Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal composition of the present invention includes 10 to 80% by mass of either one or at least two compounds represented by general formula (I) as a first component; and 20 to 70% by mass of either one or at least two compounds represented by general formula (II) as a second component, wherein a dielectric constant 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.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a liquid crystal display device excellent in moving picture characteristics in view of the temperature dependence of the viscosity of a liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a polymer dispersed liquid crystal cell. It also relates to a cell produced by such method and to uses of such cells.

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

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal (LC) material that aligns homeotropically on substrates with high or low surface energy.

Abstract: The invention is generally related to a polymer/liquid crystal composite, which includes a liquid crystal material which exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase in the temperature range of approximately 5° C. or more in the elevated temperature process but does not exhibit a nematic phase; and a polymer, and which is used for an element driven in a state of the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photo-tunable dopant compositions comprising a photo-reactive chiral compound capable of undergoing a photochemical reaction resulting in the loss of chirality, and a triplet sensitizer. The present invention also relates to a display comprising a substrate, a liquid crystalline layer thereon, wherein the liquid crystalline layer comprises a nematic host, at least one chiral dopant, a photo-reacted compound, and a triplet sensitizer, and at least one transparent conductive layer. The present invention also relates to a method of tuning a cholesteric liquid crystal material comprising providing at least one mesogenic compound, at least one triplet sensitizer, and at least one photo-reactive chiral compound; combining the at least one mesogenic compound, at least one triplet sensitizer, and at least one photo-reactive chiral compound to form a mixture; and irradiating the mixture for a period of time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single layer or multilayer polymeric structures that comprise a liquid crystalline polymer barrier resin. Such films have improved optical clarity and lower surface roughness measurements, without sacrificing desired barrier properties. These structures are useful for many packaging applications including pouches and bags and lidding applications.

Abstract: A semiconductive belt for an electrophotographic imaging apparatus contains a side-chain liquid crystalline polymer and a liquid conductive polymer. A method of manufacturing the semiconductive belt pelletizes a mixture of a side-chain liquid crystalline polymer and a liquid conductive polymer and extrudes the mixture through a double bubble tubular injection molding apparatus. An electrophotographic imaging apparatus is provided including the semiconductive belt.

Abstract: An electro-optical filter made of a support in which an optical guide with a diffused channel waveguide and of a cover, that are created in borosilicate glass, and which includes a gap obtained by the use of suitable spacers, filled with a grating constituted of alternating strips of polymer and liquid crystal called POLICRYPS (Polymer Liquid CRYstal Polymer Slices), and with first electrodes that are coplanar to the support and next to the optical guide with a channel, that electrically control the grating making the filter tunable, and a manufacturing process.

Abstract: A novel optical compensation film is disclosed. The optical compensation film comprises a first optically anisotropic layer and a second optically anisotropic layer, each of which formed of a composition comprising a liquid-crystalline compound, wherein molecules of the liquid-crystalline compound in each of the first and second optically anisotropic layers are fixed in a hybrid alignment state in which tilt angles of the molecules with respect to a layer plane varies in a thickness direction.

Abstract: The invention describes shape changing membranes that can be precisely controlled using the unique approach of smectic liquid-crystalline elastomers (LCEs) with patterned electrodes and a process of preparing and creating the elastomers. The methods to create the shape changing membranes is based on the electroclinic effect of smectic layers in a polymer network and provides a novel material for actuators.

Abstract: The present invention to a composition for liquid crystal aligning comprising an oligoimide or oligoamic acid, which comprises a thermocurable or photocurable functional group on at least one end of the oligoimide or oligoamic acid backbone, a liquid crystal aligning layer prepared from the same, and a liquid crystal display comprising the same. The composition for liquid crystal aligning according to the present can minimize the generation of the decomposed by-products, which had been generated upon the use of polyimides, by using an oligoimide or oligoamic acid on at least one end of the backbone, instead of the conventional polyimides and has an excellent effect of improvement in alignment property, thermal stability, and image sticking.

