Liquid Crystal Process, Composition, Or Product Patents (Class 430/20)
  • Patent number: 8066905
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical element which can suppress a production cost, has good heat resistance, uniformly maintains the fixed orientation of a liquid crystal polymer in a wide temperature range, shows a low haze with reliability, and can maintain desired birefringence property with reliability. The present invention relates to an optical element formed by forming, on an upper surface of a base material having light transmittance, at least a birefringence layer having a structure obtained by fixing liquid crystal monomers each having a polymerizable group at a terminal thereof in a state where the monomers are homeotropically oriented, and by removing an additive layer formed on the upper surface of the birefringence layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Suemasu
  • Patent number: 8057701
    Abstract: A trifunctional (meth)acrylate compound of general formula (I) is provided The compound is capable of retaining a liquid crystal phase at or below 30 ° C. Polymerizable compositions containing a compound of formula (I) are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Adeka Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokatsu Shinano, Satoshi Yanagisawa, Masatomi Irisawa, Kazuyuki Itano
  • Patent number: 8052891
    Abstract: Disclosed are a novel fluorene derivative, a liquid crystal composition comprising the same, and an optical film using the same liquid crystal composition. More particularly, there are provided a liquid crystal material for a viewing angle compensation film with high quality characteristics, which can improve a contrast ratio measured at an oblique angle to the front and minimize variations in color with viewing angles in a black state, a liquid crystal composition comprising the same liquid crystal material, and a compensation film obtained from the same liquid crystal composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Ho Cheong, Min-Jin Ko, Myung-Sun Moon, Bum-Gyu Choi, Dae-Ho Kang, Ki-Youl Lee, Yun-Bong Kim
  • Patent number: 8048495
    Abstract: Provided are a cholesteric liquid crystal composition which contains a compound having a high ?n value and shows an orientation in a thick layer, and a circular polarization separator sheet having a wide reflection bandwidth and capable of being produced simply and easily. A cholesteric liquid crystal composition containing a compound represented by a formula (1): R1-A1-B-A2-R2 (R1 and R2 represent alkyl, alkylene oxide, H, halogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, (meth)acryl, epoxy, mercapto, isocyanate, amino or cyano; A1 and A2 represent 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohexenyl, 4,4?-biphenylene, 4,4?-bicyclohexylene or 2,6-naphthylene; and B represents a single bond, —COO— or the like) and a rod-shaped liquid crystal compound having ?n of 0.18 or more and at least two or more reactive groups per one molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Zeon Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Tamura
  • Patent number: 8048334
    Abstract: A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes a switching element connected to a gate line and a data line crossing each other, and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element. The pixel electrode includes a first domain-dividing portion extending in a direction. The second substrate is spaced apart from the first substrate to have a cell gap of about 3.1 ?m to about 3.3 ?m. The second substrate includes a common electrode including a second domain dividing portion formed in a region between the first domain-dividing portions adjacent to each other. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal composition having a refractive anisotropy (?n) of about 0.1010 to about 0.1030.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Hun Lee, Seon-Ah Cho, Jeong-Uk Heo, Seong-Nam Lee, Byoung-Sun Na
  • Patent number: 8038902
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one type of liquid crystal, to a liquid crystal cell and liquid crystal display device comprising such composition and to a method of preparing such a composition and/or such a liquid crystal cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Pinar Kilickiran, Akira Masutani, Anthony Roberts, Gabriele Nelles, Akio Yasuda, Andrzej Tadeusiak, Graham Sandford
  • Publication number: 20110250532
    Abstract: A method of lifting off includes forming a first material layer on a substrate; forming a photoresist pattern including first and second holes and on the first material layer; patterning the first material layer using the photoresist pattern as a patterning mask to form a material pattern having first and second grooves within the material pattern, the first and second grooves corresponding to the first and second holes, respectively; forming a second material layer on an entire surface of the substrate including the photoresist pattern and the first and second grooves; and removing the photoresist pattern and the second material layer on the photoresist pattern at the same time, wherein a portion of the material pattern between the first and second grooves and portions of the material pattern at sides of the first and second grooves constitute a line as a whole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Hee-Young Kwack, Hyun-Seok Hong, Joo-Soo Lim, Hong-Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 8034254
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes first and second opposing substrates having first and second opposing surfaces, respectively, at least one of the surfaces having a metal disposed thereon, the substrates bonded together with an adhesive in contact with the metal, the adhesive comprising a blend of: a pressure sensitive adhesive component comprising at least one polymer having acid or base functionality, a high Tg polymer having a weight average molecular weight greater than 100,000 and having an acid or base functionality, and a crosslinker, wherein the functionality of the pressure sensitive adhesive component and the functionality of the high Tg polymer form an acid-base interaction when mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Audrey A. Sherman
  • Patent number: 8029694
    Abstract: A thermally conductive polymer composition comprising liquid crystalline polymer; metal alloy having a melting point of between about 200° C. and about 500° C.; and thermally conductive filler other than the metal alloy. The composition has a volume resistivity of at least about 1×1013 ?·cm and a thermal conductivity of at least about 0.7 W/m·K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Yuji Saga
  • Patent number: 8029696
    Abstract: The invention relates to fused naphthalenes of the general formula I, in which A1, A2, A3, A4, Q1-Q2, G1-G2, R1, R2, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, q, r, s and t have the meaning indicated, and to the use thereof as components of liquid-crystalline media and to an electro-optical display element containing them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Kretzschmann, Rudolf Eidenschink
  • Patent number: 8029877
    Abstract: There are provided: a curable resin composition having a high exposure sensitivity and a good developing property, and thereby capable of forming an accurate and precise pattern; a liquid crystal panel substrate on which a protective film for covering a color layer or spacers for a liquid crystal layer, by using the curable resin composition, hardly causing a color irregularity and contrast irregularity; and a liquid crystal panel using the liquid crystal panel substrate and having a superior display quality. The curable resin composition of the present invention comprises: a copolymer (a) having a molecular structure in which a constitutional unit including an acidic functional unit and a constitutional unit including a photocurable functional group are linked at least; a photopolymerization initiator (h) having a tertiary amine structure; and a photocurable compound (c) having at least one acidic functional group and at least three photocurable functional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Hayashi, Shunsuke Sega, Hiromu Taguchi, Mitsutaka Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8029695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerizable liquid crystal composition that includes a polymerizable reactive homeotropic alignment liquid crystal mixture solution and a primary or secondary amino compound, a homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film using the same, and a method for manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, regardless of the alignment film, a stable homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film may be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Hee Lee, Moon-Soo Park
  • Publication number: 20110234954
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an axially symmetric liquid crystal lens is disclosed, which comprises steps: (A) providing a first substrate; (B) forming a first conductive layer on the first substrate; (C) forming a first resist layer on the first conductive layer; (D) forming a first pattern with sub-micrometer period in the first resist layer by laser scanning; (E) developing the first resist layer to obtain a first patterned layer with sub-micrometer period; (F) providing a second substrate; and (G) forming a liquid crystal layer between the first patterned layer and the second substrate, wherein the first substrate, the first conductive layer, the first patterned layer, the liquid crystal layer, and the second substrate are sequentially arranged to form a layered structure. Also, an axially symmetric liquid crystal lens and liquid crystal alignment substrate for liquid crystal lens provided by the same are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Kuei-Chu HSU, Tzu-Pin Kao, Ching-Cherng Sun
  • Patent number: 8025814
    Abstract: The present invention provides a resin composition comprising a liquid crystal polymer and a filler comprising a composite oxide containing Ba, Sm, and Ti. The resin composition can provide a molded article which has excellent dielectric characteristics and is excellent in dimension stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomoko Uehara, Tomoya Hosoda, Satoshi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8021572
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a thin optical laminate a refractive index of which is three-dimensionally controlled. The optical laminate of the present invention comprises a retardation layer containing a polycyclic compound having at least one of a —SO3M group and a —COOM group, and having an index ellipsoid satisfying a relationship of nx?nz>ny; and a retardation layer having an index ellipsoid satisfying a relationship of nx?ny>nz. As the polycyclic compound, for example, a quinoxaline derivative represented by the following formula (I) is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuko Iwakawa, Shusaku Nakano, Shoichi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8017034
    Abstract: The present invention can provide a polyamide composition that is more excellent in the heat resistance and tensile elongation of molded products and also more excellent in a balance between these properties than those given by conventional polyamide compositions. The present invention relates to a polyamide composition comprising polyamide, liquid-crystalline polyester, and non-liquid-crystalline polyester, characterized in that Ma part by mass of the polyamide, Mb part by mass of the liquid-crystalline polyester, and Mc part by mass of the non-liquid-crystalline polyester with respect to 100 parts by mass in total of the polyamide, the liquid-crystalline polyester, and the non-liquid-crystalline polyester satisfy the following formulas: 60?Ma?90, 2?Mb?38, and 2?Mc?Ma×0.2?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Sakata, Hiroshi Oyamada, Masaaki Aramaki
  • Publication number: 20110217638
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical filter for a three-dimensional image display device, which forms an alignment layer having different orientating directions along a fine region via a one-time continuous optical orientation process. The method comprising: forming a polymer layer on a substrate; a photo-orienting step comprising positioning a pattern mask above the polymer layer, the pattern mask having alternating light transmission regions and light shield regions arranged in both horizontal and a vertical directions to selectively transmit different polarized light, positioning a polarizer above the pattern mask where the polarizer has two distinguishable regions that transmit different polarized light, and downwardly irradiating UV light onto the polymer layer from above the polarizer, thereby forming an alignment layer having different orientating directions in fine regions of the polymer layer; and forming a retardation layer on the orientation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Sin-Young Kim, Moon-Soo Park, Byoung-Kun Jeon, Sang-Choll Han, Bu Gon Shin, Hyuk Yoon
  • Patent number: 8012667
    Abstract: A soft mold may be manufactured that is used for forming a pattern. Semiconductor devices and flat panel display devices include a plurality of fine patterns on a substrate. The soft mold may be photo-curable and formed of a material with a hydrophobic property similar to heat-curable molds. The photo-curable mold may be created on a master plate with a resin layer that is removed with a back plate and adhesive layer after embossed or depressed portions are formed on the mold that correspond with embossed or depressed portions of the master plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeon Heui Nam, Jin-Wuk Kim
  • Patent number: 8012370
    Abstract: The present invention relates to dielectrically positive liquid-crystalline media comprising a dielectrically positive component, component A, comprising a dielectrically positive compound of the formula (I), in which the parameters have the meaning indicated in the specification, and optionally a second dielectrically positive component, component B, comprising one or more dielectrically positive compounds having a dielectric anisotropy of greater than 3 and optionally a dielectrically neutral component, component C, and to liquid-crystal displays, especially to active-matrix displays and in particular to TN, IPS, FFS and OCB displays, containing these media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Wittek, Brigitte Schuler, Volker Reiffenrath, Atsutaka Manabe, Elisabeth Meyer, Mark Goebel
  • Patent number: 8012369
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition is described, which satisfies at least one characteristic among high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, small viscosity, large optical anisotropy, large dielectric anisotropy, large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light, high stability to heat and so on, or is properly balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics. To provide an AM device having short response time, large voltage holding ratio, large contrast ratio, long service life and so forth, the liquid crystal composition has a nematic phase and contains a specific three-ring compound having a large optical anisotropy as a first component, a specific four-ring compound having a large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and a specific two-ring compound having a particularly small viscosity as a third component. A liquid crystal display device containing the liquid crystal composition is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignees: JNC Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Saito, Shuichi Goto
  • Publication number: 20110212393
    Abstract: A pixel unit having a display area is provided. The pixel unit includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and at least one ultraviolet light (UV) absorption pattern. The second substrate is disposed in parallel to the first substrate, and the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The UV absorption pattern is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A part of the display area overlaps the UV absorption pattern to define at least one first alignment area, while the part of the display area which does not overlap the UV absorption pattern defines at least one second alignment area. The liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer present different pre-tilt angles in the first alignment area and the second alignment area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chung-Hsiang Chiu, Ching-Huan Lin, Sung-Kao Liu, Yue-Shih Jeng
  • Patent number: 8009264
    Abstract: According to a composition for a photo-alignment film of the present invention, which includes an azo compound and a polymer that exhibits mutual solubility with the azo compound, an adhesion to a substrate, particularly to a plastic substrate, is improved within both a photo-alignment film having a haze of not more than 1 obtained by forming a layer of the above composition for a photo-alignment film on a substrate and subsequently irradiating the layer with light to generate a liquid crystal alignment ability; and an optically anisotropic medium, wherein a layer (A) obtained by irradiating a layer of the above composition for a photo-alignment film with light to generate a liquid crystal alignment ability, and a polymer layer (B) obtained by polymerizing a liquid crystal compound having a polymerizable group in an aligned state generated by the layer (A) are bonded and laminated together by covalent bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: DIC Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kuwana, Isa Nishiyama, Kazuaki Hatsusaka
  • Patent number: 8007682
    Abstract: A compound of the following formula (1): CH2?CR1—COO—R2—OCO-Cy-COO-Cy-A-Cy-R3??(1) wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 is a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, provided that some or all of hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms in the group may be substituted by fluorine atoms, and when it has 2 or more carbon atoms, it may have an etheric oxygen atom in a carbon-carbon bond, R3 is an alkyl or alkoxy group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or a fluorine atom, provided that when it is the alkyl or alkoxy group, some or all of hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms in the group may be substituted by fluorine atoms; Cy is a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, provided that hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms in the group may independently be substituted by fluorine atoms, chlorine atoms or methyl groups; and A is a single bond, a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group or a 1,4-phenylene group, provided that hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms in the group may independently be substituted by f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kenichi Shioya, Makoto Hasegawa, Hiroshi Kumai
  • Patent number: 8003007
    Abstract: A twisted nematic (TN) mode liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display includes first and second display panels facing each other to create an electric field therebetween, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second display panels. The liquid crystal layer contains liquid crystal molecules having positive dielectric anisotropy, and the liquid crystal layer has a structure in which long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are aligned spirally from the first display panel to the second display panel when no electric field is created in the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal molecules have a dielectric anisotropy (??) in a range of 4.5 to 5.7, a splay elastic constant (K11) of 14 pN or less, and a bend elastic constant (K33) of 12 pN or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Hwan Hong, Jeong-Uk Heo
  • Patent number: 8003006
    Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal composition of the present invention includes one or at least two compounds represented by general formula (I) as a first component; and one or at least two compounds represented by general formula (II) as a second component, wherein a dielectric anisotropy is negative. The use of this nematic liquid crystal composition can provide a highly reliable liquid crystal display element capable of maintaining a high voltage-holding ratio even in a high temperature region, and achieving quick responsiveness without reducing the cell gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Shotaro Kawakami, Takashi Matsumoto, Tetsuo Kusumoto
  • Publication number: 20110187974
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Chida, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Patent number: 7988882
    Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal compound is represented by the following formula (1): P-Sp1-L1-M1-L2-Sp2-Ox ??(1) wherein P represents a polymerizable group; one of Sp1 and Sp2 represents a branched alkylene group, or an alkylene group containing, in the chain thereof, at least one divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of —O—, —C?C— and —S—; the other of Sp1 and Sp2 represents a straight chain alkylene group; each of L1 and L2 independently represents a divalent linking group; M1 represents a mesogenic group; and Ox represents a substituent containing an oxetanyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Tomita, Michitaka Matsuumi, Yasuhiro Aiki, Ichiro Amimori, Hidetoshi Watanabe, Hideki Kaneiwa
