Liquid crystals tilted by light

Article Abstract:

The illumination of thin polymer films with polarized ultraviolet light provides molecular orientation control in liquid-crystal display systems. A combination of photolithography and photoalignment technique may enable designing of more complex liquid-crystal structures. The use of these techniques may lead to significant improvements in the image quality. The use of different techniques, such as adding birefringent compensators and alternative liquid-crystal configurations, improve the quality of images in display systems.

Polymer liquid crystals, Liquid crystalline polymers, Photolithography

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Out of the groove

Article Abstract:

It has been possible to make a liquid-crystal display (LCD) with lithographic grooves. The LCD's upper substrate is grooved and treated with a surfactant to make the liquid-crystal molecules orientate themselves perpendicular to the surface. Molecules at the lower substrate are orientated parallel to it and at 90 deg to the grooves in the grating above. This is achieved by using rubbed-polymer treatment. The liquid-crystal material in the new cells is of a sort that tends to align perpendicular to an electric field.

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Wiping out dirty displays

Article Abstract:

Researchers at IBM have developed a cleaner, more reliable alternative for aligning the crystals during the manufacture of liquid crystal displays and so producing a clear display. At present, polymer films are rubbed with a roller covered in velvet cloth. The new process uses as low-energy ion beam.

Innovations, International Business Machines Corp., IBM, Ion bombardment, Ion beam irradiation

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