Abstract: Microstructured optical films, assemblies of films including at least one microstructured optical film, and (e.g. illuminated) display devices including a single microstructured optical film or assembly.

Abstract: A method of encapsulating an organic light-emitting device is disclosed, wherein the device includes a light-emitting portion and an electrical contact portion, the method including forming a polymer layer over the light-emitting portion and the electrical contact portion of the device; forming a separation in the polymer layer between a portion of the polymer layer disposed over the light-emitting portion of the device and a portion of the polymer layer disposed over the electrical contact portion of the device; adhering a film removal structure to the portion of the polymer layer disposed over the electrical contact portion of the device; and removing the film removal structure, thereby causing the removal of the portion of the polymer layer disposed over the electrical contact portion of the device.

Abstract: A polarizing plate is provided that has excellent polarization properties and high surface hardness and can have a reduced thickness. The polarizing plate includes a polarizer and a cured resin layer. The cured resin layer is formed directly on at least one surface of the polarizer. The cured resin layer is formed of a solventless photocurable composition containing the following components (A), (B), and (C): (A) at least one of a polyfunctional acrylic monomer and a polyfunctional methacrylic monomer; (B) a photocurable prepolymer; and (C) a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline polymer composition with less warpage not only in molding but also in a high temperature treatment conducted after molding is provided. The liquid-crystalline polymer comprises (i) 30 to 95% by weight of a first liquid-crystalline polymer having a deflection temperature under load of 200° C. or higher and (ii) 5 to 70% by weight of a second liquid-crystalline polymer having a deflection temperature under load lower than that of the first liquid-crystalline polymer, a melting point from 270° C. to lower than 400° C. and a flow-beginning temperature of 270° C. or higher.

Abstract: An LCD with an improved image quality and a method of fabricating the same are provided. After a rubbing process as a primary alignment process is performed on an alignment layer, a pre-treatment is performed on the alignment layer before a light irradiation as a secondary alignment process. Thus, the light leakage at a stepped portion may be prevented and the contrast ratio can be improved. Consequently, a high quality image may be obtained and the reliability of products can also be enhanced. After a thermal treatment as the pre-treatment or during the thermal treatment, a light irradiation as a secondary alignment process is performed, or the light irradiation as the secondary alignment process is performed under an oxygen atmosphere, thereby enhancing the alignment process efficiency during the light irradiation. Further, a non-polarized light may be irradiated on the rubbed alignment layer during the light irradiation.

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

Abstract: A method for forming an alignment layer for a liquid crystal display is disclosed. The method includes preparing a substrate and depositing an alignment layer on the substrate. The method also includes applying one of an electric field and a magnetic field to the alignment layer to set an alignment direction of the alignment layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules, each of which has an asymmetric carbon atom, and has a core portion and an organosilane or organosiloxane structure at positions opposed to each other with the asymmetric carbon atom therebetween.

Abstract: A method for making a liquid crystal display screen includes the following steps. Firstly, providing a base including a surface. Secondly, forming carbon nanotube structure on the surface of the base to obtain a first electrode plate preform, the carbon nanotubes of each carbon nanotube structure being oriented along the extending direction thereof. Thirdly, forming a fixing layer to cover the carbon nanotube structure, thereby obtaining a first electrode plate. Fourthly, repeating the above-described steps, thereby obtaining a second electrode plate. Lastly, forming a liquid crystal layer between the fixing layers of the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, the carbon nanotubes of the first electrode plate being perpendicular to that of the second electrode plate, thereby forming the liquid crystal display screen.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display includes; forming a mother substrate assembly by disposing a liquid crystal mixture layer having liquid crystals and a light curable alignment supplement between a first mother substrate and a second mother substrate of a liquid crystal display, and disposing a light curable sealant surrounding the liquid crystal mixture layer, pre-tilting liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal mixture layer by applying a voltage to the first mother substrate and the second mother substrate, and simultaneously hardening the alignment supplement and the sealant by radiating light to the mother substrate assembly while applying the voltage to the first mother substrate and the second mother substrate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition with a negative dielectric anisotropy includes at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by the following formula (1) as a first component, and at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by the following formulas (2-1) to (2-3) and (3-1) to (3-4) as a second component.

