The present invention relates to mesogen compounds that include a first mesogen (Mesogen-1) and a second mesogen (Mesogen-2) that are connected by a linking group (-L-), as represented by the following Formula (I): ##STR00001##
Mesogen-1, and optionally Mesogen-2, each independently include the following terminal group, ##STR00002## where R is hydrogen, alkyl, or alkoxy. Mesogen-2 optionally includes a terminal group P—, which is selected from R, acrylate, methacrylate, trihalomethacrylate, oxirane, hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, and carboxylic acid ester. Mesogen-1 and Mesogen-2 together include a total of at least seven, or at least eight, cyclic groups. In some cases, Mesogen-1 and Mesengen-2 are the same. The present invention also relates to liquid crystal compositions that include such mesogen compounds, and to optical elements that include such mesogen compounds.

An optical film includes a plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals and organic solid crystal structures at least partially surrounding the plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals. A method of making the optical film includes obtaining a substrate with an alignment layer and a film of a first solution on the alignment layer. The first solution includes liquid crystals and organic crystal molecules. The liquid crystals form a plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals on the alignment layer. The method also includes forming organic solid crystal structures by crystallizing the organic crystal molecules. The organic solid crystal structures at least partially surround the plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals.

A liquid crystal composition containing a dibenzo derivative comprising a compound of general formula I and a compound of general formula II, and a liquid crystal display device containing the same, are disclosed. The liquid crystal composition is characterized by its excellent physical properties with respect to a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display device containing the liquid crystal composition has a good transmittance and a high contrast. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to mesogen compounds that include a first mesogen (Mesogen-1) and a second mesogen (Mesogen-2) that are connected by a linking group (-L-), as represented by the following Formula (I):

##STR00001##

Mesogen-1, and optionally Mesogen-2, each independently include the following terminal group,

##STR00002##

where R is hydrogen, alkyl, or alkoxy. Mesogen-2 optionally includes a terminal group P-, which is selected from R, acrylate, methacrylate, trihalomethacrylate, oxirane, hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, and carboxylic acid ester. Mesogen-1 and Mesogen-2 together include a total of at least seven, or at least eight, cyclic groups. In some cases, Mesogen-1 and Mesengen-2 are the same. The present invention also relates to liquid crystal compositions that include such mesogen compounds, and to optical elements that include such mesogen compounds.

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.

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.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystalline medium comprising dichroitic dyes made of benzothiadiazoles and related extended heterocyclic derivatives, the use of said medium for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in devices for regulating the passage of radiation energy from an outside space into an inside space, for example in windows. The invention further relates to devices containing the liquid crystalline medium according to the invention. Some new dichroitic dyes are disclosed.

The invention relates to novel compositions comprising at least two anisotropic compounds of formula

##STR00001##

as well as to liquid crystalline networks, films and electro-optical devices comprising the compositions.

Provided is a polymerizable liquid crystal composition with which an image display device having an excellent contrast can be manufactured; and a cured product, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a compound represented by Formula (I). L.sup.1-SP.sup.1-D.sup.5-(A.sup.1).sub.a1-D.sup.3-(G.sup.1).sub.g1-D.sup.1-[Ar-D.sup.2].sub.q1-(G.sup.2).sub.g2-D.sup.4-(A.sup.2).sub.a2-D.sup.6-SP.sup.2-L.sup.2 . . . (I), and a compound represented by Formula (II), L.sup.5-SP.sup.5-D.sup.9-(A.sup.5).sub.a3-D.sup.10-(G.sup.3).sub.g3-D.sup.11-M . . . (II).

Provided is a liquid crystal composition with which an optically anisotropic layer having excellent light resistance can be formed and an image display device having an excellent contrast can be manufactured, an optically anisotropic layer, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The liquid crystal composition contains a liquid crystal compound and a non-liquid crystal compound, in which both of the liquid crystal compound and the non-liquid crystal compound are compounds having any of aromatic rings selected from the group consisting of groups represented by predetermined formulae, and a ratio of a molecular weight of the non-liquid crystal compound to a molecular weight of the liquid crystal compound is 1 or less.