Hughes Aircraft Company

Yat-Shir Lee

Michael J Little

Hugh L Garvin

John E Jensen

Paul Y Hsieh

Electrode surfaces are coated with a passivating material (silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide or titanium dioxide) or with a reflecting material (chromium or chromium and gold) or with a special alignment material (carbon) using standard vacuum sputtering, vacuum evaporation, electrodeposition, or chemical vapor deposition techniques. After sufficient thickness of material has been deposited, the substrate is exposed to a broad or narrow beam of neutralized argon ions of a few kilo-electron-volts energy. The beam of argon ions is incident at a grazing angle to the surface, typically 20.degree.. Exposure of the overcoating results in a microscopic condition believed to comprise a 'corrugated' surface with 'ridges' and 'valleys' parallel to the direction of the incident beam. These microscopically fine grooves or streaks are (1) reproducibly effective in causing parallel alignment of the liquid crystal molecules, (2) are durable to repeated cleaning procedures and air-bake treatments, and (3) are amenable to production applications in conjunction with vacuum deposition equipment.

Means and method for inducing uniform parallel alignment of liquid

This invention is directed to liquid crystal mixtures which have an extended operating range and require a low operating voltage. They are white in color and stable to atmospheric oxygen, moisture, and light. Because of their superior properties, they are useful in electro-optical displays, especially in liquid crystal watches and pocket-size calculators.

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Costa Mesa, CA, United States of America

Yat-Shir Lee