Abstract: A method of modifying liquid crystal polymers, which involves a step of irradiating a liquid crystal polymer with the laser beam having a pulse width of 10?12 seconds or less. Using the invention method, the physical strength of the liquid crystal polymers can be improved as compared with the conventional liquid crystal polymers.

Abstract: Shape memory main-chain smectic-C elastomers are described. The elastomers are prepared by hydrosilylation of a reaction mixture including a liquid crystalline diene, a crosslinking agent, and a bis(silyl hydride) compound. The elastomers exhibit shape-memory properties and spontaneously reversible shape changes. They are useful for fabrication of shape memory articles including, for example, implantable medical devices, contact lenses, reversible embossing media, and Fresnel lenses.

Abstract: A liquid crystal drop apparatus for dropping liquid crystal on a substrate includes a liquid crystal container filled with liquid crystal, a nozzle formed at an lower end of the liquid crystal container for dropping the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal container, and a control unit for controlling the nozzle when the nozzle drops the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A liquid crystal-containing composition according to the present invention includes a cholesteric liquid crystal, a polymer, and particles having hydrophobic surfaces. The particles having hydrophobic surfaces are at the interface between the region containing the cholesteric liquid crystal and the region containing the polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing simply and precisely an anisotropic optical element having optical properties that are anisotropic with respect to a direction of a normal to an element plane. After forming an uncured film by applying flatwise a radiation-polymerizable cholesteric liquid crystal to a substrate (step 101), the film is heated to convert the cholesteric phase of the liquid crystal in the film into an isotropic phase (step 102). Thereafter, the isotropic phase of the liquid crystal in the film is converted into the cholesteric phase thereof, with a gas blown on the film from a predetermined direction (step 103). By doing so, the liquid crystal is oriented in such a manner that a mean direction of directions of helical axes (a main direction of helical axes) in liquid crystal domains in the film is tilted, relative to a direction of a normal to a film plane, along a stream of the gas blown.

Abstract: Substrate structures, liquid crystal display devices and methods of fabricating liquid crystal display devices. A substrate structure comprises a transparent substrate having an electrode layer thereon. A first alignment layer is formed on the transparent substrate. A second alignment layer is selectively formed on the first alignment, wherein alignment orientations of liquid crystal molecules on the first and second alignment layers are different.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first polarizer disposed on the first substrate, a second polarizer disposed on the second substrate having a transmission axis perpendicular to that of the first polarizer and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the substrates. The polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and at least one polymer network. When a voltage difference between the substrates is equal to 0V, the liquid crystal molecules do not reflect incident light beams and are not pervious to incident light beams. When the voltage difference between the substrates is not equal to 0V, the crystal molecules reflect incident light beams and are pervious to incident light beams.

