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US5400159A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Liquid crystal device having alignment film with particular surface energy difference before and after rubbing

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1994-01-12
•
Granted: 1995-03-21
•
Expires: 2014-01-12
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Abstract

Abstract A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. At least one of the substrates has thereon an alignment film. The alignment film is characterized in that (1) it has a surface energy of at most 35 dyne/cm before rubbing and has been rubbed to have a refractive index anisotropy of at least 0.02, or (2) it has been rubbed to have a surface energy difference ΔE of at least 9 dyne/cm and a difference Δδ in dispersion term of the surface energy of at least 6 dyne/cm between before and after the rubbing. The alignment film is effective in providing a high contrast and decreasing a delay in optical response causing after-image.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hideaki Takao
  • 👤 Masanobu Asaoka
  • 👤 Makoto Kojima

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 13:55
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1337; G02F1/13378; G02F1/133784; G02F1/137; G02F1/139; G02F1/141

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 61 words
An electro plate for a liquid crystal device, comprising: a substrate, and an alignment film formed on the substrate; wherein said alignment film has a surface energy difference ΔE of at least 9 dyne/cm and a difference Δδ in dispersion term of the surface energy of at least 6 dyne/cm between the surface energy, the dispersion term before and after rubbing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 61 words
An electro plate for a liquid crystal device, comprising: a substrate, and an alignment film formed on the substrate; wherein said alignment film has a surface energy difference ΔE of at least 9 dyne/cm and a difference Δδ in dispersion term of the surface energy of at least 6 dyne/cm between the surface energy, the dispersion term before and after rubbing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
An electrode plate according to claim 1, wherein said ΔE is 9-20 dyne/cm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
An electrode plate according to claim 1, wherein said Δδ is 6-20 dyne/cm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 69 words
A liquid crystal device, comprising a pair of substrates, at least one of which has an alignment film thereon, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates; wherein said alignment film has a surface energy difference ΔE of at least 9 dyne/cm and a difference Δδ in dispersion term of the surface energy of at least 6 dyne/cm between the surface energy, the dispersion term before and after rubbing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 69 words
A liquid crystal device, comprising a pair of substrates, at least one of which has an alignment film thereon, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates; wherein said alignment film has a surface energy difference ΔE of at least 9 dyne/cm and a difference Δδ in dispersion term of the surface energy of at least 6 dyne/cm between the surface energy, the dispersion term before and after rubbing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said ΔE is 9-20 dyne/cm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 12 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said Δδ is 6-20 dyne/cm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said alignment film subjected to rubbing is provided to both substrates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein the alignment films provided to both substrates have been rubbed in directions which are parallel to each other and identical to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein the alignment films provided to both substrates have been rubbed in directions which are parallel to each other and opposite to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 36 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein the alignment films provided to both substrates have been rubbed in directions which are almost identical to each other but cross each other an intersection angle of 2-20 degrees.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein the alignment film is formed of a polyimide resin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 16 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein the alignment film is formed of a polyamide resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid crystal is a chiral smectic liquid crystal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 119 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, including: (a) a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates having thereon scanning electrodes and data electrodes, respectively, so as to form an electrode matrix, at least one of the substrates further having thereon an alignment film; and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates; and (b) drive means for applying a scanning signal to the scanning electrodes and applying data signals to the data electrodes in synchronism with the scanning signal; wherein said alignment film has a surface energy difference ΔE of at least 9 dyne/cm and a difference Δδ in dispersion term of the surface energy of at least 6 dyne/cm between the surface energy, the dispersion term before and after rubbing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 119 words
A liquid crystal apparatus, including: (a) a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of substrates having thereon scanning electrodes and data electrodes, respectively, so as to form an electrode matrix, at least one of the substrates further having thereon an alignment film; and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates; and (b) drive means for applying a scanning signal to the scanning electrodes and applying data signals to the data electrodes in synchronism with the scanning signal; wherein said alignment film has a surface energy difference ΔE of at least 9 dyne/cm and a difference Δδ in dispersion term of the surface energy of at least 6 dyne/cm between the surface energy, the dispersion term before and after rubbing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said liquid crystal is a chiral smectic liquid crystal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1998-03-20 1998-09-19 1999-03-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-03-20 2002-09-19 2003-03-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-03-20 2006-09-19 2007-03-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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