<title>Wide-angle cross-cockpit AMLCD technology</title>

Abstract

A high-resolution, wide-angle view normally black active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) has been developed for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration- Rockwell Space Shuttle glass cockpit upgrade. With nine 6.71 by 6.71 in. active area AMLCDs on the front panel, all containing vehicle flight information, the displays must exhibit optimal performance over the entire AMLCD viewing envelope [+/- 60 deg horizontal (H) and -10/+45 deg vertical (V)], under dark and high ambient flight deck lighting conditions. Cross-cockpit AMLCDs must support higher off-axis contrast ratios, vertical and horizontal gray-level stability, a consistent and predictable mixture of primary colors, saturated colors over wider angles, and a darker background with respect to typical AMLCD applications. Manufacturing AMLCDs with these characteristics requires special designs for the AMLCD, diffuser, backlight, and liquid crystal display drive scheme, and special manufacturing processes and techniques. This paper addresses Space Shuttle wide- angle normally black AMLCD requirements, optical performance, and manufacturing considerations.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.