Matrix-addressed liquid crystal displays

Applications of the electro-optic effect in nematic liquid crystals to information display devices are attractive because they are low power, passive, flat panel display devices having IC compatibility. Much of the interest in liquid crystal imaging is now particularly focused on X-Y addressed matrix displays. Accordingly, to develop simple low-cost matrix displays, 5 × 7 dot alphanumeric matrix display panels with 7 × 80 elements have been made and tested. A newly synthesized nematic liquid crystal, p-methoxy-p´- ethylazoxybenzene, was used in the panels as the major component. Cross-talk was found to be effectively suppressed by polishing the surfaces of the electrode glasses as well as by applying a blanking technique. A contrast ratio of 15 : 1 and response times from 200 ms to 1 sec was obtained between -20°C and 60°C at less than 17 V with a pulse duration of 10 ms.