Compounds and methods for doping liquid crystal hosts
US5989451A · kind A · utility
8Cited by
20References
25Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 6, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 6, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC09K19/0225
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention provides chiral thioindigo compounds for doping smectic liquid crystal hosts, wherein the compounds modulate a chiral bulk property of an induced chiral smectic liquid crystal phase upon irradiation at a wavelength in the visible range. Modulation of the chiral bulk property is effected by reversible trans-cis photoisomerization of the compound upon irradiation. The compounds maintain their rod-like shape in both isomeric forms, and hence do not destabilize the chiral smectic liquid crystal phase. Compounds according to the invention are useful in optical devices such as optical switches, displays, and memory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.