Abstract: A method for fabricating a smectic LCD using oriented films that are treated by light radiation. Furthermore, the bonding of the LCD substrates is performed using light and pressure. The method includes forming a first substrate, a second substrate, and locating spacers on the first substrate. Then, oriented films are formed on the first and second substrates. Those substrates are then disposed in a facing relationship. Light irradiation then performs an orientation treatment on the oriented films. That light irradiation also bonds the substrates together. A liquid crystal is then interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: A conductive organic compound device structure suitable for constituting an electronic device, such as an organic EL device, is formed by including a pair of oppositely spaced electrodes, and a carrier transporting layer disposed between the electrodes and in contact with one of the electrodes. The carrier transporting layer comprises a conductive organic compound having a ?-electron resonance structure in its molecule. In the device, the ?-electron resonance structure plane of the conductive organic compound in the carrier transporting layer is aligned substantially parallel to surfaces of the electrodes. The conductive organic compound is preferably a conductive liquid crystal, such as a discotic liquid crystal or a smectic liquid crystal, and a layer thereof is included in the device, preferably by vacuum deposition.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing bubbles from a sealant for fabricating a liquid crystal display device is disclosed in the present invention. The apparatus includes a drum, a rotating shaft in the drum, a first gear at an upper portion of the rotating shaft, a second gear matching the first gear, and a container at a lower portion of the second gear including an interior container accommodating a sealant, an exterior container surrounding the interior container, a space receiving cooling water between the interior container and the exterior container, a sealant discharge port formed at a lower portion of the interior container, and a water introducing port formed at the exterior container.

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 device is constructed in such a structure that a plurality of stripe bulkheads substantially perpendicular to a direction of a layer of a smectic liquid crystal are provided on at least one of a pair of substrates retaining the smectic liquid crystal therebetween and that an elastic modulus E of the bulkheads, an outside pressure P, an area A1 of the substrate, a total area A2 of contact surfaces between the bulkheads and the substrate, and a volumetric shrinkage ratio &Dgr;Vlc/Vlc of the smectic liquid crystal within an ambient temperature range of the liquid crystal device satisfy the following relation: (1/E)×P×(A1/A2)≧&Dgr;Vlc/Vlc, whereby the bulkheads become able to be compressed in response to volumetric shrinkage of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A selectively reflective film and a process for producing the selectively reflective film, comprising the steps of forming on a substrate, a layer of a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal compound, a photoreactive chiral compound and a polymerization initiator; irradiating the layer with a first light to establish a distribution of exposure in the liquid crystal composition; raising the temperature of the liquid crystal composition layer to transform the composition into a liquid crystal state, thereby forming an area where selective reflection is attained in accordance with the distribution of exposure; and irradiating the liquid crystal composition with a second light to cause polymerization or cross-linking and thereby harden the composition.

Abstract: A bistable nematic liquid crystal device is addressed by application of a row waveform to successive row electrodes of an x, y matrix of pixels whilst one of two data waveforms are applied to each column electrode. The row waveform has a period of two or more time slots (ts), with two dc pulses of opposite amplitude for causing a switching to a dark state, and two dc pulses of opposite amplitude for causing a switching to a light state. The data waveforms have the same period as the strobe with dc pulses of opposite amplitude and combine with the strobe pulses to switch the device. The device can be addressed in two field periods, one field switching to a dark state, the other field switching to a light state. Alternatively, the device can be blanked to the dark state then selectively switched to the light state. When blanking is used, the row waveform has blanking de pulses placed a short time before selective switching to reduce overall addressing time.

Abstract: A surface mode liquid crystal device, for example of the pi-cell type, comprises a layer nematic liquid crystal (10) disposed between alignment layers (4,9) and an electrode arrangement (3,8). The nematic liquid crystal has viscosity coefficients &eegr;1, &eegr;2 and &ggr;1, such that (&eegr;1-&eegr;2)/&ggr;1≧1.15 or (&eegr;1-&eegr;2)/&ggr;1≦0.9.

