Abstract:
A flat panel, electric field controlled device is provided for the measurement and display of electrical parameters such as voltage, the voltage sensing effect being provided by a nematic liquid crystal medium having high positive dielectric anisotropy and placed in a thin flat-sided optically transparent cell. Optical transmission of the nematic liquid crystal medium is controlled by voltages applied to interdigital arrays of parallel electrode elements affixed on the inner surface of only one of the transparent parallel cell walls. Continuous relative changes in the respective potentials applied to the electrode arrays provide continuous analog movement of the borders between birefringent and non-birefringent areas formed in the liquid crystal medium.
Abstract:
A flat screen, electrically controlled, display device is provided that includes a very thin layer of liquid crystalline material of the nematic type. The liquid crystal material is one whose optical phase shift transmission is a sensitive and direct function of the electric field within it, allowing controlled optical transmission in conjunction with polarizers. The nematic material is placed in a flat-sided cell between transparent planar front and rear cell elements which define the thickness of the nematic layer. Birefringence of the nematic liquid crystal is controlled by voltages applied to interleaved arrays of alternate parallel electrodes coated on the inner surface of only one of the transparent cell elements.