Electro-optical devices using liquid crystal polymers
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGeorge W. Gray, Gary Nestor, David Lacey, Ciaran B. McArdle
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Abstract
Liquid crystal polymers of general formula ##STR1## wherein the ratio b : a is less than 3 and greater than O, X is a mesogenic group of formula ##STR2## where A and B are cyclic groups, preferably phenyl, which may carry lateral substituents, preferably methyl, R may be F, CH.sub.3, CN, R.sup.1 , OR.sup.1 or COOR.sup.1 where R.sup.1 is alkyl, Y is COO.sub.1 OOC, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, c is 0 or 1. A preferred group X is ##STR3## The polymers may be used for optical information storage either alone or in mixture with other liquid crystals for example with smectic materials of formula ##STR4## where R" is alkyl or alkoxy and r is 0 or 1.
Claims13
An electro-optic information storage device comprising two substantially parallel walls, defining a space therebetween, each wall having an electrode layer on that one of its major surfaces which faces the other said wall;
- and a quantity of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) optical storage medium within said space and in contact with each said electrode, said liquid crystal polymer optical storage medium having a general formula I ##STR34## wherein X is a mesogenic group having a general structure ##STR35## wherein ##STR36## may carry lateral methyl, fluro or chloro substituents, and are selected from phenyl, trans-cyclohexyl, pyridyl, pyri midyl, dioxanyl and bicyclo-(2,2,2)-octyl;
- wherein Y is COO, OOC or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, C is 0 or 1;
- wherein n is an integer between 4 and 9 inclusive;
- wherein R is F, CF.sub.3, CN, R.sup.1, OR.sup.1 or COOR.sup.1 where R.sup.1 is alkyl, and (L) indicates that a lateral methyl or fluoro substituent may be present;
- in cases other than when R is CN and Y is COO and n=5 and C=1, L=CH.sub.3 :
- wherein the ratio b:a is less than 3 and greater than 0;
- the polymer being a random or substantially random polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.