HIGH-RESOLUTION, COLOR FLC MINIATURE DISPLAY AND FLC MATERIALS OPTIMIZED FOR THEIR OPERATION

We describe miniature (<1 cm(2)) 640 x 480 and 1280 x 1024 active matr ix liquid crystal displays composed of a ferroelectric liquid crystal light-modulating layer placed on top of a reflective CMOS backplane an d illuminated with red, green, and blue LEDs. The images are magnified for viewing. Truly miniature displays are difficult to produce with t raditional display technologies. Such a display should be small and li ght enough to mount in a pair of eyeglasses or to incorporate in a poc ket-size portable communications device. It should show bright, color images running at video-rate speeds with work-station resolution while operating for long periods on small batteries. The display should als o be mass manufacturable at very low cost.