Abstract: A hologram-recording material, including a photoresponsive molecule, a reactive molecule having an intrinsic birefringence, and a photopolymerization initiator that accelerates polymerization and/or crosslinking of the reactive molecule having an intrinsic birefringence, a content of the photopolymerization initiator being in a range of less than about 0.1 wt % relative to the hologram-recording material, and, a content of the reactive molecule having an intrinsic birefringence being in a range of about 30 to about 80 wt % relative to the hologram-recording material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical film for use in a liquid crystal display that is positioned inside the liquid crystal cell of the display comprising the switchable liquid crystal material, and to an LCD comprising such a film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing an optical element the haze of which is efficiently reduced and an apparatus for producing the optical element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate for flexible displays, a method for producing the same, and a flexible display. The substrate for flexible displays comprises a resin composition layer containing an inorganic layered compound and a resin, wherein the amount of the inorganic layer compound is not less than 10 weight % and not more than 70 weight % based on the total amount of the resin and the inorganic layer compound. The method for producing a substrate for flexible displays comprises applying a mixture of a solvent, an inorganic layer compound, and a resin to a plate, drying the mixture, and peeling off the resulting layer from the plate. The display comprises the above substrate for flexible displays and electrodes.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical element having a patterned quarter-wave retardation for use in a semitransmission reflection liquid crystal display device is provided. The process includes the steps of coating a coating liquid including a polymerizable liquid crystal onto a base material to form a coating film, aligning the polymerizable liquid crystal to a liquid crystal phase state, applying an ionizing radiation to the coating film through a photomask to polymerize the polymerizable liquid crystal in the liquid crystal phase state, whereby the polymerizable liquid crystal only in its exposed part is cured to form the liquid crystal layer, and heating the resultant substrate with the coating film formed thereon to bring the polymerizable liquid crystal in the uncured state to an isotropic phase state and, in this state, to polymerize the uncured polymerizable liquid crystal to form an isotropic layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer for use as a surface-director alignment layer in a liquid crystal device, the polymer comprising a polymeric backbone and side-chains attached thereto, wherein the polymeric backbone lacks directly coupled ring structures, and each side-chain of at least some of the side-chains comprises at least two unsubstituted and/or substituted phenyls coupled via a coupling selected from the group consisting of a carbon-carbon single bond (—), a carbon-carbon double bond containing unit (—CH?CH—), a carbon-carbon triple bond containing unit (—C?C—), a methylene ether unit (—CH2O—), an ethylene ether unit (—CH2CH2O—), an ester unit (—COO—) and an azo unit (—N?N—), exhibits a permanent and/or induced dipole moment that in ordered phase provides dielectric anisotropy, and is attached to the polymeric backbone via at least two spacing atoms.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate arranged opposite to the first substrate with a gap, a liquid crystal layer held between the first and second substrates, and a plurality of pixels formed of the first substrate, the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and arrayed in a direction along a plane of the first and second substrates, each pixel having a plurality of pretilt angles different from each other.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display having a brightness enhancement film and a method of manufacturing the brightness enhancement film, the method including providing a solution of high molecular weight resin on a high molecular weight film, uniformly distributing the solution of high molecular weight resin on the high molecular weight film, and drying the solution of high molecular weight resin to form a high molecular weight resin layer, wherein the high molecular weight resin layer has a hexagonal lattice structure.

Abstract: There is provided a photosensitive composition excellent in photo-curability which comprises an epoxy compound having two or more epoxy groups, a polynuclear phenol compound having a specific structure and an energy beam-sensitive cationic polymerization initiator, and optionally a predetermined percentage of a hydroxyl group-containing compound having one or more hydroxyl groups and one or more of at least one of a vinyl ether group and an oxetanyl group in a molecule, and a cured product of the same whose film is excellent in adhesion to various substrates, water resistance and flexibility.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of liquid-crystal films and coatings from substituted poly-para-xylylenes to be used as alignment layers in different electrooptical devices (alphameric indicators, displays, optical shutters, etc.). Particularly, the invention is directed to a one-step method for producing a liquid-crystal polymer film of the substituted poly-para-xylylene, said film simultaneously exhibiting the orienting properties with respect to LC molecules. The essence of a claimed method is in production of films and coatings from the substituted poly-para-xylylene by means of the successive execution in vacuum of sublimation at 0-350° C. and pyrolysis at 450-700° C. of the substituted cyclic di-para-xylylene in which substituent groups have terminal mesogenic groups, and condensation of the pyrolysis-generated substituted para-xylylene simultaneously with its polymerization on a substrate at 150-320° C. The process is performed at a predetermined film formation rate on the substrate surface.

Abstract: In the present invention, it is an object to improve display quality by improving response speed of a liquid crystal element in a liquid crystal display device, in particular, response speed in the case of falling. In the present invention, it is characterized that a liquid crystal layer is divided into plural regions (domains) substantially by mixing a compound including a liquid crystal skeleton in a liquid crystal layer exisiting liquid crystal molecules as a technique to improve response speed of a liquid crystal element in a liquid crystal display device for solving the above problem.

