Low voltage and wide-viewing-angle twisted nematic liquid crystal displaysby optical compensation

Low voltage and wide-viewing-angle single-domain and two-domain twisted nem atic liquid crystal displays (TN-LCDs) can be achieved by using a single-la yer twist discotic film with negative birefringence as a compensation film. The compensated TNs have also higher contrast ratio and less color-shifts over the uncompensated ones. The compensated two-domain TN has the added ad vantage of no extra light leakage at the locations of the disclination line s between two domains in the dark state uf the display so that no black mat rix is needed at these locations. Further increases in viewing angles are a lso possible by combining the compensation scheme with wide-viewing-angle p olarizers. The compensation scheme can also be applied to reflective TNs fo r either direct-view or projection displays.