US5035491A
Expired / Lapsed
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Liquid crystal apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1990-04-03
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Granted: 1991-07-30
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Expires: 2010-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates (11a,b), and a chiral smectic liquid crystal (1) showing at least two different optically stable states formed by cooling from a uniaxial alignment phase and disposed between the substrates (11a,11b); and a polarizer (P) and an analyzer (A) disposed to sandwiched the liquid crystal cell; wherein the chiral smectic liquid crystal (1), polarizer (P) and analyzer (A) are disposed to satisfy any one of the following sets of conditions I - IV characterized by combination of X, Y and Z directions shown below: <TABLE> with proviso that the chiral smectic liquid crystal (1) is disposed so that the long axes of the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with a twist in the X direction along the direction from the polarizer (P) toward the analyzer (A) to form an average molecular long axis proving one optically stable state, and when the average molecular long axis is switched to provide another optically stable state latched in the Y direction with respect to the direction from the analyzer (A) toward the polarizer (P), the polarizer (P) is disposed to have an electric vector transmission axis which is substantially in the Z direction with respect to the average molecular long axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideyuki Kawagishi
- 👤 Hirofumi Iwamoto
- 👤 Akira Tsuboyama
- 👤 Tadashi Mihara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:19
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/137; G02F1/139; G02F1/141; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133528; G02F1/133531
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing at least two different optically stable states formed by cooling from a uniaxial alignment phase and disposed between the substrates; and a polarizer and an analyzer disposed to sandwiched the liquid crystal cell; wherein the chiral smectic liquid crystal, polarizer and analyzer are disposed to satisfy a set of conditions that the long axes of the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with a twist in a clockwise direction along the direction from the polarizer toward the analyzer to form an average molecular axis providing one optically stable state, and when the average molecular long axis is switched to provide another optically stable state latched in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the direction from the analyzer toward the polarizer, the polarizer is disposed to have an electric vector transmission axis which is substantially perpendicular to the average molecular long axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing at least two different optically stable states formed by cooling from a uniaxial alignment phase and disposed between the substrates; and a polarizer and an analyzer disposed to sandwiched the liquid crystal cell; wherein the chiral smectic liquid crystal, polarizer and analyzer are disposed to satisfy a set of conditions that the long axes of the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with a twist in a clockwise direction along the direction from the polarizer toward the analyzer to form an average molecular axis providing one optically stable state, and when the average molecular long axis is switched to provide another optically stable state latched in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the direction from the analyzer toward the polarizer, the polarizer is disposed to have an electric vector transmission axis which is substantially perpendicular to the average molecular long axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric vector transmission axis of the analyzer is shifted from the position of right angle cross nicols by an angle in the range of 0-20 degrees in a direction of providing a brighter bright state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said uniaxial alignment phase is smectic A phase.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pair of substrates have been subjected to mutually parallel rubbing treatments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, which comprises a light source behind the polarizer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a chevron structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a positive spontaneous polarization.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a negative spontaneous polarization.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
163 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing at least two different optically stable states formed by cooling from a uniaxial alignment phase and disposed between the substrates; and a polarizer and an analyzer disposed to sandwiched the liquid crystal cell; wherein the chiral smectic liquid crystal, polarizer and analyzer are disposed to satisfy a set of conditions that the long axes of the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules are aligned wit a twist in a clockwise direction along the direction from the polarizer toward the analyzer to form an average molecular axis providing one optically stable state, and when the average molecular long axis is switched to provide another optically stable state latched in a clockwise direction with respect to the direction from the analyzer toward the polarizer, the polarizer is disposed to have an electric vector transmission axis which is substantially parallel to the average molecular long axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
163 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing at least two different optically stable states formed by cooling from a uniaxial alignment phase and disposed between the substrates; and a polarizer and an analyzer disposed to sandwiched the liquid crystal cell; wherein the chiral smectic liquid crystal, polarizer and analyzer are disposed to satisfy a set of conditions that the long axes of the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules are aligned wit a twist in a clockwise direction along the direction from the polarizer toward the analyzer to form an average molecular axis providing one optically stable state, and when the average molecular long axis is switched to provide another optically stable state latched in a clockwise direction with respect to the direction from the analyzer toward the polarizer, the polarizer is disposed to have an electric vector transmission axis which is substantially parallel to the average molecular long axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the electric vector transmission axis of the analyzer is shifted from the position of right angle cross nicols by an angle in the range of 0-20 degrees in a direction of providing a brighter bright state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said uniaxial alignment phase is smectic A phase.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said pair of substrates have been subjected to mutually parallel rubbing treatments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, which comprises a light source behind the polarizer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a chevron structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a positive spontaneous polarization.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a negative spontaneous polarization.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
163 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing at least two different optically stable states formed by cooling from a uniaxial alignment phase and disposed between the substrates; and a polarizer and an analyzer disposed to sandwiched the liquid crystal cell; wherein the chiral smectic liquid crystal, polarizer and analyzer are disposed to satisfy a set of conditions that the long axes of the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with a twist in a counter-clockwise direction along the direction from the polarizer toward the analyzer to form an average molecular axis providing one optically stable state, and when the average molecular long axis is switched to provide another optically stable state latched in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the direction from the analyzer toward the polarizer, the polarizer is disposed to have an electric vector transmission axis which is substantially parallel to the average molecular long axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
163 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing at least two different optically stable states formed by cooling from a uniaxial alignment phase and disposed between the substrates; and a polarizer and an analyzer disposed to sandwiched the liquid crystal cell; wherein the chiral smectic liquid crystal, polarizer and analyzer are disposed to satisfy a set of conditions that the long axes of the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with a twist in a counter-clockwise direction along the direction from the polarizer toward the analyzer to form an average molecular axis providing one optically stable state, and when the average molecular long axis is switched to provide another optically stable state latched in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the direction from the analyzer toward the polarizer, the polarizer is disposed to have an electric vector transmission axis which is substantially parallel to the average molecular long axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the electric vector transmission axis of the analyzer is shifted from the position of right angle cross nicols by an angle in the range of 0-20 degrees in a direction of providing a brighter bright state.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said uniaxial alignment phase is smectic A phase.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said pair of substrates have been subjected to mutually parallel rubbing treatments.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, which comprises a light source behind the polarizer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a chevron structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a positive spontaneous polarization.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a negative spontaneous polarization.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
163 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing at least two different optically stable states formed by cooling from a uniaxial alignment phase and disposed between the substrates; and a polarizer and an analyzer disposed to sandwiched the liquid crystal cell; wherein the chiral smectic liquid crystal, polarizer and analyzer are disposed to satisfy a set of conditions that the long axes of the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with a twist in a clockwise direction along the direction from the polarizer toward the analyzer to form an average molecular axis providing one optically stable state, and when the average molecular long axis is switched to provide another optically stable state latched in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the direction from the analyzer toward the polarizer, the polarizer is disposed to have an electric vector transmission axis which is substantially perpendicular to the average molecular long axis.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
163 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing at least two different optically stable states formed by cooling from a uniaxial alignment phase and disposed between the substrates; and a polarizer and an analyzer disposed to sandwiched the liquid crystal cell; wherein the chiral smectic liquid crystal, polarizer and analyzer are disposed to satisfy a set of conditions that the long axes of the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with a twist in a clockwise direction along the direction from the polarizer toward the analyzer to form an average molecular axis providing one optically stable state, and when the average molecular long axis is switched to provide another optically stable state latched in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the direction from the analyzer toward the polarizer, the polarizer is disposed to have an electric vector transmission axis which is substantially perpendicular to the average molecular long axis.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the electric vector transmission axis of the analyzer is shifted from the position of right angle cross nicols by an angle in the range of 0-20 degrees in a direction of providing a brighter bright state.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said uniaxial alignment phase is smectic A phase.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said pair of substrates have been subjected to mutually parallel rubbing treatments.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, which comprises a light source behind the polarizer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a chevron structure.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a positive spontaneous polarization.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal has a negative spontaneous polarization.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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