Abstract: Described are compositions that include a crosslinked polymer obtained on crosslinking a particular class of uncrosslinked polymers having in-chain aliphatic double bonds. The compositions exhibit unusual shape memory properties, and they may be used to form objects that exhibit at least three different shapes as a function of temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photo-tunable dopant compositions comprising a photo-reactive chiral compound capable of undergoing a photochemical reaction resulting in the loss of chirality, and a triplet sensitizer. The present invention also relates to a display comprising a substrate, a liquid crystalline layer thereon, wherein the liquid crystalline layer comprises a nematic host, at least one chiral dopant, a photo-reacted compound, and a triplet sensitizer, and at least one transparent conductive layer. The present invention also relates to a method of tuning a cholesteric liquid crystal material comprising providing at least one mesogenic compound, at least one triplet sensitizer, and at least one photo-reactive chiral compound; combining the at least one mesogenic compound, at least one triplet sensitizer, and at least one photo-reactive chiral compound to form a mixture; and irradiating the mixture for a period of time.

Abstract: A hydrophilic stiff main chain type liquid crystal comprising a water-soluble salt of a synthetic helical polymer having no asymmetric carbon atom as a main component of the main chain thereof, for example, a polyacetylene derivative having such constitution; and a chiral sensor utilizing a liquid crystal comprising a water-soluble salt of the above synthetic helical polymer, in particular, a water-soluble salt of the above synthetic helical polymer having no asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: A novel transfer material is disclosed. The transfer material comprises, at least, a support, and, thereon, an optically uniaxial or biaxial anisotropic layer and a photosensitive polymer layer. A novel process for producing a liquid crystal cell substrate is also disclosed. The process comprises, at least, [1] laminating a transfer material as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 11 on a substrate; [2] removing the support from the transfer material laminated on the substrate; and [3] exposing the photosensitive polymer layer disposed on the substrate to light.

Abstract: An optically self-compensated birefringence liquid crystal display (OCB-LCD) panel including a first substrate, a first splay aligned layer, a second substrate and an OCB liquid crystal layer is provided. A first alignment layer is disposed on a surface of the first substrate. The first splay aligned layer is disposed on a surface of the first alignment layer, and the material of the first splay aligned layer includes a polymer polymerized by a first reactive mesogen (RM) monomer. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate, and a second alignment layer is disposed on a surface of the second substrate. The OCB liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: Nanocomposite compositions and methods of synthesis of the compositions are described. In particular, liquid crystal-functionalized nanoparticles, liquid crystal-templated nanoparticles, nanocomposite compositions including the nanoparticles, and composite compositions including the nanocomposites are detailed.

Abstract: An easy process of producing a substrate for liquid crystal display device, which contribute to reducing the viewing angle dependence of color of a liquid crystal display device, which comprises the following steps [1] and [2] in this order: [1] subjecting a substrate having at least one optically anisotropic layer and at least one photosensitive polymer layer on a support to light exposure; [2] removing partial or entire part of the optically anisotropic layer and the photosensitive polymer layer by a physical mean.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline polyester for film having small linear expansibility and high flexibility is provided. The polyester may have structural units —O—Ar1-CO—, —NH—Ar2-X—, —CO—Ar3-CO— and —CO—Ar4-Z-Ar5-CO— wherein Ar1 represents 1,4-phenylene, 2,6-naphthylene or 4,4?-biphenylene, Ar2 represents 1,4-phenylene or 1,3-phenylene, X represents —O— or —NH—, Ar3 represents 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene or 2,6-naphthylene, Ar4 and Ar5 independently represent 1,4-phenylene, 2,6-naphthylene or 4,4?-biphenylene, and Z represents —O—, —SO2— or —CO—, in which the amount of monomer (1) is 30-80% by mol, the amount of monomer (2) is 10-35% by mol, the total amount of monomers (3) and (4) is 10-35% by mol and the amount of monomer (4) is 1% by mol or larger.