Abstract: A multi-mode 3-dimensional image display apparatus comprises a backlight for emitting light; an image liquid crystal panel for displaying an image using the light emitted from the backlight; and a parallax barrier liquid crystal panel including a first transparent substrate, a first transparent electrode plate disposed on the first transparent substrate and having a front surface formed as a transparent electrode, a first insulation plate disposed on the first transparent electrode plate, a second transparent electrode plate disposed on the first insulation plate and having a transparent electrode material patterned in parallel in a vertical direction, a first alignment layer disposed on the second transparent electrode plate, a liquid crystal layer disposed on the first alignment layer, a second alignment layer disposed on the liquid crystal layer, a third transparent electrode plate disposed on the second alignment layer and having a transparent electrode material patterned in parallel in a vertical directi

Abstract: A backlight unit that can perform local dimming, and has a structure for preventing light leakage and a cooling structure, and an image display apparatus employing the backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a light emitting arrangement adapted to radiate light and a plurality of light shielding guides adapted to divide the light emitting arrangement into a plurality of unit blocks, the unit blocks being adapted to provide local dimming, the light shielding guides being further adapted to prevent light from traveling from one of said unit blocks to another of said unit blocks.

Abstract: A liquid crystal spatial light modulator for adjusting an optical signal is configured in such a manner that a region of one element is partitioned into two regions so as to perform intensity modulation in one region and phase modulation in the other region. Since the region for performing the intensity modulation and the region for performing the phase modulation can be formed by partitioning one region of the liquid crystal spatial light modulator, only one element allows adjusting functions, both the optical signal intensity modulation and phase modulation.

Abstract: A liquid crystal spatial light modulator for adjusting an optical signal is configured in such a manner that a region of one element is partitioned into two regions so as to perform intensity modulation in one region and phase modulation in the other region. Since the region for performing the intensity modulation and the region for performing the phase modulation can be formed by partitioning one region of the liquid crystal spatial light modulator, only one element allows adjusting functions, both the optical signal intensity modulation and phase modulation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing large area substrates is described. The large area substrates include patterns of displays and contact points electrically coupled to the displays. The apparatus includes a prober assembly that is movable relative to the large area substrate and may be configured to test various patterns of displays and contact points. The prober assembly is also configured to test fractional sections of the large area substrate. The apparatus also includes a test chamber configured to store at least two prober assemblies within an interior volume.

Abstract: An electro emission device (EED) operated by a driver for modulating the pulse width of a driving pulse according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) clock signal to control the brightness of images. The EED calculates a brightness level of image data indicating the brightness of the whole image for each unit image of a video signal. The image data is stored for each unit image of the video signal. The reference brightness level stored in the look-up table is compared with a calculated brightness level to determine a signal of the PWM clock signal condition. A PWM clock signal is generated according to the signal of the PWM clock signal condition to drive the display panel based on the PWM clock signal.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus of aligning liquid crystal, a first ion beam is formed. The first ion beam is transformed into a second ion beam having transformed cross-section. The second ion beam advances toward a thin film including carbon-carbon double bond. The second ion beam forms a first angle with respect to the thin film. The second ion beam is transformed into an atomic beam. The atomic beam is irradiated onto the thin film to break the carbon-carbon double bond. The carbon-carbon double bond is broken to form a polarized functional group for aligning a liquid crystal molecule.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator contains a substrate (90), a plurality of overlying liquid-crystal cells (202), a plurality of respectively corresponding transistors (204), an electron-beam system (400 and 500), and a control component (203). Each transistor is in electrical communication with the corresponding liquid-crystal cell. The electron-beam system bombards each transistor with electrons that cause it to be selectively in (i) a non-conductive condition in which its channel-region electric field is substantially insufficient for conduction or (ii) a conductive condition in which its channel-region electric field is sufficient for at least partial conduction. During selected time periods when a transistor is in its conductive condition, the control component provides the transistor with a control signal that results in the polarization direction of specified light being selectively rotated in passing through the corresponding liquid-crystal cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adjusting or reducing intrinsic DC offset potential in a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) are taught. The methods allow the upper and lower assemblies of the LCD device to be manufactured with selected materials while achieving adjusted or reduced intrinsic DC offset potential in the finished LCD device. The methods are especially useful for reflective LCD designs where it is not possible to build the LCD with symmetric assemblies.

