Organic polymer O-plate compensator for improved gray scale performance in twisted nematic liquid crystal displays
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing an O-plate compensator, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a substrate;
(b) applying a liquid crystal alignment layer to said substrate;
(c) applying a first thin film of a polymerizable liquid crystal material to said alignment layer;
(d) adjusting the temperature of said first thin film to obtain a uniform specified orientation of a director of said thin film;
(e) illuminating said first thin film with actinic radiation to polymerize said first thin film.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An O-plate compensator comprising an organic liquid crystal polymer, and methods for fabricating the same, are disclosed. The compensator is a uniaxial birefringent thin film with its extraordinary axis oriented obliquely with respect to the surface of the film. (It is noted that the birefringent thin film could be weakly biaxial.) The oblique orientation of the liquid crystal director, which is parallel to the film'"'"'s extraordinary axis, is achieved by casting an organic thin film onto a surface specially prepared for orienting liquid crystals, such as obliquely deposited SiO, mechanically rubbed alignment agents. The film can either be cast from a solution of the liquid crystal polymer or from a reactive liquid crystal monomer having a nematic phase. Any solvent that may be used during the fabrication process is evaporated off and the organic thin film is held at a temperature in its nematic phase. If a reactive monomer is used, the film is then photopolymerized. Alternative embodiments of an organic O-plate include the use of smectic-A and smectic-C materials. Fabrication techniques employing these materials arc described.
101 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an O-plate compensator, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a substrate; (b) applying a liquid crystal alignment layer to said substrate; (c) applying a first thin film of a polymerizable liquid crystal material to said alignment layer; (d) adjusting the temperature of said first thin film to obtain a uniform specified orientation of a director of said thin film; (e) illuminating said first thin film with actinic radiation to polymerize said first thin film. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of manufacturing an O-plate compensator, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a substrate; (b) applying a liquid-crystal alignment layer to said substrate, wherein said alignment layer provides a homeotropic liquid crystal orientation; (c) applying a thin film of a polymerizable liquid crystal material to said alignment layer, said liquid crystal material having a smectic-C phase with a high value of spontaneous polarization, said thin film comprising a plurality of smectic layers; (d) obtaining (1) an orientation of said smectic layers to be parallel to said alignment layer and (2) a uniform specified orientation of a director of said thin film, by performing the substeps of (x) adjusting the temperature of said thin film and (y) applying an electric field in the plane of said substrate; and (e) illuminating said thin film with actinic radiation to polymerize said thin film. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification