Cheng-Yeh Tsai

Blue-Phase Liquid Crystal Displays With Vertical Field Switching

A low-voltage, high-transmittance, hysteresis-free, and submillisecond-response polymer-stabilized blue-phase liquid crystal (BPLC) display with vertical field switching (VFS) and oblique incident light is demonstrated. In the VFS mode, the electric field is in longitudinal direction and is uniform. By using a thin cell gap and a large oblique incident angle, the operation voltage is significantly reduced which plays a key role to eliminate hysteresis and residual birefringence. The VFS mode is a strong contender for the emerging BPLC display and photonic devices.

Optical rotatory power of polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals

Macroscopically, a polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) is assumed to be an optically isotropic medium. Our experiment challenges this assumption. Our results indicate that the optical rotatory power (ORP) of some nano-scale double-twist cylinders in a BPLC composite causes the polarization axis of the transmitted light to rotate a small angle, which in turn leaks through the crossed polarizers. Rotating the analyzer in azimuthal direction to correct this ORP can greatly improve the contrast ratio. A modified De Vries equation based on a thin twisted-nematic layer is proposed to explain the observed phenomena.

Optimized blue-phase liquid crystal for field-sequential-color displays

We report an optimized blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) mixture JC-BP08 for field-sequential-color (FSC) display applications. JC-BP08 exhibits several attractive features: 1) its fast average gray-to-gray response time enables FSC display, which in turn triples the resolution density and optical efficiency. 2) Its voltage holding ratio is >99.4% at 25°C and >93.2% at 60°C. 3) Its average dielectric constant e’≈87 is still manageable by the bootstrapping driving to enable 240 Hz operation. 4) Using a triangular protrusion electrode structure, the transmittance can reach 74% at 15V, which enables single-TFT driving. 5) With two-domain structure, it offers indistinguishable gamma shift and wide viewing angle. We proposed a voltage charging model and found a linear relationship between the required charging time and e’, which is validated by our experimental results.

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

ABSTRACT 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. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Turning film for widening the viewing angle of a blue phase liquid crystal display

We report a new turning film structure for widening the viewing angle of a vertical-field-switching blue-phase liquid crystal display, which employs a directional backlight. The turning film consists of periodic prismatic structures: each period has three prisms with different base angles so that the output light can be spread to a larger angle. Simulation results show that a full width at half-maximum of ±80° in the horizontal direction and ±45° in the vertical direction can be achieved.

Identification of polymer stabilized blue-phase liquid crystal display by chromaticity diagram

We reported an identification method of blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) display status by using Commission International de l’Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity diagram. The BPLC was injected into in-plane-switch (IPS) cell, polymer stabilized (PS) by ultraviolet cured process and analyzed by luminance colorimeter. The results of CIE chromaticity diagram showed a remarkable turning point when polymer stabilized blue phase liquid crystal II (PSBPLC-II) formed in the IPS cell. A mechanism of CIE chromaticity diagram identify PSBPLC display status was proposed, and we believe this finding will be useful to application and production of PSBPLC display.

Macroscopic model for analyzing the electro-optics of uniform lying helix cholesteric liquid crystals

A macroscopic model is developed for analyzing the electro-optics of short-pitch uniform lying helix (ULH) cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs). Both flexoelectric effect and dielectric effect make important contributions to the maximum transmittance and operation voltage of the ULH devices. Based on the proposed macroscopic approximation, we derive an analytical expression to quantitatively evaluate the relative strength of these two effects. Very good agreement between theory and experiment is achieved. We also investigate the viewing angle of ULH CLC displays and find that their viewing angle characteristics are similar to those of conventional in-plane switching liquid crystal displays.A macroscopic model is developed for analyzing the electro-optics of short-pitch uniform lying helix (ULH) cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs). Both flexoelectric effect and dielectric effect make important contributions to the maximum transmittance and operation voltage of the ULH devices. Based on the proposed macroscopic approximation, we derive an analytical expression to quantitatively evaluate the relative strength of these two effects. Very good agreement between theory and experiment is achieved. We also investigate the viewing angle of ULH CLC displays and find that their viewing angle characteristics are similar to those of conventional in-plane switching liquid crystal displays.

Non-ideal optical isotropy of blue phase liquid crystal

Since 1981, blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) was regarded as optical isotropy and high contrast ratio (CR) should be achieved easily. However, low CR of BPLC display was reported in all literatures. Here, we show BPLC is non-ideal optical isotropy which leads to poor CR. In our report, BPLC not only revealed primary structure of double-twist cylinder and secondary structure of lattice but also revealed tertiary structure of self-alignment on electrode surface. This finding will be useful to improve CR and inspire researches in display industry and academics.

Non-Ideal Optical Isotropy of Blue Phase Liquid Crystal and their Self-Assembly on Electrode Surface

In this paper, we reported blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) is not only a non-ideal optical isotropic, but also self-assembly along with electrode. The self-assembly was carefully verified by luminescent colorimeter system. Result showed that BPLC self-assembly along with electrode of in-panel switching cell. We believe this findings will inspire the improvement of light leakage of BPLC.