Compounds containing at least one C—C triple bond within a chain of at least 3 ring systems which have positive dielectric anisotropy, the use thereof for high-frequency components, liquid-crystalline media containing these compounds, and high-frequency components, in particular antennae, especially for the gigahertz region, containing these media. The liquid-crystalline media serve, for example, for the phase shifting of microwaves for tuneable phased-array antennae.

Compounds containing at least one C—C triple bond within a chain of at least 3 ring systems which have positive dielectric anisotropy, the use thereof for high-frequency components, liquid-crystalline media containing these compounds, and high-frequency components, in particular antennae, especially for the gigahertz region, containing these media. The liquid-crystalline media serve, for example, for the phase shifting of microwaves for tuneable phased-array antennae.

A zoom lens is provided, which includes an electrode pattern on a substrate, and a liquid-crystal material on the electrode pattern. The electrode pattern includes a plurality of concentric ring electrodes surrounding an innermost electrode. Each of the concentric ring electrodes has an opening. A first trace extends from a first electrode out of an outermost concentric ring electrode to the innermost electrode. The first trace has greater resistance than the concentric ring electrodes and the innermost electrode. A second trace connecting the innermost electrode and a second electrode out of the outermost concentric ring electrode through the openings. The liquid-crystal material includes a liquid-crystal compound with a chemical structure of ##STR00001##
wherein R is C.sub.4-10 alkyl group, n=1 or 2, and each of X is independently H or F.

The present invention relates to aromatic isothiocyanates of formula U

##STR00001##

as defined in claim 1, to liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of formula U and to high-frequency components comprising these media, especially microwave components for high-frequency devices, such as devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, tunable filters, tunable metamaterial structures, and electronic beam steering antennas, e.g. phased array antennas.

The present invention relates to aromatic isothiocyanates of formula U

##STR00001##

as defined in claim 1, to liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of formula U and to high-frequency components comprising these media, especially microwave components for high-frequency devices, such as devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, tunable filters, tunable metamaterial structures, and electronic beam steering antennas, e.g. phased array antennas.

Liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of formula T ##STR00001##
as defined in claim 1, and high-frequency components comprising these media, especially microwave components for high-frequency devices, such as devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, tunable filters, tunable metamaterial structures, and electronic beam steering antennas, e.g. phased array antennas.

Liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of formula T ##STR00001##
as defined in claim 1, and high-frequency components comprising these media, especially microwave components for high-frequency devices, such as devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, tunable filters, tunable metamaterial structures, and electronic beam steering antennas, e.g. phased array antennas.

There is provided a liquid crystal composition containing at least one compound represented by General Formula (a). There is also provided a liquid crystal display device using such a liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition of the present invention has the following properties without suffering reductions in refractive index anisotropy (Δn) and nematic phase-isotropic liquid phase transition temperature (T.sub.ni): sufficiently low viscosity (η), sufficiently low rotational viscosity (γ.sub.1), a large elastic constant (K.sub.33), a high voltage holding ratio after UV exposure (VHR (UV)), and a negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) with a large absolute value. A liquid crystal display device of, for example, a VA type that uses such a liquid crystal composition has a high response speed and excellent display quality with defective display being eliminated or reduced.

##STR00001##

There is provided a liquid crystal display device which enables reductions in image sticking and droplet stains caused in production thereof without degradation of properties such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, the upper limit of the temperature of nematic phase, and rotational viscosity (γ.sub.1); and there is also provided a method for manufacturing such a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device is characterized in that a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal composition is disposed between a substrate provided with a common electrode and a color filter layer and another substrate provided with a plurality of pixels each having a pixel electrode, each of the substrates is not provided with an alignment film but provided with an orientation controlling layer composed of at least two polymerizable compounds, each of the pixels has two or more regions having different directions of pretilt, and the liquid crystal composition contains a compound represented by General Formula (I) and a compound represented by General Formula (II).

There is provided a liquid crystal display device which enables reductions in image sticking and droplet stains caused in production thereof without degradation of properties such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, the upper limit of the temperature of nematic phase, and rotational viscosity (γ.sub.1); and there is also provided a method for manufacturing such a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device is characterized in that a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal composition is disposed between a substrate provided with a common electrode and a color filter layer and another substrate provided with a plurality of pixels each having a pixel electrode, each of the substrates is not provided with an alignment film but provided with an orientation controlling layer composed of at least two polymerizable compounds, each of the pixels has two or more regions having different directions of pretilt, and the liquid crystal composition contains a compound represented by General Formula (I) and a compound represented by General Formula (II).