The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 25, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1996
Katsutoshi Nakamura, Hiratsuka, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An aligning method of a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing a phase transition series of isotropic phase, smectic phase, and chiral smectic phase in this order on temperature decrease is provided. In the aligning method, the chiral smectic liquid crystal is disposed between a pair of electrode plates at least one of which is provided with an alignment control layer, preferably one having been subjected to a uniaxial aligning treatment (e.g., rubbing), and then is subjected to a treatment including a cycle of heating and cooling in temperatures ranging between a lower limit temperature showing chiral smectic phase and an upper limit temperature showing isotropic phase and smectic phase in mixture. The upper limit temperature may preferably be below an isotropic-smectic phase transition temperature by at most 3.degree. C., particularly at most 1.degree. C. The aligning method is effective in improving an alignment characteristic of liquid crystal molecules to provide a uniform alignment state free from an aligning defect.