Patent ID: 8035776

Claim:
A liquid crystal cell comprising: a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material; and a retarder disposed in an optical path through the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material; wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal material is switchable between a first state in which it cooperates with the retarder to provide a first viewing angle range and a second state in which it cooperates with the retarder to provide a second viewing angle range which is smaller than the first viewing angle range; and wherein the pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal material is greater than an intended wavelength of operation of the liquid crystal cell divided by the average refractive index of the liquid crystal: wherein the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal is disposed between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer; and wherein a patterned electrode layer is disposed between the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material and the second electrode layer, so that a patterned switch of the cholesteric liquid crystal material is achieved; and wherein an electrically insulating layer is located between at least the patterned electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and wherein the patterned electrode layer and the second electrode layer are independently addressable.