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US 7,397,526 B2Granted
Liquid crystal device comprising alignment posts having a random or pseudorandom spacing therebetween
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsStephen Christopher Kitson, Adrian Derek Geisow
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid crystal device has a surface alignment structure comprising an array of alignment features (10) which are shaped and/or orientated to produce a desired alignment. Depending on the geometry and spacing of the features (10), the liquid crystal may be induced to adopt a planar, tilted, or homeotropic alignment.
Claims44
A liquid crystal device comprising:
- a first cell wall and a second cell wall enclosing a layer of liquid crystal material;
- electrodes for applying an electric field across at least some of said liquid crystal material;
- and
- a surface alignment structure on an inner surface of at least said first cell wall, providing a single desired uniform alignment to a liquid crystal director,
- wherein said alignment is selected from the group consisting of planar, tilted and homeotropic,
- wherein said surface alignment structure comprises a two-dimensional array of alignment posts having a random or pseudorandom spacing therebetween, and
- wherein said alignment posts are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of a photoresist material and a plastics material, and are shaped and oriented to produce the desired alignment.
4 more elements
A cell wall for use in manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising:
- a wall structure having a surface alignment structure on a surface thereof, for providing a single desired uniform alignment to a liquid crystal director,
- wherein said alignment is selected from the group consisting of planar, tilted and homeotropic,
- wherein said surface alignment structure comprises a two-dimensional array of alignment posts having a random or pseudorandom spacing therebetween, and
- wherein said alignment posts are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of a photoresist material and a plastics material, and are shaped and oriented to produce the desired alignment.
1 more element
A liquid crystal device comprising:
- a first cell wall and a second cell wall enclosing a layer of liquid crystal material;
- electrodes for applying an electric field across at least some of said liquid crystal material;
- and
- a surface alignment structure on an inner surface of at least said first cell wall, providing a single desired uniform alignment to a liquid crystal director,
- wherein said alignment is selected from the group consisting of planar, tilted and homeotropic,
- wherein said surface alignment structure comprises a two-dimensional array of alignment posts having a random or pseudorandom spacing therebetween, and
- wherein said alignment posts are shaped and oriented to produce the desired alignment, and have a height in a range of about 0.5 to 5 μm.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.