Patent EP0668614A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5490001A
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Ferroelectric liquid crystal device with an AC electric field producing a helical structure
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-03-08
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Granted: 1996-02-06
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Expires: 2014-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A ferroelectric liquid crystal device including a pair of substrates each having an electrode, one of the substrates being subjected to an uniaxially-orienting treatment (one direction orientation treatment), and the other being subjected to no uniaxially-orienting treatment, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material interposed between the substrates is disclosed. The layer includes a liquid crystal region in which stripe patterns occur by application of an alternating electric field to the liquid crystal to scatter light incident to the device. A method of driving a ferroelectric liquid crystal device is also disclosed. The tone and intensity of the incident light can be controlled by controlling a voltage and/or frequency of the alternating electric field in accordance with the method.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshimitsu Konuma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:08
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/137; G02F1/139; G02F1/141; C; C09; C09K; C09K19/00; C09K19/02; C09K19/0225; C09K19/04; C09K19/06; C09K19/34; C09K19/3441; C09K19/345; C09K19/42; C09K19/46; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1334; G02F1/1337; G02F1/133765; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/02; G02F2203/30; G02F2203/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An electro-optical device comprising: a pair of substrates having an electrode arrangement thereon; a uniaxial orientation control means provided on a surface of only one of said substrates; and a light modulating layer containing a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said substrates, wherein said light modulating layer includes a first region contiguous to said uniaxial orientation control means and a second region distant from said uniaxial orientation control means and no stripe pattern is observed in said first region while a stripe pattern is observed in said second region when an AC field is applied across said light modulating layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electro-optical device comprising: a pair of substrates having an electrode arrangement thereon; a uniaxial orientation control means provided on a surface of only one of said substrates; and a light modulating layer containing a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said substrates, wherein said light modulating layer includes a first region contiguous to said uniaxial orientation control means and a second region distant from said uniaxial orientation control means and no stripe pattern is observed in said first region while a stripe pattern is observed in said second region when an AC field is applied across said light modulating layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electro-optical device of claim 1 wherein said stripe pattern is indicative of a spiral structure formed by said ferroelectric liquid crystal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electro-optical device of claim 1 wherein said light modulating layer has a thickness 5 μm or more.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electro-optical device of claim 1 wherein said stripe pattern is observed through a polarizing microscope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electro-optical device of claim 1 wherein said stripe pattern dynamically moves during the application of said AC field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
An electro-optical device comprising: a pair of substrates having an electrode arrangement thereon; a uniaxial orientation control means provided on a surface of only one of said substrates; and a light modulating layer containing a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said substrates, wherein said light modulating layer includes a first region contiguous to said uniaxial orientation control means and a second region distant from said uniaxial orientation control means, and wherein said ferroelectric does not form a spiral structure in said first region while said ferroelectric liquid crystal forms a spiral structure in said second region in response to an application of an AC field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
An electro-optical device comprising: a pair of substrates having an electrode arrangement thereon; a uniaxial orientation control means provided on a surface of only one of said substrates; and a light modulating layer containing a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said substrates, wherein said light modulating layer includes a first region contiguous to said uniaxial orientation control means and a second region distant from said uniaxial orientation control means, and wherein said ferroelectric does not form a spiral structure in said first region while said ferroelectric liquid crystal forms a spiral structure in said second region in response to an application of an AC field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electro-optical device of claim 6 wherein said light modulating layer has a thickness 5 μm or more.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
An electro-optical device comprising: a pair of substrates having an electrode arrangement thereon; a uniaxial orientation control means provided on a surface of only one of said substrates; and a light modulating layer interposed between said substrates, said modulating layer comprising a mixture of a ferroelectric liquid crystal and a polymer, wherein said light modulating layer includes a first region contiguous to said uniaxial orientation control means and a second region distant from said uniaxial orientation control means, and wherein said ferroelectric does not form a spiral structure in said first region while said ferroelectric liquid crystal forms a spiral structure in said second region in response to an application of an AC field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
An electro-optical device comprising: a pair of substrates having an electrode arrangement thereon; a uniaxial orientation control means provided on a surface of only one of said substrates; and a light modulating layer interposed between said substrates, said modulating layer comprising a mixture of a ferroelectric liquid crystal and a polymer, wherein said light modulating layer includes a first region contiguous to said uniaxial orientation control means and a second region distant from said uniaxial orientation control means, and wherein said ferroelectric does not form a spiral structure in said first region while said ferroelectric liquid crystal forms a spiral structure in said second region in response to an application of an AC field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The electro-optical device of claim 8 wherein said polymer is contained in said modulating layer in the form of a plurality of columns extending between said uniaxial orientation control means and a most inner surface of another one of the substrates so that said substrates are fixed with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electro-optical device of claim 6 wherein said light modulating layer has a thickness 5 μm or more.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electro-optical device of claim 6 wherein said polymer comprises a UV light cured resin.
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