LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS (LCD)

Certain organic large size molecule types of liquids possess properties, which cause them to interfere with light passage in them. One type, called the twisted nematic type, is becoming more useful in todays LCDs. In this, the liquid crystals ha e thread!li"e shapes# the units $oin head to tail for million molecules to form lengthy chains. %oreo er each plane is twisted a few degrees from the ne&t. 'ome of the recent chemicals of this ariety are made of pyrimidines, phenyl cyclohe&anes, bicyclohe&ane and (!)( metho&y benzylidine* !n! butylaniline. +hey e&hibit a crystalline structure e en in liquid form at ordinary temperatures. +he property of the liquid is anisotropic in the two perpendicular directions. +he cell thic"ness is so designed that there is a ,- - turn of the molecules between the top and the bottom faces. +he twisted nematic has the property that twists light, which passes through it. .olaroid filters are fitted abo e and below the cell so that light is polarized as it enters, and is twisted through ,- -, e&iting through a filter "ept at ,-- to the one at top. +he light is then reflected ia a mirror at the bac" and returns ia the same pathway. It has $ust a /0 m thin layer of liquid between two or more sheets of glass cum polarizer filters. One glass plate has the 1 segment electrodes etched on it and a conducti e coating of tin o&ide or +in cum Indium o&ide. +he other plate has the common electrode. +he conducti e coat is treated further for good surface contact to liquid. +he cell when assembled appears as clear glass# the segments are not isible. 2hen a oltage is applied between the plates, the molecules mo e with the dipoles aligned in the cell a&is. +hus those regions under the segments, which ha e the electric field, ha e a contrasty appearance when iewed in light, while other une&cite segments are in isible.

+he oltage needed is preferable 0!0- 3 4.C. +he cathode )or front plane* oltage input to the LCD goes through an 5analog switch that is on at any time so that a.c. oltage is applied to the appropriate segment. +he anode )bac" plane* recei es the a.c. supply. +he display dri ing switches are from a set of %O'67+ switches, which also form part of Integrated circuit. 6or eg. C /0-- cloc" L'I I.C. chip from Computer 'yst. Inc, 8'4, is a digital cloc" chip with the LCD display dri er. +urn on time for the LCD displays ary form -.0!/-millisecs, depending on oltage applied. +urn of time is 9-!/--ms. 'o these displays are not suitable for ery fast changing numbers. +he power consumption is /to /- micro watt:cm 0. +he oltage threshold for watch type LCD display is / to 03. +he operating a.c. frequency is ;-!/-- <=z. In another method dc pulses of identical amplitude are used# One pulse to the bac" electrode and another to the display segment ia and e&clusi e O> gate. In the O66 state, the pulses are in!phase? in the O@!state, they are out of phase. +he frequency is 9-!90 =z. +he power consumption for a LCD watch is roughly (; 2, which is /:/---th of that for L7D displays.