The present invention provides a compound represented by the following general formula (I), and provides a liquid crystal composition containing the compound and a device using the liquid crystal composition. The compound of the present invention has a large refractive index anisotropy Δn and a high compatibility with a liquid crystal composition, and exhibits a large dielectric constant anisotropy in a high frequency region; and therefore, it is useful as a material for a device of a high-frequency phase shifter, a phased array antenna, an image recognition device, distance measuring equipment, a liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal lens, a birefringent lens for stereoscopic image display, or the like. ##STR00001##

A method and apparatus for improved switching speed and/or tunability for radio-frequency (RF) devices are described. In one embodiment, a liquid crystal (LC) component comprises an LC structure in a mixture with right-handed (R) and left-handed (S) chiral dopants.

Aromatic isothiocyanates of formula C ##STR00001##
liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of formula C, 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 containing one or more compounds of formula T ##STR00001##
and one or more compounds of formulae I, II and/or III, ##STR00002##
high-frequency components containing 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 a compound of formula T

##STR00001##

as defined in claim 1, to a liquid crystal medium comprising a compound of formula T 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.

A liquid crystal dielectric applicable to high-frequency electromagnetic wave modulation has a clearing point of the liquid crystal dielectric higher than 110° C., a low-temperature storage temperature lower than −20° C., and an optical anisotropy greater than 0.35. The liquid crystal dielectric includes: one or more compounds selected by general formula I, which occupy 30-80% of the total weight of the liquid crystal dielectric, and one or more compounds selected by general formula II and/or general formula III, which occupy 20-70% of the total weight of the liquid crystal dielectric. The liquid crystal dielectric has good low-temperature stability, high dielectric anisotropy, a high phase width, appropriate rotary viscosity, appropriate optical anisotropy, low dielectric loss, and a low loss tangent, exhibits strong high-frequency electromagnetic wave tuning capability, is specifically suitable for electromagnetic wave modulation in microwave or millimeter wave areas, and has a good application prospect in liquid crystal phase shifters.

##STR00001##

Provided is a composition, with which it is possible, by means of a simple application process, to form an organic film that has excellent performance, such as optical and electrical properties, and exhibits optical anisotropy. This composition, which exhibits lyotropic liquid crystallinity, contains: a polymer (P) having an acidic functional group; water; and a compound (A) that is at least one selected from the group consisting of a basic monomer and a base-generating agent. The composition contains: a polymer (P) having a partial structure shown in formula (0); water; and a compound (A) that is at least one selected from the group consisting of a basic monomer and a base-generating agent. Formula (0) has at least one acidic functional group.

The present invention provides a compound represented by the following general formula (I), and provides a liquid crystal composition containing the compound and a device using the liquid crystal composition. The compound of the present invention has a large refractive index anisotropy Δn and a high compatibility with a liquid crystal composition, and exhibits a large dielectric constant anisotropy in a high frequency region; and therefore, it is useful as a material for a device of a high-frequency phase shifter, a phased array antenna, an image recognition device, distance measuring equipment, a liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal lens, a birefringent lens for stereoscopic image display, or the like.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formula I

##STR00001##

in which the parameters have the meaning indicated in Claim 1, and to components comprising these media for high-frequency technology, in particular phase shifters and microwave array antennas.

The present invention relates to isothiocyanato tolane derivatives of formula I

##STR00001##

in which the occurring groups have the meanings indicated in claim 1, to a process for their preparation, to liquid-crystalline media comprising same and to high-frequency components comprising these media, especially microwave components for high-frequency devices, such as devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, in particular for microwave phased-array antennas.