Patent US5029987A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5029987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ferroelectric liquid crystal shutter
Assignee: Sharp Corp
•
Filing: 1988-12-28
•
Granted: 1991-07-09
•
Expires: 2008-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A ferroelectric liquid crystal shutter including two light transmitting substrates each having a transparent electrode formed on one surface thereof and an orientation film formed over the electrode, the substrates are arranged with their orientation films opposed to each other. A ferroelectric liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization is sandwiched between the two substrates. The orientation film of one of the substrates is a first polymer film capable of restricting to one direction the orientation of spontaneous polarization of liquid crystal molecules present in the vicinity of the interface between the film and the liquid crystal by a contact potential difference resulting from the contact therebetween. The other orientation film of the other substrate is a second polymer film capable of restricting to the one direction the orientation of spontaneous polarization of liquid crystal molecules present in the vicinity of the interface between the other orientation film and the liquid crystal by a contact potential difference resulting from the contact therebetween which is different from the first-mentioned potential difference.
Inventors
- 👤 Tokihiko Shinomiya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1337; G02F1/133711; G02F1/13306; G02F1/137; G02F1/139; G02F1/141; G09; G09G; G09G2310/00; G09G2310/06; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/36; G09G3/3611; G09G3/3622; G09G3/3629
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A ferroelectric liquid crystal shutter comprising: first and second light transmitting substrates each having a transparent electrode formed on one surface thereof and an orientation film formed over the electrode, the substrates being arranged with their orientation films opposed to each other; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization sandwiched between the substrates, the orientation film of one of the substrates being a first polymer film restricting to one direction the orientation of spontaneous polarization of liquid crystal molecules present in the vicinity of the interface between the film and said ferroelectric liquid crystal by a first contact potential difference resulting from contact therebetween, the other orientation film of the other substrate being a second polymer film restricting to said one direction the orientation of spontaneous polarization of liquid crystal molecules present in the vicinity of the interface between the other orientation film and said ferroelectric liquid crystal by a second contact potential difference, resulting from contact therebetween, which is different than said first contact potential difference, said liquid crystal molecules exhibit a monostable state due to the properties of said orientation films, said liquid crystal molecules returning to a monostable state after application and subsequent removal of an electric field across the ferroelectric liquid crystal shutter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A ferroelectric liquid crystal shutter comprising: first and second light transmitting substrates each having a transparent electrode formed on one surface thereof and an orientation film formed over the electrode, the substrates being arranged with their orientation films opposed to each other; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization sandwiched between the substrates, the orientation film of one of the substrates being a first polymer film restricting to one direction the orientation of spontaneous polarization of liquid crystal molecules present in the vicinity of the interface between the film and said ferroelectric liquid crystal by a first contact potential difference resulting from contact therebetween, the other orientation film of the other substrate being a second polymer film restricting to said one direction the orientation of spontaneous polarization of liquid crystal molecules present in the vicinity of the interface between the other orientation film and said ferroelectric liquid crystal by a second contact potential difference, resulting from contact therebetween, which is different than said first contact potential difference, said liquid crystal molecules exhibit a monostable state due to the properties of said orientation films, said liquid crystal molecules returning to a monostable state after application and subsequent removal of an electric field across the ferroelectric liquid crystal shutter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A shutter as defined in claim 1 wherein the first polymer film is a polymer film having a large number of benzene rings and a large number of π electrons, and the second polymer film is a polymer film having a large number of alkyl chains.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A shutter as defined in claim 1 wherein the first polymer film is made of an aromatic polyimide, and the second polymer film is made of an aliphatic polyimide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A shutter as defined in claim 1 wherein the first polymer film is made of an aromatic polyimide, and the second polymer film is made of an aliphatic polyamide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A shutter as defined in claim 1 wherein the first polymer film is made of an aromatic polyamide, and the second polymer film is made of an aliphatic polyimide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A shutter as defined in claim 1 wherein the ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibits a chiral smectic C phase.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
243 words
A ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus comprising: a first light transmitting substrate having a first transparent electrode formed on a first surface and a first orientation film formed over said first transparent electrode; a second light transmitting substrate having a second transparent electrode formed on a first surface, in opposing relation to said first surface of said first light transmitting substrate, and a second orientation film formed over said second transparent electrode; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal, having spontaneous polarization, contained between said first and second light transmitting substrates, said first orientation film being a first polymer film restricting to one direction the orientation of spontaneous polarization of liquid crystal molecules present in the vicinity of the interface between said first orientation film and said ferroelectric liquid crystal by virtue of a first contact potential difference resulting from contact therebetween, said second orientation film being a second polymer film restricting to said one direction the orientation of spontaneous polarization of liquid crystal molecules present in the vicinity of the interface between said second orientation film and said ferroelectric liquid crystal by virtue of a second contact potential difference, resulting from contact therebetween, which is different than said first contact potential difference, said liquid crystal molecules exhibit a monostable state due to the properties of said first and second orientation films, said liquid crystal molecules returning to a monostable state after application and subsequent removal of an electric field across the ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
243 words
A ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus comprising: a first light transmitting substrate having a first transparent electrode formed on a first surface and a first orientation film formed over said first transparent electrode; a second light transmitting substrate having a second transparent electrode formed on a first surface, in opposing relation to said first surface of said first light transmitting substrate, and a second orientation film formed over said second transparent electrode; and a ferroelectric liquid crystal, having spontaneous polarization, contained between said first and second light transmitting substrates, said first orientation film being a first polymer film restricting to one direction the orientation of spontaneous polarization of liquid crystal molecules present in the vicinity of the interface between said first orientation film and said ferroelectric liquid crystal by virtue of a first contact potential difference resulting from contact therebetween, said second orientation film being a second polymer film restricting to said one direction the orientation of spontaneous polarization of liquid crystal molecules present in the vicinity of the interface between said second orientation film and said ferroelectric liquid crystal by virtue of a second contact potential difference, resulting from contact therebetween, which is different than said first contact potential difference, said liquid crystal molecules exhibit a monostable state due to the properties of said first and second orientation films, said liquid crystal molecules returning to a monostable state after application and subsequent removal of an electric field across the ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first polymer film is a film having a large number of benzene rings and a large number of π electrons and said second polymer film is a polymer film having a large number of alkyl chains.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first polymer film is made of an aromatic polyimide and said second polymer film is made of an aliphatic polyimide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first polymer film is made of an aromatic polyimide and said second polymer film is made of an aliphatic polyamide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first polymer film is made of an aromatic polyamide and said second polymer film is made of an aliphatic polyimide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibits a chiral smectic C phase.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4644480A
Cited
US4634228A
Cited
US4723839A
Cited
US4792211A
Cited
US4820026A
Cited
US4879059A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-08 | 1995-01-07 | 1995-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-08 | 1999-01-07 | 1999-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-08 | 2003-01-07 | 2003-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |