FAST BISTABLE NEMATIC DISPLAY USING MONOSTABLE SURFACE SWITCHING

We present a novel surface-controlled bistable nematic liquid crystal display. This black and white device uses simple monostable planar anc horings and a dielectrically positive nematic. The two bistable textur es are, respectively, quasiuniform U and almost half-turn twisted T. S hort electric pulses break the surface anchorings. Hydrodynamically co upled breaking of both anchorings creates T. U is obtained by breaking only one anchoring. Write and erase times for high resolution video a re achieved at voltages compatible with the usual drivers. (C) 1997 Am erican Institute of Physics.