Abstract: A variable reflectance mirror employing a super-twisted nematic (STN) liquid crystal cell to control reflectivity. The STN liquid crystal cell includes a layer of STN liquid crystal material formed between a pair of transparent electrodes, where a polymer alignment layer is formed over the electrodes so as to orient the STN liquid crystal material to possess a twist angle between approximately 180° and approximately 270°. A pair of crossed polarizers are respectively positioned on the outer surfaces of the front and rear plates. A layer of reflective material is further formed adjacent to the outer surface of the polarizer adjacent to the rear plate. The transparent electrodes are connected to a voltage source to apply an electrical bias across the STN liquid crystal layer, where the transmitivity of the STN liquid crystal layer to light can be varied by varying the electrical bias applied across the transparent electrodes to vary the birefringence of the STN liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, and a method of fabricating such a liquid crystal display device, that uses a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC). Additives are added to the ferroelectric liquid crystal. The additives are then used to form polymer networks, beneficially by exposure to ultraviolet light. Suitable additives include an acrylate compound.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a layer of a chiral smectic liquid crystal, a pair of substrates oppositely disposed to sandwich the liquid crystal and each provided with an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal, at least one of the substrates being provided with a uniaxial aligning axis for aligning the liquid crystal, and a polarizer disposed on at least one of the substrates.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus comprising a wavelength variable light source for shifting a wavelength of light stepwise within a predetermined range and applying the light with the shifted wavelength onto a light transmissible object that is to be measured and is provided with a gap; a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe formed by the light transmitted by said object, correspondingly to each step of the shifted wavelength; an image memory for storing images taken by said camera; and means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera, at each of predetermined positions of each image over said predetermined wavelength range; and means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity.

Abstract: An organic single-crystalline film usable as a functional film in various devices is produced by selecting a liquid crystal material having a good molecular alignment regularity, disposing the liquid crystal material between a pair of boundaries exerting a thickness regulating force and solidifying the liquid crystal material while imparting a molecular alignment order by phase transition from a liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystal material may preferably be a smectic liquid crystal material which provides a uniform molecular alignment inclusive of the direction of molecular long axis in a smectic phase.

Abstract: A chiral smectic liquid crystal device includes chiral smectic liquid crystal exhibiting a phase transition series on temperature decrease of (a) Iso, Ch and SmC* or (b) Iso and SmC*, a pair of oppositely disposed substrates which sandwich the liquid crystal to form a plurality of pixels, each substrate provided with an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal and a uniaxial alignment axis for aligning the liquid crystal, and means for providing a difference in potential between the substrates of at least 100 mV when no external electric field is applied in a temperature range of Tc±2° C. where Tc denotes a phase transition temperature from Ch to SmC* or from Iso to SmC. At least one substrate is provided with a polarizer, and each pixel is provided with an active element connected to an associated electrode on at least one substrate.

Abstract: Fluorinated indenes and 1,7-dihydroindacenes of the general formulae (I) and (II) of negative dielectric anisotropy (&Dgr;&egr;<0) 1

Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a highly aligned liquid crystal over an entire area including regions not provided with a uniaxial alignment film. A carrier-transporting device and a light-emitting device incorporate such a liquid crystal device.

Abstract: An electroconductive device functioning as, e.g., an organic EL device, is formed of a pair of oppositely disposed electrodes and organic compound layers disposed between the electrodes so as to be supplied with a voltage applied between the electrodes. The organic compound layers include at least one layer of a liquid crystalline organic compound in a supercooled liquid crystal phase As a result, the electroconductive device can exhibit an improved performance over a broad temperature range due to the presence of the organic compound layer in a liquid crystal phase.

Abstract: A liquid crystal layer is formed by filing the space between alignment films formed on two glass substrates, respectively, with a ferroelectric liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization. When the maximum charge amount injected to each pixel by the switching of a switching element, the area of each pixel electrode and the magnitude of the spontaneous polarization of the ferroelectric liquid crystal per unit area are denoted as Q, A, and PS, respectively, the relation 2PS·A>Q is established. A cone angle 2&thgr; (&thgr;: tilt angle) of the ferroelectric liquid crystal is not smaller than 45°. It is possible to use a liquid crystal material having large spontaneous polarization, and a high-speed response is realized even when a low voltage is applied to the liquid crystal material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal display apparatus includes a pair of substrates, each subjected to uniaxial orientation processing and arranged so that their orientation processing directions are approximately parallel to each other; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal material having the chiral smectic C phase filled between the substrates, the liquid crystal material being such that the projection component of the cone drawn by a liquid crystal molecule of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material projected onto the substrate and the projection component of the liquid crystal molecule itself projected onto the substrate in the molecule axis direction are respectively identical to the orientation processing direction of the substrates, which state is the initial state of the monostable configuration, wherein the ferroelectric liquid crystal contains a compound having a phenyl pyrimidine skeleton having one end connected to an alkoxyl chain and the other end connected t

