Abstract: Disclosed are an alignment layer and a liquid crystal display having the same. The alignment layer comprises a polyimide compound having an azo group and exhibiting optical alignment characteristics and a discotic liquid crystal compound exhibiting optical anisotropy. The liquid crystal display comprises first and second substrates facing each other, liquid crystal aligned between the first and second substrates, and an alignment layer formed on at least one surface of the first and second substrates. The alignment layer is adjacent to the liquid crystal and has optical alignment characteristics and optical anisotropy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal alignment layer of a liquid crystal display that can minimize drop blemishes of liquid crystal in the ODF process. The present invention provides a composition of a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising a diamine compound represented by Formula 1 below, an acid anhydride, and a solvent, in which the diamine compound represented by Formula 1 has a concentration of 15-40 mol %: where R is a C10-C30 saturated or unsaturated alkyl, allyl, or aromatic hydrocarbon that is substituted by a heteroatom or is unsubstituted. The invention also provides a liquid crystal alignment layer and a liquid crystal display that comprises the liquid crystal alignment layer.

Abstract: A dielectric film for use as a substrate for a flexible circuit comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of liquid crystal polymers and polyimide copolymers including carboxylic ester structural units in the polymeric backbone. The dielectric film has a thickness from about 25 ?m to about 60 ?m including at least one thinned, recessed region wherein the thickness is reduced to less than 15 ?m, as required for use of the dielectric film in e.g. ink jet print head, hard disk drive head gimbal assembly and touch sensor applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polyimide resin polymer which contains at least one repeating unit selected from those of formula (A-1) and formula (A-2) below as polymerization units, wherein P1, P2, Q1, and Q2 are as defined in the specification. The polymer of the invention can be used as an alignment material in liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel diamine which is especially useful as a material for a resin for a liquid crystal alignment film, a polyimide precursor and a polyimide synthesized by using the diamine, and a treating agent for liquid crystal alignment containing such a polymer, which gives a liquid crystal alignment film having a high pretilt angle of liquid crystal, excellent thermal stability of the pretilt angle and small dependence of the pretilt angle on rubbing pressure. A diaminobenzene derivative represented by the formula (1): wherein X1 and X2 are cyclic groups, and X3 is selected from an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a fluoroalkyl group, a fluoroalkoxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom and a cyano group; a polyimide precursor and a polyimide synthesized by using the diaminobenzene derivative as a part of the material; and a treating agent for liquid crystal alignment containing at least one of the polymers.

Abstract: An alignment material for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a mixture of carbon nano-tube and polyimide.

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 alignment film for avoiding the degradation of the charge holding rate of a LCD, due to ionic impurity of the liquid crystal materials, and the LCD that is made of the same is disclosed herein. The alignment film 10 includes derivatives of polyimides or polyamides and low molecular thermosetting resins having a viscosity of 1–3000 Poise within the temperature of 25° C. Through the use of the alignment film 10 produced by the thermosetting resin monomers, the ionic impurity is prevented from contact with the pixel electrode 16. The performance of the LCD with the alignment film is improved during the test of reliability, even though a liquid crystal material with high dielectric anisotropy is used.

Abstract: A diamine compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 is a trivalent organic group, each of X1 and X2 is a bivalent organic group, X3 is an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, or a cyclic substituent selected from aromatic rings, aliphatic rings, heterocyclic rings and their substituted groups, and n is an integer of from 2 to 5. And, a polyimide precursor and a polyimide synthesized by using the diamine compound; and a treating agent for liquid crystal alignment containing the polyimide precursor and/or the polyimide.

Abstract: A polyimide-containing liquid crystal alignment treating agent having a structure of the formula (I) incorporated therein, wherein Q is a single bond or a divalent organic group, R1 to R4 represent aromatic groups, and R1 to R4 may be the same as, or different from, one another.

