Kochi University of Technology

Tomohiro Tsuji

Shigeomi Chono

A liquid crystal motor, which makes use of the flow of liquid crystal, is provided. A mechanism for causing a flow of liquid crystal comprising (i) a channel 'L' defined by at least one wall surface 'B,' (ii) liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; which is put in the channel &#x201c;L&#x201d; and movable along said at least one wall surface &#x201c;B&#x201d;, and (iii) a means for turning the molecules &#x201c;m&#x201d; of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; in a plane intersecting said at least one wall surface &#x201c;B.&#x201d; The mechanism makes use of the flow of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; which is caused when the molecules &#x201c;m&#x201d; of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; are turned. When the means for turning the molecules &#x201c;m&#x201d; of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; turns the molecules &#x201c;m&#x201d; of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; in a plane intersecting said at least one wall surface &#x201c;B,&#x201d; the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; flows along said at least one wall surface &#x201c;B.&#x201d; The flow of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; can easily be utilized for making object-moving devices, sensors, actuators, etc.

Liquid crystal motor making use of flow of liquid crystal

A mechanism and a method for causing a flow of liquid crystal, which can be utilized industrially, and an object-moving mechanism, which makes use of the flow of liquid crystal, are provided. A mechanism for causing a flow of liquid crystal comprising (i) a channel 'L' defined by at lease one wall surface 'B,' (ii) liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; which is put in the channel &#x201c;L&#x201d; and movable along said at least one wall surface &#x201c;B&#x201d;, and (iii) a means for turning the molecules &#x201c;m&#x201d; of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; in a plane intersecting said at least one wall surface &#x201c;B.&#x201d; The mechanism makes use of the flow of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; which is caused when the molecules &#x201c;m&#x201d; of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; are turned. When the means for turning the molecules &#x201c;m&#x201d; of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; turns the molecules &#x201c;m&#x201d; of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; in a plane intersecting said at least one wall surface &#x201c;B,&#x201d; the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; flows along said at least one wall surface &#x201c;B.&#x201d; The flow of the liquid crystal &#x201c;LC&#x201d; can easily be utilized for making object-moving devices, sensors, actuators, etc.

Liquid crystal flow forming mechanism, method of forming same, and object moving mechanism using liquid crystal flow

In a rotating mechanism including a pair of membersandhaving opposed surfaces B which are opposed to each other and provided to be relatively movable in a state in which the opposed surfaces B are opposed to each other, a liquid crystal LC provided between the opposed surfaces B and B of the membersand, and liquid crystal molecule rotating means for rotating a liquid crystal molecule m of the liquid crystal LC in a crossing surface crossing one of the opposed surfaces B and B, the liquid crystal molecule rotating means includes a pair of orientation filmsandformed on the opposed surfaces B and B, and the orientation filmsandare subjected to a rubbing treatment in which directions of a rotation around an identical crossing line crossing the membersandare reverse to each other along a circumference of a circle having a center on the crossing line.

Growing community of inventors

Kami-gun, Japan

Tomohiro Tsuji