Abstract: A monostable ferroelectric liquid crystal display in which a stable monostable mode is realized to achieve sufficient analog gradation and contrast. A pair of substrates, processed with uniaxial orientation, are placed so that the directions of orientation processing will be substantially parallel to each other. Into the gap between the two substrates is charged a ferroelectric liquid crystal material. The component of projection on the substrates of the axial direction of a cone drawn by the liquid crystal molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material and that of the axial direction of the liquid crystal molecules themselves are substantially coincident with the direction of the processing for orientation of the substrates. Monostability is achieved with this state as an initial state.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a chiral smectic liquid crystal to form a plurality of pixels. The chiral smectic liquid crystal has a temperature-dependent tilt angle characteristic satisfying the following relationship: Ĥ10−Ĥ1≦4.0 degrees, wherein Ĥ10 denotes a tilt angle at a temperature which is 10° C. lower than an upper limit temperature of chiral smectic C phase and Ĥ1 denotes a tilt angle at a temperature which is 1° C. lower than the upper limit temperature.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal molecule. The liquid crystal molecule has a long axis, a short axis perpendicular to the long axis, a spontaneous polarization Ps along the short axis, a first permittivity &egr;// along the long molecular axis, and a second permittivity &egr;⊥ along the short axis. Here, the second permittivity &egr;⊥ is derived from polarizations other than the spontaneous polarization Ps. When a permittivity anisotropy &Dgr;&egr; defined as &Dgr;&egr;=&egr;//−&egr;⊥, it holds &Dgr;&egr;<0. An orientation of the liquid crystal molecule is determined by an effective electric field which is a sum of an exterior electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer and a depolarization field generated by the spontaneous polarization.

Abstract: According to this liquid crystal cell, a vacuum to be established between two electrode substrates as a result of the volume shrinkage of a liquid crystal having a high viscosity at the room temperature can be damped by communicating between two of a plurality of filling portions formed between two electrode substrates by a plurality of barrier walls through the intervening barrier walls. An anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) is used as the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal cell has a lower electrode substrate and an upper electrode substrate, between which a smectic liquid crystal is disposed together with a plurality of barrier walls on the inner side of a band seal. Each barrier wall has through holes to communicate between the two filling portions located on the two sides of the barrier walls.

Abstract: An electrooptic device (2), and the methods for manufacturing, including a liquid crystal material (12) disposed between electroded flat glass or polymer substrates (4, 20) which have been precoated with a e.g. a chiral smectic surface layer (10, 14) in such way that the surface layer is able to mediate switching of the liquid crystal (12) between different optical states. The chiral smectic surface layer can be a polymer, oligomer or monomer liquid crystal with paraelectric, ferroelectric, ferrielectric or antiferroelectric response, which is insoluble in the liquid crystal used for the bulk (12) between the electroded substrates (4, 20). the switchable surface director enforces a certain orientation of the optic axis in the bulk liquid crystal (12), which can be a conventional non-chiral or chiral nematic or smectic in a twisted or non-twisted configuration.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates on whose opposing surfaces electrodes are formed; and a liquid crystal provided between the substrates and having spontaneous polarization and a physical property such that when a positive or negative saturation voltage whose absolute value is sufficiently large is applied between the electrodes, liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a first direction or a second direction, and when an arbitrary voltage lying between the positive saturation voltage and the negative saturation voltage is applied between the electrodes, a director is aligned in an arbitrary direction which corresponds to the applied voltage and which lies in a cone angle formed by the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of electrode plates and a liquid crystal composition disposed between the electrode plates. At least one of the electrode plates comprises a light-transmissive substrate, a plurality of electrodes including principal electrodes and auxiliary electrodes supported on the light-transmissive substrate, and an insulating layer. Each auxiliary electrode is disposed between an associated principal electrode and the light-transmissive substrate so as to be electrically connected with at least a part of the associated principal electrode, and the auxiliary electrodes being disposed with spacings therebetween which are filled with the insulating layer. The liquid crystal composition comprises at least one species of a fluorine-containing mesomorphic compound comprising a fluorocarbon terminal portion and a hydrocarbon terminal portion, the terminal portions being connected with a central core, and having smectic mesophase or latent smectic mesophase.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal mixture comprising at least one compound of the formula (I): wherein R11 and R12 represent, independently each other, a C1-C20 alkyl, alkoxy or alkoxyalkyl group which may be substituted by at least one halogen atom and may have an unsaturated bond; A11, A12 and A13 represent, independently each other, a phenylene group which may be substituted by a fluorine atom, or the like; * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom; Z is a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom; n is an integer of 0 to 10; r, s, t and u are each 0 or 1, provided that when u is 1, the compound (I) is a trans-olefin, and at least one compound of the formula (II): wherein R21 is a saturated or unsaturated C3-C20 alkyl group or a saturated or unsaturated C3-C20 alkoxyalkyl group; A21, A22 and A23 represent, independently each other, a phenylene group which may be substituted by a fluorine atom or the like; X2 is —C≡C— or the like; Z is a hydrogen atom or

