How Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) Were Invented
This 1962 patent describes the first practical way to use organic liquid crystals to create a display that scatters light when an electric current is applied.
Original patent title: “Electro-optical elements utilizing an organic nematic compound”
This 1962 patent describes the first practical way to use organic liquid crystals to create a display that scatters light when an electric current is applied. Granted to RCA Corp in 1967 with 2 claims and 90 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The device uses two parallel plates spaced less than 500 microns apart, with the gap filled by an organic nematic mesomorphic compound, commonly known as a liquid crystal. One plate is transparent and the other is reflective, with conductive films on both to allow an electric current to pass through the material. When the electric field reaches a specific threshold, the molecules in the liquid crystal rearrange, causing the material to scatter light. This scattering effect changes the appearance of the display, allowing it to toggle between transparent and opaque states.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover color display technology, which requires additional filters not described here.
- Does not cover active-matrix displays (TFTs) that use individual transistors for each pixel.
- Does not cover the use of liquid crystals for anything other than light scattering (e.g., polarization-based twisting).
- Does not cover backlighting systems, as this design relies on reflecting ambient light.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The invention identified that a specific class of organic compounds (nematic liquid crystals) could be physically manipulated by an electric field to alter their optical properties, effectively creating a light valve.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Early digital watch displays
Calculator screens from the 1970s
Basic monochrome information displays
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is the foundational document for the entire LCD industry. It proved that liquid crystals could be used for electronic displays, moving them from a laboratory curiosity to a functional technology that eventually replaced bulky cathode ray tubes in everything from calculators to televisions.
Filed
November 9, 1962
Granted
May 30, 1967
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
While RCA originally developed this, the technology was rapidly advanced by companies like Sharp, Casio, and later Samsung and LG. Modern display manufacturers continue to build on the fundamental principles of controlling light through liquid crystal orientation.
Market impact
This patent triggered the transition from mechanical and vacuum-tube displays to solid-state electronic screens. It laid the groundwork for the multi-billion dollar flat-panel display market and enabled the miniaturization of portable electronics.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The device uses two parallel plates spaced less than 500 microns apart, with the gap filled by an organic nematic mesomorphic compound, commonly known as a liquid crystal. One plate is transparent and the other is reflective, with conductive films on both to allow an electric current to pass through the material. When the electric field reaches a specific threshold, the molecules in the liquid crystal rearrange, causing the material to scatter light. This scattering effect changes the appearance of the display, allowing it to toggle between transparent and opaque states.
The clever bit
The invention identified that a specific class of organic compounds (nematic liquid crystals) could be physically manipulated by an electric field to alter their optical properties, effectively creating a light valve.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover color display technology, which requires additional filters not described here.
- Does not cover active-matrix displays (TFTs) that use individual transistors for each pixel.
- Does not cover the use of liquid crystals for anything other than light scattering (e.g., polarization-based twisting).
- Does not cover backlighting systems, as this design relies on reflecting ambient light.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
39/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
1/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$27K – $86K
Midpoint $54K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
2 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Richard, W. (1967). How Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) Were Invented (U.S. Patent No. 3,322,485). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3322485/lcd-liquid-crystal-display
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) Were Invented cover?
This 1962 patent describes the first practical way to use organic liquid crystals to create a display that scatters light when an electric current is applied.
Who owns patent US 3322485?
RCA Corp owns this patent, granted in 1967.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 3322485 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 90 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is the foundational document for the entire LCD industry. It proved that liquid crystals could be used for electronic displays, moving them from a laboratory curiosity to a functional technology that eventually replaced bulky cathode ray tubes in everything from calculators to televisions.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover color display technology, which requires additional filters not described here.
Same assignee
More from RCA Corp
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