Ruibo Lu

Refractive indices of liquid crystals for display applications

This paper reviews the extended Cauchy model and the four-parameter model for describing the wavelength and temperature effects of liquid crystal (LC) refractive indices. The refractive indices of nine commercial LCs, MLC-9200-000, MLC-9200-100, MLC-6608, MLC-6241-000, 5PCH, 5CB, TL-216, E7, and E44 are measured by the Multi-wavelength Abbe Refractometer. These experimental data are used to validate the theoretical models. Excellent agreement between experiment and theory is obtained.

Anchoring energy and cell gap effects on liquid crystal response time

The anchoring energy and cell gap effects on liquid crystal response time (τ0) is analyzed theoretically and validated experimentally. Analytical expressions are derived using two different approaches: effective cell gap and surface dynamic equation methods. Consistent results are deduced from these two approaches. A simplified equation τ0∼dx also fits the experimental data well, where d is the liquid crystal cell gap and x is the exponent. Under two extreme (strong and weak) anchoring limits, the exponent x approaches 2 and 1, respectively. This information is helpful for optimizing liquid crystal devices for display applications.

Extraordinarily high-contrast and wide-view liquid-crystal displays

A computer simulation model based on oblique-angle Jones matrix and Poincare sphere is developed for optimizing the design of film-compensated multidomain vertical-alignment liquid crystal display (VA-LCD). According to this design, a contrast ratio higher than 10 000:1 is predicted over the entire ±85° viewing cone for the four-domain VA-LCD. Potential application for liquid-crystal display television is emphasized.

Reducing the color shift of a multidomain vertical alignment liquid crystal display using dual threshold voltages

A multidomain vertical alignment liquid crystal display (MVA LCD) with reduced color shift is proposed. Each pixel is divided into a main region and a subregion. A thin electric shielding layer is embedded in the subregion to generate a higher threshold voltage than that of the main region. As a result, the final gamma curve is a superposition of two different-shaped gamma curves. Such a MVA LCD exhibits a reduced color shift while only requires a single thin-film transistor. Its potential application for LCD TVs is emphasized.

Liquid crystal display using combined fringe and in-plane electric fields

A high performance liquid crystal display using combined fringe and in-plane horizontal electric fields is proposed. The strong electric fields cause more liquid crystals to reorient almost in plane above and between the pixel electrodes. As a result, the operation voltage is lower and transmittance is higher than those of fringe field switching and in-plane switching modes, while preserving a wide viewing angle. Such a high performance device is particularly attractive for large panel liquid crystal displays.

Pretilt Angle Effects on Liquid Crystal Response Time

Pretilt angle effect on liquid crystal dynamics is analyzed theoretically. Analytical expressions are derived to describe liquid crystal response time under nonzero pretilt angle conditions. The theoretical analysis is confirmed experimentally using vertically aligned liquid crystal cells. This finding quantitatively correlates pretilt angles with liquid crystal response time. This study improves the understanding of the liquid crystal dynamic process which is helpful for optimizing liquid crystal response time.

Ultrawide-view liquid crystal displays

The wide viewing angle technologies for liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are reviewed. The most promising liquid crystal modes for wide view technologies, such as in-plane switching, multidomain vertical alignment, patterned vertical alignment, and advanced-super-view are compared. By optimizing the phase-compensation films and their device configurations, the ultrawide-view LCDs with a contrast ratio higher than 100:1 at /spl plusmn/85/spl deg/ viewing cone are demonstrated.

Color shift reduction of a multi-domain IPS-LCD using RGB-LED backlight

Color gamut and static and dynamic color shifts of a multi-domain in-plane-switching liquid crystal display (IPS LCD) are calculated quantitatively using RGB (red, green, and blue) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlights. Simulation results indicate that the LED backlight exhibits a wider color gamut, better angular color uniformity, and 2-4X smaller static and dynamic color shifts than the CCFL system.

Wide-View and Broadband Circular Polarizers for Transflective Liquid Crystal Displays

A simple wide-view and broadband circular polarizer comprising of a linear polarizer and two uniaxial films is proposed to enhance the viewing angle of transflective liquid crystal displays (LCDs). For the transmissive mode, over the entire 90deg viewing cone, the normalized light leakage from two stacked circular polarizers is suppressed to below 1.5times10-2, and contrast ratio over 10:1 is obtained using a normally black vertically aligned transflective LCD. At the same time, this configuration warrants a broadband operation and reasonably good viewing angle (10:1 contrast ratio is over 40 at all directions) for the reflective mode. The physical mechanisms for achieving broadband operation and wide viewing angle are discussed.

Designs of wide-view and broadband circular polarizers

A novel methodology for designing wide view circular polarizers is proposed. Both single wavelength and broadband wide-view circular polarizers are discussed. Over the +/-85 degrees viewing cone, the light leakage from the crossed circular polarizers is less than 2.87x10(-4) using the proposed single wavelength circular polarizers (lambda=550 nm) and less than 1.7x10(-3) using the proposed broadband circular polarizer (lambda=450~650 nm). An example of using the designed broadband, wide-view circular polarizers for enhancing the optical efficiency of a direct-view liquid crystal display is elucidated.