The invention relates to a polymerisable LC material comprising at least one di- or multireactive mesogenic compound and at least one compound of formula I,

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in which the parameter R.sup.1, A.sup.1, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, n, Sp, P, p1, p2, L.sup.1, L.sup.2, r1, r2, m and R.sup.2 have one of the meanings as given in claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates also to a method for the preparation of a polymerisable LC material, a polymer film obtainable from the corresponding polymerisable LC material, to a method of preparation of such polymer film, and to the use of such polymer film and said polymerisable LC material for optical, electro-optical, decorative or security devices.

A liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystal composition include at least one compound of general formula I and at least one compound of general formula II. Compared with the prior art, the liquid crystal composition has a smaller voltage change rate at high and low temperatures and a shorter low temperature response time, while maintaining an appropriate optical anisotropy, an appropriate clearing point, an appropriate absolute value of dielectric anisotropy, such that the liquid crystal display device having the liquid crystal composition has a better display and a faster response speed.

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There are provided a liquid crystal composition containing one or two or more compounds represented by general formula (L) and three or four or more dichroic dyes selected from azo compounds, and a guest-host liquid crystal display device or light-controlling device that uses the liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition according to the present invention contains dichroic dyes that satisfy high contrast, high solubility, high nematic-isotropic transition temperature (T.sub.NI), and low birefringent anisotropy (Δn) effective for high light resistance and high thermal resistance at the same time. The use of the liquid crystal composition according to the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device or a light-controlling device that exhibits a good-looking black color and has high contrast, high display quality, and high practicality.

Provided are a liquid crystal composition containing a dibenzo derivative and a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal composition includes at least one compound of general formula I and at least one compound of general formula II. The liquid crystal compositions have the characteristics of high clearing point, large optical anisotropy, large dielectric anisotropy, large ε.sub.⊥, large ε.sub.⊥/|Δε|, and large K.sub.ave. The liquid crystal display devices containing these liquid crystal compositions have the effects of good transmittance and high contrast. The liquid crystal composition can meet the requirements of the liquid crystal display device on low power consumption and good display effect and has high application value in liquid crystal displays of in-plane switching (IPS) mode, fringe field switching (FFS) mode, and vertical alignment (VA) mode.

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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 polymerizable liquid crystal composition used for formation of an optically anisotropic film having excellent moisture-heat resistance and an excellent surface condition, an optically anisotropic film, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition of an embodiment of the present invention is a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound and a compound represented by Formula (1): L.sup.1-SP.sup.1-(E.sup.3-A.sup.1).sub.m-E.sup.1-G.sup.1-C(═O)—O—C(═O)-G.sup.2-E.sup.2-(A.sup.2-E.sup.4).sub.n-SP.sup.2-L.sup.2, in which a content of the compound represented by Formula (1) is 0.01 to 5 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound.

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##

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.

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).