Patent US5808716A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5808716A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid crystal device and method of making a liquid crystal device
Assignee: Sharp Corp
•
Filing: 1995-10-03
•
Granted: 1998-09-15
•
Expires: 2015-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal display includes glass cell walls on which are formed alignment layers. The cell is filled with liquid crystal material, such as FLC material. Chemical bonds are formed between the alignment layers and the adjacent liquid crystal layers so that the liquid crystal layers are bonded to the alignment layers in order to increase resistance to mechanical damage.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Antony Gass
- 👤 Michael John Towler
- 👤 Tomoaki Kuratate
- 👤 Martin David Tillin
- 👤 Harald Reinhart Bock
- 👤 Harry Garth Walton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:16
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1337; G02F1/133711; G02F1/133726; G02F1/133765; G02F1/13378; G02F1/133788; G02F1/137; G02F1/139; G02F1/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of making a liquid crystal device, comprising forming a cell having opposed alignment layers defining a volume therebetween, filling the volume with a liquid crystal material, and chemically bonding at least one of the alignment layers to adjacent molecules of the liquid crystal material so as to fix the alignment of the liquid crystal material at the surface of the at least one of the alignment layers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of making a liquid crystal device, comprising forming a cell having opposed alignment layers defining a volume therebetween, filling the volume with a liquid crystal material, and chemically bonding at least one of the alignment layers to adjacent molecules of the liquid crystal material so as to fix the alignment of the liquid crystal material at the surface of the at least one of the alignment layers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chemical bonding is photoinduced.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the chemical bonding is induced by ultraviolet irradiation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal material contains a reactive compound which bonds chemically to the at least one of the alignment layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the liquid crystal material contains a reactive compound which bonds chemically to the at least one of the alignment layers and the reactive compound comprises a reactive mesogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the alignment layers contains a reactive group which bonds chemically to the liquid crystal material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one of the alignment layers contains a reactive group which bonds chemically to the liquid crystal material and the reactive compound bonds chemically to the reactive group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A liquid crystal device made by a method as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal layer contained between opposing alignment layers, wherein at least one periodic alignment controlling layer is disposed between a respective one of the alignment layers and the liquid crystal layer and the at least one periodic alignment controlling layer contains a liquid crystal material which has a predetermined pitch and the alignment of said liquid crystal material is defined by the respective alignment layer and fixed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal layer contained between opposing alignment layers, wherein at least one periodic alignment controlling layer is disposed between a respective one of the alignment layers and the liquid crystal layer and the at least one periodic alignment controlling layer contains a liquid crystal material which has a predetermined pitch and the alignment of said liquid crystal material is defined by the respective alignment layer and fixed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the liquid crystal material is a smectic liquid crystal material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one of the alignment controlling layers comprises a reactive mesogen which is polymerised in its smectic state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one of the alignment controlling layers comprises a smectic liquid crystal and a reactive compound which is polymerised.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of making liquid crystal device comprising: forming a cell having opposed alignment layers; forming at least one periodic alignment controlling layer on a respective one of the alignment layers, the at least one of the alignment controlling layer containing a liquid crystal material which has a predetermined pitch and the alignment of said liquid crystal material is defined by the respective alignment layer; fixing the alignment of the liquid crystal material; and filling the cell with a liquid crystal layer.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of making liquid crystal device comprising: forming a cell having opposed alignment layers; forming at least one periodic alignment controlling layer on a respective one of the alignment layers, the at least one of the alignment controlling layer containing a liquid crystal material which has a predetermined pitch and the alignment of said liquid crystal material is defined by the respective alignment layer; fixing the alignment of the liquid crystal material; and filling the cell with a liquid crystal layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein liquid crystal material is a smectic liquid crystal material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one alignment controlling layer comprises a reactive mesogen which is cooled to its smectic state and then polymerised.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one alignment controlling layer comprises a mixture of a smectic liquid crystal and a reactive compound which is polymerised after the smectic liquid crystal has been cooled to its smectic state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A liquid crystal device made by a method as claimed in claim 13.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2194792A
Cited
US4838658A
Cited
EP0307959A2
Cited
US5515190A
Cited
EP0451820A2
Cited
EP0467456A1
Cited
EP0476543A2
Cited
JPH05241151A
Cited
EP0586014A1
Cited
EP0601895A1
Cited
EP0604921A1
Cited
GB2274652A
Cited
US5576862A
Cited
EP0635749A2
Cited
US5528401A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |