Patent ID: 8330693

Claim:
A method for fast switching a dual frequency liquid crystal cell from a high tilt state to a low tilt state, comprising: providing a liquid crystal cell having opposed substrates with dual frequency liquid crystal material characterized by a cross-over frequency disposed there between, each said substrate associated with at least one electrode that is connected to a power supply that applies different voltage magnitudes at different frequencies above and below the cross-over frequency; applying a first holding voltage of a first magnitude to the material at a frequency below the cross-over to maintain a high tilt state; applying a relaxation voltage to the material to allow the liquid crystal molecules to relax towards a low tilt state; applying a kicking voltage of a second magnitude greater than said first magnitude to the material at a frequency above the cross-over to accelerate a transition into the low tilt state; and applying a second holding voltage of a third magnitude less than said first magnitude to the material at a frequency below the cross-over to maintain said low tilt state, wherein the first holding voltage, the relaxation voltage, the kicking voltage, and the second holding voltage are applied in sequence, and wherein the relaxation voltage is applied only between the first holding voltage and the kicking voltage.