Abstract:
A cholesteric liquid crystal display device (10) comprises a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material (11) supported by at least one substrate (13; electrode layers (14,15) on opposite sides of the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material (11); and a light absorptive or reflective layer (17) on the rear side of the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material (11). To provide non-uniform reflection of light, there is a layer (18) of reflective flakes (19) on the front side of the light absorptive or reflective layer (17), or the reflective layer is shaped to be non-planar.
Abstract:
In a cholesteric liquid crystal display device (24), to drive a surface-stabilized layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material into the focal conic state, there is applied drive signal comprising a series of pulses (30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41). At least one initial pulse has sufficient energy to drive the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material into the homeotropic state and the subsequent pulses have time-averaged energies which reduce to a minimum level at which the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material is driven into the focal conic state. This produces a focal conic state of particularly low reflectance, which allows a high contrast ratio to be achieved.
Abstract:
A cholesteric liquid crystal display apparatus is driven in accordance with image data having a predetermined number of possible grey levels. Drive signals are applied to the electrodes of the at least one cell which drive each pixel of the display apparatus into a state selected from a number of predetermined states in accordance with the image data. A number of predetermined states less than the predetermined number of possible grey levels of the image data is used but the image data is error diffusion dithered so that the spatial filtering performed by the eye of the viewer compensates for the low number of states used. By using such a low number of states, there are achieved several advantages in the design of the drive circuit which increase its simplicity and reduce cost.
Abstract:
Novel phenylcyclohexanes of the formula I in which n is 0 to 7, Q1 and Q2 are H, or one of these radicals is alternatively CH3, r is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, A is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene or a single bond, X is F, Cl, —CF3, —CN, —OCF3 or —OCHF2, and Y and Z are each, independently of one another, H or F, with the proviso that, in the case where A is a single bond, Q1=Q2=H and simultaneously X=CN, Y and/or Z are F.
Abstract:
The invention relates to multireactive polymerizable mesogenic compounds of formula I R1—MG—R2 I wherein R1, R2 and MG have the meaning given in claim 1, to a polymerizable mesogenic composition comprising at least two components, at least one which is a compound of formula I, to a linear or crosslinked polymer obtainable by polymerization of one or more compounds of formula I or of a polymerizable composition comprising one or more compounds of formula I and to the use of a compound of formula I, or a polymerizable composition or polymer obtainable thereof, in optical elements such as polarizers, optical retardation or compensation films, alignment layers, colour filters or holographic elements, in liquid crystal displays such as PDLC, polymer gel or polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT) displays, in adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetics, diagnostics or liquid crystal pigments, for decorative and security applications, and for nonlinear optics or optical information storage.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an alignment layer comprising a polymerized liquid crystal material with homeotrophic orientation, to methods of its preparation, to polymerizable liquid crystal compositions and liquid crystal polymers used for the preparation of the alignment layer, to liquid crystal devices comprising the alignment layer, and to a method of controlling the electrooptical steepness of a liquid crystal display comprising at least one alignment layer by varying the surface anchoring energy of the alignment layer.
Abstract:
A display apparatus includes a cholesteric liquid crystal display device comprising a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material contained between two substrates, each substrate carrying an electrode layer so that the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material is interposed between the electrode layers. A piezoelectric element is electrically connected to the electrode layers of the cholesteric liquid crystal display device. The piezoelectric element is capable of being manually activated to generate a drive signal which is sufficient to switch the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material from the planar state to the focal conic state. The substrates are arranged to allow the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material to be sheared to switch the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material from the focal conic state to the planar state by manual compression of the cholesteric liquid crystal display device. Thus the display device can be switched without the need for a battery or other power source.
Abstract:
A distinct color LCD apparatus including at least two layers of respectively disparate encapsulated liquid crystal materials; Structural means for maintaining said layers proximate to each other and in a substantially parallel orientation; Electrically conductive means for addressing at least one substantially parallel address across the encapsulated liquid crystal material in each of the respective layers; and Coordinated with said means for addressing, an electrical pulse driving means (I) wherein a state is selected from the list Homeouopre and planar and (U) whereby said state is communicated to a predetermined address between one of said parallel layers.
Abstract:
Homeotropically oriented layers and films of liquid crystals especially on polymeric substrates. The layers and films, which also can be multi-layered films comprising a homeotropically aligned anisotropic film are preparable by application of an orientation layer to the substrate. The orientation layer can be either an organic surfactant which is fixed in a matrix of a polymeric material or an inorganic thin layer such as aluminum or Al2O3.
Abstract translation:液晶的垂直取向层和膜,特别是在聚合物基材上。 也可以是包括垂直取向的各向异性膜的多层膜的层和膜可以通过向基板施加取向层来制备。 取向层可以是固定在聚合物材料或无机薄层如铝或Al 2 O 3 3的基体中的有机表面活性剂。
Abstract:
The invention relates to polymer beads comprising an anisotropic polymer material with helically twisted structure, to their use in reflective films, spraying or printing inks or as pigments, for optical or electrooptical, decorative or security applications, to a reflective film comprising one or more polymer beads in a transmissive binder, and to a security marking or security device comprising one or more polymer beads or comprising a reflective film.