In Nematic Phase Patents (Class 349/186)
  • Patent number: 6903796
    Abstract: In an MVA mode liquid crystal display device, a concentration of a photo-cured product by a photo-curing composition having a liquid skeletal structure for liquid crystal molecules upon spray or bend deformation is set to 0.3 to 3 wt %. The liquid crystal skeletal structure is formed under the tilt state to substrates, and a mean tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules falls within a range defined by a polar angle of the liquid crystal skeletal structure and a pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules in the proximity of the substrate interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Display Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Kataoka
  • Patent number: 6885412
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer provided in a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a temperature adjustment member formed on the first substrate and/or the second substrate. The panel temperature T (° C.) of the liquid crystal display device is controlled to be equal to or greater than TNI-65 and less than or equal to TNI-15, where TNI (° C.) is the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature of the liquid crystal composition of the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriaki Ohnishi, Yasuhiro Kume
  • Patent number: 6885409
    Abstract: A display system includes a display arranged to receive an image wise pattern of light to form an image, including, a pair of conductors, at least one conductor being transparent, a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material disposed between the conductors, the liquid crystal material having multiple stable optical states at zero electrical field, and a light absorber for forming an image wise thermal pattern in the liquid crystal sufficient to change the optical state of the cholesteric liquid crystal in response to an image wise pattern of light; a display writer, including, a light source for producing a flash of light of sufficient intensity to generate sufficient heat in the light absorber to change the optical state of the cholesteric liquid crystal, a mask located between the light source and the display for defining the image wise pattern of light, a display drive connectable to the conductors for generating an electric field between the conductors for changing the optical state of the cholesteric l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stanley W. Stephenson, Xiang-Dong Mi, David M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6808763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium which is characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the formula A and one more compounds of the formula B in which Ra, Rb, Rbb, x and L1 are as defined in claim 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Hirschmann, Sven Schüpfer, Martina Weidner, Renate Graulich
  • Patent number: 6809785
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Fujino
  • Patent number: 6801291
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal device capable of obtaining a bright image with a high display quality by controlling disclination caused by a lateral electric field developed across a space between pixels, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kinya Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20040191427
    Abstract: Liquid crystal devices are described that exhibit bistable, tri-stable or other multistable operation. The stable liquid crystal configurations are attained using a surface alignment grating (144) on the internal surface of at least one cell wall (142). The surface profile of the surface alignment grating comprises three or more defect sites per grating period and permit the liquid crystal molecules to adopt any one of two or more stable pretilt angles in the same azimuthal plane. Application of a suitable voltage causes the liquid crystal material to switch between the stable configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Emma L Wood, Victor C Hui, John C Jones, Carl V Brown
  • Patent number: 6795155
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal device capable of obtaining a bright image with a high display quality by controlling disclination caused by a lateral electric field developed across a space between pixels, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kinya Ozawa
  • Patent number: 6784955
    Abstract: The structure and construction of a bistable twisted nematic liquid crystal display with very long lifetime are disclosed. The two stable twist states in this display when no voltage is applied have almost infinite lifetimes and do not decay. These two stable twist states differ by a twist angle of 180°. New design conditions of this bistable twist structure are disclosed such that the contrast and the brightness are both optimized. This display can be operated in transmittive mode with two polarizes or in the reflective mode with one polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hoi-Sing Kwok, Jian-Xin Guo
  • Patent number: 6774977
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of Europe Limited
    Inventors: Harry Garth Walton, Michael John Towler
  • Publication number: 20040075081
    Abstract: The invention relates to liquid-crystalline compounds of the formula I and to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds, characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the general formula I 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Peer Kirsch, Marc Lenges, Michael Heckmeier
  • Patent number: 6723393
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Niyama, Shinya Tahara
  • Patent number: 6697144
