Abstract: A material for a liquid-crystal alignment film which comprises as a first polyamide a C3 to C10 alkyl ester of a polyamic acid whose acid anhydride residual group is any of: 1

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for improving the quality of images printed on a substrate. The novel image-enhancing compositions contain as an image-enhancing agent (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, or (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. When applied to a substrate, the compositions provide for high quality printed images when the treated substrate is printed on with an ink containing a reactive dye capable of reacting with the image-enhancing agent. Images printed on a substrate treated with the image-enhancing compositions of the invention are water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), bleed-resistant, rub-resistant, and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.

Abstract: A material for a liquid-crystal alignment film which comprises as a first polyamide a C3 to C10 alkyl ester of a polyamic acid whose acid anhydride residual group is any of: 1

Abstract: Compounds of the formula: where X3 is: other variables are defined in the description, and the rectangular box is a mesogenic group, are used in a variety of devices including liquid crystal devices piezoelectric, pyroelectric devices and in optical recording media.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyamic acids and polyimide optical alignment layers for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium. The novel compositions comprise crosslinking diamines containing a C3-C22 linear or branched hydrocarbon chains containing 1 to 4 carbon-carbon double bonds. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays comprising the novel polyimide optical alignment layers.

Abstract: An LCD and a method for fabricating the LCD includes a first substrate and a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a coating of a polyphenylenephthalamide based material on at least one of the substrates, thereby providing an LCD having a reduced residual image, a strong anchoring energy, and a high thermal stability is achieved.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises first and second substrates, an alignment layer including a pyranose polymer or a furanose polymer on at least one of the first and second substrates, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal display device is characterized by excellent thermostability, superior anchoring energy and uniform alignment of the liquid crystal achieved in a reduced treatment time without creating any flowing effect in the liquid crystal.

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: A rubbed substrate structure for use in a liquid crystal assay device, includes: a biochemical blocking compound chemically immobilized on a surface of one side of a support forming a biochemical blocking layer; and a biomolecule recognition agent deposited on the side of the support containing the biochemical blocking layer. The biomolecule recognition agent includes a recognition site capable of selectively recognizing a target species to be detected by the liquid crystal assay device. Additionally, the surface of the side of the support containing the biochemical blocking layer is rubbed such that it possesses features that drive a uniform anchoring of liquid crystals when the liquid crystals contact the side of the support containing the biochemical blocking layer.

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 polyethyleneimine, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: A drawdown table rotatable at high speed is provided to spread ink mixed with no foreign matter so that a thin film of ink is printed with high accuracy. The ink is discharged from an ink feeding unit to the surface of the drawdown table, and uniformly spread in a non-contact manner on the entire surface of the table so that it has a predetermined thickness. A relief having a pattern to be formed is attached to either the drawdown table or a plate cylinder to be pressed to contact the drawdown table after the ink has been spread.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyimide photo alignment films for liquid crystal display devices comprising an aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride component containing 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride and an aromatic diamine component containing at least one diamine of the group of fofmulae AI to AIII as given in the text. Further display devices and methods of their fabrication employing a photo alignment process are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a treating agent for liquid crystal alignment, which is an agent for liquid crystal alignment to be used for a method in which polarized ultraviolet rays or electron rays are irradiated on a polymer thin film formed on a substrate in a predetermined direction relative to the substrate plane, and said substrate is used for aligning liquid crystal without rubbing treatment, wherein said agent for liquid crystal alignment contains a polymer compound having photochemically reactive groups in the polymer main chain and a glass transition temperature of at least 200° C.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device having a good bend alignment characteristic is provided by using an alignment film having an alignment power of aligning nematic liquid crystal molecules in a bend alignment state under no voltage application and providing a retardation R (nm) of the liquid crystal device under application of a prescribed voltage relative to a refractive index anisotropy &Dgr;n of the liquid crystal and a cell thickness d (nm) of the liquid crystal device, providing a retardation factor R/&Dgr;n·d of at most 0.3. As a result, the liquid crystal device can be driven at a high speed always in a stable bend alignment state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cinnamatic photo-polymerization type homopolymeric or copolymeric alignment material, in which polymaleimide is singly used as the main chain, or is combined with styrene, hydroxystyrene or acrylonitrile to form a copolymer so as to be used as the main chain, or polyimide is used as the main chain.

Abstract: A process for aligning liquid crystals adjacent to a surface of an optical alignment layer comprising: exposing at least one optical alignment layer, comprising anisotropically absorbing molecules, to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said anisotropically absorbing molecules; wherein the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of a liquid crystal medium at an angle + and − with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer; and applying a liquid crystal medium to said optical alignment layer; wherein said anisotropically absorbing molecules consist essentially of diary ketones, is described.