A method and apparatus are disclosed for maintaining a predetermined separation between the walls of light valves, especially when the pressure on the inside of the walls may be less than the pressure on the outside of the same walls (atmospheric pressure). To maintain this separation, a plurality of small chemically inert, non-deformable beads are added to the fluid suspension in the light valve. These beads which have at least one dimension which is the same as the desired spacing between the walls distribute themselves throughout the suspension to prevent the pressure differential from causing the walls to come closer together than the predetermined distance between them and thereby help to assure the proper operation of the light valve.
An indicating device having a fluid which can be switched between two optically different states and which fills up a cell chamber formed between two transparent support plates which are parallel to each other. The support plates are held at a predetermined distance from each other by a plurality of spacer elements of given size, and they are each provided with an electrically conductive layer, which layers are located opposite each other. The volume of the cell chamber can be varied in accordance with a temperature-dependent change in the volume of the fluid filling it.
A liquid crystal device comprising a pair of base plates and a ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the base plates. The pair of base plates being secured to each other to leave a spacing which is small enough to release the spiral structure of the ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal due to the wall effect of the base plates. Fibrous spacers having a diameter d (.mu.m) and an average length l satisfying the relationship of 3.ltoreq.l/d.ltoreq.100 are disposed together with the ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal.
An electrode termination assembly for use on a display device wherein the amount of space required for the pin connector to attach to the display device is greatly reduced, the physical and electrical integrity of the assembly is greatly enhanced and the cost of the assembly is reduced as compared to present assemblies for pin connectors. An adhesive material having conductive particles is used to not only physically support and attach the connector pins to the display, but also electrically connect the connector pins to electrode pads on the display.
A molded transparent plastic specimen slide for use in the microscopic examination of biological samples such as blood includes a molded slide having a pattern of micronsize projections extending from the surface which support a glass cover plate in spaced parallel relation to the slide to thereby precisely control the specimen thickness and facilitate the examination of uniform, extremely thin samples. The slide is molded of an optically clear, readily wettable rigid plastic material such as an acrylic resin. The optical clarity of the slide and cover plate materials coupled with the extremely thin cover plate and sample layer enables accurate viewing of the sample specimen on any interference phase contrast or bright field microscope.
A method is disclosed for the manufacture of cells having a hollow space adapted to lodge a liquid crystal, such cells being used, for example, in various display devices. The essence of the method is to induce in the supporting members forming the walls of the cell an elastic deformation and to maintain the confronting cell surfaces pressed together with the interposition of appropriate spreaders. Such elastic deformation is originated by imparting an appropriate curvature to at least one of the supporting members prior to uniting them and welding them together. Critical values for the radius of curvature are given, as well as for the spreader interspaces.