    Abstract: Switchable optical components such as switchable mirrors and variable retarders are fabricated using a unique class of materials. These materials are thin film composites comprising of porous inorganic films imbibed with liquid crystal materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Kralik
  • Publication number: 20040022962
    Abstract: A film for a liquid crystal display comprising a fatty acid cellulose ester film having an acetyl group and a propionyl group is disclosed. Sum of degree of acetyl substitution (DSac) and degree of propionyl substitution (DSpr) of the fatty acid cellulose ester film of the film is 2.8 or less, and a retardation value (Rt value) in the thickness direction defined by Formula 1 is 60 to 300 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Shibue, Makoto Honda, Nobuo Kubo, Noriyasu Kuzuhara, Hiroki Umeda, Sota Kawakami, Takatoshi Yajima
  • Patent number: 6683717
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Miyatake, Takafumi Sakuramoto
  • Patent number: 6654093
    Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display device includes: first and second substrates spaced apart and facing each other; a twisted nematic liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the two substrates, the liquid crystal layer having a twist angle and birefringence property &Dgr;n and having a thickness d; a retardation film disposed on the first substrate and opposite to the liquid crystal layer, the film converting a first linearly polarized light from above to a first circularly polarized light and converting a second circularly polarized light reflected from below to a second linearly polarized light; a linear polarizer disposed on the retardation film and opposite to the liquid crystal layer and converting the incident light to the first linearly polarized light; and a reflector disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate and reflecting light passed through the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woohyun Kim
  • Patent number: 6649229
    Abstract: The invention relates to supertwist liquid-crystal displays (SLCDs) having very short response times and good steepnesses and angular dependences and to the novel nematic liquid-crystal mixtures employed therein, which are distinguished by the fact that they comprise at least one compound of the formula, IA and at least one compound of the formula IB and/or at least one compound of the formula IC in which Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, Re, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, q and p are as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Hirschmann
  • Patent number: 6600545
    Abstract: A twist-nematic liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed to oppose to the first substrate with distance d1 therebetween, either one of the first and second substrates being a transparent substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on either one of a surface of the first substrate and a surface of the second substrate, said surfaces opposing to each other; a common electrode formed on other one of the surfaces respectively of the first and second substrates, a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode, twist-nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between the first and second substrates, molecules of the liquid crystal respectively having long axes continuously twisted between the first and second substrates. When the twist-nematic liquid crystal has a birefringence index (retardation) of &Dgr;n, &Dgr;n×d1>2 &mgr;m is satisfied, where d1 is expressed in micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6562421
    Abstract: A supertwisted nematic liquid crystal display comprising: a pair of substrates each having a liquid crystal orientation-controlling layer and a transparent electrode; a liquid crystal material held between said substrates; and at least one polarizing sheet provided on at least one of said substrates, wherein said liquid crystal material comprises: (a) a compound represented by formula (I): and (b) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: compounds represented by formula (II): and compounds represented by formula (III):
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Go Sudo, Takeshi Kuriyama, Shotaro Kawakami, Hiroyuki Ohnishi, Haruyoshi Takatsu
  • Patent number: 6558759
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is formed with a pair of transparent substrates, each substrate having on one of its surfaces a coating of a transparent electrically conducting material which serves as an electrode. A nematic discotic material is sandwiched between the coated surfaces of the substrates thereby forming a cell. The nematic discotic material has a negative dielectric anisotropy and acts as the electrically switchable material for the electro-optic functioning of the liquid crystal display device. In addition, the cell resides between a pair of crossed polarizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Centre for Liquid Crystal Research
    Inventors: Sivaramakrishna Chandrasekhar, Subbarao Krishna Prasad, Geetha Gopinathan Nair, Doddamane Sreenivasamurthy Shankar Rao, Sandeep Kumar, Mayandithevar Manickam
  • Patent number: 6555186
    Abstract: The invention relates to TN and STN liquid-crystal displays and to the novel nematic liquid-crystal mixtures used therein, characterized in that they comprise one or more compounds of the formula I in which R1, R2, A, u, L1 and L2 are as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Hirschmann, Martina Weidner, Sven Schupfer, Peer Kirsch
  • Patent number: 6544602
