US 5,539,547 A · Liquid crystal device with plural polymer network films

Abstract

To present a liquid crystal device high in contrast, bright and possessing high speed response characteristics, and to present electronic appliances such as liquid crystal display device and image pickup apparatus of high contrast and brightness, copier, printing plate process machine, facsimile communication apparatus, optical communication apparatus and image operation apparatus. A liquid crystal device comprising a pair of substrates forming electrodes respectively on the confronting surfaces, a power supply for applying voltage to the electrodes, and first and second liquid crystal layers interspaced between the pair of substrates, in which the first and second liquid crystal layers are contained in a three-dimensional reticular high molecular weight compound, the directions of orientation of liquid crystal molecules are aligned almost in one direction, and the directions of their orientations are mutually different near the substrates.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A liquid crystal device, comprising:

exactly two substrates, having respective electrodes formed on confronting surfaces;
at least one orientation film formed on the electrodes
means for applying voltage to the electrodes;
and
a plurality of liquid crystal layers interposed between the pair of substrates,
wherein a respective liquid crystal layer is contained in a matrix or network polymer having an arbitrarily selected orientation,
the liquid crystal molecules in the respective layer are aligned by said polymer with the liquid crystal molecules in at least one of the liquid crystal layers near the substrate having a tilt angle greater than 0.degree. with respect to said substrate, and having been aligned by the orientation film, and the liquid crystal molecules intermediate said layers are present continuously in the matrix or network polymer over said layers.

4 more elements

A method of making a liquid crystal device, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first pair of substrates disposed opposingly with a predetermined spacing, one of the substrates having electrodes and an orientation film formed on a surface thereof facing the other substrate, and the other substrate having an orientation film with optional electrodes formed on a surface thereof facing the one substrate;
(b) providing a second pair of substrates disposed opposingly with a predetermined spacing, one of the substrates having an orientation film with optional electrodes formed on a surface thereof facing the other substrate, and the other substrate having an orientation film with optional electrodes formed on a surface facing the one substrate;
(c) providing a third pair of substrates disposed opposingly with a predetermined spacing, one of the substrates having an orientation film with optional electrodes formed on a surface thereof facing the other substrate, and the other substrate having electrodes and an orientation film formed on a surface thereof facing the one substrate;
(d) placing a mixture of a liquid crystal compound and a polymerizable compound within respective predetermined spacings in each of the first, the second, and the third pair of substrates;
(e) polymerizing the polymerizable compound together with the liquid crystal compound under the influence of defining force exerted by the surface of any substrate that has been subject to an orientation processing and/or in the presence of application of external energy so that the molecules of the liquid crystal compounds so oriented cause the polymerization to form a matrix or network polymer having a selected orientation along the oriented liquid crystal molecules between the respective pairs of substrates;
(f) peeling off the other substrate, from the first pair of substrates, to leave the one substrate comprising a first matrix or network polymer formed thereon;
(g) peeling off both substrates, from the second pair of substrates, to leave only a second matrix or network polymer;
(h) peeling off the one substrate, from the third pair of substrates, to leave the other substrate, comprising a third matrix or network polymer formed thereon;
(i) removing the liquid crystal compound from the first, the second, and the third matrix or network polymers obtained in the steps of (f), (g) and (h), respectively and drying the respective matrix or network polymers, if desired;
(j) positioning the first matrix or network polymer having the substrate on which the electrodes and the orientation film are formed, the second matrix or network polymer, and the third matrix or network polymer having the substrate on which the electrodes and the orientation film are formed, in this order such that the electrodes, on the substrate of the first matrix or network polymer, oppose the electrodes on the substrate of the third matrix or network polymer through the second matrix or network polymer, and laminating the first, the second, and the third matrix or network polymers;
and
(k) adding a liquid crystal compound to the thus-laminated matrix or network polymer between said substrates.

9 more elements

A method of making a liquid crystal device, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first pair of substrates disposed opposingly with a predetermined spacing, one of the substrates having electrodes and an orientation film formed on a surface thereof facing the other substrate, and the other substrate having an orientation film with optional electrodes formed on a surface thereof facing the one substrate;
(b) providing a second pair of substrates disposed opposingly with a predetermined spacing, one of the substrates having an orientation film with optional electrodes formed on a surface thereof facing the other substrate, and the other substrate having electrodes and an orientation film formed on a surface facing the one substrate;
(d) placing a mixture of a liquid crystal compound and a polymerizable compound within respective predetermined spacings in each of the first, and the second pair of substrates;
(e) polymerizing the polymerizable compound together with the liquid crystal compound under the influence of defining force exerted by the surface of any substrate that has been subjected to an orientation processing and/or in the presence of application of external energy so that the molecules of the liquid crystal compounds so oriented cause the polymerization to form a matrix or network polymer having a selected orientation along the oriented liquid crystal molecules between the respective pairs of substrates;
(f) peeling off the other substrate from the first pair of substrates, to leave the one substrate, comprising a first matrix or network polymer, formed thereon;
(g) peeling off the one substrate from the second pair of substrates, to leave the other substrate, comprising a second matrix or network polymer, formed thereon;
(h) removing the liquid crystal compound from the first and the second matrix or network polymers, obtained in the steps of (f) and (g), respectively, and drying the matrix or network polymers, if desired;
(i) positioning the first matrix or network polymer having the substrate on which the electrodes and the orientation film are formed, and the second matrix or network polymer having the substrate on which the electrodes and the orientation film are formed, such that the electrodes, on the substrate of the first matrix or network polymer, oppose the electrodes on the substrate of the second matrix or network polymer, and laminating the first and the second matrix or network polymers;
and
(k) adding a liquid crystal compound to the thus-laminated matrix or network polymer between said substrates.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Liquid crystal device with plural polymer network films

Life of this patent

Liquid crystal device with plural polymer network films

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18