Luminance-controlled viewing angle-switchable liquid crystal display using optically isotropic liquid crystal layer

Abstract

A device for operating viewing angle-switchable liquid crystal displays has been developed based on an optically isotropic liquid crystal (OILC). The device comprises two panels, main and switching. Depending upon the voltage applied, the optical state of the OILC layer in the switching panel can be changed to the anisotropic uniaxial state, taking on the role of a positive C film. In this manner luminance at oblique polar angles can be suppressed, resulting in a dark image at an off-normal axis, at the same time retaining good image quality in the normal direction. Depending on the switching of the OILC layer, wide or narrow angles of viewing can be obtained.

Keywords:

• viewing angle-switching
• liquid crystal display
• optically isotropic liquid crystal
• wide viewing angle
• narrow viewing angle

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the WCU program, through MEST (R31–2008–000–200029–0), and in part by the Basic Science Research Program through the NRF, also funded by MEST (2009–0065704).