Thermo-optic liquid-crystal device for real-time display of animated images

摘要

The invention provides a liquid crystal imaging system which employs a transitory thermo-optic effect to permit notably the reproduction of T.V. images. This transitory effect is characterized by the fleeting appearance of scattering cybotactic zones in the transparent liquid phase of a mesomorphic material, at the very beginning of the transition to a nematic transparent ordered phase. The duration of the scattering period can be considerably shortened by subjecting the mesomorphic material layer to the action of an alternating electrical field.