Abstract: A vertical alignment polyimide for LCD has the following structure: wherein R1 and R2 are same or different tetravalent aromatic residues or alkyl residues; n is an integer, and 24?n?6; a:b=1:9 to 9:1, preferably from 4:1 to 1:1; and a+b=p+q. The polyimide has an inherent viscosity of 0.04–5 dl/g.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal aligning agent which can provide a liquid crystal display element having a liquid crystal alignment film provided with alignability for liquid crystal molecules by rubbing without fail and having excellent liquid crystal alignability. The liquid crystal aligning agent comprises at least one selected from a polyamic acid having a specific structure having 2 or 3 rings, and an imidized polymer of the polyamic acid and further having alkyl group having the main chain with 8 or more carbon atoms, perfluoroalkyl group having the main chain with 3 or more carbon atoms, or 1,1-cycloalkylene group having 6 or more carbon atoms which may be substituted.

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment treating agent for optical alignment treatment, whereby it is possible to obtain a liquid crystal alignment film which presents a high and stable tilt angle of liquid crystal and which is excellent in an accumulated charge property by a DC voltage, is provided.

Abstract: A material for dielectric films is a polymerizable composition containing an adamantanepolycarboxylic acid represented by following Formula (1): wherein X is a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group or a hydrocarbon group; and Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4 are the same as or different from one another and are each a single bond or a bivalent aromatic cyclic group; an aromatic polyamine represented by following Formula (2): wherein Ring Z is a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic ring; and R1 and R2 are each a substituent bound to Ring Z, are the same as or different from each other and are each an amino group, a mono-substituted amino group, a hydroxyl group or a mercapto group; and a solvent other than ketones and aldehydes, in which the adamantanepolycarboxylic acid and aromatic polyamine are dissolved in the solvent

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment treating agent containing a polyamic acid which is represented by the following formula (I) and exhibits a reduced viscosity of from 0.05 to 5.0 dl/g (in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone at 30° C. at a concentration of 0.5 g/dl) or a polyimide obtained by cyclodehydration thereof: wherein R1 represents a tetravalent organic group, at least 20 mol % of which has a fused alicyclic structure composed of two to five rings, and all of the carbonyl groups are directly bonded to the alicyclic structure and that any two carbonyl groups are not bonded to adjacent carbon atoms of the alicyclic structure; R2 is a bivalent organic group, from 20 to 100 mol % of which has in the side-chain structure at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of C5-20 long-chain alkyl, C5-20 fluoroalkyl, alicyclic structures and aromatic ring structures; and L is a positive integer.

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 liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal between substrates and alignment layers disposed on the inner surface sides of the substrates. The alignment layer is made from a material including polyamic acid containing a diamine component and polyimide containing a diamine component different from the diamine component of the polyamic acid. The alignment layer is subjected to alignment treatment by irradiation of light. UV light can be irradiated in the oblique direction onto the alignment layer through a mask having openings. A reflecting plate can be arranged between a UV light source and the mask. Also, bank structures having a thickness from 0.1 to 0.15 ?m can be provided on the alignment layer of the TFT substrate.

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. The liquid crystal aligning agent comprises a polymer having a photo-crosslinkable structure a structure having at least one group selected from the group consisting of a fluorine-containing organic group, an alkyl group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms and alicyclic organic group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms and optionally, (C) a thermally crosslinkable structure.

Abstract: Triazine ring based polymers for photoinduced liquid crystal alignment introduces photoactive groups for inducing, reinforcing, improving and preserving liquid crystal alignment, for example photoreactor such as cinnamate, coumarin, chalcone and maleimide, as a chain to have at least one photoactive group. One of the photoactive groups can experience Fries rearrangement which induces liquid crystal alignment, and other groups can experience photodimerization, photoisomerization, photocrosslinkng or photodegradation to reinforce, change or preserve the generated alignment.

Abstract: A photoactive side-chain polymer from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof, comprising as a side-chain a dendritic block incorporating photoactive groups at its surface. The dendritic block preferably represents a unit of formulae Ia, Ib or a combination of them, for example formulae Ic, wherein the broken line symbolizes the linkage to the polyimide main chain. The polymer may be used as an orientation layer for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polyimides derived from 6FDA and from 3,3-dihydroxy-4,4?-diaminobiphenyl and novel polyimides derived from PMDA and from Bis-AP-AF, having alkyl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, fluoroalkyl or siloxane side groups. The present invention also relates to a method of producing nematic liquid-crystal devices, which comprises the steps consisting in: depositing one of the polyimides according to the invention on a substrate; annealing the polyimide in one or more steps; and defining an azimuthal orientation of the polyimide coating.