  • Publication number: 20110181823
    Abstract: To provide: a production method of a liquid crystal display device, the production method being capable of efficiently and stably providing alignment treatment for an alignment film of the liquid crystal display device, in which a plurality of domains is formed in a pixel region; and an exposure device for alignment treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki HAKOI, Iichiro INOUE, Koichi MIYACHI
  • Patent number: 7981320
    Abstract: A polymerizable composition comprising a bifunctional (meth)acrylate compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a monofunctional (meth)acrylate compound represented by the general formula (2): R1 and R2 each=a hydrogen atom, methyl group, or halogen atom; A1, A2, A3 each=a benzene, cyclohexane, cyclohexene, naphthalene, decahydronaphthalene, tetrahydronaphthalene, or phenanthrene ring; rings may be substituted with 1-8 carbon atom alkyl group, 1-8 carbon atom alkoxy group, a halogen atom, or a cyano group; at least one of A1, A2, and A3 comprises a substituent; —CH? may be replaced by —N?, and —CH2— may be replaced by —S— or —O—: L1, L2, L3 each=a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —(CH2)p—, —CH?CH—, —(CH2)qO—, —CH?CHCH2O—, —CH?C—, —(CH2)2COO—, or —CF?CF—; n=integer 0-3; and, when n?2, L3 and A3 may be the same or different; p and q each=an integer 1-8:
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Adeka Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomi Irisawa, Ken Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7968003
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pyran derivative which manifests appropriate refractive anisotropy (optical anisotropy) and liquid crystal transition temperature and excellent dielectric anisotropy, and has excellent compatibility with various liquid crystal compounds, and thus, can be preferably used for the formation of a liquid crystal layer of a liquid crystal display device, its preparation method, a liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device comprising the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bum-Gyu Choi, Min-Jin Ko, Myung-Sun Moon, Jae-Ho Cheong, Dae-Ho Kang, Ki-Youl Lee, Yun-Bong Kim
  • Publication number: 20110141407
    Abstract: A retardation layer that includes regions causing different retardations can be manufactured easily. A retardation substrate includes a substrate and a solidified liquid crystal layer facing its main surface. The solidified liquid crystal layer includes first to third regions, and a degree of depolarization for each of the regions is less than 5.0×10?4. A difference between the maximum and minimum values of the degrees of depolarization obtained for the regions is less than 2.0×10?4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sosuke Akao, Yuji Kubo, Noritaka Mihashi, Godai Fukunaga, Masashi Aimatsu, Takeshi Itoi
  • Patent number: 7959990
    Abstract: The present invention concerns functionalized photoreactive compounds of formula (I), that are particularly useful in materials for the alignment of liquid crystals. Due to the adjunction of an electron withdrawing group to specific molecular systems bearing an unsaturation directly attached to two unsaturated ring systems, exceptionally high photosensitivities, excellent alignment properties as well as good mechanical robustness could be achieved in materials comprising said functionalized photoreactive compounds of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Rolic AG
    Inventors: Zoubair Mohammed Cherkaoui, Peggy Studer, Joachim Reichardt, Hubert Seiberle
  • Patent number: 7951305
    Abstract: A liquid crystal compound is to be obtained that has stability to heat, light and so forth, a high clearing point, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large negative dielectric anisotropy, and excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds. A liquid crystal composition containing the compound is also to be obtained that has a low viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a suitable negative dielectric anisotropy, a low threshold voltage, a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase (phase transition temperature from a nematic phase to an isotropic phase), and a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase. A compound having a hydrocoumarin skeleton is synthesized, and a liquid crystal composition containing the compound is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Chisso Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Mayumi Goto, Teruyo Sugiura, Norikatsu Hattori, Kouki Sagou
  • Patent number: 7943061
    Abstract: The invention relates to chiral compounds, methods of their preparation, and to their use in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices, and in decorative, security, cosmetic or diagnostic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Louise Diane Farrand, Patricia Eileen Saxton
  • Patent number: 7943203
