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US5495355A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Antiparallel aligned nematic liquid crystal device with positive dielectric anisotropy

Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1993-06-25
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Granted: 1996-02-27
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Expires: 2013-06-25
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Abstract

Abstract A liquid-crystal electro-optical device is offered which can operate at high speeds and easily oriented. The value of the surface tension of liquid crystal-orienting layers is 40 dynes/cm or more, and these layers are rubbed in antiparallel directions to each other. This reduces the pretilt angle of the molecules of a nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between two substrates. The anisotropy of the dielectric constant of the nematic liquid crystal is positive. The interval between the substrates is 5 mu m or less.

Inventors

  • 👤 Toshimitsu Konuma

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 22:36
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; G02F1/1393

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
An electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical modulating layer provided between a pair of substrates, comprising a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal composed of molecules aligned substantially in one direction throughout a thickness of the liquid crystal; and a pair of orientation films provided on said pair of substrates respectively and having subjected thereto rubbing treatments in antiparallel directions to each other, wherein a molecule of said nematic liquid crystal has a pre-tilt angle of 4° or less and an interval between said substrates is 5 μm or less.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 94 words
An electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical modulating layer provided between a pair of substrates, comprising a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal composed of molecules aligned substantially in one direction throughout a thickness of the liquid crystal; and a pair of orientation films provided on said pair of substrates respectively and having subjected thereto rubbing treatments in antiparallel directions to each other, wherein a molecule of said nematic liquid crystal has a pre-tilt angle of 4° or less and an interval between said substrates is 5 μm or less.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein a time required for responding to eliminating an electric field applied to the nematic liquid crystal is 3 msec or less.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said orientation films comprise polyimide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising means for applying an electric field to the nematic liquid crystal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said means comprises an indium tin oxide film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a spacer provided between said substrates in said electro-optical modulating layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 98 words
An electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical modulating layer provided between a pair of substrates, comprising a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal composed of molecules aligned substantially in one direction throughout a thickness of the liquid crystal; and a pair of orientation films provided on said pair of substrates respectively and having subjected thereto rubbing treatments in antiparallel directions to each other, wherein said orientation films have a polar component of a surface tension in the range of 10 dyne/cm or more and an interval between said substrates is 5 μm or less.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 98 words
An electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical modulating layer provided between a pair of substrates, comprising a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal composed of molecules aligned substantially in one direction throughout a thickness of the liquid crystal; and a pair of orientation films provided on said pair of substrates respectively and having subjected thereto rubbing treatments in antiparallel directions to each other, wherein said orientation films have a polar component of a surface tension in the range of 10 dyne/cm or more and an interval between said substrates is 5 μm or less.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device of claim 7 wherein a time required for responding to eliminating an electric field applied to the nematic liquid crystal is 3 msec or less.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 11 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said orientation films comprise polyimide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device of claim 7 further comprising means for applying an electric field to the nematic liquid crystal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said means comprises an indium tin oxide film.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device of claim 7 further comprising a spacer provided between said substrates in said electro-optical modulating layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 94 words
An electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical modulating layer provided between a pair of substrates, comprising a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal composed of molecules aligned substantially in one direction throughout a thickness of the liquid crystal; and a pair of orientation films provided on said pair of substrates respectively and having subjected thereto rubbing treatments in antiparallel directions to each other, wherein said orientation films have a surface tension in the range of 40 dyne/cm or more and an interval between said substrates is 5 μm or less.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 94 words
An electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical modulating layer provided between a pair of substrates, comprising a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal composed of molecules aligned substantially in one direction throughout a thickness of the liquid crystal; and a pair of orientation films provided on said pair of substrates respectively and having subjected thereto rubbing treatments in antiparallel directions to each other, wherein said orientation films have a surface tension in the range of 40 dyne/cm or more and an interval between said substrates is 5 μm or less.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device of claim 13 wherein a time required for responding to eliminating an electric field applied to the nematic liquid crystal is 3 msec or less.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 11 words
The device of claim 13 wherein said orientation films comprise polyimide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device of claim 13 further comprising means for applying an electric field to the nematic liquid crystal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 16 wherein said means comprises an indium tin oxide film.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 126 words
An electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical modulating layer provided between a pair of substrates, comprising a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal composed of molecules aligned substantially in one direction throughout a thickness of the liquid crystal; and a pair of orientation films provided on said pair of substrates respectively and having subjected thereto rubbing treatments in antiparallel directions to each other, wherein an interval between said substrates is 5 μm or less, said orientation films have a surface tension in the range of 40 dyne/cm or more with a polar component of said surface tension in the range of 10 dyne/cm or more, and wherein a molecule of said nematic liquid crystal has a pre-tilt angle of 4° or less.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 126 words
An electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical modulating layer provided between a pair of substrates, comprising a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal composed of molecules aligned substantially in one direction throughout a thickness of the liquid crystal; and a pair of orientation films provided on said pair of substrates respectively and having subjected thereto rubbing treatments in antiparallel directions to each other, wherein an interval between said substrates is 5 μm or less, said orientation films have a surface tension in the range of 40 dyne/cm or more with a polar component of said surface tension in the range of 10 dyne/cm or more, and wherein a molecule of said nematic liquid crystal has a pre-tilt angle of 4° or less.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4272162A Cited
US4239345A Cited
US4508427A Cited
US5189535A Cited
US5172255A Cited
US5298297A Cited
US5250214A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-02-26 1999-08-28 2000-02-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-02-26 2003-08-28 2004-02-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-02-26 2007-08-28 2008-02-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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