Fumiaki Funada

16.2: Influence of rough surface upon optical characteristics of reflective LCD with a polarizer

We have developed bright 260,000-color “High Reflective TFT (HR-TFT)” liquid crystal display (LCD) with diffused “Micro Reflective Structure (MRS)” inside a panel. In this paper, influences of rough surface upon the optical characteristics of the reflective type LCD are discussed.

Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals Incorporating the Optically Active γ-Lactone Ring

Ferroelectric liquid crystals incorporating an optically active γ-lactone ring were prepared. They show enantiotropic smectic C phases which have very large spontaneous polarizations as large as ∼590 nC/cm 2 (5.9 mC/m 2 ). The large spontaneous polarizations are attributed to the structural features wherein a dipole and two chiral centers are fixed in the γ-lactone ring

Deviation of layer normal from rubbing direction in SSF-LC

Abstract Deviation angle δ of the layer normal away from the rubbing direction in surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal(SSF-LC) was studied using liquid crystal(LC) mixtures possessing smectic A(SmA) phase and cells with one rubbed substrate. The dependence of δ on the properties of LC, cell spacing, temperature, and external field suggested that δ originated from the twist in the nematic phase and electroclinic effect in SmA phase due to the surface field.

Axially symmetric aligned microcell (ASM) mode : Electro-optical characteristics of new display mode with excellent wide viewing angle

The new LCD display mode (ASM mode) which has the axially symmetric orientation of liquid crystal molecules and the micro-cell structure corresponding to each pixel is described in this paper. The electro-optic characteristics of this mode afford high contrast (CR ≥ 200, at normal direction) and the wide viewing angle characteristics without contrast inversion (±60° in both up-down and left-right directions).

A 40‐in. (1‐m) diagonal direct‐view TFT‐LCD by seamless‐connection technique

We have realized the worlds largest-size 40-in.-diagonal TFT-LCD by seamless panel-connection technology. This technology can easily make a large display degrading affecting the advantages of TFT-LCDs. In this paper, we discuss several techniques for a seamless connection.

Effect of molecular structure of chiral fluorinated compounds on spontaneous polarization of ferroelectric liquid crystals

The trans and cis isomers derived from chiral 1-trifluoromethyl-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-ol were prepared as chiral dopants of ferroelectric liquid crystals. They were doped to an achiral compound possessing a smectic C phase, and the induced spontaneous polarization of the mixtures was investigated. The observed spontaneous polarization for the trans isomer is larger than that for the cis isomer. The signs and values of spontaneous polarization were explained by a model which examined the fitness of two typical conformers possessing positive and negative spontaneous polarization to the zigzag conformation of molecules in the smectic C phase.

Advanced ASM mode (axially symmetric aligned microcell mode) : Improvement of display performance by using a negative-dielectric liquid crystal

We have developed an advanced axially symmetric aligned microcell mode using negative-dielectric liquid crystal (N-type ASM mode), the first in the world. Using compensation film for this N-type ASM mode cell realizes the wide viewing angle of ±80° in all azimuths, and a high contrast ratio of 300:1. The structure of this N-type ASM-mode panel is suitable for large-sized display panels. This mode is applicable for such active display panels as TFT and PALC 1 displays, regardless of the difference of their drive systems. We consider that this N-type ASM mode will be a key technology for next-generation monitors.

Novel optically active dopants for ferroelectric liquid crystals

Abstract Optically active compounds derived from 1-(4-substituted-phenyl)ethanols were evaluated as a dopant for ferroelectric liquid crystals. The effects of the restriction of the rotational freedom around the chiral center on the spontaneous polarization and the response time will be discussed.

Relationship Between Molecular Structure and Spontaneous Polarization for Optically Active Γ -Lactone Derivatives

AbstractFerroelectric liquid crystal mixtures doped with the cis isomer of optically active γ -lactone derivatives show a higher spontaneous polarization (Ps) than those doped with the trans isomer. The relationship between the molecular structure and Ps will be discussed with respect to the molecular conformations and molecular arrangements in smectic C phase.