Patent ID: 6636193
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
A liquid crystal device suitable for analog gradational display according to active matrix drive comprising:a pair of substrates disposed to have mutually opposing surfaces of which at least one has been subjected to a uniaxial aligning treatment, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so as to form a matrix of pixels, each provided with an active element and electrodes for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal via the active element, an average molecular axis of the liquid crystal being monostabilized at a first position under no voltage application, tilted under application of a first polarity of voltage in a first direction from the monostabilized first position depending on a magnitude of the applied voltage, and tilted under application of a second polarity of voltage opposite to the first polarity in a second direction opposite to the first direction from the monostabilized first position depending on a magnitude of the second polarity voltage, wherein the liquid crystal is placed in such an alignment state that a saturation voltage becomes larger at a smaller cell thickness so as to cancel a voltage drop caused by inversion of spontaneous polarization of the liquid crystal.