Analytical approach to V-shaped characteristics in antiferroelectric liquid crystal displays

Not only in ferroelectric liquid crystal displays (LCDs), but also in antiferroelectric LCDs, grey levels are possible by actively addressing the ‘continuous director rotation mode’. For ferroelectric LCDs this was shown qualitatively and quantitatively in previous articles. In this article it is shown that an exact analytical approach is also possible for antiferroelectric LCDs. In two consecutive layers the director orientations are symmetric, and at zero voltage they are in a splayed state. The conditions on alignment layer thickness and interaction coefficients are related to those of ferroelectric liquid crystal but are easier to fulfill.     

Analytical approach to V-shaped characteristics in antiferroelectric liquid crystal displays

Not only in ferroelectric liquid crystal displays (LCDs), but also in antiferroelectric LCDs, grey levels are possible by actively addressing the 'continuous director rotation mode'. For ferroelectric LCDs this was shown qualitatively and quantitatively in previous articles. In this article it is shown that an exact analytical approach is also possible for antiferroelectric LCDs. In two consecutive layers the director orientations are symmetric, and at zero voltage they are in a splayed state. The conditions on alignment layer thickness and interaction coefficients are related to those of ferroelectric liquid crystal but are easier to fulfill.     

Hysteresis and ferroelectric liquid crystal displays

One cause of the hysteresis in the voltage-transmittance curve is polarization in the alignment layers brought about by the spontaneous polarization of FLC molecules. The hysteresis was reduced by increasing the conductivity of the alignment layers. The structural changes on switching were examined by measuring time-resolved shifts of FT-IR peaks of selected groups. The shifts of selected groups in the IR peak can be attributed to changes in the local dielectric constants of the ambient environment during switching by molecular orbital calculations. The orientation on switching in the SmC* phase was found to be similar to that in the N* phase.     

Optical transmission of chevron-type ferroelectric liquid crystal displays

Recent X-ray diffraction studies have revealed that the smectic C dielectric in ferroelectric liquid crystal displays quite generally has a chevron structure, instead of the simple bookshelf geometry. The influence of both the tilt of the smectic C layers and the discontinuity of the latter tilt are investigated here. An analytical expression is deduced for the transmission of normally incident light.     

A new set of high speed matrix addressing schemes for ferroelectric liquid crystal displays

A new set of matrix addressing schemes for ferroelectric liquid crystal displays is reported. The schemes use the minimum in the response time-voltage characteristic found in certain mixtures and deliver improved operating speed and contrast ratio compared with previously reported schemes operating in this mode.     

Single layer graphene: an alternative electrode material for ferroelectric liquid crystal based displays

We made comparative investigations on indium tin oxide (ITO) and single-layer graphene (SLG)-coated glass substrate as electrodes, specially for ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC)-based system. We experimentally examined the comparative behaviour of important electro-optical FLC parameters for ITO- and SLG-based sample cells. The parameters are observed to be almost similar for both the cells. Interestingly, the value of threshold voltage is observed lower in SLG-based cell in comparison to that of conventional ITO/ITO cell. The presented results will definitely add a step to prove the suitability of graphene to be used as transparent electrodes in FLC-based display devices.     

Optical symmetry in liquid crystal displays

Some authors include in their articles polar plots showing the directional dependence of either transmission or contrast ratio of a liquid crystal display (LCD). In some cases those plots have a symmetry axis; here we explain when and why it occurs.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Dynamic processes in ferroelectric liquid crystal filled cells

The switching process in a ferroelectric liquid crystal cell is of great interest. The precise way in which the optic tensor structure reorientates during switching between states is, however, difficult to determine. Here we consider the use of guided modes and surface plasmon-polaritons as techniques for the investigation of this. It is seen that because of the nature of the dynamic processes the guided mode data is inconclusive, but surface plasmon-polariton data show the surface reorientation mechanism.     

Dynamic processes in ferroelectric liquid crystal filled cells

Abstract

The switching process in a ferroelectric liquid crystal cell is of great interest. The precise way in which the optic tensor structure reorientates during switching between states is, however, difficult to determine. Here we consider the use of guided modes and surface plasmon-polaritons as techniques for the investigation of this. It is seen that because of the nature of the dynamic processes the guided mode data is inconclusive, but surface plasmon-polariton data show the surface reorientation mechanism.     

Comparative analysis of basic physical properties of a ferroelectric liquid crystal and a polymer dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystal

A polymer film of polyvinylbutyral with dispersed droplets of a ferroelectric liquid crystalline mixture (FLC309c) has been prepared and characterized. The collective processes have been studied by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy in the frequency range 10 Hz to 13 MHz. In comparison with the FLC309c mixture, the polymer dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystal (PDFLC309c) based on FLC309c exhibits a Goldstone-like mode relaxation with a much higher relaxation frequency, but a smaller dielectric strength than the Goldstone mode observed for the FLC309c mixture. The spontaneous polarization of PDFLC309c decreases by nearly one order of magnitude in comparison with FLC309c, while the tilt angle decreases by 20%. Considering these results, we believe that a non-switching region exists near the polymer boundaries and that significant deformations of the helical structure occur due to stronger anchoring.     

A two dimensional liquid crystal simulation for thin film transistor liquid crystal displays

Abstract

A two-dimensional liquid crystal simulation, whose electrode configuration corresponds to that in a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), was carried out. Simulation results show that the lateral field between buslines and pixel electrode forms a reverse tilt domain. This reverse tilt domain leads to the disclination on the pixel electrode. The distance from the pixel electrode edge to this disclination location depends on the dielectric anisotropy and elastic constant for the liquid crystal. A small dielectric anisotropy or large elastic constant makes this distance small.     

Dielectric studies of a ferroelectric liquid crystal

Measurements of the complex dielectric permittivity in the frequency range 30 Hz-13MHz have been made for the chiral smectic C and smectic A phases of the mixture ZLI-3654. In the S*_C phase a large contribution to the electric permittivity coming from the Goldstone mode was found. For the pretransitional region S*_C-S_A, only the soft mode has been detected. It is found that the molecular relaxation originating from the reorientation around the short axis is well separated from the soft mode even in the pretransitional region. The influence of different relaxation modes on the dielectric anisotropy is presented.     

Application of polyfluorophenazines to dichroic fluorescent dyes in guest-host liquid crystal displays

Novel dichroic fluorescent 2- and 2,7-disubstituted perfluorophenazines exhibit emission maxima in the range 570-600 nm in MLC-2039. The order parameter of fluorescence was observed in the range 0.29-0.49.