New liquid crystal display with bistability and selective erasure using scattering in filled nematics

Abstract

We present a new bistable scattering effect in a filled nematic liquid crystal, and its application to a high resolution laser-addressed display. The filled nematic consists of a small fraction of inorganic particles of nm size in a nematic liquid crystal with positive dielectric anisotropy. The scattering ON state is reached by locally writing with a laser. The transparent OFF state can be obtained by combining a moderate voltage with selective application of the laser to the part to be erased. The key parameters controlling the processes and the possible physical mechanisms involved are discussed.