Liquid Crystal System Patents (Class 349/1)
  • Publication number: 20120257040
    Abstract: An optical microscope is provided with an adjustable optical phase ring. The adjustable ring provides a way to compensate for distortion in the visible phase ring before the light reaches the sample. In an inverted microscope, when observing transparent cells under a liquid, the visible light phase ring is distorted. By the use of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) in place of a fixed ring, the projected ring is adjusted to realign the light and produce phase. In a typical micro plate, the meniscus formed produces a lens effect that is realigned by providing changes in the position and pattern, to allow phase imaging over a wider portion of the well. The realignment of the ring can be manual or automated and can be dynamically adjusted based upon an observed image of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: KAIROS INSTRUMENTS, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas J. Koebler, Alfred Blalock Bahnson
  • Publication number: 20120257123
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an LCD light-reducing apparatus, and to a vehicle smart mirror using the same, which are to be applied to the interior rear-view mirror or exterior side-view mirrors of a vehicle to protect the vision of the driver of the vehicle from bright lights or glares coming from behind him during nighttime drive. The LCD light-reducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an LCD panel including at least one liquid crystal cell, and a power supply device for supplying a sufficient electric field to the LCD panel. The LCD cell includes a liquid crystal layer; and two substrate layers opposite one another with the liquid crystal layer at center thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: SODY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong-Cheon Lee
  • Publication number: 20120257125
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal shutter component includes a first polarizer, a second polarizer, a liquid crystal layer, a first retardation layer, a second retardation layer, a third retardation layer and a fourth retardation layer. A liquid crystal orientation of the liquid crystal layer transitions between a plurality of bend orientation states. The retardation in the direction along the plane of the second retardation layer and the fourth retardation layer is 20 nm or more and 120 nm or less. The retardation along the first direction of the second retardation layer and the fourth retardation layer is 40 nm or more and 140 nm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Mitsutaka Okita, Kazuhiro Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20120249895
    Abstract: There are provided an optical device including a dimming cell capable of performing low illumination imaging without varying an optical path length, and an imaging device using the optical device. The optical device includes a cell having a containing layer between a first transparent substrate disposed on a light incident side and a second transparent substrate which is disposed on a light emitting side and faces the first transparent substrate, a variable transmittance section provided in a first region of the containing layer and allowing light transmittance to be varied within a predetermined range, and a fixed transmittance section provided in a second region different from the first region as seen from the light incident side and having a light transmittance higher than that of the variable transmittance section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Keita Kaifu
  • Patent number: 8277684
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium of negative dielectric anisotropy based on a mixture of polar compounds, which comprises at least one compound selected from the group of the compounds of the formulae IA, IB and IC in which R1A, R2A, R1B, R2B, R1C, R2C, L, m, n, o, p and b have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, and to the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the ECB, PALC, FFS or IPS effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Melanie Klasen-Memmer, Matthias Bremer, Kazuaki Tarumi
  • Patent number: 8278040
    Abstract: Colloidal liquid crystal gels (CLCGs), sensors incorporating the CLCGs, culture substrates made from the CLCGs, and patterned films and molded articles made from the CLCGs are provided. The CLCGs are composite liquid crystal materials comprising networks of particles having liquid crystal domains dispersed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Nicholas L. Abbott, Ankit Agarwal, Santanu K. Pal
  • Patent number: 8273422
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display used as a display unit of an electronic apparatus and provides a liquid crystal display which can achieve high display quality. The liquid crystal display includes a pair of substrates provided opposite to each other, a liquid crystal having negative dielectric constant anisotropy sealed between the substrates, an alignment film formed on each of surfaces of the substrates facing each other for vertically aligning the liquid crystal, the film being formed using a material including an epoxy type cross linking agent at a concentration in the range from 0% by weight to 0.01% by weight inclusive, and a polymer layer for regulating the direction of alignment of the liquid crystal formed in the vicinity of an interface between the liquid crystal and the alignment film as a result of polymerization of a polymeric component included in the liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Murata, Shota Makimoto, Norio Sugiura, Kengo Kanii
  • Publication number: 20120236216
