Liquid crystal pictorial display

A discrete-element reflective display, called a Liquid Crystal Pictorial Display, is discussed. The display consists of a thin layer of liquid crystal (LX) material which is contained between a transparent conductive cover and a large semiconductor substrate containing a matrix array of electrically controlled reflective electrodes. Picture element brightness is dependent upon the optical scattering characteristics of the liquid crystal material in the presence of an electric field formed by the controlled elemental electrode. Television imagery has been demonstrated in shades of gray, in real-time, at a resolution density of 100 picture elements per inch, on a liquid crystal cell approximately one by one inch, in extent. The liquid crystal cell represents a major advance in the state of the art in pictorial displays because it offers a solid-state display which for the first time modulates the incident illumination rather than attempting to compete with it as in the case of the cathode-ray tube or with light-emitting diode displays.