    Abstract: A colored curable composition containing a pigment (A) made into fine particles in the presence of sodium chloride (NaCl), an alkali soluble resin (B), a polymerizable compound (C), a photopolymerization initiator (D), and a solvent (E), wherein the pigment is included at 40 mass % to 70 mass % with respect to the total solids of the colored curable composition, and the contact angle of water to a coated layer obtained from coating the colored curable composition on a substrate and drying is 60° or greater. The colored curable composition is excellent in pigment dispersibility and dispersion stability, even when a fine pigment is included therein, is capable of forming a highly uniform colored layer, with excellent cleanability and solubility of the dried colored layer. The composition can also suppress the generation of foreign matter and the like in slit coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7931825
    Abstract: A polymerizable composition comprising a bifunctional (meth)acrylate compound represented by general formula (1) and a monofunctional (meth)acrylate compound having a nitrile group at the terminal thereof represented by general formula (2). The mass ratio of them (the former/the latter) is from 90/10 to 40/60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Adeka Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomi Irisawa, Ken Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7922935
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device being resistant to display unevenness without loss of responsivity and being capable of securing configurational stability is provided. A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules and a polymer compound including a structure represented by Chemical Formula 1; and a pair of substrates facing each other with the liquid crystal layer in between, where m and n each are an integer of 1 to 4 both inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7919008
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Ho Cheong, Min Jin Ko, Dae Ho Kang, Ki Youl Lee, Youn Bong Kim
  • Patent number: 7920232
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a liquid crystal cell substrate comprising forming an image having at least two different hues and having different thickness for the respective hue domains, and forming at least one monoaxial or biaxial optically anisotropic layer having different film thicknesses on the respective hue domains on the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Morimasa Sato, Ichiro Amimori
  • Patent number: 7919009
    Abstract: A polymerizable compound represented by general formula (1) of the invention has good solvent solubility and excellent alignment control properties and optical characteristics. In formula (1), M1 and M2 are each hydrogen or methyl; X1 and X2 are each a single bond, or an optionally branched C1-10 alkylene, alkyleneoxy or alkyleneoxycarbonyloxy; X3 is optionally branched C1-10 alkylene; Y1 and Y2 are each an ester linkage, etc.; and rings A, B, C, and D are each a cyclic structure, such as 2,6-naphthlene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Adeka Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Itano, Hiroya Fukunaga, Masatomi Irisawa, Tatsunori Kobayashi, Mineki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7919153
    Abstract: A laminated structure comprising, at least one optically anisotropic layer formed of a liquid crystalline composition comprising a compound having two or more types of reactive groups, and at least one photosensitive polymer layer. The laminated structure is useful for forming an optically anisotropic layer inside of a liquid crystal cell. The laminated structure is also useful for forming a liquid crystal cell substrate with an optically anisotropic layer having an optically compensating ability, inside of a liquid crystal cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Tomita, Ichiro Amimori, Hisashi Okamura
  • Patent number: 7910020
    Abstract: Liquid crystal compositions comprising compounds including at least one mesogenic substructure and at least one long flexible segment and a compound selected from a photochromic compound, a dichroic compound and a photochromic-dichroic compound and methods of synthesizing the same and their use in articles of manufacture and ophthalmic devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Meng He, Anil Kumar, Jiping Shao, Xiao-Man Dai, Ruisong Xu
  • Patent number: 7910019
    Abstract: Compounds including at least one mesogenic substructure and at least one long flexible segment and methods of synthesizing the same are disclosed. Formulations which include various embodiments of the mesogen containing compounds and their use in articles of manufacture and ophthalmic devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Transitions Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Meng He, Anil Kumar, Jiping Shao, Xiao-Man Dai, Ruisong Xu
  • Patent number: 7910018
    Abstract: Liquid crystal compounds of Formula (I) for use in liquid crystal devices contains a dioxatetralin unit within the mesogenic liquid crystal core. The dioxatetralin unit may be located at any position within the mesogenic core of the liquid crystal compound, either at the terminus of the liquid crystal core or alternatively substantially in the middle of the liquid crystal core. The compounds of the invention exhibit fast switching and may be used in liquid crystal mixtures for particular use in imaging or display media, such as monitors or televisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventors: Rachel P Tuffin, Stephane Trombotto, John W Goodby, Michael Hird
  • Patent number: 7910021
