Encapsulated liquid crystal and method
First Claim
1. A billboard display comprising a liquid crystal apparatus, including operationally nematic liquid crystal material and containment means having a curvilinear surface for inducing a generally non-parallel alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Briefly, according to one aspect of the invention, liquid crystal material, and especially nematic material, is encapsulated; according to another aspect the encapsulated liquid crystal material is used in liquid crystal devices, such as relatively large size visual display devices; and according to further aspects there are provided methods for encapsulating liquid crystal material and for making a liquid crystal device using such encapsulated liquid crystal material.
97 Citations
94 Claims
- 1. A billboard display comprising a liquid crystal apparatus, including operationally nematic liquid crystal material and containment means having a curvilinear surface for inducing a generally non-parallel alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption.
- 6. Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising operationally nematic liquid crystal material, a non-planar containment means for inducing a generally non-parallel alignment of said liquid crystal materail which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption, and electrode means for applying an electric field as such prescribed input, said electrode means comprising electrically conductive ink.
- 15. Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising operationally nematic liquid crystal material, non-parallel containment means for inducing a generally non-parallel alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption, and electrode means for applying an electric field as such prescribed input, said electrode means being applied by at least one of evaporation, vacuum deposition, sputtering, printing, web roller, gravure roller, reverse roller printing, stencilling, or printing.
- 18. Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising operationally nematic liquid crystal material, containment means for containing said liquid crystal material, said containment means having a curvilinear surface means for inducing a generally non-parallel alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which is response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption, and substrate means for supporting said liquid crystal material in said containment means, said substrate including reflecting means for reflecting light transmitted through said liquid crystal material in the presence of such prescribed input.
- 23. Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising operationally nematic liquid crystal material, curvilinear containment means for inducing a generally non-parallel alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption, and substrate means for supporting theron said containment means and liquid crystal material, said containment means having a surface remote from said substrate means, said surface being substantially directly unsupported or covered by a separate substrate means.
- 37. Liquid crystal apparatus, comprising a substrate and supported by said substrate a layer of operationally nematic liquid crystal material and containment means having a curvilinear surface for inducing a generally non-parallel alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption, said layer being from about 0.3 mil to about 10 mils thick.
- 53. A base stock liquid crystal apparatus, comprising a support substrate, and supported with respect to said substrate at least one layer of operationally nematic liquid crystal material and containment means having a curvilinear surface for inducing a generally non-parallel alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering or absorption.
Specification