The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more pleochroic compounds, and one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formulae I, II and III, ##STR00001##
in which the groups have the meanings as set forth 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 liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more pleochroic compounds, and one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formulae I, II and III, ##STR00001##
in which the groups have the meanings as set forth in claim 1,
and to components comprising these media for high-frequency technology, in particular phase shifters and microwave array antennas.

A polarizing film, a method of preparing the polarizing film, and a display device including the polarizing film in which the polarizing film includes a self-aligned polymer matrix; liquid crystals aligned and cured in one direction in accordance with an alignment direction of the polymer matrix; and a dichroic dye aligned in the alignment direction of the liquid crystals.

A polarizing film, a method of preparing the polarizing film, and a display device including the polarizing film in which the polarizing film includes a self-aligned polymer matrix; liquid crystals aligned and cured in one direction in accordance with an alignment direction of the polymer matrix; and a dichroic dye aligned in the alignment direction of the liquid crystals.

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.

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.

A liquid crystal cell, a manufacturing method thereof and a use thereof are provided in the present disclosure. The liquid crystal cell is in a normally transparent mode, and has excellent transmittance-variable characteristics in a transparent mode and a scattering mode and excellent haze characteristics in the scattering mode. Such liquid crystal cell may be applied to various light modulation devices, such as a smart window, a window protective film, a flexible display element, a light shielding plate for transparent displays, an active retarder for 3D image displays or a viewing angle control film.

The present invention relates to mesogen compounds that include first, second, and third mesogens, in which the first and second mesogens are connected by a first linking group (-L.sup.1-), and the second and third mesogens are connected by a second linking group (-L.sup.2-), as represented by the following Formula (I), and as graphically illustrated by Formula (Ia) of FIG. 1 of the drawing:
(Mesogen-1)-L.sup.1-(Mesogen-2)-L.sup.2-(Mesogen-3)  (I)
At least one of Mesogen-1, Mesogen-2, or Mesogen-3 include at least four cyclic groups. The linking groups -L.sup.1- and -L.sup.2- are each free of mesogen properties (are each non-mesogenic) and each independently have an average chain length of at least 20 bonds. The mesogen compounds are optionally polymerizable. The present invention also relates to liquid crystal compositions that include such mesogen compounds, and to optical elements that include such mesogen compounds, such as in one or more mesogen-containing layers.

The present invention relates to mesogen compounds that include first, second, and third mesogens, in which the first and second mesogens are connected by a first linking group (-L.sup.1-), and the second and third mesogens are connected by a second linking group (-L.sup.2-), as represented by the following Formula (I), and as graphically illustrated by Formula (Ia) of FIG. 1 of the drawing:
(Mesogen-1)-L.sup.1-(Mesogen-2)-L.sup.2-(Mesogen-3)  (I)
At least one of Mesogen-1, Mesogen-2, or Mesogen-3 include at least four cyclic groups. The linking groups -L.sup.1- and -L.sup.2- are each free of mesogen properties (are each non-mesogenic) and each independently have an average chain length of at least 20 bonds. The mesogen compounds are optionally polymerizable. The present invention also relates to liquid crystal compositions that include such mesogen compounds, and to optical elements that include such mesogen compounds, such as in one or more mesogen-containing layers.

A liquid crystal composition with which a light absorption anisotropic film having a high alignment degree can be formed. The light absorption anisotropic film is used with the liquid crystal composition, a laminate, and an image display device. The liquid crystal composition contains a linear polymer liquid crystalline compound having a repeating unit; a low-molecular-weight liquid crystalline compound having a maximum absorption wavelength of 390 nm or less in a solution; and a dichroic substance.