Patent ID: 6963322
Filing Date: 2005-11-08
Classification: G09G

Abstract:
1. A liquid-crystal display device comprising: a panel having a flat construction and comprised of a pair of substrates bonded together with a predetermined spacing therebetween and a nematic liquid crystal held in the spacing, one of the substrates having pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix and switching elements for driving the pixel electrodes formed thereon, and the other substrate having opposing electrodes facing the corresponding pixel electrodes formed thereon; and a driving circuit for driving each switching element in order to write a signal to each pixel electrode, and for applying a voltage corresponding to the signal between the opposing electrode and the pixel electrode to control the transmittance of the liquid crystal, wherein the orientation of said liquid crystal is controlled by the pair of substrates in such a manner that a liquid crystal exhibits bistability such that bistable states having different transmittances are provided and both states are capable of existing when no voltage is applied and wherein the state can be switched when a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold value is applied, and the liquid crystal exhibits a continuous response characteristic in which the transmittance changes continuously in response to an applied voltage in a range which does not exceed the threshold value and wherein the liquid crystal does not exhibit a memory effect in such a range, and wherein said driving circuit selectively controls which of two modes each pixel operates in, a two-gradation display mode using the bistability or a multi-gradation display mode using the continuous response characteristic in which no memory effect is present.