Liquid crystal cell and display having patterned electrode layer between at least cholesteric liquid crystal and electrode
US8035776B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 11, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2413/01
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A liquid crystal cell (5) comprises a layer (4) of cholesteric liquid crystal material; and a retarder (3) disposed in an optical path through the layer (4) of cholesteric liquid crystal material. The cholesteric liquid crystal material is switchable between a first state in which it cooperates with the retarder (3) to provide a first viewing angle range and a second state in which it cooperates with the retarder (3) to provide a second viewing angle range which is smaller than the first viewing angle range. The pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal material is greater than an intended wavelength of operation of the liquid crystal cell divided by the average refractive index of the liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal cell may be used as a Viewing Angle Restriction (VAR) element, to enable another component, such as a display panel (6), to be operated in either a wide viewing mode or a narrow viewing mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.