Abstract: A panel apparatus comprises a first layer. The first layer includes a liquid crystal microdroplet display (LCMD) switchable between transparent and opaque states in response to a change in an applied electrical voltage. The panel apparatus further comprises a second layer spaced apart from and coupled to the first layer. The second layer includes a transparent panel.

Abstract: A display device having a light-emitting element and a see-through capability, with which a variety of display modes can be exhibited depending on a use application or situation. In such a display device having a see-through capability, between a first display portion having pixels including dual-emission type light-emitting elements and a second display portion having a light-scattering liquid crystal layer, a shutter-shaped light-blocking unit is provided so that a variety of display modes can be exhibited depending on use applications or situations by selecting modes of the first display portion, the second display portion, and the shutter-shaped light-blocking unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for termination detection of optical alignment of liquid crystal material, which includes: under influence of electrical field, irradiating light on liquid crystal material so that reactive monomers in liquid crystal material polymerizing; detecting a residual amount or a thickness change value of the reactive monomers in liquid crystal material to determine detected residual amount of reactive monomers or thickness change value in liquid crystal box reaching a default value; when reaching default value, terminating optical alignment of liquid crystal material. The present invention also provides a device for termination detection of optical alignment of liquid crystal material. Through detecting termination of optical alignment, the present invention realizes automatic control of irradiation time in optical alignment to reduce the effect of individual glass substrate variation on optical alignment to avoid affecting reaction process of alignment on reactive monomer.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a base substrate, a pixel electrode, a plurality of capsular structures, a common electrode and a plurality of color filters. The base substrate includes a plurality of unit pixel regions. Each of the unit pixel regions has a plurality of sub pixel regions. A pixel electrode is formed in each of the sub pixel regions. A plurality of capsular structures is disposed on the base substrate. Each of the capsular structures is formed in each of the unit pixel regions and having a cavity. A common electrode is formed on the capsular structures. A plurality of color filters is formed on the capsular structures. Each of the color filters is formed in each of the sub pixel regions. An opening ratio of the sub pixel regions and light transmittance are relatively high.

Abstract: Polymer network liquid crystal materials have improved mechanical properties such as rigidity and hardness and substantially improved electro-optical performance. The PNLC material can be manufactured with an emulsion process so as to simplify substantially the manufacturing process. Each LC droplet can be configured with the polymer network extending substantially across the LC droplet, and the polymer network may comprise a material to lower substantially the switching voltage, such as a fluorinated acrylate that may interact with the liquid crystal so as to lower the surface tension of the LC droplet. The PNLC material may comprise an interfacial layer combined with the polymer network so as to decrease substantially the driving voltage.

Abstract: A display system includes a display panel of pixels, a gate driver and a compensation unit. The gate driver receives a control signal and based on the control signal, generates a gate signal to drive a transistor included in a pixel. The compensation unit measures and compensates for a fall time of the gate driver. The compensation unit includes a replica gate driver, a peak RMS detector, a comparator and a counter. The replica gate driver generates a replica gate signal based on the control signal. The peak RMS detector calculates a peak RMS of the replica gate signal. The comparator compares the peak RMS of the replica gate signal and a reference voltage and generates a comparator value. The counter is controlled by the comparator value to generate a compensation value used to adjust the gate driver and the replica gate driver. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A display device may be constructed with a first substrate having a first electrode and a second electrode, a second substrate formed on the first substrate and facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer may be constructed with a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC), and a size of domains of the PSLC is 200 nm or less.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes providing an LCD panel that includes a photopolymerizable compound in its liquid crystal layer; and forming alignment sustaining layers by polymerizing the photopolymerizable compound in the liquid crystal layer of the LCD panel with the liquid crystal layer irradiated with light and supplied with a voltage simultaneously. The forming the alignment sustaining layers includes the steps of: i) applying a predetermined voltage between a pixel electrode and a counter electrode while a switching element is in ON state; and ii) changing the voltage at a storage capacitor counter electrode into a voltage, of which the polarity is opposite to a voltage at the storage capacitor counter electrode in the step i), after the switching element in ON state has been turned OFF.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device includes a light source, a light guide, a light extraction unit, and a drive circuit. The light guide is configured to guide light emitted by the light source from one end side of the light guide toward one other end side of the light guide. The light extraction unit is provided on a surface of the light guide, and includes a liquid crystal dispersion layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The liquid crystal dispersion layer includes liquid crystal droplets, and the first and second electrodes are configured to cause an electric field to occur in the liquid crystal dispersion layer. The drive circuit is configured to apply a voltage between the electrodes. Liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal droplets are configured to have an orientation parallel to the surface of the light guide in the electric field.

Abstract: Provided are a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display device and a method of manufacturing the same. The PDLC display device may include a PDLC layer between facing substrates, wherein the PDLC layer has at least two regions including polymers having different concentrations.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an optical device includes an optically variable layer and first and second electrodes. The optically variable layer includes a material having dielectric anisotropy and a solvatochromic dye. The first and second electrodes are configured to apply a voltage to the optically variable layer. According to another embodiment, a display includes an optical device and a driving circuit. The optical device includes an optically variable layer and first and second electrodes. The optically variable layer includes a material having dielectric anisotropy and a solvatochromic dye. The first and second electrodes are configured to driving circuit is configured to put a drive voltage across the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a humidifying unit that generates humidified gas, a drying unit that dries ink applied to a sheet by a recording unit, a first duct that supplies gas discharged from the drying unit to at least one of the humidifying unit and the recording unit, and a second duct that supplies the humidified gas generated by the humidifying unit to the recording unit.

Abstract: A polymer-dispersed liquid crystal system has a continuous polymer structure having defined therein a plurality of discrete bodies of liquid crystal material. The bodies of liquid crystal material exhibit a polydomain operating state in which the liquid crystal material within each body is arranged in multiple domains, each domain being defined by a quantity of liquid crystal material whose molecules have a substantially common identifiable alignment in at least one axis, wherein the resolved alignments of neighboring domains diverge substantially from one another and are stable over time.

Abstract: There are provided a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display not using a backlight unit and a method of fabricating the same. The PDLC display comprises a rear substrate over which a thin film transistor (TFT), a first electrode, and a second electrode are formed, a front substrate apart from the rear substrate and having a first black matrix formed thereon corresponding to a region where the TFT is formed, a PDLC layer disposed below the first black matrix and formed between the front and rear substrates, a light source formed on one side of the PDLC layer and configured to provide light to the side of the PDLC layer, and a first reflection plate formed on the other side of the PDLC layer and configured to reflect light incident via the PDLC layer.

Abstract: A display device includes a light source, an optical waveguide, a light-extracting portion, a liquid crystal dispersion layer and a drive circuit. The optical waveguide has two ends to guide light from one of the two ends to the other end. The light is emitted by the light source. The light-extracting portion is provided to a side face of the optical waveguide. The liquid crystal dispersion layer is included in the light-extracting portion and includes liquid crystal droplets whose mean diameter is 100 nm or less. The drive circuit applies a voltage to the light-extracting portion to generate an electric field in the liquid crystal dispersion layer so that the light transmitting through the optical waveguide is scattered to be extracted.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display uses a pixel division method by which the size of a defect can be reduced much more than conventionally possible, and a defect correcting method for the liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display is provided with an active matrix array substrate including a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of source lines arranged on a transparent substrate to intersect with each other, and a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, each pixel electrode including an assembly of a plurality of sub-pixel electrodes, separate TFTs respectively connected to the sub-pixel electrodes in the vicinity of an intersection portion of the gate line and the source line, the TFTs being driven by the common gate line and the common source line, and at least one opening portion being formed in a lower-layer side line placed in a lower layer at the intersection portion.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer 32. Each pixel electrode thereof 12 has a plurality of unit electrode portions 12a, each of which has a conductive film and slits 13 that have been cut through the conductive film. When a predetermined voltage is applied between the pixel electrode and a counter electrode, a liquid crystal domain is produced in association with each unit electrode portion and liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal domain come to have a substantially radially tilting alignment state. As a result, the device of the present invention achieves a wide viewing angle and a fast response characteristic.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel including a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, an alignment layer, a polymer layer, scan lines, data lines, pixel structures, first capacitor bottom electrodes and second capacitor bottom electrodes, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. Each pixel structure has a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode. Each first capacitor bottom electrode is disposed between the first pixel electrode and the first substrate. Each second capacitor bottom electrode disposed between the second pixel electrode and the first substrate includes a first pattern and a plurality of second patterns. The first pattern extends from a first side to an opposite second side of the second pixel electrode. The second patterns connected to the first pattern are disposed on the first side and the second side. The second pattern at least partly overlaps a region between the second pixel electrode and the data line.