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 reactive diamines containing a C3–C20 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: Polarizing coatings are formed from dyestuffs which provide a stable liquid crystalline phase in a wide range of concentrations, temperatures and pH-values. Particles formed by aggregates of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a predetermined direction to polarize light The stability of the liquid crystalline state allows orienting the particles by mechanical forces such as a shearing force applied when the liquid crystal (10) is spread on a support surface (20) by a knife-like doctor (90) or a tension deformation force acting on the meniscus of the liquid crystal deposited between two surfaces (20, 30) as the surfaces are peeled off one another. As a result, the polarizing coatings are formed in some embodiments by simple methods. In some embodiments, the polarizing coatings have a high lightfastness, a high thermal stability, and a high dichroic ratio.

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: A polyimide excelling in heat resistance, chemical resistance, water repellency, dielectric characteristics, electrical characteristics, and optical characteristics and a polyamide acid useful as the raw material therefor are provided. Specifically, a polyamide acid containing a chlorine atom and a fluorine atom and comprising a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1): (wherein X and X? independently denote a divalent organic group; Y and Y? independently denote a chlorine, bromine, or iodine atom; p and p? denote independently denote the number of fluorine atom {F in the formula (1)} bonded to the relevant benzene ring, representing an integer of 0-3; q and q? independently denote an integer of 0-3; and p+q total 3, and p?+q? total 3).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element includes array and counter substrates provided opposite to each other. The array substrate is covered with a color filter layer. Pixel electrodes are provided in a matrix form on the color filter layer. The surface of the counter substrate is provided with a common electrode. Alignment films are coated on the pixel and common electrodes. A gap defined between the array and counter substrates are filled with a liquid crystal material to form a liquid crystal layer. The alignment films are processed to have surface energy within the range from 51 to 60 dyn/cm. Such surface energy substantially prevents an image-sticking phenomenon of the liquid crystal display element caused by impurities dissolved into a liquid crystal layer and white or black turbid spots caused by hydrolysis of the alignment films by moisture in the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: The invention provides an alignment film that is provided with a high alignment control force to a target molecule and less likely to cause problems to an element during the formation of the alignment film. An alignment film has a configuration in which, on a first alignment layer, a second alignment film layer that is uniform in the in-plane anisotropy more than the first alignment film thereof and aligned along surface alignment of the first alignment film. The first alignment film layer can be formed of, for instance, a polyimide film whose rubbing density is 200 or less, and the second alignment film layer can be formed by use of an ion deposition method with an acryl monomers as a deposition material. A liquid crystal device provided with the alignment film like this becomes higher in the alignment control force to a liquid crystal.

Abstract: An acid anhydride of the formula (4), and a polyimide using the acid anhydride, 1

Abstract: A photoactive polymer from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof comprises as a side-chain a photocrosslinkable group of the general formula (I) wherein the broken line indicates the point of linkage to the polyimide main chain and wherein: B is a straight-chain or branched alkyl residue which is optionally substituted, wherein one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups may independently be replaced by a group Q; D represents an oxygen atom or —NR1— wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl; and S3 represents a spacer unit. The polymers may be used as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment agent comprising a polymer having a specific unit structure, and a method for alignment of liquid crystal molecules by light irradiation without any rubbing treatment, provides liquid crystal alignment films with higher heat sensitivity, heat stability and light resistance.

Abstract: New aromatic diamine derivatives and the preparation thereof are disclosed. The diamine derivatives of the present invention can be added to conventional polymerization reactions of tetracarboxylic acids or dianhydrides thereof and diamines to form new polyamic acids. After high-temperature baking, the polyamic acids are cyclized to form polyimides. These polyimides can be used as alignment film materials for liquid crystal display cell and have good alignment property and stability, and are effective in promoting pre-tilt angles.