    Abstract: The invention relates to supertwist liquid-crystal displays (SLCDs) having very short response times and good steepnesses and angle dependencies, and to the novel nematic liquid-crystal mixtures used therein, which are distinguished in that they comprise at least one compound of the formula IA and at least one compound of the formula IB in which Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, Y1, Y2, n and p have the meaning given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung
    Inventors: Harald Hirschmann, Clarissa Weller, Georg Weber, Kazuo Totani, Akihiro Kojima
  • Patent number: 6531194
    Abstract: The invention relates to supertwist liquid-crystal displays (SLCDs) having very short response times and good steepnesses and angular dependences and to the novel nematic liquid-crystal mixtures employed therein, which are distinguished by the fact that they comprise at least one compound of the formula IA and at least one compound of the formula IB and/or at least one compound of the formula IC in which Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, Re, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, q and p are as defined above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Merck Patentgesellschaft
    Inventor: Harald Hirschmann
  • Patent number: 6524666
    Abstract: The invention relates to dielectrically positive nematic liquid crystal compositions for active matrix displays with high voltage holding ratio and very low birefringence. The composition of the mixtures is given in claim 1. The compositions are particularly suited for reflective displays. The invention further relates to particular reflective displays with low optical retardation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignees: Merck Patent Gesellschaft, Sharp Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Ichinose, Shinji Nakajima, Akiko Takashima, Masako Nakamura, Yoshito Hashimoto, Makoto Kanbe
  • Patent number: 6493055
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates for which a homeotropic alignment treatment is performed; a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates; and a transverse electric field generating electrode capable of being driven in a matrix driving manner which is provided on at least one of the pair of substrates and is connected to external control means. A liquid crystal material contained in the liquid crystal layer is a liquid crystal material which, as a whole liquid crystal layer, generates spontaneous polarization by a piezoelectric effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumikazu Shimoshikiryo, Shuichi Kozaki, Koichi Miyachi
  • Patent number: 6449024
    Abstract: A brighter active matrix type liquid crystal electro-optical device with a higher contrast, yet having a wider visual angle is realized, said liquid crystal electro-optical device comprises a liquid crystal layer and means for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer in the direction parallel to the substrate, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a liquid crystal material dispersed in a polymer material. Also a liquid crystal electro-optical device comprising a liquid crystal layer disposed on a substrate is included, wherein the transmission mode or the dispersion mode of an incident light is selected by an electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer in the direction parallel to the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Hirakata, Takeshi Nishi, Rumo Satake
  • Patent number: 6440506
    Abstract: The invention relates to supertwist liquid-crystal displays (STN-LCDs) having short switching times and good steepnesses and angle dependencies, and to the novel nematic liquid-crystal mixtures used therein, which comprise compounds having a 3,4,5-trifluorophenyl group together with compounds of formula I wherein R3 is an alkenyl group with 2 to 7 C atoms, R4 is an optionally fluorinated alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl or alkenyloxy group with 1 to 12 C atoms, wherein one or two non-adjacent CH2 groups can be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —OCO— or —COO— in such a manner that O atoms are not directly adjacent to one another, or, in case m=1, R4 can also be Q—Y, Q is CF2, OCF2, CFH, OCFH or a single bond, Y is F or Cl, L1 and L2 are each independently H or F, and m is 0 or 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Akihiro Kojima, Fumio Shimano, Yukiko Fujii, Izumi Saito, Kazuo Totani
  • Patent number: 6424387
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Sato, Shiro Narikawa, Tomoko Nishino, Masao Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020064607
    Abstract: The invention relates to TN and STN liquid-crystal displays and to the novel nematic liquid-crystal mixtures used therein, characterized in that they comprise one or more compounds of the formula I 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Hirschmann, Martina Weidner, Sven Schupfer, Peer Kirsch
  • Patent number: 6379850
    Abstract: A rewritable thermosensible recording material shown by the following chemical formula. This recording material can be produced by condensing a derivative of dicarboxylic acid and cholesterol or by making halide dicarboxylic acid and cholesterol react to each other. By locating this material purely or as a mixture between a base layer and a transparent protective layer, a rewritable thermosensible recording medium can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Ueda, Tsuyoshi Nozaki, Shoji Kotani
  • Publication number: 20020039167
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates, the liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal composition that exhibits a cholesteric phase. The liquid crystal composition contains a mixture of a chiral material and nematic liquid crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahora, Akihito Hisamitsu, Hideaki Ueda, Mitsuyo Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20020015132