Abstract: There are provided a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display not using a backlight unit and a method of fabricating the same. The PDLC display comprises a rear substrate over which a thin film transistor (TFT), a first electrode, and a second electrode are formed, a front substrate apart from the rear substrate and having a first black matrix formed thereon corresponding to a region where the TFT is formed, a PDLC layer disposed below the first black matrix and formed between the front and rear substrates, a light source formed on one side of the PDLC layer and configured to provide light to the side of the PDLC layer, and a first reflection plate formed on the other side of the PDLC layer and configured to reflect light incident via the PDLC layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming an array of polymer dispersed liquid crystal cells, to an array formed by such method and to uses of such array.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display uses a pixel division method by which the size of a defect can be reduced much more than conventionally possible, and a defect correcting method for the liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display is provided with an active matrix array substrate including a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of source lines arranged on a transparent substrate so as to intersect with each other, and a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, each pixel electrode including an assembly of a plurality of sub-pixel electrodes, separate TFTs respectively connected to the sub-pixel electrodes in the vicinity of an intersection portion of the gate line and the source line, the TFTs being driven by the common gate line and the common source line, and at least one opening portion being formed in a lower-layer side line placed in a lower layer at the intersection portion.

Abstract: A light-modulating material includes a transparent front surface layer, an intermediate layer including a liquid crystal forming an isotropic phase and a transparent back surface layer, laminated in this order.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display uses a pixel division method by which the size of a defect can be reduced much more than conventionally possible, and a defect correcting method for the liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display is provided with an active matrix array substrate including a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of source lines arranged on a transparent substrate so as to intersect with each other, and a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, each pixel electrode including an assembly of a plurality of sub-pixel electrodes, separate TFTs respectively connected to the sub-pixel electrodes in the vicinity of an intersection portion of the gate line and the source line, the TFTs being driven by the common gate line and the common source line, and at least one opening portion being formed in a lower-layer side line placed in a lower layer at the intersection portion.

Abstract: There are provided a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display not using a backlight unit and a method of fabricating the same. The PDLC display comprises a rear substrate over which a thin film transistor (TFT), a first electrode, and a second electrode are formed, a front substrate apart from the rear substrate and having a first black matrix formed thereon corresponding to a region where the TFT is formed, a PDLC layer disposed below the first black matrix and formed between the front and rear substrates, a light source formed on one side of the PDLC layer and configured to provide light to the side of the PDLC layer, and a first reflection plate formed on the other side of the PDLC layer and configured to reflect light incident via the PDLC layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal-containing composition includes a first cholesteric liquid crystal having a peak wavelength of selective reflection in the range of from 600 nm to 800 nm and encapsulated in a microcapsule and a second cholesteric liquid crystal having a peak wavelength of selective reflection in the range of from 400 nm to 500 nm as the only liquid crystals, and the content of the second cholesteric liquid crystal with respect to the entire cholesteric liquid crystal content is from about 5 weight % to about 40 weight %.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to improve deterioration of display performance in a liquid crystal display device, especially to obtain rapid response with the alignment of a liquid crystal maintained. According to one feature of the present invention, a liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates where an electrode is formed in one side of each substrate; liquid crystals; and a ferroelectric, wherein the pair of substrates is disposed so that the electrodes oppose to each other, wherein the liquid crystal is sandwiched between the pair of substrates, wherein the ferroelectric includes an organic material and wherein the ferroelectric particles are dispersed in the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and microcapsules sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, the microcapsules constituting a display area, the microcapsules encapsulating a display material whose optical properties change in response to electrical stimulation. A conductive material for conducting between the substrates is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate to constitute a vertically conducting portion. The thickness of the conductive material is set such that the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate at the vertically conducting portion is larger than the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate in the display area.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to suppress light leakage in a dark state which is generated by rubbing treatment. A liquid crystal material containing an ultraviolet curable liquid crystalline monomer at a concentration of more than 0 wt % and not more than 1.0 wt % is used for a liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. By applying such a liquid crystal layer to a liquid crystal display device, light leakage in a dark state can be suppressed, and the black display can be improved. Therefore, a liquid crystal display device with an excellent contrast and high display quality can be obtained.

Abstract: This invention implements an image display technique capable of setting a display effect and providing a more effective display which reflects a feature in an image without performing any cumbersome operation by a viewing user in a slide show of sequentially displaying digital images. An image display method of adding a special effect to a plurality of images, changing the plurality of images in time series, and sequentially displaying the plurality of images includes an input step of inputting an image, an area detection step of detecting a plurality of feature areas from the input image, a determination step of determining the content of the special effect on the basis of the detection results of the plurality of detected feature areas, and a display control step of displaying the image with the determined special effect.

