Polyimide Patents (Class 428/1.26)
  • Patent number: 6572939
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon Bum Kwon, Kyeong Jin Kim, Young Seok Choi, Gerus Igor Iranovich, Andrey Dyadyusha, Yuriy A. Reznikov
  • Publication number: 20030099785
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising an alignment layer; and chemically bound to said alignment layer, a transport material. Also provided are methods for forming the liquid crystal alignment layer and the use thereof in displays for electronic apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Mary O'Neill, Stephen Malcolm Kelly, Adam Edward Alexander Contoret, Gary James Richards, David Coates
  • Patent number: 6569502
    Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent substrate, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer in order. The optically anisotropic layer comprises discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer comprises a polymer having a hydrocarbon side chain containing 10 or more carbon atoms or a fluoropolymer. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned at an average inclined angle in the range of 50° to 90°. A liquid crystal display of an STN mode and a method of alignment of discotic liquid crystal molecules are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Ito, Shigeki Yokoyama, Masayuki Negoro
  • Patent number: 6562420
    Abstract: The present invention provides a kind of liquid crystal aligning film composition used for liquid crystal display (LCD), in which the liquid crystal aligning film composition used for LCD is a polyimide resin oligomer (A) having the structural formula (I) as shown in the following: wherein m is an interger of 1, 2, and 3, R is selected one of from aromatic and cyclicaliphatic, X is selected from the group containing amide, ester, and ether etc., Y is the group of containing cholesterol structure; this polyimide resin oligomer (A) and the second reagent (B) are mixed together, through an induced process (C), to produce a thin film for aligning liquid crystal molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yi-Chun Liu, Hui-Lung Kuo, Chein-Dhau Lee, Jing-Pin Pan
  • Publication number: 20030021914
    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
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Nobuhito Katsumura, Haruhiko Kikawa, Takashi Inoue, Masahiro Yamada, Yasuo Koike, Nobuhiko Fukuoka, Hiromu Terao
  • Patent number: 6511612
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventors: Alan W Hall, David Lacey
  • Patent number: 6500913
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel polyimide of the general formula (1) and a process for the preparation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignees: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Laboratoire des Materiaux Organiques a Proprietes Speciques
    Inventors: Jinu Suju Mathew, Subhash Pundlik Vernekar, Reges Mercier, Rachid Kerboua
  • Publication number: 20020198358
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer in which coumarin, a photo-reactive molecule, is grafted onto a polyimide for preparing liquid crystal alignment layer which has a superior alignment property and an excellent thermal stability in photo-alignment, a process for preparing the said grafted polymer, a process for preparing liquid crystal alignment layer by employing the said grafted polymer, and a liquid crystal alignment layer prepared by the process. The polymer of the invention is prepared by mixing a coumarin compound with a polyimide, dissolving the mixture in an organic solvent, adding a catalyst, and stirring under an environment of N2 gas. The polymer of the invention is superior in terms of the thermal stability, which makes possible its universal application for the development of a novel liquid crystal display(LCD).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Jung-Ki Park, Shi-joon Sung, Jong-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 6491988
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Elsicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne M. Gibbons, Patricia A. Rose, Paul J. Shannon, Hanxing Zheng
  • Publication number: 20020142110
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel polyimide of the general formula (1) 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
    Inventors: Jinu Suju Mathew, Subhash Pundlik Vernekar, Reges Mercier, Rachid Kerboua
  • Patent number: 6451960
    Abstract: The present invention relates to amine compositions useful in the preparation of polyimides. The polyimides can be used for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium with polarized light in liquid crystal display elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Elsicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne M. Gibbons, Paul J. Shannon, Hanxing Zheng
  • Patent number: 6441127
    Abstract: An alignment treating agent for a liquid crystal cell, which comprises a polyimide resin of the formula (I): wherein R1 is a tetravalent organic group constituting a tetracarboxylic acid or its derivative, R2 is a bivalent organic group constituting a diamine, and m is a positive integer, provided that at least 10 mol % of R2 is a bivalent organic group selected from the group consisting of: wherein X is H, OH, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, an acyl group or a halogen atom, said polyimide resin being made insoluble in an organic solvent by coating a precursor solution of said polyimide resin on a substrate, followed by heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Chemical Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sawahata, Toyohiko Abe, Yoshihiro Tsuruoka, Hiroyoshi Fukuro
