liquid crystal, which is a copolymer comprising at least a liquid-crystal monomer component and a non-liquid-crystal monomer component having a substituent capable of making a hydrogen bond.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a substrate having a modified orientation layer and a liquid-crystalline display device comprising such a substrate. The orientation layer is made from a polymer and is modified with organic groups which induce a pretilt in the liquid-crystalline material when they are used in a liquid-crystalline display device. According to the invention, for modifying the orientation layer use is made of a precursor compound of the organic groups which is vaporized, whereafter the substrate carrying the orientation layer is exposed to the vapour formed in the process. Preferably, the orientation layer comprises hydroxyl groups such as PVA, and a carboxylic acid halogenide such as an alkyloyl chloride is used as the precursor. A further favourable combination comprises orientation layers of polyamide acid and alkylamine precursor compounds.

Abstract: The polymeric compound of this invention is represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein A represents a hydrogen atom or ##STR2## B represents a hydrogen atom or ##STR3## each of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 represents independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, each of m and n represents independently an integer of 0 to 14, each of p and q represents independently 0 or 1, and each of Y1 , Y.sub.2, Y.sub.3, and Y.sub.4 represents independently a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, with the proviso that both A and B are not hydrogen atoms, p is 0 when m is 0, and q is 0 when n is 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrooptical systemwhich between 2 electrode layers contains a liquid crystal mixture and a further optically transparent polymer medium, in which one of the electrode layers is in the form of an active matrix having nonlinear addressing elements integrated with the image point, while the other electrode layer forms the counter electrode,whose liquid crystal molecules have irregular orientation in the switched-off state,in which one of the refractive indices of the liquid crystal mixture is substantially the same as the refractive index of the medium n.sub.m and/or in which the quotient from the weight of the liquid crystal mixture and the weight of the optically transparent medium is 1.

Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display element for use in an electronic apparatus wherein the display element operates in a PDLC mode or reverse PDLC mode providing for reduction of visual display haze, improved display contrast. The particular medium includes a liquid crystal portion and a polymer portion and may include a chiral component. In cases where visual display haze and contract is a particular problem in the utility of the reverse PDLC display element, such as in the case where the display element is combined with a solar battery, a sufficient amount of dichroic dye is added to the liquid crystal portion of the medium, and, further, a compound showing no fluorescence emission with respect to a liquid crystal portion, or a polymer or a chiral polymer precursor portion of the medium, is employed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal polymer or copolymer is disclosed of structure (A) where X=CN, COR, CO.sub.2 R, CHO, CF.sub.3 ; R=branched chain, straight chain or chiral alkyl; .rect-hollow.=any suitable mesogenic group; Z=single covalent bond, oxygen, sulfur, CO.sub.2 or OCO; n=1 to 20; Y=H, OH, F, OCH.sub.3 ; m=3 to 200; P=a single covalent bond, oxygen, or OCO.

Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid crystal display provided with an optical compensatory sheet comprising an optically anisotropic layer which has negative birefringence and comprises a polymer having a discotic structure in its molecule, and an optical compensatory sheet which comprises a transparent support, an orientation layer provided thereon and the optically anisotropic layer provided on the orientation layer. Further, a process for preparation of the optical compensatory sheet and a liquid crystal composition which is useful as material for preparing the optical compensatory sheet are also disclosed.

Abstract: The information recording medium of the present invention comprises an information recording layer made of acrylic resin or metacrylic resin 11 being laminated on an electrode layer 13, a liquid crystal phase 12 being dispersed and fixed on said information recording layer, whereby said acrylic resin or metacrylic resin has weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 100,000, electrostatic information can be permanently recorded and stored as visible information, and the visible information can be reproduced at any desired time. Further, the visible information can be easily erased by heating, and medium can be re-used.