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 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: The present invention provides a ferrielectric liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (1), wherein R is a linear alkyl group having of 6 to 12 carbon atoms, X is a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, m is an integer of 1 to 3, n is an integer of 1 to 3, and C* is an asymmetric carbon atom. The ferrielectric liquid crystal compound of the present invention has a ferrielectric phase in a broad temperature range and shows a high speed response in spite of a small spontaneous polarization, and accordingly, it is very useful as a practical raw material for liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed in a uniform alignment state between the substrates. At least one of the substrate has a surface contacting the liquid crystal and including a first region having a larger uniaxial alignment control force and a second region having a smaller or substantially no uniaxial alignment control force, respectively acting on the liquid crystal. In the device, phase transition from liquid phase to mesomorphic phase on temperature decrease, of the liquid crystal has been initiated from a portion contacting the first region and enlarged toward the second region to place the liquid crystal in a uniform alignment state, thus ensuring an increased effective voltage applied to the liquid crystal while retaining a good alignment characteristic to improve drive and display characteristics.

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: 5,7-Difluoro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives of the formula (I)R.sup.1 (-A.sup.1 -M.sup.1).sub.a (-A.sup.2 -M.sup.2).sub.b -B(-M.sup.3 -A.sup.3).sub.c (-M.sup.4 -A.sup.4).sub.d -R.sup.2 (I)in whichB isand ##STR1## R.sup.1 (-A.sup.1 -M.sup.1).sub.a (-A.sup.2 -M.sup.2) and (-M.sup.3 -A.sup.3).sub.c (-M.sup.4 -A.sup.4)R.sup.2 denote mesogenic radicals are suitable as components of liquid-crystal mixtures, in particular ferroelectric.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of electrode plates and a liquid crystal composition disposed between the electrode plates. One of the electrode plates comprises a light-transmissive substrate, a plurality of electrodes including principal electrodes and auxiliary electrodes supported on the light-transmissive substrate, a plurality of color filters disposed on the light-transmissive substrate and an insulating layer disposed on the color filters. Each auxiliary electrode is disposed between an associated principal electrode and the light-transmissive substrate so as to be electrically connected with at least a part of the associated principal electrode, and the auxiliary electrodes are disposed with spacings therebetween which are filled with the color filters and the insulating layer.

Abstract: Novel liquid crystal compounds are provided which exhibit less temperature dependent switching properties, for the reliable and consistent operation of liquid crystal devices. The liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) an achiral fluorochemical terminal portion that comprises a terminal fluoroalkyl, fluoroether, perfluoroalkyl, or perfluoroether group; a chiral terminal portion comprising a saturated or unsaturated chiral hydrocarbon or chiral hydrocarbon ether group comprising a chiral center; and a central core connecting the terminal portions; said chiral terminal portion having at least three in-chain atoms (an "extended group") between said chiral center of the chiral terminal portion and said central core.

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: A driving method for an optical modulation device is applicable to driving of an optical modulation device, e.g. a liquid crystal device having a matrix electrode arrangement comprising a group of scanning electrodes, a group of signal electrodes oppositely spaced from the group of scanning electrodes, and an optical modulation material (e.g. a liquid crystal) showing bistability with respect to an electric filed applied thereto disposed between the groups of scanning electrodes and signal electrodes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal layer is sealed between a pair of substrates on which opposite electrodes are formed. The liquid crystal layer is formed of a liquid crystal which exhibits an antiferroelectric phase while the liquid crystal is in a bulk state. When the liquid crystal is sealed between the substrates as the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal exhibits a ferrielectric phase wherein liquid crystal molecules aligned in a first state of being aligned in a first direction and liquid crystal molecules aligned in a second state of being aligned in a second direction are present in predetermined order. In accordance with the polarity and magnitude of a voltage applied between the opposite electrodes, the ratio of the number of liquid crystal molecules aligned in the first state to the number of liquid crystal molecules aligned in the second state varies such that the direction of the director of the liquid crystal layer varies continuously.

