LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICES

摘要

The device comprises a layer of long-pitch cholesteric liquid crystal material of positive dielectric anisotropy. An amount of pleochroic dye is contained between two cell walls bearing electrodes and being surface treated to align liquid crystal molecules in a tilted homogeneous structure. The surface alignment and natural pitch of the cholesteric material are matched to provide a molecular twist of between pi and 2pi radians across the layer with a uniform tilt direction. The ratio of layer thickness d divided by pitch p lies between 0.5 and 1.0, d being less than 20 microns. The device may be switched directly between a light transmissive ON state and a non-transmissive OFF state. The device has a sharp transmission/voltage characteristic and negligible hysterisis.