Abstract: A method for preparing an alignment layer surface provides a surface on the alignment layer. The surface is bombarded with ions, and reactive gas is introduced to the ion beam to saturate dangling bonds on the surface. Another method for preparing an alignment layer surface provides a surface on the alignment layer. The surface is bombarded with ions and quenched with a reactive component to saturate dangling bonds on the surface.

Abstract: A surface light source device includes a light guide plate disposed on an upper surface of a liquid crystal panel unit and a linear light source disposed extending in a direction parallel to a side surface of the light guide plate. A plurality of linear prisms are formed on an upper surface of the light guide plate in a manner of extending in a direction oblique to the side surface. A light irradiated from the linear light source to the light guide plate through the side surface is reflected by a reflecting surface formed by each of linear prisms to be irradiated onto the liquid crystal panel unit provided below a lower surface of the plate. A height of the reflecting surface of each of linear prisms is changed in a lengthwise direction thereof.

Abstract: Bombardment of the surface of a substrate with a film layer is used to create alignment layers for liquid crystal displays. By using bombardment of the surface at an angle, both direct creation of the alignment layer or indirect deposition of the alignment layer material onto a glass plate can be achieved.

Abstract: A single hollow element (12) surrounds the cavity (72) lying between a first surface (36) and a second surface (312) of a liquid crystal cell (8). An inside side surface (20) of element (12) bounds a perimeter (43) of the first surface (36) and extends between the first surface (36) and an end surface (14) of the hollow element (12). The end surface (14) of the hollow element (12) contains an opening (28) formed by the cavity (72). The second surface (312) overlaps the end surface (14) and covers opening (28) to contain a liquid crystal material (129) in the cell (8).

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell (10) is formed with a hollow cylinder (12) and a solid cylinder (32) inserted into a hole (32) of the hollow cylinder (12) so that a first reference surface (34) of the solid cylinder (32) lies between a first reference surface (14) of the hollow cylinder (12) and a second surface (13) of the hollow cylinder (12). The first reference surface (14) of the hollow cylinder (12) and the second surface (13) of the hollow cylinder (12) are essentially parallel surfaces which are perpendicular to the axis of revolution (18) of the hollow cylinder (12). The solid cylinder (34) is affixed to the hollow cylinder (12) to maintain a fixed gap (38) between the first reference surface (14) of the hollow cylinder (12) and the first reference surface (34) of the solid cylinder (32).

Abstract: An electric cell comprises first and second parallel flexible substrates, set apart from each other at a determined spacing, carrying electrodes on their opposing faces, the substrates enclosing between them a layer of sensitive material which can change its physical properties, in particular its optical properties, as a result of a voltage applied to the electrodes, or change its electrical properties as a result of stress or radiation passing through one of the substrates, the sensitive material being protected from contact with the atmosphere by a sealing frame which connects, in a sealed manner, peripheral parts of the substrates, said frame having a width parallel to the substrates.

Abstract: A high-resistance transparent electrode is bonded on the opposite surface of a first glass substrate from a second glass substrate, and a low-resistance transparent electrode is bonded on the opposite surface of the second glass substrate from the first glass substrate. A pair of deflecting angle control electrodes are fixed to the high-resistance transparent electrode in parallel. A liquid crystal orientation film covers the high-resistance transparent electrode and the deflecting angle control electrodes, and another liquid crystal orientation film covers the low-resistance transparent electrode. Spacers are disposed in parallel between the liquid crystal orientation films, and the cell formed by the liquid crystal orientation films and spacers is filled with a nematic liquid crystal.

Abstract: A programmable liquid crystal optical wavefront device selectively exhibits characteristics either as a lens or as a beam deflector; the device includes a liquid crystal (LC) control apparatus that is disposed in an LC cell to selectively deflect light beams passing through the LC cell. The LC control apparatus includes a bias electrode network and a bias control circuit electrically coupled to the bias electrode network to provide the appropriate bias voltages across the bias electrodes to determine the operation of the device in the lens mode and in the beam deflector mode. The bias control circuit includes a lens bias resistor circuit, a beam deflector bias resistor circuit, each of which comprise a plurality of respective resistor stages, and a lens/beam deflector switch circuit that selectively couples the resistor circuits to the bias electrode network to cause the device to operate in the lens mode or in the beam deflector mode.