Liquid crystal display with polarizer and biaxial birefringent support

Claim 2

A liquid crystal display structure comprising: first and second laminate assemblies spaced from one another in a substantially parallel relationship, said first and second laminate assemblies having a layer of liquid crystal material confined therebetween by a seal means; each of said laminate assemblies including, in order from said liquid crystal material layer, an alignment layer; a conductive electrode material; a polarizing layer; and a biaxially oriented and birefringent polymeric support for said layers; said conductive electrode material being positioned directly on said polarizing layer; one of said laminate assemblies optionally having a reflective layer positioned intermediate said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 3

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said biaxially oriented birefringent polymeric supports comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

Claim 4

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said polarizing layers has a thickness in the range of about 0.0025 to about 0.076 mm.

Claim 5

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive electrode material of at least one of said laminate assemblies defines a pattern of electrodes.

Claim 6

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 4, wherein said conductive electrode material of each of said laminate assemblies defines a pattern of spaced parallel stripes, the stripes of each laminate assembly being oriented orthogonal to the other.

Claim 7

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said polarizing layers is a linear dichroic polarizing layer comprising an iodine-stained and borated stretched layer of polyvinyl alcohol.

Claim 8

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said polarizing layers is a linear dichroic polarizing layer comprising a stretched polyvinyl alcohol sheet containing polyvinylene light-polarizing species. PG,19

Claim 9

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 1 wherein on the side of the polymeric support most exterior to the liquid crystal cell of either or both of said laminate assemblies, there is present an anti-reflection coating.

Claim 10

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 1 wherein there is present in each of said laminate assemblies: a layer of adhesive material between said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 11

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 9, wherein the thickness of said adhesive layer is up to about 1.0 mil.

Claim 12

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 1, wherein said seal means is a heat-activatable mixture of polyester and polyvinyl adhesive compounds.

Claim 13

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal material layer is between 5 and 50 microns in thickness.

Claim 14

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive electrode material of each of said laminate assemblies is defined by spaced parallel stripes, the stripes of each laminate assembly oriented orthogonal to the other.

Claim 15

A liquid crystal display structure comprising: first and second laminate assemblies spaced from one another in a substantially parallel relationship, said first and second laminate assemblies having a layer of liquid crystal material confined therebetween by a seal means; each of said laminate assemblies including, in order from said liquid crystal material layer, an alignment layer; an electrode structure consisting essentially of a conductive metal sandwiched between layers of titanium dioxide or indium oxide dielectric material; a polarizing layer; and a biaxially oriented and birefringent polymeric support for said layers; said electrode structure being positioned directly on said polarizing layer; one of said laminate assemblies optionally having a reflective layer positioned intermediate said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 16

A liquid crystal display structure comprising: first and second laminate assemblies spaced from one another in a substantially parallel relationship, said first and second laminate assemblies having a layer of liquid crystal material confined therebetween by a seal means; each of said laminate assemblies including, in order from said liquid crystal material layer, an alignment layer; an electrode structure consisting essentially of a conductive metal sandwiched between layers of titanium dioxide or indium oxide dielectric material; a polarizing layer; and a biaxially oriented and birefringent polymeric support for said layers; said electrode structure being positioned directly on said polarizing layer; one of said laminate assemblies optionally having a reflective layer positioned intermediate said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 17

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein said conductive electrode material comprises a sandwich of silver between layers of titanium dioxide.

Claim 18

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein the electrode structure of each of said laminate assemblies is defined by spaced parallel stripes, the stripes of each laminate assembly oriented orthogonal to the other.

Claim 19

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 16, wherein said conductive electrode stripes comprise a sandwich arrangement of silver between layers of titanium dioxide.

Claim 20

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein each of said biaxially oriented birefringent polymeric supports comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

Claim 21

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein each of said polarizing layers has a thickness in the range of about 0.0025 to about 0.076 mm.

Claim 22

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein said conductive electrode material of at least one of said laminate assemblies defines a pattern of electrodes.

Claim 23

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein each of said polarizing layers is a linear dichroic polarizing layer comprising an iodine-stained and borated stretched layer of polyvinyl alcohol.

Claim 24

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein each of said polarizing layers is a linear dichroic polarizing layer comprising a stretched polyvinyl alcohol sheet containing polyvinylene light-polarizing species.

Claim 25

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein on the side of the polymeric support most exterior to the liquid crystal cell of either or both of said laminate assemblies, there is present an anti-reflection coating.

Claim 26

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein there is present in each of said laminate assemblies: a layer of adhesive material between said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 27

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 24, wherein the thickness of said adhesive layer is up to about 1.0 mil.

Claim 28

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein said seal means is a heat-activatable mixture of polyester and polyvinyl adhesive compounds.

Claim 29

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 14, wherein said liquid crystal material layer is between 5 and 50 microns in thickness.

