Low-gamma shift asymmetrical double-side blue-phase liquid crystal display

ABSTRACT

A single-domain blue-phase liquid crystal display (BPLCD), which has asymmetrical double-side electrode structure, is proposed to reduce gamma shift. Firstly, the electro-optical curve and gamma shift of the proposed BPLCD are discussed under the comparison with conventional in-plane switching (IPS) BPLCD. And then, its gamma shift is investigated under various conditions. Compared with the conventional IPS-BPLCD, the operating voltage can be reduced by ~31%, and the transmittance is increased by ~6%. The indistinguishable gamma shift can be obtained under various electrodes’ sizes, when the cell gap is appropriate. The results also indicate that if the electrodes’ height and Kerr constant of BPLC increase, the operating voltage can be further reduced (only 9.6 V in this work), and the gamma shift almost do not change. Moreover, a certain misalignment between the top and bottom glasses are permitted, which is good for reducing the fabrication difficulty. In terms of viewing angle, the proposed BPLCD has an average contrast ratio of ~5000:1, and the gamma shifts at full viewing angles are all indistinguishable.     

A liquid crystal cell with double-side protrusion electrodes for fast response and low-voltage operation

We propose a homogeneously aligned liquid crystal (LC) cell with double-side protrusion electrodes for fast response and low-voltage operation. In the proposed device, both the bottom and top substrates have pixel electrodes to generate the fringe electric field. Because the penetration depth of the electric field is increased owing to the protrusion electrodes, the operating voltage is very low and the turn-on time is dramatically reduced compared with the conventional in-plane switching (IPS) mode. Moreover, LC molecules anchored strongly to the penetrated protrusion electrodes on both substrates exert a strong restoring force, resulting in a fast turn-off time. We found that the total response time of the LC cell with the proposed structure is three times faster than that of the conventional IPS mode.     

Biaxial film design for full-colour,wide-view and high-contrast blue phase liquid crystal displays

To achieve full-colour, wide-view and high-contrast blue phase liquid crystal display (BPLCD), the compensated biaxial film is analysed in this paper. The dispersion of birefringence affects the light leakage of dark state and then affects the viewing angle and the contrast ratio at large polar viewing angle. Iso-transmission of dark state for BPLCD without compensational film, with conventional or wide-band biaxial film, is simulated. The simulated results show that the wide-band biaxial film is good for obtaining a BPLCD with excellent viewing angle and high-contrast ratio.     

Low-voltage blue-phase liquid crystal display with single-penetration electrodes

A blue-phase liquid crystal display (BPLCD) with single–penetration (S-P) electrodes is proposed to reduce the operating voltage. X-shape inclined-electric field is induced by the S-P electrodes with 2 ~ 3 μm height, which can lower the operating voltage by ~45%, and improve the transmittance compared with BPLCD with conventional in-plane electrodes. Moreover, the wide viewing angle and very small image distortion index can be obtained in this structure with a half-wave biaxial film. The proposed structure shows simple etching control and easy one-drop filling process of blue-phase liquid crystal compared with dual-convex-penetration electrodes.     

High-frame-rate liquid crystal phase modulator for augmented reality displays

We optimise a new liquid crystal mixture with wide nematic range, high birefringence (Δn), high resistivity, moderate dielectric anisotropy (?ε) and relatively low rotational viscosity for augmented reality display applications. High Δn and large Δε allow a thin cell gap (d ≈ 1.5 μm) to be employed in a reflective liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCoS) device to achieve 2π phase change at 5 V and 2.87 ms average phase-to-phase response time at 40°C without complicated overdrive circuitry. Such a fast response time enables an LCoS panel to achieve 240 Hz frame rate for field sequential colour operation to avoid image flickering.     

Double-layer liquid crystal lens array with composited dielectric layer

ABSTRACT

A double-layer liquid crystal (LC) lens array with composited dielectric layer is proposed. In our design, a spatially non-uniform electric field is generated between the strip electrodes, resulting in a gradient refractive index distribution in the LC layer. Since the upper and lower parts of the LC lens array both adopt a composite dielectric layer, the operation voltage of the LC lens array is effectively reduced. In terms of LC lenslet, the double-layer design doubles the phase difference between the centre and the periphery of the LC layer, thereby reducing the focal length of the LC lens array. In addition, the shortest focal length (~1.78 mm) of the LC lens array is obtained at V = 3.3 V, and the LC lens array has a large focusing range.     

Low voltage blue-phase liquid crystal display with insulating protrusion sandwiched between dual-layer electrodes

In order to lower the operating voltage of blue-phase liquid crystal display (BPLCD), a BPLCD with insulating protrusion, which is sandwiched between dual-layer electrodes, is proposed. There are four electrodes in this structure; thus, we investigate different driving methods to find a proper driving method. The effect of protrusion’s dielectric constant on operating voltage of the proposed BPLCD is explored under various electrodes’ parameters. As a result, the operating voltage of the proposed BPLCD with protrusion’s dielectric constant of 1,000 is 9.8 V, which is reduced by ~ 4.67× compared with that of conventional in-plane switching (IPS) BPLCD (45.8 V). Moreover, the zigzag electrode structure is adopted to reduce the large off-axis image distortion index. Besides, the azimuth distortion index is defined to describe the gamma shift between the minimum and maximum gamma shift curves at a certain polar angle. The results show that the off-axis image distortion index can be reduced to 0.0834, the azimuth distortion index is 0.0810 and the viewing cone of contrast ratio larger than 1,000:1 is over 50ºas the zigzag proposed BPLCD is used.     

A polarisation-free blue phase liquid crystal lens with enhanced tunable focal length range

A polarisation-free blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) lens with enhanced tunable focal length range is proposed. A matched conventional glass lens is introduced on a BPLC lens to increase the range of the tunable focal length. The focal length of the BPLC lens can be switched from positive to negative, the negative lens-like phase profile can be neutralised by the conventional glass lens to get an infinity focal length and the positive lens-like phase profile can be enhanced by the conventional glass lens to get a shorter focal length. The minimum focal length can be decreased to almost half of that after the proposed method is adopted in our simulation. Moreover, the proposed BPLC lens exhibits a good polarisation-free feature and the optical effect is relatively good.     

A multifunctional blue phase liquid crystal lens based on multi-electrode structure

A blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) lens with multifunction using multi-electrode structure and a dielectric layer with high dielectric constant is proposed. The refractive index of the BPLC can be changed flexibly in different regions. Some functional or technical requirements such as switch between positive and negative lenses can be achieved. The lens reveals a good parabolic refractive index distribution and focus adjustment capacity simultaneously. The applied voltage on the electrodes is regular and computable. To decrease the applied voltage of the proposed lens with a large diameter, a drive-type adopted Fresnel lens is introduced.     

Study of polymer-stabilised blue phase liquid crystal on a single substrate

One outstanding feature of the polymer-stabilised blue phase (PSBP) is that it is unnecessary to form an alignment film, which requires a high-temperature baking process. Therefore, PSBPs may enable flexible liquid crystal displays (LCDs) on plastic substrates. In this study, polymer stabilisation of a blue phase (BP) on a single substrate was performed without using a conventional sandwich-type cell, and the electro-optical properties are demonstrated to be similar to those of a sandwich-type PSBP LCD cell. It was experimentally shown that the oxygen which inhibits radical polymerisation is required to be excluded in order to complete the polymer stabilisation in blue phase.     

Electro-optics of polymer-stabilised blue phase liquid crystal in in-plane switching mode

In the present work, polymer-stabilised blue phase liquid crystal ***(PS-BPLC) that exhibit the blue phase (BP) in a temperature range of 312.15 K to 298.15 K has been prepared. The textural and electro-optic studies were performed in the BP range using an in-plane switching (IPS) cell. Platelet-type textures of cubic BP having an average domain size of ~12 µm were observed. The on-state voltage increased with increasing the temperature due to reduced value of the Kerr constant. Further, the hysteresis was found to be reduced from 19.2% to 5.1% by operating the PS-BPLC sample cell at an elevated temperature.     

High transmittance blue-phase liquid crystal displays with slit-shaped electrode

A blue-phase liquid crystal displays (BP-LCDs) with slit-shaped pixel and common electrodes structure is proposed to increase the transmittance. It generates not only in plane field between the pixel electrodes, but also fringe field above the common electrodes. As a result, the high transmittance is obtained. The aperture ratio is also improved because of the capacitor between the pixel and common electrodes.     

Photoinduced liquid crystal blue phase by bent-shaped cis isomer of the azobenzene doped in chiral nematic liquid crystal

A photoresponsive azobenzene molecule DCAZO2 with two cholesteryl groups linked to both sides of the azobenzene group is doped in a mixture of nematic liquid crystal E7 and chiral dopant S811 (61.9 wt% E7, 36.1 wt% S811 and 2.0 wt% DCAZO2). Cooled from isotropic phase to 33.0°C, chiral nematic liquid crystal (N*LC) was formed in the sample and then the temperature was kept unchanged at 33.0°C. UV light irradiation induces the trans–cis photoisomerisation and thus an obvious phase transition. When the azobenzene groups isomerise to a cis-saturated state, the UV light was turned off and the white light was turned on at the same time. The bent-shaped cis isomer then turns back to the planar trans isomer gradually. A blue–green platelet texture representing cubic blue phase (BP) was observed and the size of the platelets was increased along with the cis–trans isomerisation. UV–vis absorption spectra indicate that the photoinduced BP exists when the isomerisation degree is between 79% and 18%, and further cis–trans isomerisation change BP back into N*LC. The large geometric structure of the cholesteryl groups and the large bent angle θ of the cis isomer are supposed to be responsible for the interesting result.     