Abstract: An aligning method of a chiral smectic liquid crystal includes the steps of: disposing a chiral smectic liquid crystal between a pair of electrode plates, the chiral smectic liquid crystal having a layer spacing-changing characteristic providing a layer spacing which increases on temperature decrease in a first temperature range in smectic A phase; and subjecting the chiral smectic liquid crystal to a heat treatment including a sequence of cooling from a higher temperature phase to a second temperature range in smectic A phase including at least a portion of the first temperature range, at least one cycle of heating and cooling within the second temperature range, and further cooling to a smectic phase lower than smectic phase. The heat treatment, particularly at least one cycle of heating and cooling in smectic A phase, is effective in suppressing an alignment (orientation) irregularity due to the presence of two regions different in characteristics, thus improving a drive margin.

Abstract: A tristable liquid crystal display device comprises (a) first and second opposed substrates, at least one bearing an alignment coating and each bearing at least one electrode so as to define one or a plurality of pixels; (b) a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates; and (c) a pair of orthogonally disposed polarizers, each having a polarization axis, one polarization axis being aligned with the zero field optical axis of a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic mesophase of the liquid crystal composition; wherein the substrates are disposed so as to provide an alignment of the liquid crystal composition, which comprises (i) at least one chiral liquid crystal compound; and (ii) at least one achiral liquid crystal compound that can be represented by the following formula:R--M--N--(P).sub.a --OCH.sub.2 R.sub.f (I)where R, M, N, P, a and R.sub.f are describe herein; wherein the liquid crystal composition exhibits tristable switching.

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: Ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions having a large dependency of spontaneous polarization on temperature; liquid crystal display devices exhibiting a small dependency of response speed on temperature and making it possible to obtain a wide temperature margin in practical use, and fabricated by using the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition; and methods for driving the devices are provided;the compositions comprising at least one compound expressed by the following general formula (1) ##STR1## at least one compound expressed by the following general formula (2), and ##STR2## at least one compound expressed by the following general formula (3) ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.6, ring A-B, A, X.sub.1, and X.sub.2 are herein defined.

Abstract: A tristable liquid crystal display device comprises (a) first and second opposed substrates, at least one bearing an alignment coating and each bearing at least one electrode so as to define one or a plurality of pixels; (b) a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates; and (c) a pair of orthogonally disposed polarizers, each having a polarization axis, one polarization axis being aligned with the zero field optical axis of a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic mesophase of the liquid crystal composition; wherein the substrates are disposed so as to provide an alignment of the liquid crystal composition, the composition comprising at least one chiral liquid crystal compound that can be represented by the following formula:R--M--N--(P).sub.b --OCH.sub.2 C*HF--CH.sub.2 O(CH.sub.2).sub.a R.sub.

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: 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: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display (FLCD), which comprises a cell including a layer of chiral smetic ferroelectric liquid crystal material contained between two substrates and at least one alignment layer for determining the surface alignment of the molecules in the liquid crystal material, is manufactured as follows. After selection of a suitable material for the alignment layer, the cell is filled by introducing liquid crystal material between the substrates to which the alignment layer is applied. After filling of the cell, a heat treatment is applied to the cell by raising the cell to an elevated temperature and maintaining the cell at that temperature for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A liquid crystal element includes a pair of plates at least one of which is transparent, and a composite layer retained between the plates and including a liquid crystal material in a transparent resin substrate.

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 method, device, and material for providing a fast switching liquid crystal display employs the ferro electric effect of chiral smectic liquid crystal material. To provide a uniform appearance the liquid crystal material is arranged to have a long cholesteric pitch at a temperature close to a smectic/cholesteric phase transistion temperature. This long cholesteric pitch allows liquid crystal molecules to cool from the cholesteric to smectic phase with a uniform alignment. The smectic material is contained in a cell between wells (2, 3) bearing electrodes (5, 6) and surface treated to provide homogeneous alignment of liquid crystal material (7).