Patent ID: 8542333
Filing Date: 2013-09-24
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. A liquid crystal cell comprising: a control field source; and a pair of cell walls defining a cavity, the cavity being filled for operation with nematic liquid crystal molecules, at least one of the cell walls having an alignment layer including a rubbed foundation layer and an ordered surface layer that interacts with the liquid crystal molecules to cause alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in a zero field ground state in a predetermined essentially uniform pre-tilt director orientation between 7° and 30°, the control field source being configured to cause a change in orientation of said liquid crystal molecules from said ground state to change optical properties of said cell; wherein the ordered surface layer is formed, over said foundation layer having a pre-tilt angle between 1° and 6°, with alignment liquid crystal molecules aligned using an external programming field at an orientation between 7° and 30° without mechanical rubbing, said external programming field being at least one of an electric, magnetic and acoustic field.