Liquid Crystal Display With Patterned Alignment Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The new liquid crystal display mode using cholesteric liquid crystals with a short pitch faces difficulties in achieving uniform alignment necessary for optimal electro-optical characteristics, particularly in the uniformly lying helix (ULH) mode.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal display is designed with a substrate configuration that includes a hydrophilic and hydrophobic region pattern on the alignment layer, combined with liquid crystal molecules in a helical structure and a self-aligned additive, forming a uniform lying helix structure to achieve stable and uniform alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If cholesteric liquid crystal with short pitch is used, then response time is improved, but uniform alignment is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment layer is designed with different surface properties in different regions: a first region with a first surface property and a second region with a second surface property. This local differentiation enables the liquid crystal molecules to achieve uniform alignment in the ULH mode while maintaining the fast response time characteristic of short-pitch cholesteric liquid crystals.
2Manufacturing precision
If hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions are periodically repeated, then uniform alignment is achieved, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface property parameters of the alignment layer by creating regions with different hydrophilicity (first region with first surface property, second region with second surface property). This parameter variation enables uniform alignment without requiring complex structural features, as the different surface energies naturally guide the liquid crystal molecules into the desired ULH configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables a response time of milliseconds and stable alignment of liquid crystal molecules, improving the electro-optical characteristics of the ULH-mode liquid crystal display by aligning the helical axis and optic axis in parallel with the substrate, thus enhancing transmittance between crossed polarizers.
Implementation Method 1
the alignment layer includes a first region that is hydrophilic and a second region that is hydrophobic are periodically repeated
Implementation Method 2
the liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules having a helical structure and a self-aligned liquid crystal additive to form a uniform lying helix (ULH) structure
Implementation Method 3
The new liquid crystal display mode uses a flexo-electric effect, and the cholesteric liquid crystal in the new liquid crystal display device is aligned according to a uniformly lying helix (ULH) arrangement
Implementation Method 4
A liquid crystal display applies a voltage to the field generating electrodes to generate an electric field to the liquid crystal layer, which changes liquid crystal molecule alignments in the liquid crystal layer. The alignment changes control polarization of incident light
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display including: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and an alignment layer disposed at at least one of between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer and between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, wherein the alignment layer includes a first region that is hydrophilic and a second region that is hydrophobic are periodically repeated in a direction that is parallel to the first substrate or the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules having a helical structure and a self-aligned liquid crystal additive to form a uniform lying helix (ULH) structure.