In this thesis, the driving characteristics of reflective display using cholesteric liquid crystals were stuied.
Firstly, in order to understand the influence of the cell thickness, we measured the critical voltage. When critical voltage is applied on the cell, the state of the liquid crystals changes from planar textures to homeotropic textures. We also measured contrast and transition-time from homeotropic textures to transient-planar textures. As the cell thickness is increased, the critical voltage becomes larger and contrast is increased and finally saturated. Also we found transition-time have no relation with the cell thickness.
Secondly, we investigated three-stage pulse to drive passive-matrix display. When $T_s$ is larger than 1ms, contrast and ΔV are more influenced by $V_e$ than $T_s$. As the $V_e$ becomes larger, contrast is increased and ΔV is decreased. Meanwhile, $A_o$ is affected by both $T_s$ and $V_e$. As $T_s$ becomes shorter or $V_e$ becomes larger, $A_o$ is decreased. It was also shown that transition-time from homeotropic textures to planar textures is independent on both of them.
