There is provided a liquid crystal composition that exhibits a sufficiently low viscosity (η), a sufficiently low rotational viscosity (γ1), and a large elastic modulus (K.sub.33) without decreasing the refractive index anisotropy (Δn) and the nematic phase-isotropic liquid phase transition temperature (T.sub.ni) and without increasing the solid phase-nematic phase transition temperature (T.sub.cn). The liquid crystal display element that uses this liquid crystal composition satisfactorily obtains a pretilt angle and has a high voltage holding ratio (VHR) and high-speed response. Thus, a liquid crystal display element that has no or less alignment defects and display defects such as image sticking, and has high display quality and high response speed is obtained.

The present invention relates to compounds of formula M ##STR00001##
in which R.sup.M has the meaning indicated in claim 1, to liquid crystal mixture comprising the same, to the use of these liquid-crystal media, in particular in components for high-frequency technology, and to components of this type which contain media according to the invention, and to the production and use of these components. The components according to the invention are suitable, in particular, as phase shifters in the microwave and millimetre wave region, for microwave and millimetre wave array antennae and very particularly for so-called tunable “reflectarrays”.

The present invention aims to provide a polymerizable compound that has high storage stability without causing crystal precipitation when added to a polymerizable composition and to provide a polymerizable composition containing the polymerizable compound. A polymer film produced by polymerization of the polymerizable composition has a low haze, high thickness uniformity, low occurrence of nonuniform orientation, high surface hardness, high adhesiveness, and good appearances and fewer orientation defects even after ultraviolet irradiation. The present invention also aims to provide a polymer produced by polymerization of the polymerizable composition and an optically anisotropic body produced from the polymer.

To suppress a phenomenon where an optical axis of the optically anisotropic layer is tilted when the optically anisotropic layer is produced by using a liquid crystalline compound showing smectic phase as a materials showing a higher level of orderliness. An optically anisotropic layer wherein a polymerizable composition, containing one or more polymerizable rod-like liquid crystal compound showing a smectic phase, is fixed in a state of smectic phase, and a direction of maximum refractive index of the optically anisotropic layer is inclined at 10° or smaller to the surface of the optically anisotropic layer, a method for manufacturing the same, a laminate and a method for manufacturing the same, a polarizing plate, a liquid crystal display device, and an organic EL display device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a composition that has positive Δε, exhibits a liquid crystal phase over a wide temperature range, has low viscosity, excellent solubility at low temperatures, and high resistivity and voltage holding ratio, and is stable against heat and light. By using this composition, IPS or TN liquid crystal display devices and the like that have excellent display quality and suppress display failures such as image-sticking and drop marks are provided in high yield. Provided is a composition that contains at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by general formulae (i) and (ii) and at least one compound represented by general formula (iii). Also provided is a liquid crystal display device that uses the composition and an IPS or FFS device that uses the composition.

Provided is a composition which can be used for formation of an optical film having high quality and a high dichroic ratio even after the composition is stored for a predetermined period of time. The composition includes a compound represented by the general formula (A) and a compound represented by the general formula (B), wherein R.sup.1a in the general formula (A) and R.sup.1b in the general formula (B) are mutually different groups.

R.sup.1a—Ar.sup.1a—N═N—Ar.sup.2a—N═N—Ar.sup.3a—R.sup.10a   (A)

R.sup.1b—Ar.sup.1b—N═N—Ar.sup.2b—N═N—Ar.sup.3b—R.sup.10a   (B)

Provided are liquid crystal compounds and mixtures incorporating the same. The liquid crystal compounds of the invention generally comprise a cyclopentane group and at least two other rings. In one embodiment, the liquid crystal compounds of the invention comprise a cyclopentane group and at least two other rings, one of which is a fused ring system.

Liquid crystal (LC) media comprising polymerisable compounds as further specified in the description and claims and a self-alignment additive for vertical alignment. The media are adapted for use in LC displays, especially in LC displays of the polymer-sustained alignment type.

The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of formula DFS ##STR00001##
in which the groups and parameters occurring have the meanings indicated in claim 1, to high-frequency components comprising same, especially microwave components for high-frequency devices, such as devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, in particular for microwave phased-array antennas. The present invention further relates to novel mesogenic compounds.

To provide a liquid crystal compound satisfying at least one of physical properties such as a high stability to heat, light and so forth, a high clearing point, a low minimum temperature of a liquid crystal phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a suitable elastic constant and an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds; a liquid crystal composition containing the compound; and a liquid crystal display device including the composition. The compound is represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein, for example, Ra and Rb are alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons or alkoxy having 1 to 9 carbons; A.sup.1, A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 are 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are single bonds, —(CH.sub.2).sub.2—, —CH═CH—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CF.sub.2O—, —OCF.sub.2—, —CH.sub.2O— or —OCH.sub.2—; Y.sup.1 is —CF.sub.2H or —CF.sub.3; Y.sup.2 is fluorine; and a, b and d are 0, 1, 2 or 3, and c is 1 or 3.