    Abstract: An optical switching device has multiple input ports and multiple output ports and is capable of switching a wavelength component from any of the input ports to any of the output ports. The optical switching device is configured with beam steering arrays that are controlled to provide the switching from any of the input ports to any of the output ports. The beam steering arrays may be microelectromechanical (MEMS) mirror arrays or liquid-crystal on silicon (LCOS) panels. In addition, an array of beam-polarizing liquid-crystal elements provides wavelength-independent attenuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Manish Sharma, Gil Cohen
  • Patent number: 8257611
    Abstract: A compound of formula (1): wherein A1 and A2 are —O—, —NR—, —S—, or —CO—, in which R is a hydrogen atom or substituent; Z is one or two atoms selected from a carbon atom or a non-metal atom of Group 14, 15 or 16 in the Periodic Table, and forms a five- or six-membered ring with the C—C?C—C or C?C—C?C; R1, R2, and R3 each are a substituent; m is an integer of 0 to 4; L1 and L2 are a single bond or divalent linking group; X is a non-metal atom of Group 14, 15 or 16 in the Periodic Table, and may have a hydrogen atom or R4; and at least one of R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 is substituted with a polymerizable group; a liquid crystal composition, an optical film, a retardation sheet, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Uehira, Michitaka Matsuumi, Shinichi Morishima, Mitsuyoshi Ichihashi, Kotaro Yasuda, Hiroshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8252202
    Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal composition of the present invention includes at least 20% by weight of one, or two or more compounds selected from compound group A; and 5 to 50% by weight of one, or two or more compounds selected from compound group B, wherein the relative proportions of the above-mentioned compounds used in the nematic liquid crystal composition is determined to simultaneously obtain the specific physical characteristics for the composition, and an anchoring breaking voltage U?/4 is less than or equal to 25 V when the product (?n·d) of the refractive index anisotropy (?n) at 20° C. and the thickness (d) is 140 nm and the liquid crystal composition is confined between two substrates for a bistable nematic liquid crystal display in which at least one of the substrates have a weak zenithal anchoring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: DIC Corporation, Nemoptic
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Nakata, Kiyofumi Takeuchi, Haruyoshi Takatsu, Daniel Stoenescu, Ivan Dozov, Jean-Claude Dubois
  • Patent number: 8246855
    Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided that has a wide range where a liquid crystal phase is exhibited, has excellent solubility in an organic solvent, and is facilitated in control of an alignment state. The use of the polymerizable liquid crystal composition provides a polymerizable liquid crystal composition that has good solubility in a solvent with high safety, such as PGMEA, and can control various alignment states. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition in one aspect contains a fluorenone derivative represented by the formula (1) and a compound having a bisphenol skeleton represented by the formula (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, JNC Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirai
  • Patent number: 8248545
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source; a polarization conversion unit that converts the light flux from the light source into polarized light having a plane of polarization parallel to a first direction; a color separation/light guiding system including a separating surface and at least one optical-path deflecting mirror; and a plurality of light modulators, wherein the separating surface is disposed in such a way that the plane of incidence of the polarized light with respect to the separating surface is perpendicular to the first direction, and the at least one optical-path deflecting mirror is disposed in such a way that the plane of incidence of the corresponding polarized light flux from the separating surface with respect to the optical-path deflecting mirror is parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hidemasa Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 8237909
    Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror assembly (600) includes an electrochromic (EC) glass element (303) and a printed circuit board (603) for mounting electrical components. A liquid crystal display (LCD) (615) is mounted to the printed circuit board (603), while a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (608) are also mounted to the same printed circuit board below the LCD (603) for providing backlighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Ostreko, Danny L. Minikey, Jr., Andrew J. LeVesque, William R. Spence, Peter Wm. VanderWel, John B. Wallace, Frederick T. Bauer, Mark W. Newton, Ethan J. Lee, Jeremy A. Fogg
  • Patent number: 8238974
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention discloses an display module for mobile communication device which comprises a display panel, a flexible printed circuit board, an electronic component. The flexible printed circuit board is coupled to the display panel and is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The electronic component is disposed on a first surface of the flexible printed circuit board, and the location of the electronic component corresponds to that of the second portion of the flexible printed circuit board. The extensibility of the second portion of the flexible printed circuit board is smaller than that of the first portion of the flexible printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Orise Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei-Chih Lai
  • Patent number: 8231806
    Abstract: The present invention relates to dielectrically positive liquid-crystalline media comprising in each case one or more compounds of the formula I in which the parameters have the respective meanings indicated in the specification, and optionally one or more further dielectrically positive compounds and optionally one or more further dielectrically neutral compounds, and to liquid-crystal displays containing these media, especially to active-matrix displays and in particular to TN, IPS and FFS displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung
    Inventors: Markus Czanta, Michael Wittek, Lars Lietzau, Marcus Reuter, Brigitte Schuler
  • Publication number: 20120188467
    Abstract: A beam steering apparatus includes a first beam steering stage and at least a second beam steering stage arranged in-line with the first beam steering stage. The first beam steering stage includes a first polarization grating comprising a uniaxial birefringent material having a first periodic director pattern, and the second beam steering stage includes a second polarization grating comprising a uniaxial birefringent material having a second periodic director pattern. In nonmechanical embodiments, a polarization selector may be arranged to provide a circularly polarized input beam incident on the first polarization grating. In mechanical embodiments, at least one of the first polarization grating and the second polarization grating may be operable to be independently rotated about an azimuth thereof. Related methods of operation are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicants: Boulder Nonlinear Systems, INc., NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, a constituent in
    Inventors: Michael J. Escuti, Jihwan Kim, Chulwoo Oh, Steven Serati
  • Patent number: 8228448
    Abstract: A backlight module including a beam splitting film, a light guide plate, and two light emitting elements is provided. The beam splitting film includes a light transmissive plate and multiple strip-shaped protrusion structures. Each of the strip-shaped protrusion structures has a first inclined surface group and a second inclined surface group. The first inclined surface group includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface with different slopes. The second inclined surface group includes a third inclined surface and a fourth inclined surface with different slopes. The light guide plate is disposed beside the beam splitting film. The two light emitting elements are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the light guide plate and capable of flickering alternately. A stereo display apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Tzeng-Ke Shiau, Ching-Shiang Li, Wei-Chung Chao, Chao-Hung Weng
  • Patent number: 8226851
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a liquid-crystalline polymer composition comprising a nanostructured hollow-carbon material and a liquid-crystalline polymer. The nanostructured hollow-carbon material may comprises particles, each particle of which is selected from the group consisting of a particle which is composed of a carbon part and a hollow part and has a structure that the hollow part is entirely enclosed by the carbon part; and a particle which is composed of a carbon part and a hollow part and has a structure that the hollow part is partly enclosed by the carbon part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Harada, Hirokazu Matsui
  • Patent number: 8216489
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal compound represented by the following formula having stability to heat, light and so forth, a wide temperature range of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy and a suitable elastic constant K33 (K33: bend elastic constant), and further having a suitable and negative dielectric anisotropy and an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, and provides a liquid crystal composition including the compound, wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen, alkyl or the like, ring A1 is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene or the like, L1 to L4 are hydrogen or fluorine, and at least three of them are fluorine; when the ring A1 is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or the like, Z1 is a single bond, —(CH2)2— or the like, when ring A1 is 1,4-phenylene, Z1 is —(CH2)2— or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventor: Masahide Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8211332
    Abstract: The subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one characteristic among characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a low viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding two or more characteristics. The subject is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a high voltage holding ratio, a high contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Norikatsu Hattori, Subaru Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20120162548
    Abstract: A method of electrophoretic movement of particles through a liquid crystal utilizes a direct (DC) or alternating (AC) electric field that is applied along the liquid crystal director (for liquid crystals with a positive dielectric anisotropy) or perpendicular to the director (for liquid crystals with a negative dielectric anisotropy). A perpendicular or tilted orientation of the liquid crystal molecules at the surface of the particle causes distortions, such that the fore-aft (or left-right) symmetry of the particle is broken. The asymmetric orientation of the liquid crystal around the particle allows both charged and neutral particles to be transported, even when the particles themselves are perfectly symmetric (spherical).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Oleg D. Lavrentovich, Israel Esteban Lazo-Martinez, Oleg P. Pishnyak
  • Patent number: 8206610
