Liquid crystal apparatus and chiral smectic liquid crystal composition for use therein.

摘要

A liquid crystal apparatus includes: a liquid crystal cell comprising a pair of substrates having thereon a first electrode and a second electrode, respectively, disposed opposite to each other, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing a first and a second orientation state disposed between the first and second electrodes, and a drive circuit for applying voltages between the first and second electrodes including voltages ¦VS¦ and ¦VI¦ which provide voltages VA and VB (VB > VA) satisfying the relationship of: ¦(VA-VB)/(VA+VB)¦ > 0.1 at 40 DEG C, wherein VA is a minimum peak value of a voltage ¦VS¦ + ¦VI¦ (at a constant pulse width) capable of inverting the first orientation state of the chiral smectic liquid crystal into the second orientation state when a voltage pulse is applied between the first and second electrodes to cause the first orientation state of the chiral smectic liquid crystal and then the voltage ¦VS¦ + ¦VI¦ is applied between the first and second electrodes as a combination of a voltage ¦VS¦ applied to the first electrode and a voltage -¦VI¦ applied to the second electrode; and VB is a value of ¦VS¦ + ¦VI¦ calculated based on a maximum peak value of a voltage ¦VS¦ - ¦VI¦ (at a constant pulse width) capable of maintaining the first orientation state of the chiral smectic liquid crystal when a voltage pulse is applied between the first and second electrodes to cause the first orientation state and then the voltage ¦VS¦ - ¦VI¦ is applied between the first and second electrodes as a combination of a voltage ¦VS¦ applied to the first electrode and a voltage ¦VI¦ applied to the second electrode.