A system is described that combines spectropolarimetry with scatterometry. The system uses an annular mirror and liquid crystal devices to control the angle of the incident light cone, the polarization and wavelength, an imaging setup and one or more video cameras so that spectroseopic-polarimetric-scatterometric images can be grabbed rapidly. The system is also designed to incorporate additional imaging modes such as interference, phase contrast, fluorescence and Raman spectropolarimetric imaging.

A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate; a gate line and a data line disposed on the first substrate; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode positioned on the first substrate, connected to the thin film transistor, configured to be applied with a first voltage, and including a first sub-pixel electrode including a first sub-region and a second sub-region and a second sub-pixel electrode configured to be applied with a second voltage; a protrusion electrode protruding from the pixel electrode to overlap the data line; and an insulating layer positioned on the first sub-region of the first sub-pixel electrode and positioned under the second sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-region of the first sub-pixel electrode, wherein the first sub-region of the first sub-pixel electrode overlaps the second sub-pixel electrode.

In the step of curing a resin for bonding a TFT substrate and a counter substrate each having an alignment film that has been optically aligned by using UV-light, damage to the alignment film due to the UV-light can be prevented without using a light shielding mask. A UV-light absorption layer is formed between each black matrix on the counter substrate. The TFT and counter substrates are sealed at their periphery by a resin that is cured by UV-light radiated from the counter substrate side. Since the absorption layer has a high absorbability to UV-light at a wavelength of 300 nm or less that degrades the alignment film, damage to the alignment film due to the UV-light for curing the resin can be prevented. Thus, provision of a light shielding mask for shielding the UV-light for the display region can be saved.

The invention relates to a light modulation element, preferably exploiting the flexoelectric effect comprising a cholesteric liquid crystalline medium sandwiched between two substrates (1), each provided with an electrode structure (2), wherein at least one of the substrates is provided with a photoresist pattern consisting of periodic substantially parallel stripes (3) which is additionally provided with an alignment layer (4). The invention is further related to a method of production of said light modulation element and to the use of said light modulation element in various types of optical and electro-optical devices, such as electro-optical displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), non-linear optic (NLO) devices, and optical information storage devices.

The invention relates to a light modulation element comprising a cholesteric liquid crystalline medium sandwiched between two substrates, each provided with an electrode structure, wherein at least one of the substrates is additionally provided with an alignment layer which is provided with a photoresist pattern consisting of periodic substantially parallel stripes. The invention is further related to a method of production of said light modulation element and to the use of said light modulation element in various types of optical and electro-optical devices, such as electro-optical displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), non-linear optic (NLO) devices, and optical information storage devices.

Provided are an optical modulation device and a driving method thereof. The optical modulation device includes an active area and a peripheral area disposed around the active area. A plurality of lower electrodes is disposed in the active area. The plurality of lower electrodes extends in a first direction. The plurality of lower electrodes includes a first lower electrode and a second lower electrode. A driver is configured to apply a driving signal to the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode. The driver includes a first channel connected with an upper end of the first lower electrode, a second channel connected with a lower end of the first lower electrode, a third channel connected with an upper end of the second lower electrode, and a fourth channel connected with a lower end of the second lower electrode.

A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a first subpixel electrode, a connecting electrode, and a second subpixel electrode. The first subpixel electrode is on the first substrate and includes a first stem extending in a first direction and a plurality of branches extending from the first stem. The connecting electrode is electrically connected to the first subpixel electrode. The second subpixel electrode is on the same layer as the first subpixel electrode and includes a plurality of separation electrodes that do not overlap the connecting electrode. At least one of the separation electrodes is between a first sub branch and a second sub branch, which neighbor each other from among the branches. The second subpixel electrode is a floating electrode.

Various embodiments set forth optical patterning systems. Each pixel of the optical patterning systems includes an amplitude-modulating cell that is in line with a phase-modulating cell. The amplitude-modulating cell includes a liquid crystal and a drive method for modulating at least the amplitude of a wavefront of light that passes through the amplitude-modulating cell. The phase-modulating cell includes a liquid crystal and a drive method for modulating at least the phase of a wavefront of light that passes through the phase-modulating cell. In some embodiments, the amplitude-modulating cell shares a common ground with the phase-modulating cell. The amplitude-modulating cell and the phase-modulating cell can be used to independently control the amplitude change and phase delay imparted by the pixel, enabling complex wavefront modulation.

A method of fabricating an electrically-controlled birefringence cell. The cell has a cell gap no more than 20 micrometers. The cell has an alignment layer arranged to impart a pretilt on liquid crystal in contact with the alignment layer. The method comprises processing the alignment layer to achieve a surface anchoring value between the liquid crystal and alignment layer of less than 1 mJ/m.sup.2.

An electronic device includes: a non-collimated backlight module; a transparent backlight module disposed on the non-collimated backlight module, wherein the transparent backlight module includes a direct-lit backlight module or an edge-lit backlight module; and a display cell disposed on the transparent backlight module; wherein when in a narrow mode, the non-collimated backlight module is in an off-state, and the transparent backlight module is in an on-state, wherein when in a wide mode, the non-collimated backlight module is in an on-state.