The Uniform φ-Theory for the Sony Mode in FLCD

Abstract

In bookshelf structures the so called uniform } -theory allows simple analytical treatment. It means that the azimuthal angle }, which specifies the position of the director on the cone, does not vary with depth into the liquid crystal. In this paper it is shown that also for chevron structures a uniform } -theory exists that allows analytical treatment provided we define uniform as a non-variant component of the polarization along the electric field. The theory is applied to the Sony mode, which is an FLC in a chevron structure with the chevron angle i very close to the cone angle θ, and allows grey levels with active addressing. It is shown that the Sony mode is ideal if the chevron angle equals the cone angle, but even small deviations cause light leakage and hysteresis.