Claim 30

A liquid crystal display structure comprising: first and second laminate assemblies spaced from one another in a substantially parallel relationship, said first and second laminate assemblies having a layer of liquid crystal material confined therebetween by a seal means; each of said laminate assemblies including, in order from said liquid crystal material layer, an alignment layer; a conductive electrode material; a protective barrier layer; a linear dichroic polarizing layer; and a biaxially oriented and birefringent polymeric support; said protective layer having a thickness in the range of 0.10 micron and 20 microns and being effective to protect said liquid crystal material against contamination from said linear dichroic polarizing layer and to protect said conductive electrode material from corrosive or degradative influences thereon by said linear dichroic polarizing layer; said conductive electrode material beng positioned directly on said protective barrier layer; one of said laminate assemblies optionally having a reflective layer positioned intermediate said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 31

A liquid crystal display structure comprising: first and second laminate assemblies spaced from one another in a substantially parallel relationship, said first and second laminate assemblies having a layer of liquid crystal material confined therebetween by a seal means; each of said laminate assemblies including, in order from said liquid crystal material layer, an alignment layer; a conductive electrode material; a protective barrier layer; a linear dichroic polarizing layer; and a biaxially oriented and birefringent polymeric support; said protective layer having a thickness in the range of 0.10 micron and 20 microns and being effective to protect said liquid crystal material against contamination from said linear dichroic polarizing layer and to protect said conductive electrode material from corrosive or degradative influences thereon by said linear dichroic polarizing layer; said conductive electrode material beng positioned directly on said protective barrier layer; one of said laminate assemblies optionally having a reflective layer positioned intermediate said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 32

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 28, wherein each of said polymeric supports comprises biaxially oriented and birefringent polyethylene terephthalate.

Claim 33

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 28, wherein each of said linear dichroic polarizing layers has a thickness in the range of about 0.0025 to about 0.076 mm.

Claim 34

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 28, wherein each of said polarizing layers comprises an iodine-stained and borated stretched layer of polyvinyl alcohol.

Claim 35

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 28, wherein each of said polarizing layers comprises a stretched polyvinyl alcohol sheet containing polyvinylene light-polarizing species.

Claim 36

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 28, wherein said protective barrier layer has a thickness in the range of 0.10 micron to 10 microns.

Claim 37

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 28, wherein each of said protective barrier layers comprises polyvinylidene chloride.

Claim 38

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 28 wherein, on the side of the polymeric support most exterior to the liquid crystal cell of either or both of said laminate assemblies, there is present an anti-reflection coating.

Claim 39

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 28 wherein there is present in each of said laminate assemblies: a layer of adhesive material between said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 40

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 36 wherein the thickness of said adhesive layer is up to about 1.0 mil.

Claim 41

A liquid crystal display structure comprising: first and second laminate assemblies spaced from one another in a substantially parallel relationship, said first and second laminate assemblies having a layer of liquid crystal material confined therebetween by a seal means; each of said laminate assemblies including, in order from said liquid crystal material layer, an alignment layer; an electrode structure consisting essentially of a conductive metal sandwiched between layers of titanium dioxide or indium oxide dielectric material; a protective barrier layer; a linear dichroic polarizing layer; and a biaxially oriented and birefringent polymeric support; said protective layer having a thickness in the range of 0.10 micron and 20 microns and being effective to protect said liquid crystal material against contamination from said linear dichroic polarizing layer and to protect said conductive electrode material from corrosive or degradative influences thereon by said linear dichroic polarizing layer; said electrode structure being positioned directly on said protective barrier layer; one of said laminate assemblies optionally having a reflective layer positioned intermediate said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 42

A liquid crystal display structure comprising: first and second laminate assemblies spaced from one another in a substantially parallel relationship, said first and second laminate assemblies having a layer of liquid crystal material confined therebetween by a seal means; each of said laminate assemblies including, in order from said liquid crystal material layer, an alignment layer; an electrode structure consisting essentially of a conductive metal sandwiched between layers of titanium dioxide or indium oxide dielectric material; a protective barrier layer; a linear dichroic polarizing layer; and a biaxially oriented and birefringent polymeric support; said protective layer having a thickness in the range of 0.10 micron and 20 microns and being effective to protect said liquid crystal material against contamination from said linear dichroic polarizing layer and to protect said conductive electrode material from corrosive or degradative influences thereon by said linear dichroic polarizing layer; said electrode structure being positioned directly on said protective barrier layer; one of said laminate assemblies optionally having a reflective layer positioned intermediate said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 43

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 38, wherein each of said polymeric supports comprises biaxially oriented and birefringent polyethylene terephthalate.

Claim 44

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 38, wherein each of said linear dichroic polarizing layers has a thickness in the range of about 0.0025 to about 0.076 mm.

Claim 45

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 38, wherein each of said polarizing layers comprises an iodine-stained and borated stretched layer of polyvinyl alcohol.

Claim 46

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 38, wherein each of said polarizing layers comprises a stretched polyvinyl alcohol sheet containing polyvinylene light-polarizing species.

Claim 47

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 38, wherein said protective barrier layer has a thickness in the range of 0.10 micron to 10 microns.

Claim 48

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 38, wherein each of said protective barrier layers comprises polyvinylidene chloride.

Claim 49

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 38, wherein on the side of the polymeric support most exterior to the liquid crystal cell of either or both of said laminate assemblies, there is present an anti-reflection coating.

Claim 50

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 38, wherein there is present in each of said laminate assemblies: a layer of adhesive material between said polymeric support and said polarizing layer.

Claim 51

The liquid crystal display structure claimed in claim 46, wherein the thickness of said adhesive layer is up to about 1.0 mil.