In this thesis, a new type of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Bistable Twisted Nematic (BTN) is discussed. BTN is a type of LCD that is greatly different from convention Twisted Nematic (TN) and Super Twisted Nematic (STN) for its outstanding performance such as wide viewing angle, high contrast ratio (CR) and information holding ability....[ Read more ]

In this thesis, a new type of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Bistable Twisted Nematic (BTN) is discussed. BTN is a type of LCD that is greatly different from convention Twisted Nematic (TN) and Super Twisted Nematic (STN) for its outstanding performance such as wide viewing angle, high contrast ratio (CR) and information holding ability.

An accurate design method is invented by using 2x2 Jones matrix and 4x4 Muller matrix. The Liquid Crystal cell parameter, namely the product of LC birefringence and cell spacing (δnd), the twisting angle (φ), the input polarizer angle (α) and the output polarizer (γ) can be carefully adjusted and a real LCD can be fabricated accordingly.

A serious experiment is also performed to illustrate BTN's outstanding performance. Electrical responds is also studied in order to design LCD circuit driver in order to make the BTN cell become a real LCD which is able to display information.

Two kind of cell is able to make which can be successfully driven: 1. Dot matrix 32x32 Transmission BTN (0 to 360°) 2. Dot matrix 32x32 Reflective BTN (25° right-handed twisted and 335° left-handed twisted). Thus BTN is a kind of display which is ready to be commercialized as a new type of display device.