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display which carries out matrix driving of a chiral nematic liquid crystal composition, which is capable of displaying an image theron continuously after a turn-off of an electric field applied thereto, by applying an electric field to the liquid crystal composition through a plurality of scan electrodes and a plurality of data electrodes which face and cross each other with the liquid crystal composition in-between. The nematic liquid crystal which is the main element of the liquid crystal composition mainly contains a liquid crystalline ester compound, a liquid crystalline stilbene compound, a liquid crystalline tarphenyl compound or a liquid crystalline tolane compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Takeshi Kitahora, Fumie Motoori, Hideaki Ueda
  • Patent number: 6210760
    Abstract: Supertwist liquid crystal displays having very short switching times are obtained if the nematic liquid crystal mixture contains at least one component chosen from group A consisting of compounds of the formulae AI to AVI: wherein R1 and R2 in each case independently of one another are each R and R is alkyl having 1-12 C atoms, wherein one or two non-adjacent CH2 groups can also be replaced by —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—, —O—CO— or —CO—O—, and up to four other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Georg Weber, Herbert Plach, Takamasa Oyama, Hiroki Yoshitake, Bernhard Scheuble, Reinhard Hittich, Hans Adolf Kurmeier, Eike Poetsch, Klaus Peter Stahl
  • Patent number: 6195145
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates; and a transverse electric field generating electrode capable of being driven in a matrix driving manner which is provided on at least one of the pair of substrates and is connected to external control means. Each of the pair of substrates is provided with alignment means for aligning liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer so that the liquid crystal layer has spontaneous polarization generally parallel to a surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumikazu Shimoshikiryo, Shuichi Kozaki, Teruyoshi Hara, Koichi Miyachi
  • Patent number: 6183821
    Abstract: Supertwist liquid-crystal displays (SLCDs) with outstanding properties are obtained if the nematic liquid-crystal mixtures used therein comprise one or more compounds of the formula IA and one or more compounds of the formula IB Ra is alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, Rb is alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, Z is —COO —CH2CH2— or a single bond, and  are each, independently of one another,  and one of the rings  may alternatively be R3 is an alkenyl group having 2 to 7 carbon atoms, R4 is as defined for Ra in the formula IA, and c is 0 or 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft
    Inventors: Harald Hirschmann, Sven Schüpfer, Marcus Reuter, Volker Reiffenrath, Sabine Schoen
  • Patent number: 6130739
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates for which a homeotropic alignment treatment is performed; a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates; and a transverse electric field generating electrode capable of being driven in a matrix driving manner which is provided on at least one of the pair of substrates and is connected to external control means. A liquid crystal material contained in the liquid crystal layer is a liquid crystal material which, as a whole liquid crystal layer, generates spontaneous polarization by a piezoelectric effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumikazu Shimoshikiryo, Shuichi Kozaki, Koichi Miyachi
  • Patent number: 6083423
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nematic liquid crystal mixture having a positive dielectric anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon. of at least +4 and a birefringence .DELTA.n of at least 0.12, characterized in that the mixtures comprises one or more components having the core structure ##STR1## wherein L.sup.1, L.sup.2, Y and Z are each independently of one another H or F, one of Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 is 1,4-phenylene, 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene or 3,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene and the other residue Q.sup.1 or Q.sup.2 is --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or -- if at least one of L.sup.1, L.sup.2, Y and Z denotes F-- also a single bond, whereby this core structure can be optionally further fluorinated in the benzene rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Bernhard Rieger, Volker Reiffenrath, Reinhard Hittich
  • Patent number: 6080451
    Abstract: Supertwist liquid crystal displays (STN displays) of excellent characteristics are obtained if the nematic liquid crystal mixtures used therein comprise at least one compound of the formula IA ##STR1## and at least one compound of the formula IB ##STR2## in which R.sup.a, R.sup.b, Z, L.sup.a, L.sup.b, L.sup.c, L.sup.d, L.sup.e, L.sup.f, L.sup.g, L.sup.h, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 are as defined below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft Mit
    Inventors: Harald Hirschmann, Sven Schupfer, Volker Reiffenrath, Sabine Schoen
  • Patent number: 6049364
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahara, Shinya Sannohe
  • Patent number: 6046791
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kobayashi, Shuhei Yamada
  • Patent number: 6015507
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Kiyofumi Hashimoto, Takuji Hatano
  • Patent number: 6011606
    Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display apparatus having a pair of substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal layer. A group of electrodes form a matrix of pixels and an active device, each of the group of electrodes being provided between the liquid crystal and one of the substrates. The electrodes are arranged so as to apply an electric field, mainly parallel to the substrates. The resistivity of the liquid crystal layer is lower than or equal to 1.times.10.sup.14 .OMEGA..multidot.cm. The relationship between the elasticity constant K2 and the dielectric anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon. satisfies the equation K.sub.2 /.DELTA..epsilon.<9.0.times.10.sup.-8 [dyn]. Further, a relationship between a gap between a pixel electrode and a common electrode and a gap between the pair of substrates is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Ohe, Katsumi Kondo, Masuyuki Ota
  • Patent number: 5997767
    Abstract: The invention relates to supertwist liquid-crystal displays (SLCDs) having very short response times and good steepnesses and angle dependences, and to the nematic liquid-crystal mixtures according to the invention used therein, which are distinguished by the fact that they comprise at least one compound of the formula IA and at least one compound of the formula IB ##STR1## in which R, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and C are as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Harald Hirschmann, Clarissa Weller, Volker Reiffenrath
  • Patent number: 5985170
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition for a liquid crystal display device of supertwisted nematic mode characterized in that it comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of condensed heterocyclic compounds, aromatic amine compounds, aliphatic amine compounds and aromatic hydroxy compounds. Liquid crystal display devices having high quality such that no irregular display caused by dust and fusion phenomena are observed can be provided by using the liquid crystal compositions by controlling to scarcely lower the specific resistance value and to lower the voltage-holding ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Inaba, Tsutomu Mikajiri
  • Patent number: 5956113
    Abstract: A bistable reflective display has a stable focal conic or weakly scattering state even when an applied voltage used to transition to the focal conic state is removed. The bistable reflective display includes first and second substrates, a cholesteric liquid crystal material located between the first and second substrates and silica agglomerates dispersed within the cholesteric liquid crystal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Greg P. Crawford
  • Patent number: 5942154
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Display Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Si-hwan Kim, Seung-bae Lee, Jin-woo Park
  • Patent number: 5933203
    Abstract: Driver apparatus and methods of driving at least a portion of a cholesteric liquid crystal ("CLC") panel to a state having a given reflectivity. One of the methods includes the steps of: (1) initially driving the portion to a nematic phase, (2) subsequently driving the portion to a cholesteric phase focal-conic state, the cholesteric phase focal-conic state providing a known reference state for subsequent driving of the portion and (3) thereafter driving the portion to the state having the given reflectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Advanced Display Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bao-Gang Wu, Jianmi Gao, Meng Zhao
  • Patent number: 5877835
    Abstract: The driving voltage of a liquid crystal display can be adjusted by irradiating the liquid crystal fluid in the display with ultraviolet light. After the fluid is placed in the display, it is exposed to a predetermined dose of high intensity ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light alters the chemical composition of the fluid, thus changing the switching voltage of the fluid and the driving voltage of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Dunn, Thomas J Swirbel, Diana Works
  • Patent number: 5874022
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition satisfying many characteristics required to liquid crystal compositions for AM-LCD, having a preferable .DELTA.n value in proportion to the cell thickness, and having very low threshold value suitable for driving at low voltage.The liquid crystal composition of the present invention comprises as the first constituent at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by particular formula (I) and as the second constituent at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by particular formulas (II-1)-(II-7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kubo, Fusayuki Takeshita, Tetsuya Matsushita, Etsuo Nakagawa, Tomoyuki Kondo
  • Patent number: 5861198
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal material put between a pair of substrates each comprising a transparent electrode and an alignment layer formed thereon in such a manner that the alignment layers are arranged inside so as to face each other, characterized in that at least one of said pair of substrates has an alignment layer formed thereon, which is capable of forming two or more different alignment states of the liquid crystal by an aligning processing in one direction, and at least one of said pair of substrates has an alignment layer formed thereon which generates a pretilt angle of the liquid crystal of at least 2.degree.. The device has a high contrast and less dependency of display characteristics on the viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hidemasa Yamaguchi, Fumie Nozawa, Masami Ubukata