Pixel Isolated Liquid Crystal Mode for Plastic Liquid Crystal Displays

Abstract

We proposed a pixel-isolated liquid crystal (PILC) mode for enhancing mechanical stability of flexible display applications. Since the LC molecules in this mode are isolated in pixels by patterned or phase-separated microstructures, the LC alignment is stable against external pressure. Moreover, the cell gap of our structure is uniformly preserved against bending deformation of the plastic substrates since two substrates are tightly attached each other by the solidified polymer two substrates are tightly attached each other by the solidified polymer layer produced by photo-induced anisotropic phase separation. For flexible display applications, we have tested the mechanical stability of electro-optic properties in PILC structures with plastic substrates.