Mechanism of Misalignment Failure of Liquid-Crystal Display Cells

Misalignment properties and the misalignment generation mechanism due to voltage stress in liquid crystal display cells which use Schiff base-type liquid crystal were studied. Patterns of misalignment have many different modes, depending on the applied voltage. Based on the results of voltage-stress life tests and dismantling inspections of misaligned cells, we found that misalignment is due to the electrochemical deposition on the electrode surface of compounds formed of hydrolized components of the liquid crystal and inorganic impurity ions that have become mixed in during manufacturing, regardless of the visual patterns of misalignment.