The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a homogeneous aligned liquid crystal polymer film, a polymer film obtainable from the corresponding method of production, and to the use of such polymer film for optical components and electro-optical decorative, as well as to components and devices comprising such polymer film.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical laminate that has excellent uniformity and is capable of suppressing a change in tint of reflected light during black display in a case where the optical laminate is used for an image display device, and an image display device formed of the optical laminate.

The optical laminate is an optical laminate including a light absorption anisotropic layer containing a dichroic substance, a photo-alignment film, and a base material in order, in which the photo-alignment film contains a specific compound having a refractive index of 1.55 to 1.70, and the base material has a glass transition temperature of 150° C. or higher.

A display device with a high aperture ratio is provided. The display device includes, in a pixel, a first transistor, a second transistor, a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer, a conductive layer, a pixel electrode, a layer containing a liquid crystal material, and a common electrode. The first insulating layer is positioned over a channel formation region of the first transistor. The conductive layer is positioned over the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer is positioned over the first transistor, the second transistor, the first insulating layer, and the conductive layer. The pixel electrode is positioned over the second insulating layer, the layer containing a liquid crystal material is positioned over the pixel electrode, and the common electrode is positioned over the layer containing a liquid crystal material. The common electrode overlaps with the conductive layer with the layer containing a liquid crystal material and the pixel electrode therebetween. The pixel includes a first connection portion where the conductive layer is electrically connected to the first transistor and a second connection portion where the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the second transistor. The conductive layer, the pixel electrode, and the common electrode each have a function of transmitting visible light.

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 display device includes a first substrate, a first alignment layer, a second substrate, a second alignment layer, and a display medium. The first alignment layer is disposed on the first substrate. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The second alignment layer is disposed on the second substrate, and the first and second alignment layers are located between the first and second substrates. The display medium is located between the first and second alignment layers, where a surface of the first alignment layer facing the display medium and a surface of the second alignment layer facing the display medium have topographies with irregular areas surrounded by micro-structures. Besides, a manufacturing method of the display device is also provided.

A display device with a high aperture ratio is provided. The display device includes, in a pixel, a first transistor, a second transistor, a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer, a conductive layer, a pixel electrode, a layer containing a liquid crystal material, and a common electrode. The first insulating layer is positioned over a channel formation region of the first transistor. The conductive layer is positioned over the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer is positioned over the first transistor, the second transistor, the first insulating layer, and the conductive layer. The pixel electrode is positioned over the second insulating layer, the layer containing a liquid crystal material is positioned over the pixel electrode, and the common electrode is positioned over the layer containing a liquid crystal material. The common electrode overlaps with the conductive layer with the layer containing a liquid crystal material and the pixel electrode therebetween. The pixel includes a first connection portion where the conductive layer is electrically connected to the first transistor and a second connection portion where the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the second transistor. The conductive layer, the pixel electrode, and the common electrode each have a function of transmitting visible light.

Suggested are new adhesion promoters, which are particular suitable for use in displays. Its inclusion in the polymerisable LC mixture results in an excellent adhesion on substrate without colouration over time i.e. compared to amino siloxanes. The new additives have no effect on alignment of LC on the substrate while improving the adhesion.

A polymerisable LC material comprising at least one di- or multireactive mesogenic compound and at least one compound of formula CO-1, ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3, and n have the meanings as given in claim 1. Furthermore, a method for preparation of the LC material, a polymer film with improved thermal durability obtainable from the corresponding polymerisable LC material, a method of preparation of such polymer film, and the use of such polymer film and said polymerisable LC material for optical, electro-optical, decorative or security devices.

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): (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.

Provided is a composition containing a compound of formula (1), and a polymerizable liquid crystal compound or a liquid crystalline polymer compound. n represents 1 or 2; Ar.sup.1, Ar.sup.2, and Ar.sup.3 each represent a 1,4-phenylene group or a divalent sulfur-containing aromatic heterocyclic group; At least one of Art and Ar.sup.2 has a fluorine atom; R.sup.1 represents a single bond or a group selected from —OC(═O)—, —C(═O)O—, —C≡C—, —CH═CH—, —CH═N—, —N═N—, and —N═CH—; R.sup.2 represents an alkylamino group or an alkoxy group; R.sup.3 represents a group selected from an alkanediyl group, an alkanediyloxy group, an alkanediyloxycarbonyl group, and an alkanediylcarbonyloxy group; and R.sup.4 represents a polymerizable group or a hydrogen atom.

R.sup.4—R.sup.3—Ar.sup.1—(—R.sup.1—Ar.sup.2—).sub.n—N═N—Ar—R.sup.2   (1)