Abstract: A method for producing a cholesteric liquid crystal layer is a method that can produce a cholesteric liquid crystal layer whose reflection surface is not parallel to a substrate surface by a simple method. The method includes: a step 1 of forming a composition layer satisfying a condition 1, a condition 2, or a condition 3 on a substrate, using a liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal compound; and a step 2 of subjecting the composition layer to a treatment for cholesterically aligning the liquid crystal compound in the composition layer to form a cholesteric liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reactive mesogen (RM) formulation comprising a conductive additive, to a polymer film obtained thereof, and the use of the RM formulation and polymer film in optical or electrooptical components or devices, like optical retardation films for liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

Abstract: According to the invention, provided are an optical alignment film composition with which an optical alignment film having excellent aligning properties can be produced, and an optical alignment film, an optical laminate, and an image display device produced using the optical alignment film composition. An optical alignment film composition according to the invention contains a polymer A which has a constitutional unit a1 including a cinnamate group and a low-molecular-weight compound B which has a cinnamate group and has a lower molecular weight than the polymer A.

Abstract: The current invention relates to methods for generating images with multiple reflection colors in a single layer of cholesteric liquid crystal polymer (CLCP) for optical security applications such as optical devices and labels for brand protection or document security. The multicolor feature enhances the counterfeiting resistance of a CLCP based optical devices, in addition to its intrinsic polarized selective reflection and being an optical variable device. The fabrication methods include: digital printing on CLCP, the use of heat transfer masks and UV masks as well as hot stamping techniques. Embodiments are presented that adapt the above methods to continuous, roll-to-roll printing lines.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprises a photo-polymerizable liquid crystal mixture and a heat-polymerizable liquid crystal mixture, and the two mixtures have opposite rotatory directions. A patterned phase delay film is prepared from the liquid crystal composition. A display device comprises the phase delay film. The preparation of the patterned phase-delay film can be implemented by a two-step polymerization process including UV-polymerization and heat-polymerization. The process is simple and the costs are low.

Abstract: A substrate having thereon a marking or layer comprising a cured chiral liquid crystal precursor composition which comprises at least one salt that changes the position of a selective reflection band exhibited by the cured composition compared to the position of a selective reflection band exhibited by a cured composition that does not contain the at least one salt. A modifying resin made from one or more polymerizable monomers is disposed between the substrate and the marking or layer and changes the position of the selective reflection band exhibited by the cured precursor composition comprising the at least one salt on the substrate in the one or more areas. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display including a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate; an organic layer disposed on the thin film transistor; a pixel electrode disposed on the organic layer; a lower alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode; a common electrode disposed on the second substrate; and an upper alignment layer disposed on the common electrode, wherein a first free radical included in the organic layer and a second free radical included in at least one of the lower alignment layer and the upper alignment layer are radical bonded.

Abstract: An alignment film includes a first pre-tilt functional group, a second pre-tilt functional group and a first vertical alignment functional group, which are linked to polysiloxane on a substrate. The first vertical alignment functional group includes a cyclic compound and is aligned substantially perpendicularly to the substrate. The first pre-tilt functional group is cross-linked to the second pre-tilt functional group and tilted with respect to the substrate.

Abstract: A photo-alignment material, a liquid crystal display device using the photo-alignment material, and a manufacturing method. The photo-alignment material is a polymer having a photo-reactive ethenyl group on a main chain. When used as a photo-alignment layer, the photo-alignment material enables improved alignment stability against external shocks, light, and heat. The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second substrates, and a photo-alignment layer formed at least on the first substrate, with the photo-alignment layer formed from a photo-alignment material having an ethenyl group at a main chain.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal alignment film having a sufficient alignment-regulating power and high resistance against blue laser beam and having, at the same time, excellent adhesion, and an optical element using it. A liquid crystal alignment film obtainable by bonding, by chemisorption to a substrate, an alignment-regulating precursor which undergoes anisotropic decomposition by irradiation with polarized ultraviolet light, and irradiating the alignment-regulating precursor bonded to the substrate, with polarized ultraviolet light, to let it undergo anisotropic decomposition and exhibit an alignment-regulating power.

Abstract: Disclosed are a silicon-containing compound, a liquid crystal composition comprising the same compound, and a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer prepared from the liquid crystal composition. The silicon-containing compound, which forms the liquid crystal composition, has low viscosity and high negative (?) dielectric anisotropy. Therefore, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device, which has a fast response time and can be driven at a low voltage.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods for manufacturing complex, anisotropic materials with desirable properties for information storage, processing, and display. Certain of these methods involve employing a magnetic field during manufacture to induce desired orientations of precursors, subunits, and/or molecular subassemblies. The applied magnetic field steers the precursors, subunits, and/or molecular subassemblies into desirable orientations while the precursors, subunits, and/or molecular subassemblies are assembled or self-assemble into a complex, anisotropic material. One embodiment of the present invention is a class of new, complex, well-ordered, network-like materials that include a ferromagnetic-material-based framework in which organic and/or organometallic compounds are organized.