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition is provided that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics. The crystal liquid display device using the composition is suitable for an AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth, and can be used for a liquid crystal projector, a liquid crystal television and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Norikatsu Hattori, Masayuki Saito
  • Patent number: 8202447
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a liquid crystal composition which mixes two or more liquid crystal compounds, namely, a method for producing a liquid crystal composition, including conducting agitation or ultrasonic irradiation of two or more liquid crystal compounds without applying external heat, wherein at least one of the liquid crystal compounds has a melting point higher than 40° C., and a temperature at a start of the agitation or ultrasonic irradiation is not more than 40° C. The production method of the present invention enables a highly reliable, high-quality liquid crystal composition to be produced without the necessity for large-scale equipment such as a pressure reduction apparatus or heating apparatus. Accordingly, this method is extremely practical for the production of liquid crystal compositions that require a high level of reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: DIC Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Kurisawa, Kunihiko Kotani
  • Patent number: 8203659
    Abstract: A combination of an LCD display and a gaming machine includes an LCD comprising a touchscreen, a liquid crystal panel, a backlight module, printed circuit boards, and a rear cover having an opening wherein the backlight module comprises, from front to rear, four optical films each having three openings, three barrier films, a light guide having three openings, two light sources on top and bottom edges of the light guide respectively, a reflecting film having three openings, and a frame plate having three openings, the barrier films functions as a visual barrier or a transparent member by adjusting voltage applied thereto, and the openings are aligned one another; a plurality of revolving wheels disposed behind the LCD, each wheel comprising a plurality of symbols arranged annually thereon. One pattern including the symbols of the wheels behind the openings is illuminated by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Litemax Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kun-Liang Chou
  • Patent number: 8199263
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-touch LCD panel. A conductive colloidal mixture formed by mixing a plurality of conductive particles and a colloid is coated on the electrode layer of the counter substrate and is solidified to make the conductive particles electrically connect to the corresponding sensing electrodes of the array substrate. Consequently, when an external force is applied to one touching position on the counter substrate, the conductive particles electrically connect the sensing electrodes to the electrode layer and the touching signal of the position can be obtained. Due to the integration of the conductive particles into the liquid crystal cell gap, the multi-touch LCD panel has the advantages of slimness and lightness. Moreover, the manufacturing process of the conductive particles is introduced after the conventional counter substrate manufacturing method, and the objective of simple process, low cost and high yields can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Century Display(ShenZhen)Co.,Ltd.
    Inventor: De-Jiun Li
  • Patent number: 8197708
    Abstract: Disclosed are a new dichroic dye having liquid crystal properties and dichroic properties and capable of being used for forming a polarization film with excellent heat resistance, durability, and polarizing properties, a composition including the same for a polarization film, a method for forming a polarization plate with excellent durability using the composition, and a polarization plate prepared thereby. The new dichroic dye has a structure of R1-L1-(M,L,D) (where, D is a dichroic structure, M is a structure with liquid crystal properties, R1 is a reactive end functional group, and L and L1 are linking structures). The composition for a polarization film includes the dichroic dye. In the method for forming the polarization plate, the composition for a polarization film is applied to a substrate and cured to prepare the polarization plate. The polarization plate has excellent dichroic ratio, heat resistance, durability, and polarizing properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Il Cho, Jeong-Su Yu, Eun-Kyung Kim, Sin-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 8199137
    Abstract: An optical recording apparatus and a method of optical recording are disclosed in which: a DC voltage of a first polarity is applied, as a reset voltage for initializing a display layer, to one of a plurality of divided electrodes which is selected in a predetermined sequence along a specified direction, and reset light is irradiated onto a photoconductor layer in a region corresponding to the selected divided electrode; and a DC voltage of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity is applied, as an image writing voltage for writing an image in the display layer, to the selected divided electrode, and image light corresponding to input image information is irradiated onto the photoconductor layer in the region corresponding to the selected divided electrode. Also disclosed is an image display apparatus including the optical recording apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ishii, Minoru Koshimizu, Naoki Hiji, Yasunori Saito, Haruo Harada, Masahiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8199290
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel, a backlight assembly providing a light to the display panel, a receiving container receiving the backlight assembly and a heat sink member disposed between the backlight assembly and the receiving container. The display panel includes a first substrate including a pixel electrode formed on a pixel region and electrically connected to a switching device, a first alignment layer formed on the pixel electrode, a second substrate including a common electrode layer facing the first substrate, a second alignment layer formed on the common electrode layer, and a liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal composition having a nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature higher than about 80° C. Thus, black bruising of liquid crystal may be prevented and/or reduced, thereby enhancing a display quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo-Jeong Huh, Nam-Seok Lee, Won-Gap Yoon, So-Youn Park, Si-Heun Kim
  • Publication number: 20120140127
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical memory device and method for the preparation of the optical memory device based on glycerol, a very common and versatile solvent, mixed deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal (DHFLC) having applications in ferroelectric liquid crystal based devices, the said method comprising the steps of forming patterns of different shapes and configurations by lithographic methods to obtain an effective electrode area of at least 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Prakash Jai, Ajay Kumar, Amit Choudhary, Anu Malik, Indrani Coondoo, Ashok Manikrao Biradar
  • Patent number: 8194094
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: an image display panel having a two-dimensional matrix with (P×Q) pixels each including first, second and third sub-pixels for displaying respective first, second and third elementary colors, and fourth sub-pixel for displaying a fourth color; and a signal processing section configured to receive first, second and third sub-pixel input signals respectively provided with signal values of x1-(p, q), x2-(p, q) and x3-(p, q), and to output first, second, third and fourth sub-pixel output signals respectively provided with signal values of X1-(p, q), X2-(p, q), X3-(p, q) and X4-(p, q), which used for determining the display gradations of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-pixels, respectively, with regard to a (p, q)th pixel where notations p and q are integers satisfying equations 1?p?P and 1?q?Q.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Sakaigawa, Yukiko Iijima, Amane Higashi, Koji Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20120133850
    Abstract: A device (1) for generating encrypted images which are only visible through a polarizing filter (5) oriented in a predetermined direction, comprises: a source (3) of digital information; an LCD screen (2) connected to said source (3) to form on its front face a matrix of chromatic filters which represents images; a polarizing layer (4) oriented in a predetermined direction and located behind a rear face of the LCD screen (2) to intercept a beam of light passing through the LCD screen (2) and oriented towards an observer of the front face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: LUXOTTICA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Martin Eduardo Broen, Emanuele Teobaldo, Enrico Girotti, Giacomo Melani
  • Patent number: 8187494
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal compound having stability to heat, light and so forth, a wide temperature range of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, and a suitable elastic constant K33, and further having a suitable and negative dielectric anisotropy and an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, and a liquid crystal composition having stability to heat, light and so forth, a low viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, a suitable and negative dielectric anisotropy, and a suitable elastic constant K33, a low threshold voltage, a high maximum temperature (phase-transition temperature on a nematic phase-isotropic phase) of a nematic phase, and a low minimum temperature of the nematic phase. The liquid crystal compound which has a specific structure having fluorine at a lateral position and also having phenylene in which hydrogen on the benzene ring is replaced by fluorine, and a liquid crystal composition containing the compound are prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Masahide Kobayashi, Teru Shimada
  • Patent number: 8182717
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition is provided that satisfies at least one of the characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or is properly balanced regarding at least two characteristics. An AM device is provided that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy contains a first component having especially negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a second component having a large negative dielectric anisotropy and a low minimum temperature, a third component having a high maximum temperature or a small viscosity. The liquid crystal display device contains the liquid crystal composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Saito
  • Publication number: 20120120328
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for transflective LCDs using homogeneously aligned liquid crystal materials which optical birefringence is electrically controllable. An unpaired retarder may be configured to compensate, in transmissive parts, for the effect of reflection in reflective parts. A light recycling/redirecting film may be added between a BLU and a nearby polarization layer to recycle backlight from a reflective part of an LCD unit structure into a transmissive part of the same structure to increase the optical output efficiency of the BLU. Electrodes for the transmissive part and the reflective part may be separately driven in various operating modes. Benefits include high transmittance, high reflectance, wide view angles, improved optical recycling efficiency, and low manufacturing costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Ruibo Lu