Low-voltage blue-phase liquid crystal display with diamond-shape electrodes

We propose a new electrode configuration, called diamond-shape in-plane switching, to lower the operation voltage of polymer-stabilised blue-phase liquid crystal (BPLC) displays (BPLCDs). The electrode structure is modified from conventional protruded IPS, where the strip protrusion is changed to diamond shape. By optimising the electrode gap and diamond length, we are able to obtain peak transmittance over 75% at 15 V. It enables single thin-film transistor (TFT) driving, and more importantly, this is based on an industrially proven BPLC material. That means good long-term stability, adequate TFT charging time for high-resolution displays and sub-millisecond response time and acceptable voltage-holding ratio for field sequential displays can be achieved simultaneously. Our device design helps accelerate the emergence of the long-awaited BPLCDs.     

Ionic impurities in nematic liquid crystal displays

This paper shows that the dielectric anisotropy of conductivity in cells composed of nematic liquid crystal E7 (NLC-E7) is related to the fact that the diffusion constant (D) is greater in a cell with homeotropic alignment than in one with homogeneous alignment (D _∥ > D _⊥). This behaviour can be understood by the study of the dielectric properties of the NLC based on the ionic hopping behaviour and on the analysis of the electrical conductivity in relation to the voltage applied.     

Photoaligned bistable twisted nematic liquid crystal displays

Novel, optically bistable, twisted nematic liquid crystal display configurations obtained using photoaligned and photopatterned substrates are presented. Switching by 360° between two stable twist configurations is shown. Undesired intermediate states which reduce bistability are effectively suppressed by photopatterned domains around picture elements which exhibit different azimuthal- and zenithal-aligning directions. The high degree of stability of the new, domain-stabilized bistable configurations enables the formation of nematic displays with inherent long term optical memory. Display switching at a few volts is demonstrated.     

Influence of monomer structure on the properties of blue phase liquid crystal

In this paper, four kinds of polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals (PS-BPLCs) with different monomer were designed and prepared. The morphology, temperature ranges and electro-optical properties of the blue phase were studied and discussed. The temperature ranges of four BPLCs are more than 90°C, and all samples can be stabilized well at room temperature. Referring to electro-optical performance, on-state voltage for mono-functional monomers systems is reduced from 75 V to 65 V at 497 nm. On-state voltage for tri-functional monomers systems is reduced from 107 V to 85 V at 497 nm. These results are helpful to the application of display and photonic devices.     

Oligothiophene dyes for guest-host liquid crystal displays

Three types of donor-acceptor-substituted bithiophene and terthiophene compounds were studied as dichroic dyes, which were dissolved in liquid crystals. These compounds were found to have large absorption coefficients, high dichroic ratios, excellent hues, and to be very attractive for guest-host-type liquid crystal displays. They also showed good solvatochromic behaviour in liquid crystal and cyclohexane solutions. These properties were found to be closely related to the solubilities of these compounds in liquid crystals. One donor-acceptorsubstituted bithiophene was found to behave as a polarity indicator in various kinds of liquid crystal.     

Dynamic simulation of Pi-cell liquid crystal displays

The dynamics of π-cell liquid crystal displays was studied by detailed computer simulation. The time evolution of the director configuration and the velocity of flow reveals the mechanism of the fast response of π-cells. The effect of pretilt angle on the dynamics of π-cells was also studied.     

Electro-optical properties of carbon nanotube-doped polymer-stabilised blue phase liquid crystal IPS cell

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-doped polymer-stabilised blue phase (PSBP) liquid crystal cells driven by an in-plane field are fabricated. Their electro-optical properties are investigated for both single-wall and multiwall CNT dopants. A small amount of CNT dopants in PSBP liquid crystals leads to broadening the blue phase temperature range over 42°C and stabilising the reflection wavelength against temperature changes. A lower Kerr constant and threshold voltage are obtained for a higher CNT concentration. Higher CNT concentrations lead to an increase in the elastic constant; therefore, the rise time of CNT-doped PSBP liquid crystal cells increases and decay time decreases.