Abstract: A method of forming microstructures on a substrate is disclosed. A microstructured assembly that may be used in the method for forming microstructures on a substrate is also disclosed. The methods and assemblies of the present disclosure can reduce the amount of air entrapped in barrier ribs formed on substrates used in Plasma Display devices.

Abstract: An optical film comprising a transparent film, and, on the film, at least one layer formed by applying a composition comprising a titanium compound and/or a zirconium compound and a vinyl alcohol-based resin to a surface is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and an assembly process for the manufacture of liquid crystal displays. The assembly process is especially advantageous because it can be easily scalable to roll-to-roll continuous manufacturing of liquid crystal displays. The invention is directed to a photoalignable top-sealing composition for top-sealing a liquid crystal display cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panel and manufacturing method thereof. The LCD panel in accordance with the present invention includes a lower substrate including a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode, an upper substrate including a common electrode facing the lower substrate, a liquid crystal layer formed between the upper and lower substrates, and an alignment layer formed of an inorganic substance containing silicon (Si), oxygen (O), and carbon (C) on the upper and lower substrates. The transmittance of light through the LCD panel is high and is practically independent of the deposition temperature of the SiOC alignment layer over a wide range of deposition temperatures. The deposition of the alignment layer can be performed over a wide range of deposition temperatures while maintaining high levels of light transmission.

Abstract: A twist-obliquely oriented liquid crystal layer and a twist-obliquely oriented film is formed by forming an alignment layer, on a substrate, containing at least one selected from a glassy macromolecule and a silane coupling agent, performing a rubbing treatment on the alignment layer, and then applying a liquid crystal coating solution containing a chiral agent and a photopolymerizable liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A pre-polymer/liquid crystal composition is disclosed and includes, a liquid crystal component, a photo polymerization initiator, and a polymer precursor component. The polymer precursor component includes at least, a silane monomer, reactive (meth)acryloxy monomer or oligomer, and an ester, urethane, or (meth)acrylate based polymer or oligomer, bearing one or more reactive (meth)acrylate groups. Methods of forming a bistable electro-optical device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device including a first electrode substrate, a second electrode substrate and a liquid crystal layer is provided. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate. The liquid crystal layer comprises liquid crystal molecules and particles. The liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned when the applied voltage between the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate is less than a threshold voltage. The arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules is changed so as to produce optical changes in the liquid crystal device when the applied voltage between the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate is not less than the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A method of forming microstructures on a substrate is disclosed. A microstructured assembly that may be used in the method for forming microstructures on a substrate is also disclosed. The methods and assemblies of the present disclosure can reduce the amount of air entrapped in barrier ribs formed on substrates used in Plasma Display devices.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first alignment layer disposed on the liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate, and a second alignment layer disposed on the liquid crystal layer side of the second substrate. At least one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer is made of an inorganic porous film having pores exposed at its surface and grooves to control the orientation of the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A light-regulation membrane includes a surface structure having an anti-stain layer for surface cleanness, a hard coating layer for surface protection, and anti-reflective layer sandwiched between the anti-stain layer and the hard coating layer for reducing glare and ultra-violet; an adhesion layer for directly and repetitively adhering on transmissible plate even after peeled-off; two polymer compound layers sandwiched between the hard coating layer and the adhesion layer; and a PDLC (polymer dispersed liquid crystal) film sandwiched between the two polymer compound layers comprising two conducting layers and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched in-between the two conducting layers. The two conducting layers can be connected to an electric power source.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an alignment layer with constituent materials. The constituent materials have a stoichiometric relationship configured to provide a given pretilt angle. Liquid crystal material is provided in contact with the alignment layer. A method for forming an alignment layer for liquid crystal displays includes forming the alignment layer on a substrate by introducing an amount of material to adjust a stoichiometric ratio of constituent materials wherein the amount is determined to provide a given pretilt angle to the alignment layer. Ions are directed at the alignment layer to provide uniformity of the pretilt angle.

Abstract: A method of forming an inorganic alignment film on a base substrate is provided comprising forming a film made substantially of an inorganic material on the base substrate, and irradiating ion beams onto the surface of the film from a direction inclined at a predetermined angle ?b with respect to the direction vertical to the surface. By irradiating the ion beams onto the film, concave portions having a predetermined directivity are formed on the film. The predetermined angle ?b is preferably 2° or more.

Abstract: A method of forming an inorganic alignment film on a base substrate is provided comprising forming a film made substantially of an inorganic material on the base substrate, and irradiating ion beams onto the surface of the film from a direction inclined at a predetermined angle ?b with respect to the direction vertical to the surface. By irradiating the ion beams onto the film, concave portions having a predetermined directivity are formed on the film. The predetermined angle ?b is preferably 2° or more.