Abstract: A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and microcapsules sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, the microcapsules constituting a display area, the microcapsules encapsulating a display material whose optical properties change in response to electrical stimulation. A conductive material for conducting between the substrates is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate to constitute a vertically conducting portion. The thickness of the conductive material is set such that the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate at the vertically conducting portion is larger than the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate in the display area.

Abstract: Discloses is a rewritable thin image display sheet, an image display apparatus and an image display system. In the image display system, a low-melting-point wax 18 with a magnetic powder 16 dispersed therein is held between a heat-generation layer 12 and a transparent layer 14 which are disposed spaced apart from one another, and a zone of the low-melting-point wax 18 corresponding to a pixel for image display is selectively heated and molted by the heat-generation layer 12. Then, the magnetic powder 16 in the molten zone is displaced toward the transparent layer 14 so as to display a given image on the transparent layer. The rewritable thin image display sheet, the image display apparatus and the image display system can reliably display an image in a rewritable state while achieving a significantly simplified structure.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof for reducing the number of data lines and the number of data drive integrated circuits corresponding thereto are disclosed. In the device, a plurality of gate lines is provided in a direction crossing a plurality of data lines. First and second control lines are provided in a direction being parallel to the gate lines. First liquid crystal cells are provided at one side on a basis of the data lines. Second liquid crystal cells are provided at other side on a basis of the data lines. A first switching part is provided for each first liquid crystal cell to apply video signals supplied from the data lines to the first liquid crystal cells under control of the first control line and the gate line. A second switching part is provided for each second liquid crystal cell to apply video signals supplied from the data lines to the second liquid crystal cells under control of the second control line and the gate line.

Abstract: A liquid drop arranging device is provided for arranging liquid drops made of liquid crystal on a substrate. The liquid drops are arranged so that adjacent liquid drops reach the substrate with a first pitch equal to or less than the diameter of the liquid drops immediately before reaching the substrate. When the diameter of the liquid drops at the moment the liquid drops reach the substrate is the first diameter and the diameter of the liquid drops at the moment the liquid drops spread from the first diameter is a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter, the liquid drops are arranged so that the entire outline of a liquid drop of the first diameter contacts a liquid drop of the first diameter adjacent to the liquid drop when the liquid drops reach the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electro-optical imaging layer, a display utilizing the imaging layer and a method for making the same comprising a binder having dispersed therein at least two electrically modulated material domains of different uniform sizes, wherein the ratio of smallest to largest domain size for each of the electrically modulated material domains of different uniform sizes varies by no more than 1:2.

Abstract: A modular keypad assembly for use with a projection device is provided. This modular keypad assembly may include a user input through which a user may operate the projection device. Such a modular keypad assembly may include a elastomer keypad, a keypad support plate; and a keypad circuit board.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal panel in which pseudo dot inversion driving is performed, the occurrence of flicker or vertical and horizontal strings is prevented by preventing an alignment shift between individual layers during the fabrication of a TFT array from producing a difference between the respective abilities of thin-film TFTs to charge adjacent pixels (61, 62). For this purpose, the liquid crystal display panel is constructed such that two TFTs which are enclosed by two adjacent image signal lines (21, 22) and scan signal lines (3) and adjacent to each other along the signal lines (21, 22) have respective source electrodes (71, 72) adjacent to the different image signal lines (21, 22). The source electrodes (71, 72) and drain electrodes (81, 82) of the two TFTs connected to the adjacent pixels (61, 62) are alternately arranged such that variations caused by the alignment shift in the sizes and areas of overlapping portions between the individual layers of the TFTs are equal or the same.

Abstract: Disclosed are liquid crystal (LC) phase-retarders and linear polarizers and methods and apparatus for making the same. The liquid crystal phase-retarder is realized by a liquid crystal film structure having one or more phase retardation regions formed therein. Each phase retardation region has an optical axis specified by the direction and depth of orientation of liquid crystal molecules along the surface of the liquid crystal film structure. The liquid crystal linear polarizer is realized by a liquid crystal film structure having a chiral phase region within which liquid crystal molecules are cholesterically ordered. One or more nematic phase regions are formed along the surface of the liquid crystal film structure within which liquid crystal molecules are oriented along a direction and to a surface depth sufficient to realize one or more phase retardation regions therein having optical axes along the direction of liquid crystal molecule orientation.

Abstract: A liquid crystal injecting/sealing apparatus for injecting a liquid crystal into a liquid crystal display panel and sealing it. In the apparatus, an elevator is installed at the end of the injecting apparatus to convey the liquid crystal display panel from the injecting apparatus into the sealing apparatus. A residual liquid crystal remover removes a contaminated liquid crystal at the periphery of the liquid crystal injection hole. A sealer seals the liquid crystal injection hole with a sealant. An ultraviolet irradiating unit hardens the sealant.

