Guan Rong-hua

Rubbing angle effect on in‐plane switching liquid crystal displays

The rubbing angle effect on transmissive in‐plane switching liquid crystal displays is analysed by the Jones matrix method. Simulation results show that the optimum rubbing angle is around 30°–40°; the cell gap/birefringence product (dΔn) is about 0.33 µm. Increasing the rubbing angle can shorten the rise time and enlarge the grey scale voltage intervals. The optical characteristics are similar in two cells with different rubbing angles. These effects are particularly attractive for liquid crystal TV applications.

Multiple discrete energy levels and the bistable state of weak anchoring NLC cells

The weak anchoring nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cell is investigated with regard to energy. Because the Gibbs free energy of liquid crystal system used in theory does not include temperature and entropy, and because the equations and boundary conditions for δG=0 are also the mechanical equilibrium conditions of the continuum, the Gibbs free energy G is equivalent to the energy E of the liquid crystal continuum. There are multiple solutions which satisfy these equations and boundary conditions, each solution corresponding to a certain energy value. We call these discrete energy values and energy levels. Adopting a simple liquid crystal cell model, the energy levels are calculated in detail by means of analytical and numerical methods. The results show that there are three energy levels (or more in certain cases). The values and sequence of the energy levels are related to the external field and anchoring parameters. The relationships between the energy level structure and the bistable. Fréedericksz transition are disussed, together with their influence on the response time. The physical condition for the existence of more than three energy levels is also given.

The bistable state of a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell with weak anchoring boundary

On the basis of the modified general Rapini–Papoular expression for the anchoring energy, a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell has been studied analytically. In this paper, a new variable is introduced and is suitable for the calculation of the threshold point and the saturation point. The free energy being smallest in the equilibrium state, we find that bistable states can be formed from the uniform twisted state plus the disturbed state, the disturbed state plus the saturation state, and the uniform twisted state plus the saturation state.

The formula of anchoring energy for a nematic liquid crystal

The interface energy for a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) is considered as the sum of potential energy between LC molecules and molecules of the substrate surface, and a formula for anchoring energy is derived by elementary principles. The anchoring energy for a NLC should have two terms, the first term is the same as the Rapini–Papoular expression, the second is related to the normal of interface and resultes from the biaxial property of a NLC induced by interface. Hence there are two anchoring coefficients, W 1 and W 2. We demonstrate that W 1 is equal to the tilt angle strength Aθ , and W 2 corresponds to the difference between Aθ and the azimuthal strength Aϕ . Thus Aθ –Aϕ is due to the biaxial property of the NLC near the interface. Applying this formula to the twisted NLC cell, we discuss the threshold and saturation field, as well as the maximal tilt angel θ m with respect to Aθ /Aϕ . Previously proposed formulae are discussed from our point view.

Influences of surface and flexoelectric polarization on the effective anchoring energy in nematic liquid crystal

The physical effects on surface and flexoelectric polarization in a weak anchoring nematic liquid crystal cell are investigated systematically. We derive the analytic expressions of two effective anchoring energies for lower and upper substrates respectively as well as their effective anchoring strengths and corresponding tilt angles of effective easy direction. All of these quantities are relevant to the magnitudes of both two polarizations and the applied voltage U. Based on these expressions, the variations of effective anchoring strength and the tilt angle with the applied voltage are calculated for the fixed values of two polarizations. For an original weak anchoring hybrid aligned nematic cell, it may be equivalent to a planar cell for a small value of U and has a threshold voltage. The variation of reduced threshold voltage with reduced surface polarization strength is also calculated. The role of surface polarization is important without the adsorptive ions considered.

Surface anchoring and the saturation behaviour of a NLC cell under external electric and magnetic fields

Based on the modified Rapini–Papoular formula for surface anchoring energy, the saturation behaviour of a weak anchoring nematic liquid crystal cell under electric and magnetic fields has been studied by the methods of analytical derivation and numerical calculation. The results show that the transition at saturation point may be second order, as many authors have predicted. However, it may also be first order. The condition for the first order transition is deduced; it is related to the anchoring parameters. The influence of anchoring on the saturation field strength is also discussed, both for second and for first orders; the results are shown by graphically.

Response speed of in‐plane switching mode liquid crystal displays

The response speed of in‐plane switching mode liquid crystal displays with three initial director configurations—homogeneous, twisted nematic and 180° super twisted nematic—was investigated via simulations. These simulations studied the relationship between the change in the optical axis and the optical transmission in the three configurations, allowing us to calculate the optical response times. The time‐dependent change in the director was calculated using the Erickson–Leslie equations and these two results combined. These results predict that the response time during both the rise and decay periods of a super twist cell is about four times faster than the other two configurations.

Influences of the surface elastic energy term K13 on the critical fields of liquid crystal cells and experimental measurement of K13

Based on the modified formula of Rapini–Papoular, the equation and boundary condition of the director of weak anchoring nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cell have been obtained in the case of existence of the surface elastic energy term K13. The influences of K13 on the threshold field and the saturation field have been studied in detail with the methods of analytical derivation and numerical calculation. A new method of checking whether K13 exists or not is given in theory. Combining with the previous work, we also propose an experimental plan to measure the value of K13 with a wedge-shaped planar-aligned weak anchoring NLC cell. The numerical experiments are carried out to verify the feasibility of our method.