Vertically Integrated Transflective Liquid Crystal Display Using Multi-Stable Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Film

The work demonstrates a switchable transflective liquid crystal display using a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) film as a switchable reflector. The planar and uniformly-lying helical (ULH) states of CLCs support the reflective and transmissive modes of the display, respectively. Both planar and ULH textures are stable states, and each can be switched to the other via the electro-hydrodynamic effect by applying a low-frequency (30 Hz) electrical field. A transflective display with a CLC as switchable reflector can be utilized in any currently used display mode, such as TN, MVA, and IPS. Such a display exhibits high display performance in both indoor and outdoor environments and low power consumption. It therefore has great potential to be used in portable information systems.