초록 ▼

A liquid crystal device comprises of a pair of opposed substrates defining a cell gap. Each substrate has an electrode disposed on a surface facing the other substrate. A plurality of spacers are randomly disposed in the cell gap and extend from one substrate to the other substrate, wherein a polyme

A liquid crystal device comprises of a pair of opposed substrates defining a cell gap. Each substrate has an electrode disposed on a surface facing the other substrate. A plurality of spacers are randomly disposed in the cell gap and extend from one substrate to the other substrate, wherein a polymerization enhancing or initiating compound is not disposed on the surface of the spacers. Polymer columns are randomly disposed between the opposed substrates, extending from one substrate to the other, at least a portion of which are disposed around and immobilize the spacers in the cell gap. A liquid crystal material is disposed in the cell gap. A method for making a liquid crystal device is also provided. The internal columnar structures provide stability against mechanical pressure enabling the fabrication of durable, flexible LC display devices using plastic substrates for applications in portable and handheld devices.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A liquid crystal device comprising: a pair of opposed substrates, the opposing surfaces of the substrates defining a cell gap between the opposed substrates, each substrate having an electrode disposed on a surface facing the other substrate, the substrates being flexible substrates; a

We claim: 1. A liquid crystal device comprising: a pair of opposed substrates, the opposing surfaces of the substrates defining a cell gap between the opposed substrates, each substrate having an electrode disposed on a surface facing the other substrate, the substrates being flexible substrates; a plurality of spacers randomly disposed in the cell gap and extending from one substrate to the other substrate, wherein a polymerization enhancing or initiating compound is not disposed on the surface of the spacers; polymer columns randomly disposed between the opposed substrates, extending from one substrate to the other substrate, at least a portion of which are disposed round the spacers and immobilizing the spacers in the cell gap; and a liquid crystal material disposed in the cell gap; wherein neither of the opposing surfaces of the substrates defining the cell gap between the opposed substrates is modified or patterned to control the locations of the polymer columns. 2. The liquid crystal device of claim 1, additionally comprising an alignment material disposed on at least one of the surfaces of the substrates which face the other substrate. 3. The liquid crystal device of claim 2, wherein the alignment material comprises side-chain or main-chain polar groups. 4. The liquid crystal device of claim 2, wherein the alignment material comprises non-polar material. 5. The liquid crystal device of claim 2, wherein the alignment material is a non-polar material and the liquid crystal material is non-polar. 6. The liquid crystal device of claim 2, wherein the alignment layer is a polar material and the liquid crystal material is a polar material. 7. The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the spacers are selected from the group consisting of glass fibers and beads. 8. The liquid crystal device of claim 1, wherein the polymer columns immobilize the spacers in the cell gap to keep The spacers from moving and to maintain the cell thickness during bending or other deformation of The flexible substrates. 9. A liquid crystal device comprising: a pair of opposed substrates, the opposing surfaces of the substrates defining a cell gap between the opposed substrates, each substrate having an electrode disposed on a surface facing the other substrate; a liquid crystal material disposed in the cell gap, the liquid crystal material and a contacting layer of the pair of opposed substrates being one of polar and nonpolar; a plurality of spacers randomly disposed in the cell gap and extending from one substrate to the other substrate; and polymer columns formed around the spacers and immobilizing the spacers in the cell gap, a prepolymer from which the polymer columns are formed being the other of polar and nonpolar; wherein neither of the opposing surfaces of the substrates defining the cell gap between the opposed substrates is modified or patterned to control the locations of the polymer columns. 10. A liquid crystal device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the liquid crystal material and the contacting layer are polar, and the prepolymer is nonpolar. 11. A liquid crystal device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the spacers are made of a non-polar material. 12. A liquid crystal device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the spacers have a non-polar material layer disposed on their surfaces. 13. A liquid crystal device of claim 10, wherein the contacting layer comprises: an alignment material disposed on at least one of the surfaces of the substrates which face the other substrate, the alignment material being polar. 14. A liquid crystal device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the liquid crystal material and the contacting layer are nonpolar, and the prepolymer is polar. 15. A liquid crystal device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the spacers are made of a polar material. 16. A liquid crystal device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the spacers have a polar material layer disposed on their surfaces. 17. A liquid crystal device of claim 14, wherein the contacting layer comprises: an alignment material disposed on at least one of the surfaces of the substrates which face the other substrate, the alignment material being nonpolar. 18. A liquid crystal device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the pair of opposed substrates are flexible substrates, and the polymer columns immobilize the spacers in the cell gap to keep the spacers from moving and to maintain the cell thickness during bending or other deformation of the flexible substrates. 19. A liquid crystal device comprising: a pair of opposed substrates, The opposing surfaces of the substrates defining a cell gap between the opposed substrates, each substrate having an electrode disposed on a surface facing the other substrate, neither of the opposing surfaces of the substrates defining the cell gap being patterned to control the locations of the polymer columns; a plurality of spacers randomly disposed in the cell gap and extending from one substrate to the other substrate, wherein a polymerization enhancing or initiating compound is not disposed on the surface of the spacers; polymer columns randomly disposed between the opposed substrates, extending from one substrate to the other substrate, at least a portion of which are disposed around the spacers and immobilizing the spacers in the cell gap; and a liquid crystal material disposed in the cell gap.