New Electrooptic Switching in Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Cells

A new type of the director orientation structure was proposed and the associated new switching process was discussed in a homogeneously aligned ferroelectric liquid crystal cell. The cell had a helicoidal structure and the director on each surface aligned in the same direction. An apparent uniform state was obtained except around the disclination lines. The disclination behavior plays an important role in the switching process and provides several advantages such as a memory effect and nucleation control for a display application.