    Abstract: A polymerizable optically active compound of formula (1) has high helical twisting power. When added to a liquid crystal (LC) composition it achieves required helical pitch without largely impairing the physical and optical properties of the LC composition. The compound is suited to be compounded with a LC material, particularly a cholesteric LC material for making an optically anisotropic element excellent in heat resistance, solvent resistance, transparency, optical characteristics, and LC alignment fixing ability. The compound is also useful to form a LC alignment layer, a LC alignment controlling agent, a coating material, a protective film, etc. X1 and X2 each represent a (meth)acryloyloxy group; Y1 and Y2 each represent a single bond, an optionally branched C1-8 alkylene group, an ether linkage, a thioether linkage, —COO—, —OCO—, —OCO—O—, —S—CO—, —CO—S—, an optionally substituted 6-membered ring, an optionally substituted naphthalene ring, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Adeka Corporation
    Inventors: Mineki Hasegawa, Masatomi Irisawa
  • Patent number: 7901591
    Abstract: A bifunctional polymerizable compound represented by the following formula: A-E1-E2-(E3)k-E4-B wherein A is CH2?CR1—COO-(L1)m-; B is CH2?CR2—COO-(L2)n-; each of R1 and R2 which are independent of each other, is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; each of L1 and L2 is —(CH2)P— wherein p is each independently an integer of from 2 to 8, each of m and n which are independent of each other, is 0 or 1, provided that when at least one of m and n is 1, there may be an etheric oxygen atom between the carbon-carbon linkage of —(CH2)P— or at the terminal on the side bonded to E1 or E4, and at least one hydrogen atom may be substituted by a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom or a methyl group; each of E1 and E4 is a 1,4-phenylene group; and one of E2 and E3 is a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group and the other is a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group or a 1,4-phenylene group, k is 0 or 1, provided that when k is 0, E2 is a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, and the 1,4-phenylene group and the trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group as E1 to E4 m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiromichi Nagayama, Kazuhiko Shiono, Hiroshi Kumai
  • Patent number: 7892450
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystalline polymer composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of a LCP, and equal to or more than 0.01 and less than 1 part by weight of a low temperature softening inorganic glass filler whose softening temperature is equal to or less than 550° C. The composition can provide a molded article which cause no or less blister formation upon reflow soldering using a lead-free solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ueno Fine Chemicals Industry, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto Uchida, Hitoshi Tsuchiya, Tomoyuki Saito, Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 7892711
    Abstract: An azo compound of the present invention is represented by the general formula (1): (wherein, R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydroxy group, or a polymerizable functional group selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acryloyl group, a (meth)acryloyloxy group, a (meth)acrylamide group, a vinyl group, a vinyloxy group, and a maleimide group; X1 represents single bond when R1 is a hydroxy group and represents a linking group represented by -(A1-B1)m- when R1 is a polymerizable functional group; X2 represents a single bond when R2 is a hydroxy group and represents a linking group represented by -(A2-B2)n- when R2 is a polymerizable functional group; R3 and R4 each independently represents —OR7, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or —CONR8R9; and R5 and R6 each independently represents a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a nitro group, amino group, or a hydroxy group).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: DIC Corporation, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kondo, Yasuhiro Kuwana, Hirokazu Takada, Vladimir Grigorievich Chigrinov, Hoi-Sing Kwok
  • Patent number: 7892449
    Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display using a ferroelectric liquid crystal, with the ferroelectric liquid crystal in the mono-stability state and the excellent alignment stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Okabe, Naoko Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 7887892
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a liquid crystal material. The inventive method is characterised in that it comprises the following steps consisting in: applying a first treatment to a liquid crystal mixture having a helical structure comprising a first non-photoreactive liquid crystal (A) and a second photoreactive liquid crystal (B), said first treatment modifying a handedness of the helix of the mixture; and applying a second treatment to the mixture such that the second liquid crystal (B) forms a polymer network, said second treatment being performed during all or part of the first treatment such that the liquid crystal material retains a memory of the modifications to the helix and the entire volume of the material has both a right-handed and left-handed helical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Michel Mitov, Nathalie Dessaud