The present application relates to a device for regulating the passage of light which is characterised in that it comprises a layer comprising a liquid-crystalline mixture containing a characteristic structural element.

Shown are a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one of characteristics such as high maximum temperature, low minimum temperature, low viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy and large negative dielectric anisotropy, or having a suitable balance regarding at least two of the characteristics, and an AM device including the composition. The liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having large negative dielectric anisotropy as a first component, and a specific compound having low viscosity as a second component, and may contain a specific compound having negative dielectric anisotropy as a third component, a specific compound having high maximum temperature or low viscosity as a fourth component, or a specific compound having a polymerizable group as an additive.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal (LC) medium comprising a terphenyl compound and at least two polymerisable compounds, to a process for its preparation, to its use for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in LC displays, especially in an LC display of the polymer sustained alignment (PSA) type, and to an LC display, especially a PSA display, comprising it.

A LC lens and a liquid-crystal medium used in said LC lens, wherein the medium contains one or more compounds of each of formulae I and II

##STR00001##

The liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates consisting of first and second substrates arranged to face each other, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates, a pixel electrode disposed on at least one of the first and second substrates, a common electrode disposed on at least one of the first and second substrates, a light source section including a light-emitting element, and a photoconversion layer including pixels of three primary colors consisting of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). The photoconversion layer contains a light-emitting nanocrystal having an emission spectrum of any of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) upon receiving light emitted from the light source section on at least one of the three primary colors. The liquid crystal layer contains a liquid crystal composition containing a compound represented by General Formula (i) at 10% to 50% by mass.

A liquid-crystalline medium which comprises at least one compound selected from the group of compounds of the formulae IA to IH, ##STR00001##
in which Z.sup.1 denotes a single bond, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH?CH, CH.sub.2O, OCH.sub.2, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2, COO, OCO, C.sub.2F.sub.4, (CH.sub.2).sub.4, CHFCHF, CF.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2CF.sub.2, C?C, CF?CF, CH?CHCHO or CH.sub.2CF.sub.2O,
and the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the VA, PSA, PS-VA, PALC, FFS, PS-FFS, SA-VA, PS-IPS or IPS effect.

A liquid-crystalline medium which comprises at least one compound selected from the group of compounds of the formulae IA to IH, ##STR00001##
in which Z.sup.1 denotes a single bond, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH?CH, CH.sub.2O, OCH.sub.2, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2, COO, OCO, C.sub.2F.sub.4, (CH.sub.2).sub.4, CHFCHF, CF.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2CF.sub.2, C?C, CF?CF, CH?CHCHO or CH.sub.2CF.sub.2O,
and the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the VA, PSA, PS-VA, PALC, FFS, PS-FFS, SA-VA, PS-IPS or IPS effect.

A nematic liquid crystal composition has negative dielectric anisotropy and contains at least one polar compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (1) as a first additive, and the liquid crystal display device includes the composition. In formula (1), R.sup.1 is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons or the like; R.sup.2 is a group represented by OH, OR.sup.0, NH.sub.2, NHR.sup.0 or N(R.sup.0).sub.2, in which R.sup.0 is alkyl having 1 to 5 carbons; ring A and ring B are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene or the like; Z.sup.1 is a single bond or the like; Sp.sup.1 and Sp.sup.2 are independently a single bond, alkylene having 1 to 7 carbons or the like; and a is 0 to 4. ##STR00001##

A liquid crystal composition without requiring an alignment film or alignment treatment on a substrate. The problem is solved by a low molecular weight polar compound capable of homogeneously aligning a liquid crystal medium relative to the substrate, for example, a low molecular weight polar compound represented by formula (1).

M-P(1)

In formula (1), M is a nonpolar group having 1 or more carbons, and P is a polar group.

Provided is a liquid crystal composite that is suitable for dimming and includes a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature, a low minimum temperature, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy and a large negative dielectric anisotropy or being suitably balanced between at least two of these characteristics, and a liquid crystal dimming device including the liquid crystal composite, where the liquid crystal composite includes a polymer and a liquid crystal composition including a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy, and the liquid crystal composite may further include a specific compound having a high maximum temperature or a low minimum temperature.