  • Patent number: 8174490
    Abstract: A pixel of an electrophoretic display is driven from one extreme optical state to a second optical state different from the one extreme optical state by applying to the pixel a first drive pulse of one polarity; and thereafter applying to the pixel a second drive pulse of the opposite polarity, the second drive pulse being effective to drive the pixel to the second optical state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Joanna F. Au, Karl R. Amundson, Robert W. Zehner, Ara N. Knaian, Benjamin Zion
  • Publication number: 20120105744
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating a plurality of scattered radiation patterns at an image an optical microscope. The apparatus includes at least one lens element, a liquid crystal display (LCD) array, and a housing comprising a body portion supporting the LCD array and lens element in a predetermined spaced apart relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: PHASE FOCUS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Maiden
  • Patent number: 8169589
    Abstract: Working range and beam cross-section are adjusted in an electro-optical reader for reading indicia by applying voltages to electrodes in one or more liquid crystal zone plates in which the index of refraction is changed in different regions of each zone plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Tsi-Shi
  • Patent number: 8168084
    Abstract: Polar nematic compounds, one example of which has the following structure: is a caged boron structure, where the sphere of the caged boron structure is C and each non-sphere vertex of the caged boron structure is B—H. R is H, an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, a bicycloalkyl, an alkenyl, a cycloalkenyl, a bicycloalkenyl, an alkynyl, an acyl, an aryl, an alkylaryl, a halogen, a cyano group, or an isothiocyanoto group, or R is a group that forms an ether, a ketone, an ester, a thioester, a sulfide, or a sulfone. X is COOR? or COSR?. R? is H, an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, a bicycloalkyl, an alkenyl, a cycloalkenyl, a bicycloalkenyl, an alkynyl, an aryl, a halogen, or a cyano group. The compounds may be used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and in television sets, laptop computers, computer monitors, hand-held communication devices, gaming devices, watches, cash registers, clocks, and calculators having liquid crystal displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Bryan Ringstrand, Piotr Kaszynski
  • Patent number: 8168080
    Abstract: An identifying medium comprises a nematic liquid crystal layer for forming a latent image with gradation, and the nematic liquid crystal layer has a thickness distribution corresponding to the gradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Shinya Nasubida
  • Patent number: 8168082
    Abstract: A liquid crystalline coating solution which comprises: an azo compound represented by the following general formula (I); and a solvent to dissolve the azo compound: wherein Q1 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl group; Q2 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group; m is an integer from 1 to 5; and M is a counter ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichi Matsuda, Kyoko Nishiguchi, Tadayuki Kameyama
  • Publication number: 20120099030
    Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablet includes a first substrate that is transparent and flexible on which a writing pressure is applied and a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate. One electrically conductive layer is in contact with the first substrate and is transparent and another of the electrically conductive layers is in contact with the second substrate. The electrically conductive layers are separated from each other by a cell gap. Cholesteric liquid crystal material is disposed between the electrically conductive layers. Spacers are disposed in the liquid crystal material that control the cell gap. The spacers have a size and concentration in the liquid crystal material that restricts flow of the liquid crystal material when the cell gap is reduced upon application of the writing pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: KENT DISPLAYS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Oleg PISHNYAK
  • Patent number: 8164706
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device 100 provided by the present invention, at least a part of a circuit board 16 can be held on an outer side surface 30B of a frame 30 by a board clip 50 mounted on the outer side surface 30B of the frame 30. The board clip 50 includes a plate-like main body portion 52 located so as to face the outer side surface 30B of the frame 30, front-side engaging portions 54 and 55, and a pair of rear-side engaging portions 56 and 57. A bezel receiving portion 60 contactable with a part of a peripheral portion of a bezel 20 is formed in the vicinity of the front-side engaging portions 54 and 55.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Saori Nambo, Eriko Wakabayashi, Masanori Shimo, Takafumi Hara
  • Patent number: 8158021
    Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal compound shown by the following formula (I), a polymerizable liquid crystal composition that includes the polymerizable liquid crystal compound and a chiral compound polymerizable with the polymerizable liquid crystal compound, a liquid crystalline polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable liquid crystal compound or the polymerizable liquid crystal composition, and an optical anisotropic article that includes the liquid crystalline polymer. The polymerizable liquid crystal compound shows a liquid crystal phase over a wider temperature range, is chemically stable, can be inexpensively produced, and has a wide selective reflection wavelength band ?? (i.e., a large value ?n).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Zeon Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Sakamoto, Naoto Kogoshi, Yoshihide Yachi
  • Patent number: 8159624
    Abstract: A projector capable of increasing in the contrast by reducing the amount of leakage of light due to reflection of light on the surface of a retarder is to be provided. A retarder is placed and tilted in a direction so that the following conditional expression is satisfied, denoting a distance between a point A where the normal drawn from the center of a substrate plane of the retarder and a substrate plane of a polarizing beam splitter intersect and a point C where the substrate plane of the polarizing beam splitter and the optical axis of a projection system as AC, and a distance between a point B where the substrate plane of the polarizing beam splitter and the system optical axis intersect and the point C as BC: AC>BC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Endo
  • Patent number: 8158020
    Abstract: A liquid crystal element comprising a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer which fills in between the pair of substrates and can form a chiral smectic C phase in homeotropic orientation, and an electrode which generates, at least, an electric field (parallel electric field) in directions parallel to a principal face of the substrate for the liquid crystal layer is provided, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises, at least, a chiral compound of the following general formula (1-I) or a chiral compound of the following general formula (2-I) and a chiral compound of the following general formula (2 -II) in a base liquid crystal material which can provide a phase sequence of an isotropic liquid phase, a nematic phase, a smectic A phase and a smectic C phase from a higher temperature side, wherein R1, A2, Z1, Z2, m and 1 in formula (1-I), X, R1, R2, and * in formula (2-I), and X, R3, R4, R5, and * in formula (2-II) are defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Takano, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Toshiaki Tokita, Koh Fujimura, Yasuyuki Takiguchi, Yumi Matsuki, Haruki Amagawa, Toshiaki Nonaka
  • Patent number: 8159253
    Abstract: An exemplary method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes providing an LCD panel (201) including a common voltage initialization circuit (2011); testing and inspecting the LCD panel for defects of the LCD panel, and thereby obtaining a preferred common voltage for the LCD panel; writing parameters of the preferred common voltage to the common voltage initialization circuit; and mounting a driving integrated circuit on the LCD panel, the driving integrated circuit being connected to the common voltage initialization circuit. The driving integrated circuit is connected to the common voltage initialization circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventor: Chien-Jen Chang
  • Patent number: 8153021
    Abstract: Disclosed are: a liquid crystal composition which satisfies at least one property selected from a high upper limit temperature in a nematic phase, a low lower limit temperature in a nematic phase, a low viscosity, high optical anisotropy, high dielectric anisotropy, a high specific resistance, high stability against ultraviolet ray, high stability against heat and the like or has a proper balance between at least two properties selected from the above-mentioned properties; and an AM element having a short response time, a high voltage holding ratio, a high contrast ratio, a long service life and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Kibe, Masayuki Saito
  • Publication number: 20120081621
    Abstract: Described herein is the use of a fast-scanning optical phase array (OPA) within an electronic beam-steering-based aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Terry A. Dorschner, Irl W. Smith
  • Patent number: 8144173
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes following units. The image display unit includes a light source unit provided with light sources, each source being controlled respectively, and a liquid crystal panel displaying on a display area. The luminance calculation unit calculates a light source luminance of the light source based on a signal level of a divided area into which the display area virtually divided. The luminance distribution calculation unit calculates an entire luminance distribution of the light source unit. The transform unit transforms a signal level of the input image into a transformed image based on the entire luminance distribution. The luminance correction unit calculates a correction coefficient based on an average value or a sum of the light source luminance, and collects each of the light source luminance by the correction coefficient. The controller unit controls the liquid crystal panel and the light source unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masahiro Baba, Ryosuke Nonaka, Yuma Sano
  • Patent number: 8144163
    Abstract: A display device which includes a display panel having a plurality of pixels and displaying images. Each pixel includes a data line, first and second gate lines, a first sub-pixel connected to the first gate line and the data line, and a second sub-pixel connected to the same data line and the second gate line, and a display driving unit receives an image signal, converts the image signal into a first sub image signal and a second sub image signal, supplies the first sub data voltage to the first sub-pixel through the data line and then supplies the second sub data voltage to the second sub-pixel through the same data line. The first sub data voltage corresponding to the first sub image signal, and the second sub data voltage corresponding to the second sub image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hoi-Sik Moon