Abstract: Fabry-Perot etalon type tunable wavelength-selective filter comprises: a first layer including a transparent electrode and an optical mirror layer; a third layer including a transparent electrode and an optical mirror layer; and a second layer which is composed of a material with a refractive index variable with electric field, and sandwiched between the first layer and the third layer, wherein the material having a refractive index variable with electric field is composed by dispersing liquid crystal droplets equal to or less than 150 nm in diameter in a light transmissive characteristic medium such as a polymer or silica glass, and by adding plasticizer therein. In this structure, the optical mirror layer consists of a dielectric multilayer mirror with an optical reflectance of equal to or more than 95% for 1.

Abstract: A process selectively removes a light modulating layer containing a liquid crystalline material dispersed in a polymeric binder from the electrically conductive layer of a liquid crystal display web. The provided web comprises a flexible substrate, an electrically conducting layer disposed on the substrate, and a light modulating layer disposed on the electrically conductive layer. The light modulating layer inclues a liquid crystalline material dispersed in a polymeric binder and has an upper surface. The web is transported at a controlled rate of speed from a first station to a second station that is situated at a selected distance from the first station. At the first station, a solvent effective for softening the light modulating layer is applied at a controlled rate to a selected portion of the upper surface, thereby forming a selected softened portion of the light modulating layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display having a pair of substrates having electrodes on opposing surfaces thereof, at least one of the substrates being transparent. A continuous liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer includes first and second liquid crystal gel layers each with polymer enabling alignment. A direction of orientation of the liquid crystal molecules included in the first liquid crystal gel layer is orthogonal to a direction of orientation of the liquid crystal molecules included in the second liquid crystal gel layer.

Abstract: A reflective type liquid crystal display device in accordance with the present invention includes a reflector film having excellent polarization preservation properties and an anisotropic diffusing film for diffusing only the light polarized in a particular direction. The anisotropic diffusing film is composed of a complex of liquid crystal and a polymer and selectively diffuses incident light. If a liquid crystal layer composed of dichroic dye and liquid crystal is employed, it becomes possible to carry out high contrast display with the anisotropic diffusing film and the reflector film and to prevent reflections of nearby objects appearing on the screen.

Abstract: A display device includes a non-linear element including an inorganic ferroelectric material in a polycrystalline state and a display medium driven through the non-linear element.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device that includes a pair of substrates and a composite layer disposed between the substrates. The composite layer has a liquid crystal phase of a liquid crystal material and a resin phase of a resin. The liquid crystal device is made such that the resin phase comprises a resin wall structure which does not contain a substantial amount of the liquid crystal material. To enhance contrast and viewing angle, the resin phase has a rough surface which is sufficient to disarrange an orientation of molecules of the liquid crystal material. The invention is further directed to a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device, which includes the steps of defining a mixing ratio of two kinds of resin raw materials that have different contact angles, mixing these kinds of resin raw materials, mixing the mixed raw material with a liquid crystal material, and separating the mixed material from the liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal display has first and second liquid crystal gel layers orientated so that polymer threads are of fixed directions within a dichroic liquid crystal. The direction of orientation of the polymer threads included in the first liquid crystal gel layer and the direction of orientation of the polymer threads included in the second liquid crystal gel layer are orthogonal with respect to each other.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing polymer stabilized liquid crystals on large flexible films by lamination wherein the polymer stabilized liquid crystals contain microparticles or microspacers. Also, a method for manufacturing polymer stabilized liquid crystals on large flexible films by lamination of substrates having a replicated structure is provided. Polymer-free liquid crystals may also be used in some of the methods of the invention.

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

Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal material comprising a polymer matrix, a liquid crystal and a diffusing agent.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a liquid crystal composite in which droplets of a liquid crystal material are dispersed in a polymer matrix. At least one further material separates the liquid crystal material from the polymer matrix. This construction permits the polymer matrix to be selected on the basis of its environmental properties and the further material to be selected on the basis of its orientational interactions with liquid crystal material. Light valves made from such a composite exhibit improved electro-optical properties.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a liquid crystal composite including a dye. The method comprises forming volumes in which a liquid crystal material is surrounded by a containment medium, forming a dye dispersion, combining the dye dispersion and the volumes of liquid material, and treating that combination to facilitate the transfer of the dye into the volumes of liquid crystal material.