Ferroelectric liquid crystal device with an AC electric field producing a helical structure and/or color control

摘要

A ferroelectric liquid crystal device including a pair of substrates each having an electrode, one of the substrates being subjected to an uniaxially-orienting treatment (one direction orientation treatment), and the other being subjected to no uniaxially-orienting treatment, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material interposed between the substrates is disclosed. The layer includes a liquid crystal region in which stripe patterns occur by application of an alternating electric field to the liquid crystal to scatter light incident to the device. A method of driving a ferroelectric liquid crystal device is also disclosed. The tone and intensity of the incident light can be controlled by controlling a voltage and/or frequency of the alternating electric field in accordance with the method.