Abstract: A method of forming an inorganic alignment film is provided comprising a first milling step of irradiating ion beams to a surface of a base substrate, on which the inorganic alignment film is to be formed, from a direction inclined at a predetermined angle ?a with respect to a direction orthogonal to the surface of the base substrate, a film-forming step of forming a film made substantially of an inorganic material on the base substrate to which the ion beams are irradiated, and a second milling step of irradiating ion beams to a surface of the film from a direction inclined at a predetermined angle ?b with respect to the direction orthogonal to the surface of the film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer, a pair of electrodes for use to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal layer, and at least one inorganic alignment film. The inorganic alignment film makes direct contact with the liquid crystal layer and is made of a crystalline conductive film where crystal grains are oriented in a predetermined direction preferentially.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical component comprising a dispersion of layered minute particulate materials in a binder, the layered materials having a layer thickness, a concentration of particulate in the binder, and a basal plane spacing sufficient to provide a component having a light transmissivity of at least 50%.

Abstract: An aromatic polyamide photoalignment material prepared by a reaction from a diamine compound with a side branch and a photosensitive dicarboxylic acid. Furthermore, liquid crystal display devices using such photoalignment materials in an alignment film on at least one substrate.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises first and second substrates; a first alignment layer on the first substrate, wherein the first alignment layer includes 1

Abstract: Electrodes for liquid crystal cells include a substrate e.g. glass having a conductive and alignment coating e.g. a fluorine doped tin oxide coating. After a conductive coating is deposited on the substrate the surface is cleaned and wiped unidirectionally with a solvent saturated cloth for a predetermined number of times. The electrode prepared in the above manner eliminates the need for the polyimide layer over a conductive coating and heat treatment of the polyimide layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell having liquid crystal molecules positioned in a vertical or a substantially vertical alignment is provided. The liquid crystal display cell includes at least two substantially homogeneous fluorinated alignment layers disposed on transparent electrodes; a liquid crystal layer of liquid crystal molecules disposed between the alignment layers; and, a means of applying voltage across the transparent electrodes. Methods for forming these liquid crystal display cells are also provided.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an alignment layer with constituent materials. The constituent materials have a stoichiometric relationship configured to provide a given pretilt angle. Liquid crystal material is provided in contact with the alignment layer. A method for forming an alignment layer for liquid crystal displays includes forming the alignment layer on a substrate by introducing an amount of material to adjust a stoichiometric ratio of constituent materials wherein the amount is determined to provide a given pretilt angle to the alignment layer. Ions are directed at the alignment layer to provide uniformity of the pretilt angle.

Abstract: A photo-alignment material, a liquid crystal display device using the photo-alignment material, and a manufacturing method. The photo-alignment material is a polymer having a photo-reactive ethenyl group on a main chain. When used as a photo-alignment layer, the photo-alignment material enables improved alignment stability against external shocks, light, and heat. The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second substrates, and a photo-alignment layer formed at least on the first substrate, with the photo-alignment layer formed from a photo-alignment material having an ethenyl group at a main chain.

Abstract: An anisotropic polymer film comprising a polymerised chiral liquid crystal material with helically twisted structure and having areas with different helical twist sense is useful for decorative or security applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of eliminating and a laminate which eliminates an aesthetically unacceptable hue normally visible at an area of overlap between a light-colored substrate that reflects a certain wavelength of light back to and through a light-colored translucent overlay. Specifically, the method includes applying a dark material to at least one of the light-colored substrate and the light-colored translucent overlay upon an area of overlap of the substrate and overlay, and sandwiching the dark material between the overlay and the substrate at the area of overlap so that certain wavelengths of light normally passing through the overlay into the substrate and reflected by the substrate back to and through the overlay are blocked by the dark material. The light-colored overlay in the area of overlap appears in its true light color to the “naked” eye absent the aesthetically unacceptable hue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal aligning agent which provides a liquid crystal alignment film having surface anchoring force and pretilt angle development stability by an optical aligning method.

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment layer that consists of an alignment layer and a transport material chemically bound to the alignment layer. Also, methods for forming the liquid crystal alignment layer, and displays for electronic apparatus incorporating the liquid crystal alignment layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device which is constructed to restrain the occurrence of ionic image retention includes substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal being interposed therebetween, a pixel electrode formed in each pixel area on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates, a counter electrode which generates an electric field between itself and the pixel electrode, and alignment films disposed in contact with the liquid crystal on the liquid-crystal-side surfaces of the respective substrates. The liquid crystal has a positive or negative dielectric anisotropy, and each of the alignment films is made of a material containing a diamine structure which traps ionic impurities.

Abstract: Disclosed is the use of certain polyglutarimides as plastic substrates for use in electronic display applications. These substrates have relatively high Tgs for plastics, and good optical clarity and flatness, with low shrinkage and low birefringence. Also disclosed are electronic display cells made using such polyglutarimide substrates.

Abstract: A multi-coating step immersion coating process for producing a coating of a noble metal on a non-noble metal substrate, wherein the noble metal is of a predetermined amount expressed as a percent of the total weight of coated product, and wherein the non-noble metal substrate is in the form of fine particles or a powder is disclosed. The process also utilizes inter-plating step and post-plating step rinsing step sequences which together with the use of the plurality of coating steps consistently results in high quality product having a uniform coating, excellent corrosion resistance and excellent electrical conductivity. Use of the coated products produced according to the process in a variety of electrically conductive compositions, including plastics, adhesives and inks, and in plastic and resin based electromagnetic shielding materials is also disclosed.