New ferroelectric displays and operation modes

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Abstract
We first review ferroelectric displays and novel operating modes recently developed in our laboratories and elsewhere. The displays include deformed helix ferroelectric (DHF)-LCDs in large-cell-gap configurations as well as double-layer LCDs in transmission and reflection combined with fixed or switched optical compensators. These configurations are applicable to all electro-optic effects which are based on the rotation of the optical axis in the plane of the device, e.g. surface stabilized, electroclinic, flexoelectro-optic or DHF-LCDs. Moreover, a new ferroelectric display is presented which we denominate Alternating Polarization Domain (APD)-display. The new display is based on a low-Ps ferroelectric liquid crystal configuration which spontaneously aligns such that very narrow parallel stripes with opposite direction of spontaneous polarization are generated in the plane of the display. The alignment does not require field-induced texture formation. APD-LCDs are shown to exhibit low driving voltages (2 volts), gray scale and short response times (300 μs). In combination with optical compensators active-matrix driven reflective APD_LCD-projectors with driving voltages of 5V are possible.