Viewing angle compensation of various LCD modes by using a liquid crystalline polymer film

Abstract

The authors have developed liquid crystalline retardation films to improve certain aspects of LCD image quality such as viewing angle performance and coloration. We have successfully created several types of optical retardation films using a rod-like liquid crystalline polymer. The resulting liquid crystalline polymer films have several advantages over conventional uni- or biaxially stretched retardation films. Precisely controlled structures such as twisted nematic, homogeneous nematic, hybrid nematic and homeotropic structures can provide ideal compensation of various LCD types, such as STN, TN, ECB, VA and IPS-LCDs. Twisted nematic film effectively prevents coloration of STN-LCDs, which is a critical flaw affecting color representation. Short pitch cholesteric film, which utilizes said rod-like liquid crystalline polymer and is the optical equivalent of a negative C-plate, can expand the viewing angle of VA-LCDs. Hybrid nematic film is quite unique in that the film functions not only as a wave plate but also as a viewing angle compensator for TN and ECB-LCDs. Homeotropic film, which acts as a positive-C plate, greatly improves the viewing angle performance of IPS and CPVA-LCDs. Our homeotropically aligned liquid crystalline film, called “NV film”, is the world’s thinnest retardation film. The thickness of the liquid crystalline layer is a mere 1 micrometer. Homeotropic film can be used to expand the viewing angle not only of LCDs but also OLED displays. And NV film, when used in in combination with a quarter wavelength plate, can expand the viewing angles of the circular polarizers used to prevent reflection in OLED displays.