  • Patent number: 6417321
    Abstract: A thermally cured polyimide is provided, and in particular a crosslinked polyimide, comprising a fluorenyl diamine and comprising an aromatic ring having at least one C1-C10 branched or unbranched alkyl substituent, where the alkyl substituent includes a benzylic hydrogen. The present invention provides a crosslinked polyimide made by a process comprising the step of crosslinking a polyimide comprising diamines comprising pendent fluorenyl groups and comprising aromatic rings having at least one C1-C10 branched or unbranched alkyl substituent, the alkyl substituent including a benzylic hydrogen, by raising the temperature of said polyimide above its glass transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Minami, Hiroshi Ayukawa, Toshihiro Suwa, Mitsuaki Kobayashi, Bert T. Chien, Stephen A. Ezzell
  • Patent number: 6399165
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon Bum Kwon, Kyeong Jin Kim, Young Seok Choi, Gerus Igor Iranovich, Andrey Dyadyusha, Yuriy A. Reznikov
  • Patent number: 6392004
    Abstract: An element of a gigahertz electronic device is provided comprising a polyimide selected to have an imide equivalent weight of 375 or greater. The polyimide preferably has a dielectric loss at 12.8 GHz of 0.009 or less and a Tg of 260° C. or greater. Such elements include circuit substrates and antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bert T. Chien, Stephen A. Ezzell
  • Publication number: 20020054966
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Hyun Ho Shin, Mi Sook Nam, Su Hyun Park, Moonhor Ree, Seung Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20020054967
    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. The polyamideimide photoalignment materials have a chemical structure as follows:.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Hyun Ho Shin, Mi Sook Nam, Su Hyun Park, Moonhor Ree, Seung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 6383578
    Abstract: An angularity enhancement layer in a liquid crystal display, which display comprises a liquid crystal cell, wherein the angularity enhancement layer includes a negative birefringent polyimide layer comprising a plurality of structural units having pendant fluorene groups, said angularity enhancement layer being disposed on at least one surface of said liquid crystal cell. A liquid crystal display can comprise an angularity enhancement construction of the invention which comprises a polyimide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Ezzell, Hassan Sahouani, Ernest L. Thurber
  • Patent number: 6383579
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Su Hyun Park, Young Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 6348245
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Brian Carl Auman, Melvin P. Zussman, Bernd Fiebranz, Edgar Böhm
  • Patent number: 6340506
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel crosslinkable, photoactive polymers from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof, and to their use as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems. The polymers contain as side-chains photo-crosslinkable groups of the following formula: The broken line indicates the point of linkage to the polymer main chain. In addition, A, B each independently of the other represents unsubstituted or optionally fluoro-, chloro-, cyano-, alkyl-, alkoxy-, fluoroalkyl- or fluoroalkoxy-substituted phenylene, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl, piperidine-1,4-diyl, piperazine-1,4-diyl; C represents unsubstituted or optionally fluoro-, chloro-, cyano-, alkyl-, alkoxy-, fluoroalkyl- or fluoroalkoxy-substituted phenylene, or pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, pyridine-2,5-diyl, 2,5-thiophenylene, 2,5-furanylene, 1,4- or 2,6-naphthylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Rolic Ag
    Inventors: Richard Buchecker, Guy Marck, Olivier Muller
  • Publication number: 20020006480
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihito Hisamitsu, Shoji Kotani, Takeshi Kitahora, Hideaki Ueda
  • Patent number: 6327018
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. An orientation film orientation-processed by a non-rubbing method using a polymer is formed on the respective opposing surfaces of first and second substrates. The first and second substrates on which the orientation films are formed are sealed to form a space, and then liquid crystal is injected into the space. A liquid crystal cell into which the liquid crystal has been injected is heated, and an ultraviolet ray of a predetermined wavelength is irradiated on the liquid crystal cell for a predetermined period of time, thereby forming the liquid crystal display. Thus, the pretilt angle can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Display Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-young Park
  • Publication number: 20010046569
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Makoto Yoneya, Kishiro Iwasaki, Yasushi Tomioka, Hisao Yokokura, Katsumi Kondo, Yoshiharu Nagae
  • Publication number: 20010046570
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Wayne M. Gibbons, Patricia A. Rose, Paul J. Shannon, Hanxing Zheng
  • Patent number: 6322860
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Alan Daniel Stein, Michael Paul Hallden-Abberton, Audrey Brenda Liss, Steven David Fields
  • Patent number: 6316574
