Homeotropic alignment layer

US7105209B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MERCK KGAA · DE

Inventors

• Michael Heckmeier · Bensheim, DE
• Melanie Klasen-Memmer · Heuchelheim, DE
• Georg Lüssem · Ober-Ramstadt, DE
• Kazuaki Tarumi · Seeheim-Jugenheim, DE
• David Coates · Bishop's Stortford, GB
• Owain Llyr Parri · Ferndown, GB
• Mark Verrall · Greenbush Avenue, GB
• Mark John Goulding · Woodside, GB
• Stephen Kitson · Bristol, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 22, 2001
• Grant date: Sep 12, 2006
• Expiry date: Jul 5, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F1/1393
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to an alignment layer comprising a polymerized liquid crystal material with homeotrophic orientation, to methods of its preparation, to polymerizable liquid crystal compositions and liquid crystal polymers used for the preparation of the alignment layer, to liquid crystal devices comprising the alignment layer, and to a method of controlling the electrooptical steepness of a liquid crystal display comprising at least one alignment layer by varying the surface anchoring energy of the alignment layer.