US4496220A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information display device comprising a liquid crystal cell
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1978-03-10
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Granted: 1985-01-29
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Expires: 1998-03-10
Abstract
Abstract Each side of a liquid crystal cell having a neumatic liquid crystal is provided with electrodes which are formed by conductive parallel strips separated by insulating strips. The direction of orientation of the axes of the molecules of the liquid crystal which are in contact with the electrodes are not uniform and differ opposite to the conductive strips or the insulating strips. When an electric field is applied between oppositely located electrodes, all molecules which are in contact with the same electrode flip-over in the same direction, namely that direction which is induced by the oblique position of the axes of the molecules opposite to the insulating strips relative to the axes of the molecules opposite to the conductive strips. This avoids optical discontinuities which occur generally in the absence of the inclination.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Goscianski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:43
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1337; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A picture display device comprising a liquid crystal cell including a layer of nematic liquid crystal between two sets of electrodes, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said electrodes with a predetermined orientation within parallel planes that are perpendicular to the plane of said electrodes, said orientation being variable under an electric field, and intermediate spaces between portions of said electrodes at least at one side of said liquid crystal, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said intermediate spaces being at an angle differing from the angle of said molecules in proximity to said electrodes by a difference ranging from a few degrees to a few tens of degrees.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A picture display device comprising a liquid crystal cell including a layer of nematic liquid crystal between two sets of electrodes, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said electrodes with a predetermined orientation within parallel planes that are perpendicular to the plane of said electrodes, said orientation being variable under an electric field, and intermediate spaces between portions of said electrodes at least at one side of said liquid crystal, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said intermediate spaces being at an angle differing from the angle of said molecules in proximity to said electrodes by a difference ranging from a few degrees to a few tens of degrees.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A picture display device according to claim 1, wherein said nematic liquid crystal exhibits a negative dielectric anistropy and is homeotroptic, and wherein the axes of said liquid crystal molecules in a boundry layer at said electrodes are perpendicular to said electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A picture display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal exhibits a positive dielectric anisotropy and is planar or helical, and wherein the axes of said liquid crystal molecules in a boundry layer at said electrodes is parallel to said electrodes.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
286 words
A method of manufacturing a picture display device comprising a liquid crystal cell including a layer of nematic liquid crystal between two sets of electrodes, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said electrodes with a predetermined orientation within parallel planes that are perpendicular to the plane of said electrodes, said orientation being variable under an electric field, and intermediate spaces between portions of said electrodes at least at one side of said liquid crystal, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said intermediate spaces being at an angle differing from the angle of said molecules in proximity to said electrodes by a difference ranging from a few degrees to a few tens of degrees, wherein said liquid crystal exhibits a positive dielectric anisotropy and is planar or helical, and wherein the axes of said liquid crystal molecules in a boundry layer at said electrodes is parallel to said electrodes, said method comprising the steps of surface treating said electrodes and said intermediate spaces at each side of said liquid crystal, said surface treating including two successive SiO vapor depositions at different angles of incidence, one of said vapor depositions being carried out on said electrodes in a direction which is in a plane perpendicular to said electrodes and at an angle less than 80° with a normal to said electrodes, and the other of said vapor depositions being carried out on said intermediate spaces in a direction which is in a plane perpendicular to said intermediate spaces and perpendicular to said first plane of vapor deposition and at an angle greater than 80° with a normal to said intermediate spaces, said two vapor depositions depositing layer thicknesses of a few tens of angstroms.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
286 words
A method of manufacturing a picture display device comprising a liquid crystal cell including a layer of nematic liquid crystal between two sets of electrodes, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said electrodes with a predetermined orientation within parallel planes that are perpendicular to the plane of said electrodes, said orientation being variable under an electric field, and intermediate spaces between portions of said electrodes at least at one side of said liquid crystal, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said intermediate spaces being at an angle differing from the angle of said molecules in proximity to said electrodes by a difference ranging from a few degrees to a few tens of degrees, wherein said liquid crystal exhibits a positive dielectric anisotropy and is planar or helical, and wherein the axes of said liquid crystal molecules in a boundry layer at said electrodes is parallel to said electrodes, said method comprising the steps of surface treating said electrodes and said intermediate spaces at each side of said liquid crystal, said surface treating including two successive SiO vapor depositions at different angles of incidence, one of said vapor depositions being carried out on said electrodes in a direction which is in a plane perpendicular to said electrodes and at an angle less than 80° with a normal to said electrodes, and the other of said vapor depositions being carried out on said intermediate spaces in a direction which is in a plane perpendicular to said intermediate spaces and perpendicular to said first plane of vapor deposition and at an angle greater than 80° with a normal to said intermediate spaces, said two vapor depositions depositing layer thicknesses of a few tens of angstroms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said one vapor deposition is carried out first and said other vapor deposition is carried out second, and wherein said electrodes are masked during said second vapor deposition while said intermediate spaces may or may not be masked during said first vapor deposition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said other vapor deposition is carried out first and said one vapor deposition is carried out second, and wherein said electrodes are masked during said first vapor deposition while said second vapor deposition is carried out on the whole electrode without previous masking.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
159 words
A picture display device comprising a liquid crystal cell including a layer of nematic liquid crystal between two sets of electrodes, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said electrodes with a predetermined orientation within parallel planes that are perpendicular to the plane of said electrodes, said orientation being variable under an electric field, and intermediate spaces between portions of said electrodes at least at one side of said liquid crystal, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said intermediate spaces being at an angle differing from the angle of said molecules in proximity to said electrodes by a difference ranging from a few degrees to a few tens of degrees, wherein said two sets of electrodes include a plurality of parallel conductive strips at each side of said liquid crystal, said conductive strips at one side of said liquid crystal being perpendicular in direction to said conductive strips at an opposite side of said liquid crystal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
159 words
A picture display device comprising a liquid crystal cell including a layer of nematic liquid crystal between two sets of electrodes, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said electrodes with a predetermined orientation within parallel planes that are perpendicular to the plane of said electrodes, said orientation being variable under an electric field, and intermediate spaces between portions of said electrodes at least at one side of said liquid crystal, said liquid crystal having molecules in proximity to said intermediate spaces being at an angle differing from the angle of said molecules in proximity to said electrodes by a difference ranging from a few degrees to a few tens of degrees, wherein said two sets of electrodes include a plurality of parallel conductive strips at each side of said liquid crystal, said conductive strips at one side of said liquid crystal being perpendicular in direction to said conductive strips at an opposite side of said liquid crystal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A picture display device according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate spaces between said electrodes are insulating strips separating respective electrode portions at each side of said liquid crystal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A picture display device according to claim 7, wherein said nematic liquid crystal exhibits a negative dielectric anisotropy and is homeotropic, and wherein the axes of said liquid crystal molecules in a boundary layer at said electrodes are perpendicular to said electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A picture display device according to claim 7, wherein said liquid crystal exhibits a positive dielectric anisotropy and is planar or helical, and wherein the axes of said liquid crystal molecules in a boundry layer at said electrodes is parallel to said electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A picture display device according to claim 7, wherein said intermediate spaces between said electrodes are insulating strips separating respective electrode portions at each side of said liquid crystal.
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) | 1988-01-29 | 1988-07-30 | 1989-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-29 | 1992-07-30 | 1993-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-29 | 1996-07-30 | 1997-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |