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US5069531A
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Liquid crystal device having asymmetrical opposed contiguous surfaces being driven by a unipolar driving source
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co Ltd
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Filing: 1989-07-27
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Granted: 1991-12-03
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Expires: 2009-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal device including a unipolar driving source; a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent; a chiral smectic liquid crystal layer interposed between the substrates; and an electrode arrangement provided in order to apply an electric field normal to the liquid crystal layer, wherein the opposed inner surfaces of the substrates contiguous to the chiral smectic liquid crystal layer are formed of different materials having different surface energies such that upon application of the unipolar voltage to the chiral smectic liquid crystal, the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules will be placed in a first state and upon removal of the unipolar voltage, the liquid crystal molecules will be returned to a second state.
Inventors
- 👤 Shunpei Yamazaki
- 👤 Toshimitsu Konuma
- 👤 Toshiji Hamatani
- 👤 Akira Mase
- 👤 Toshiharu Yamaguchi
- 👤 Mitsunori Sakama
- 👤 Takashi Inujima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/133345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A liquid crystal device comprising: a unipolar driving source; a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent; a chiral smectic liquid crystal layer interposed between said substrates; and an electrode arrangement provided in order to apply an electric field normal to said liquid crystal layer, wherein the opposed inner surfaces of said substrates contiguous to said chiral smectic liquid crystal layer are formed of different materials having different surface energies such that upon application of the unipolar voltage to said chiral smectic liquid crystal, the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules will be placed in a first state and upon removal of the unipolar voltage, the liquid crystal molecules will be returned to a second state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A liquid crystal device comprising: a unipolar driving source; a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent; a chiral smectic liquid crystal layer interposed between said substrates; and an electrode arrangement provided in order to apply an electric field normal to said liquid crystal layer, wherein the opposed inner surfaces of said substrates contiguous to said chiral smectic liquid crystal layer are formed of different materials having different surface energies such that upon application of the unipolar voltage to said chiral smectic liquid crystal, the chiral smectic liquid crystal molecules will be placed in a first state and upon removal of the unipolar voltage, the liquid crystal molecules will be returned to a second state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 wherein one of said inner surfaces is provided with an orientation control film contiguous to said liquid crystal layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said orientation control film is made of an organic resin while the other contiguous surface is the inner surface of said electrode arrangement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said organic resin is polyimide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said electrode arrangement comprises first electrode parallel strips formed on one of said substrates and second electrode parallel strips formed on the other substrate, said first and second strips forming a matrix arrangement therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as in claim 1 including a nonlinear active element interposed between said chiral smectic liquid crystal layer and one of said substrates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as in claim 6 where said active element includes a semiconductor layer having n-i-n junctions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as in claim 1 where said chiral smectic liquid crystal layer is ferroelectric.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-02 | 1995-06-03 | 1995-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-02 | 1999-06-03 | 1999-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-02 | 2003-06-03 | 2003-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |