Michael F O'Callaghan

US Patent:

20080284973, Nov 20, 2008

Filed:

May 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/122452

Inventors:

Bentley Wall - Kent OH, US
Philip Bos - Hudson OH, US
Michael J. O'Callaghan - Louisville CO, US
Mark A. Handschy - Boulder CO, US

International Classification:

G02F 1/13

US Classification:

349187

Abstract:

A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device by introducing a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) between two substrates, contacting the FLC to a molecularly smooth edge, and aligning the FLC by introducing a temperature gradient normal to the edge. In one embodiment, the FLC is aligned by cooling it from an isotropic phase to a smectic phase at a rate that is relatively slow. For example, the cooling rate may be less than about 3 degrees Celsius per hour. In one embodiment, smectic layers are formed that are parallel to the edge. In one embodiment, the molecularly smooth edge is an air bubble.