US3787110A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid crystal devices
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-23
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1992-06-23
Abstract
Abstract Liquid crystal devices, an operation state of which is dependent upon substantially unidirectional liquid crystal orientation, includes a contacting surface which has parallel grooves or ridges. Liquid crystal orientation is attributed to minimization of elastic energy.
Inventors
- 👤 D Berreman
- 👤 S Meiboom
- 👤 D White
- 👤 F Kahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:24
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1337; G02F1/13378; G02F1/133765
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
Device of claim 1 in which the said interface is substantially free of non-liquid crystalline molecules of a greatest dimension as long as that of the greatest dimension of the molecules of the liquid crystalline material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
22 words
Device of claim 1 together with means for altering the alignment of at least a portion of the said liquid crystalline material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Device of claim 3 in which the same means includes at least one conductive electrode having a major face substantially parallel to the said interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Device of claim 4 in which the said means includes two conductive electrodes which straddle at least a portion of the said liquid crystalline material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Device of claim 5 in which the said electrodes are in intimate contact with the said liquid crystalline material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Device of claim 6 in which there is a layer of additional material intermediate at least one of the said electrodes and the said liquid crystalline material which affects the wetting angle of the said liquid crystalline material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Device of claim 7 in which the said additional layer is a surfactant which causes the said liquid crystalline material to align parallel to the said interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Device of claim 4 in which the said change in alignment results in a second aligned state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Device of claim 9 in which the said second aligned state is essentially orthoganal to the said interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Device of claim 9 in which the second aligned state is parallel to the said interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Device of claim 3 in which there are two layers of non-liquid crystalline material both in intimate contact with the said layer of liquid crystalline material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
Device of claim 4 in which the surfaces of both of the said layers of non-liquid crystalline material contain elevational variations as described and in which the interface is formed between the said liquid crystalline material and the two layers of non-liquid crystalline material are substantially parallel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Device of claim 13 in which the elevational variations of the two said surfaces are substantially parallel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Device of claim 14 including at least one element which is selectively transmissive for one sense of plane polarized light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Device of claim 13 in which the said elevational variations of the said two non-liquid crystalline layers are essentially non-parallel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
Device of claim 16 in which the said elevational variations are essentially orthoganal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Device of claim 17 including at least one additional element which is selectively transmissive for one sense of plane polarized light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
Device of claim 3 in which the said means includes means for changing temperature of the said liquid crystalline material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
Device of claim 19 in which the second state is essentially disaligned.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
Device of claim 1 in which the layer consisting essentially of the said liquid crystalline includes a chemical species which is light-absorbent which is composed of elongated molecules and in which their major axes are aligned substantially with the major axes of the molecules of the said liquid crystalline material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |