Displaytech, Inc.

University Research Corporation

University of Colorado

University Patents, Inc.

Other

David M Walba

Michael D Wand

Rohini T Vohra

William N Thurmes

James A Rego

Maria B Ros

Teresa Sierra

Xin Hua Chen

Uwe Muller

Homaune A Razavi

Kirk F Eidman

Daniel J Dyer

Peter Cobben

Sean D Monahan

Noel A Clark

Jiuzhi Xue

Bengt Otterholm

Charles A Liberko

A novel approach for generating FLC electro-optics with gray-scale resolution includes using FLC material that is: (i.) capable of electrostatic V-shape switching, (ii.) capable of optical latching, and (iii.) not requiring DC balance.

Liquid crystal devices for information display and photonics applications

The present disclosure is for improved organic semiconductors and improved organic photovoltaics. Liquid crystalline bent-core molecules in the B4 subphase of the present disclosure may be incorporated into improved organic semiconductors. Liquid crystalline bent-core molecules in the B4 subphase of the present disclosure may be incorporated into improved organic photovoltaics that may have improved quantum efficiencies over pre-existing organic photovoltaics.

Organic photovotaics

The present disclosure includes a method that allows one to obtain high quality alignment of nematic or smectic liquid crystal (LC) polymer glasses in thin films. The present disclosure also includes thin films of aligned smectic or nematic LC main-chain polymer glasses, including aligned chiral smectic C* ferroelectric LC main-chain polymer glasses. The disclosure also includes electro-optical devices, including electro-optical devices comprising aligned chiral smectic C* ferroelectric LC main-chain polymer glasses.

Aligned liquid crystal thin films and glasses

The disclosure provides methods for the determination of the enantiomeric excess of chiral compounds. The methods involve doping a chiral analyte into an achiral liquid crystal host to form a chiral dopant/host liquid crystal mixture. An electro-optic signature of the mixture is then determined and is used to calculate the enantiomeric excess of the chiral analyte. The disclosure also provides systems for performing the disclosed methods of determining enantiomeric excess.

Methods and apparatus for detection of molecular chirality

Bistable and analog FLC devices employing chiral nonracemic liquid crystal materials exhibiting de Vries smectic A phases. The invention provides certain liquid crystal material that can be employed in both bistable and analog device configurations. The invention also provides a method for identifying liquid crystal materials that will exhibit both bookshelf structure in SSFLC cells and provide V-shaped switching in an analog device configuration.

Ferroelectric liquid crystal devices using materials with a de Vries smectic A phase

This invention provides LC compositions useful as birefringent materials in electrooptic devices which exhibit zero or low negatively sloped birefringence dispersioon (e.g., exhibiting positive birefringence dispersion significantly lower than that of currently available LC compositions) or more preferably positively sloped birefringence dispersion in which birefringence of the material increases with wavelength. The invention provides compounds useful as components of LC compositions which exhibit negative birefringence where n is higher than n . The compounds of this invention are dimers of LC-like compounds in which the monomers are linked to each other through a high birefringence moiety (dimerization linker). The LC monomers consist of an LC core and one or two tail groups. Preferred monomers for this invention have low birefringence in comparison to the birefringence of the monomer linking moiety. The dimers have normal positive birefringence dispersion to have birefringence that is lower in absolute value at longer wavelengths. But since they have negative birefringence, their birefringence actually increases (i.e., goes less negative) as wavelength increases.

Mesogenic materials with anomalous birefringence dispersion and high second order susceptibility (X(2))

This invention provides LC compositions useful as birefringent materials in electrooptic devices which exhibit zero or low negatively sloped birefringence dispersion (e.g., exhibiting positive birefringence dispersion significantly lower than that of currently available LC compositions) or more preferably positively sloped birefringence dispersion in which birefringence of the material increases with wavelength. The invention provides compounds useful as components of LC compositions which exhibit negative birefringence where n.sub.o is higher than n.sub.e. The compounds of this invention are dimers of LC-like compounds in which the monomers are linked to each other through a high birefringence moiety (dimerization linker). The LC monomers consist of an LC core and one or two tail groups. Preferred monomers for this invention have low birefringence in comparison to the birefrigence of the monomer linking moiety. The dimers have normal positive birefringence dispersion to have birefringence that is lower in absolute value at longer wavelengths. But since they have negative birefringence, their birefringence actually increases (i.e., goes less negative) as wavelength increases.

Mesogenic materials with anomalous birefringence dispersion and high

Chiral nonracemic molecules which are useful as high tilt, high polarization and/or high birefringence FLC materials or are useful as components of such FLC materials and which have the following general structure are provided:

High tilt ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds and compositions

This invention provides chiral, non-racemic compounds and liquid crystal compositions comprising such compounds. The compounds of this invention include those having the formula: ##STR1## wherein k=0 or 1 and when k=1, B=COO, OOC, --C.tbd.C--, or --C.tbd.C--C.tbd.C--; X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 are either H, an electron donor or an electron acceptor where at least one of the groups X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3 or X.sub.4 is an electron acceptor and at least one of these groups is an electron donor or H and when one of X.sub.1 or X.sub.3 is an electron donor or H, the other is an electron acceptor and when one of X.sub.2 or X.sub.4 is an electron donor or H, the other is an electron acceptor; and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be various substituted and unsubstituted alkanes and monoalkenes. Compounds provided include those where one of R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is a chiral non-racemic tail group, particularly a group selected from --O--C*H(CH.sub.3)R.sub.c, --O--C*H(CH.sub.3)COOR.sub.d, and --O--CH.sub.2 C*HF--C*HF--R.sub.e in which the * indicates an asymmetric carbon enriched in one stereoconfiguration where R.sub.c, R.sub.d, and R.sub.e can be various substituted and unsubstituted alkanes and monoalkenes. The compounds of this invention are useful in the preparation of FLC mixtures and as non-linear optical materials.

Ferroelectric liquid crystals for nonlinear optics applications

This invention provides chiral nonracemic compound of formula: ##STR1## wherein n and m are 0 or 1, but one of n or m must be 1; k=0 or 1; B=COO or OOC; X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 are either H, an electron donor or an electron acceptor where at least one of the groups X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3 or X.sub.4 is an electron acceptor and at least one of these groups is an electron donor and when one of X.sub.1 or X.sub.3 is an electron donor, the other is an electro a acceptor and when one of X.sub.2 or X.sub.4 is an electron donor, the other is an electron acceptor; and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be various substituted and unsubstituted alkanes and monoalkenes. Compounds provided include those where one of R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is a chiral non-racemic tail group, particularly a group selected from --O--C.sup.* H(CH.sub.3)R.sub.c, --O--C.sup.* H(CH.sub.3)COOR.sub.d, and --O--CH.sub.2 C.sup.* HF--C.sup.* HF--R.sub.2 in which the .sup.* indicates an asymmetric carbon enriched in one stereoconfiguration where R.sub.c, R.sub.d, and R.sub.e can be various substituted and unsubstituted alkanes and monoalkenes. The compounds of this invention are useful in the preparation of FLC mixtures and non-linear optical materials.

A method of aligning liquid crystals in the construction of liquid crystal cell for use in optical devices is provided. The method involves formation of a self-assembled monolayer on substrates used to form the cells. The substrate having the monolayer are then rubbed in one direction. Two substrates are combined with rubbing directions anti-parallel and spaced to form a cell. A liquid crystal is then inserted and aligned between the substrates. High quality alignment is achieved with this method.

Self-assembled monolayers for liquid crystal alignment

The subject application discloses chiral nonracemic compositions of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an achiral tail of two to sixteen carbons; Ar is an achiral FLC core of at least two rings; * denotes a chiral or potentially chiral carbon; Q and D are H or a methyl group, provided that q and D are not both methyl; X and Z are halides and Y is H or a halide; and R.sub.2 is one to ten carbon atoms. The --O--C*HQ--C*DX--C*HY-- segment comprises the chiral proximal segment of the chiral tail. Z can be an ortho halide alone, or ortho and meta halides on adjacent carbons on the aromatic ring of the core adjacent to the proximal segment. R.sub.2 is the distal segment of the chiral tail. The proximal segment is selected from the diastereomers and enantiomers: ##STR2##

Ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds containing halogenated cores and

Chiral, nonracemic compounds of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein m and n are either both zero, both equal one or n is equal to one and m is equal to zero, X and Y and Z are halogens, R' is an alkyl, alkoxyl, alkenyl, thioalkyl, thioether, ether, or alkylsilyl group containing three to fifteen carbon atoms, and R is an alkyl group having one to fifteen carbon atoms and where Ar is:

Ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds containing chiral haloalkoxy tail

The subject application discloses chiral nonracemic compositions of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an achiral tail of two to sixteen carbons; Ar is an achiral FLC core of at least two rings; * denotes a chiral or potentially chiral carbon; Q is H or a methyl group; X and Z are halides and Y is H or a halide; and R.sub.2 is one to ten carbon atoms. The --O--C*HQ--C*HX--C*HY-- segment comprises the chiral proximal segment of the chiral tail. Z can be an ortho halide alone, or ortho and meta halides on adjacent carbons on the aromatic ring of the core adjacent to the proximal segment. R.sub.2 is the distal segment of the chiral tail. The proximal segment is selected from the diastereomers and enantiomers:

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

David M Walba