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display element having an adequate pre-tilt angle for preventing the reverse domain, as well as excellent electrical properties by preparation of the polyamic acid composition for the liquid crystal display element which comprises a polyamic acid A that excels in electrical properties and a polyamic acid B that has side chains, mixed in the ratio A/B of 50/50 to 95/5 (by weight).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Tanioka, Shizuo Murata, Itsuo Shimizu, Kazumi Ito
  • Patent number: 6294639
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a treating agent for liquid crystal alignment, which comprises a polyamic acid compound having a reduced viscosity of from 0.05 to 5.0 dl/g (in N-methylpyrrolidone at a temperature of 30° C. at a concentration of 0.5 g/dl) and containing repeating units represented by the general formula [I]: (wherein R1 is a tetravalent organic group constituting a tetracarboxylic acid which has an alicyclic structure having from 2 to 5 rings condensed and wherein all the carbonyl groups are directly bonded to the alicyclic structure and said carbonyl groups are not bonded to adjacent carbon atoms in the alicyclic structure, and R2 is a bivalent organic group constituting a diamine), or a polyimide resin obtained by imidizing said polyamic acid compound, and a liquid crystal alignment film and a liquid crystal device employing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sawahata, Hideyuki Nawata, Takayasu Nihira, Yoshikazu Ohtsuka, Yasuyuki Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20010018099
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Wayne M. Gibbons, Patricia A. Rose, Paul J. Shannon, Hanxing Zheng
  • Patent number: 6274695
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Endou, Takayasu Nihira, Hiroyoshi Fukuro
  • Patent number: 6242060
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yoneya, Kishiro Iwasaki, Yasushi Tomioka, Hisao Yokokura, Katsumi Kondo, Yoshiharu Nagae
  • Patent number: 6242061
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyimide, polyamic acids and 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  I 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Elsicon Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne M. Gibbons, Patricia A. Rose, Paul J. Shannon, Hanxing Zheng
  • Patent number: 6238752
    Abstract: This invention relates to a diamino compound represented by the formula [1]: in which G1 is a trivalent organic group of 2-20 carbon atoms, G2 is independently a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —NHCO—, —CONH—, —O—, —O—, or —CO—, G3 is a single bond or an alkylene group of 1-20 carbon atoms, X and Y are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, or an alkyl group, a haloalkyl group, an alkoxy group or a haloalkoxy group, each alkyl or alkoxy group having 1-12 carbon atoms, or a cycloalkyl group of 3-8 carbon atoms or a trans-4-alkylcyclohexyl group of 9-14 carbon atoms, and m is an integer of 0-3; a polyamic acid and polyimide using the said diamino compound, an aligning film using the said polyimide and a liquid crystal display device using the said aligning film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kato, Nobuyuki Otsuka, Shizuo Murata, Hideo Sato
  • Patent number: 6235867
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal-aligning agent including, as the resin component, a polyimide precursor containing a chemical structure represented by the following formula (1): The present invention further provides a liquid crystal-aligning agent including, the above polyimide precursor and a polyimide precursor represented by the following general formula (2): (wherein Y is a tetravalent aliphatic group, Z is a bivalent aromatic group, and R is H or an alkyl group).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Bakelite Company Limited
    Inventors: Toshimasa Eguchi, Toshiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 6224788
    Abstract: A liquid crystal aligning agent composed of a polymer containing a moiety having two aromatic nuclei and an ethylene carbonyl group therebetween. The liquid crystal aligning agent is converted to a liquid crystal alignment film by irradiation a thin film of the agent with a linearly polarized ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ogawa, Shoichi Nakata, Yutaka Makita, Masayuki Kimura, Yasumasa Takeuchi, Yasuo Matsuki, Shin-ichi Kimura
  • Patent number: 6200655
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Elsicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne M. Gibbons, Paul J. Shannon, Shao-Tang Sun
  • Patent number: 6177152
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device having a pair of electrode substrates, and a liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates. At least one of the substrates is provided with an alignment control layer having a thickness of at most 200 Å and having been subjected to a rubbing uniaxial aligning treatment. The liquid crystal composition contains at least 30 wt. % of (i) at least one species of a fluorine-containing mesomorphic compound (B) represented by a formula (II) having smectic C phase and providing a tilt angle below 30 degrees at a temperature 15° C. below an upper limit temperature of said smectic C phase (ii) at least one species of compound (C) in an amount at least 5 wt. % represented by the formula (II) having a smectic C phase and which provides a tilt angle of at least 30 degrees at a temperature 15° C. below an upper limit temperature of said smectic C phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Terada, Kenji Shinjo, Koichi Sato, Syuji Yamada