Abstract: A polyimide-containing liquid crystal alignment treating agent having a structure of the formula (I) incorporated therein, 1

Abstract: Polyamideimide photoalignment materials having a photosensitive diamine derivative compound with side branches, and liquid crystal display devices using such a photoalignment material, beneficially as an alignment film. A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate with such a photoalignment material.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a widely wavelength tunable polychrome colloidal photonic crystal device whose optical Bragg diffraction stop bands and higher energy bands wavelength, width and intensity can be tuned in a continuous and fine, rapid and reversible, reproducible and predictable fashion and over a broad spectral range by a controlled expansion or contraction of the colloidal photonic lattice dimension, effected by a predetermined change in the electronic configuration of the composite material. In its preferred embodiment, the material is a composite in the form of a film or a patterned film or shape of any dimension or array of shapes of any dimension comprised of an organized array of microspheres in a matrix of a cross-linked metallopolymer network with a continuously variable redox state of charge and fluid content.

Abstract: An active-matrix liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, a group of electrodes for applying to the liquid crystal layer an electric field substantially parallel to the substrate plane and a plural number of active elements being formed on one of the pair of substrates and an alignment layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the pair of substrates. The alignment layer is a photo-reactive material layer, and the photo-reactive material layer is a photo-reactive alignment layer which has been subjected to linearly polarized light irradiation to selectively derive a photochemical reaction and a tilt angle of liquid crystal molecules on the alignment layer surface of the substrate is 3° or less.

Abstract: The invention relates primarily to a retardation film and a process for producing the retardation film, wherein a layer formed of a mixture of a photosensitive polymer and a low molecular weight compound is irradiated with linear polarized ultraviolet ray, ultraviolet ray including a perfectly polarized light component and a non-polarized light component, or a non-polarized ultraviolet ray to orient molecules thereby developing a retardation and the direction of the optical axis arbitrarily in the layer formed of a mixure.

Abstract: An alkyldiamine having excellent polymerization reactivity, a polyimide comprising it as a constituting element, and a liquid crystal alignment film excellent in uniformity of liquid crystal alignment, are presented. Namely, the present invention relates to a diaminobenzene derivative represented by the following general formula (1) and to a polyimide obtained by reacting a diamine containing at least 1 mol % of the diaminobenzene derivative represented by the general formula (1), with at least one compound selected from a tetracarboxylic. dianhydride and its derivatives, to obtain a polyimide. precursor having a reduced viscosity of from 0.05 to 5.0 dl/g (in N-methylpyrrolidone at a temperature of 30° C., concentration: 0.5 g/dl) and ring-closing it, and having a repeating unit represented by the general formula (2). Further, the present invention relates to a liquid crystal alignment film containing at least 1 mol % of the above repeating unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photo-alignment layer for a liquid crystal display device, which has good liquid crystal display device characteristics such as a good voltage holding ratio and also has good alignment stability and sufficient resistance to light and heat. The photo-alignment layer is manufactured by coating a polymerizable monomer having at least one photo-alignment moiety, which carries out a photo-alignment function by the photo dimerization reaction, and at least two polymerizable maleimide groups per molecule on a substrate, and exposing the coating layer to light to cause the photo dimerization reaction of the structural unit and the photopolymerization reaction of the polymerizable maleimide group, thereby to form a crosslinked polymeric layer and to enable the polymeric layer to carry out the photo-alignment function.

Abstract: New aromatic diamine derivatives and the preparation thereof are disclosed. The diamine derivatives of the present invention can be added to conventional polymerization reactions of tetracarboxylic acids or dianhydrides thereof and diamines to form new polyamic acids. After high-temperature baking, the polyamic acids are cyclized to form polyimides. These polyimides can be used as alignment film materials for liquid crystal display cell and have good alignment property and stability, and are effective in promoting pre-tilt angles.

Abstract: A light diffuser, hologram or other light modifying structure is manufactured by exposing to UV light, a layer, on said substrate, of a photopolymerisable system which includes a silicone monomer, prepolymer, macromonomer or co-monomer, either the silicon monomer or another monomer in the system being ethylenically unsaturated and the system further including a photoinitiator so that the system is capable of undergoing free radical initiated polymerization, upon exposure to UV light to form a light diffusing sheet or hologram, for example. The method, when used to form an optical diffuser may include exposure of the system through an optical aperture mask or may simply comprise blanket exposure directly to UV radiation without the interposition of an optical mask.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyimides, poly(amic acids) and poly(amide esters) thereof, and optical alignment layers derived therefrom, for inducing alignment of liquid crystals and liquid crystal displays. The novel compositions comprise side-chain polymers of the general formula I —L1—D—L2—Cf wherein D comprises 1 to 4 carbon-carbon double bonds, Cf is a monovalent C4 to C20 fluorocarbon radical and L1 and L2 are linking groups. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays and other liquid crystal devices.

Abstract: A diaminobenzene derivative represented by the formula (1): 1

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display element which comprises a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer held between the pair of substrates and including liquid crystal that exhibits a cholesteric phase. At least one of the substrates has an orientation film that comprises a polyimide having a mesogenic group therein and has not undergone rubbing.

Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display apparatus has a pair of substrates, at least one of the substrates being transparent; a liquid crystal layer arranged between the pair of substrates; an electrode structure for generating an electric field having a dominant component parallel to a surface of the substrate and passing through the liquid crystal layer, the electrode structure being formed on one of the pair of substrates; a pair of alignment layers formed on respective surfaces in contact with the liquid crystal layer of the pair of substrates; and a pair of polarizing plates arranged so as to sandwich the pair of substrates, wherein the glass transition temperature Tg of a boundary surface between said liquid crystal layer and the alignment layer is higher than the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature T(N-I) of a liquid crystal composite forming the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) may be used as alignment layers in liquid crystal devices wherein X1-5 are idependently selected from H, F, CN, phenylene, C1-10 alkyl, whereby when X1=X2, then X1,2=H and when X3=X4, then X3,4=H, S1-3 are spacer units, PG1-3 are photoisomerisable/dimerisable groups.

Abstract: A photoactive polymer of the general formula I: in which: P is a photoactive group which can photoisomerise and/or photodimerise; B represents an aromatic or alicyclic group, or B further represents a nitrogen atom or —CR2—; A, C, D each independently of the other represents an aromatic or alicyclic group; M represents a repeating monomer unit in a homo- or copolymer; S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 represent a single covalent bond or a spacer unit; n1, n2 are each independently a positive integer up to 2 with the proviso that n1+n2≦2; R1 is a hydrogen atom, or a straight-chain or branched alkyl residue wherein R2 represents a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl. The photoactive polymers may be used as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel layers comprising polyimide and organic functional material such as hole transport material, electron transport material and/or emitter material having a glass transition temperature of higher than 80° C. The layers can be prepared by mixing the functional material with a polyimide precursor material, forming a thin film out of the mixture and converting said mixture into doped polyimide. Said doped polyimide layers can be used for the manufacture of electronic and optoelectronic devices such as e.g. light emitting devices. Due to the content of functional material, they can act as hole transport, electron transport or emitter layer. Moreover, the layers can be processed to have aligning properties for liquid crystals, thus allowing the manufacture of devices emitting polarized light. Furthermore, after conversion to doped polyimide, the layers are resistant to solvent treatment allowing the preparation of multi-layers by successive coating and conversion cycles.

Abstract: A photo-alignment material useful in liquid crystal alignment films comprises a maleimide-based repeating unit, or a maleimide-based repeating unit and at least one additional repeating unit. The photo-alignment materials of the invention may be used in liquid crystal display devices to improve the electrical and electrooptical properties of the alignment film, and thereby improve the reliability of products using the alignment films.

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 transparent electrically-conductive film comprising a substrate made of an aliphatic polyimide having a repeating unit of the formula [I] and a transparent electrically-conductive thin film layer, the transparent electrically-conductive thin film layer being provided on the substrate, 1