Low voltage blue-phase liquid crystal displays

A protrusion electrode structure is proposed to dramatically lower the operation voltage of the emerging blue-phase liquid crystal displays (BP-LCDs). Simulation results indicate that the generated horizontal electric field is not only strong but also penetrates deeply into the bulk LC layer. As a result, a low voltage (similar to 10 V-rms) and reasonably high transmittance (similar to 70%) BP-LCD can be achieved. This approach enables the BP-LCDs to be addressed by amorphous silicon thin-film transistors (TFTs). Widespread application of TFT BP-LCDs is foreseeable. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3271771]