# US 10,871,680 B2 · Transparent liquid crystal device

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- Number: US 10,871,680 B2
- Document ID: US10871680B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/764,526
- Filed: 2016-09-29
- Published: 2018-10-04
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-30
- Assignees: Hiroshi Yokoyama
- Applicants: Kent State University
- Inventors: Hiroshi Yokoyama; Nikolaus Glazar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871680B2

## CPC

- G02F 1/1337: Surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers
- G02F 1/13439: {characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making}
- G02F 1/19: based on variable-reflection or variable-refraction elements not provided for in groups G02F1/015 - G02F1/169
- G02F 1/133769: {comprising an active, e.g. switchable, alignment layer}
- G02F 1/133788: {by light irradiation, e.g. linearly polarised light photo-polymerisation}
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

A liquid crystal device includes a light source, a first transparent substrate, a first transparent electrode, a switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer arranged in an array of pixels, a liquid crystal layer, a fixed alignment layer, a second transparent electrode, and a second transparent substrate. The switchable micropatterned alignment layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate. The fixed alignment layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate. Light from the light source is not visible outside the liquid crystal device when the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is in an off-state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid crystal device comprising:
a light source;
a first transparent substrate;
a first transparent electrode;
a switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer arranged in an array of pixels;
a liquid crystal layer;
a fixed alignment layer;
a second transparent electrode; and
a second transparent substrate;
wherein the device is polarizer-free;
wherein the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate;
wherein the fixed alignment layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate;
wherein light from the light source is not visible outside the liquid crystal device when the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is in an off-state; and
wherein the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer and the fixed alignment layer are in direct physical contact with the liquid crystal layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is disposed on or embedded in an interior surface of the first transparent substrate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is disposed on or embedded in a surface of the first transparent electrode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode comprise indium-tin oxide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein switching or tuning of the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is driven by an in-plane electric field.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises nematic liquid crystals.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is aligned via photoalignment, atomic force microscope nanorubbing, nanoimprinting, or photolithography.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer comprises an azobenzene-based compound.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises liquid crystals having a birefringence of at least 0.1.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises liquid crystals having a birefringence of at least 0.2.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises liquid crystals having a birefringence of at least 0.3.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer and the fixed alignment layer.

### Claim 13

A liquid crystal device comprising:
a light source;
a first transparent substrate;
a first transparent electrode;
a switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer arranged in an array of pixels;
a liquid crystal layer;
a fixed alignment layer;
a second transparent electrode; and
a second transparent substrate;
wherein the device is polarizer-free;
wherein the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the first transparent substrate;
wherein the fixed alignment layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the second transparent substrate;
wherein light from the light source is not visible outside the liquid crystal device when the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is in an off-state; and
wherein the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer and the fixed alignment layer are in direct physical contact with the liquid crystal layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The liquid crystal device of claim 13, wherein the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode comprise indium-tin oxide.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The liquid crystal device of claim 13, wherein switching or tuning of the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is driven by an in-plane electric field.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The liquid crystal device of claim 13, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises nematic liquid crystals.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The liquid crystal device of claim 13, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises liquid crystals having a birefringence of at least 0.1.

### Claim 18

A liquid crystal device comprising a light source and further comprising in sequence:
first transparent substrate;
a first transparent electrode;
a switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer arranged in an array of pixels;
a liquid crystal layer;
a fixed alignment layer; and
a second transparent electrode; and
a second transparent substrate;
wherein the device is polarizer-free;
wherein light from the light source is not visible outside the liquid crystal device when the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer is in an off-state; and
wherein the switchable or tunable micropatterned alignment layer and the fixed alignment layer are in direct physical contact with the liquid crystal layer.