Simulation study of single-cell-gap transflective liquid crystal display with nonuniform potential

A single-cell-gap transflective liquid crystal display with a nonuniform electric potential is demonstrated. The top substrate has a top planar common electrode, a transparent dielectric layer with a general dielectric constant is coated on the bottom substrate, and two planar pixel electrodes with the same size are coated on the dielectric layer and the bottom substrate, respectively. With the different gaps between the two planar pixel electrodes and top planar pixel electrode, the nonuniform electric potential from the transmissive region (T region) to the reflective region (R region) is generated, while a bumpy reflector is coated under the bottom substrate. In this device, with the dielectric layer, the pixel and common electrodes generate a strong electric potential in the T region and a relatively weak electric potential in the R region. Consequently, the T and R regions accumulate the same optical phase retardation. The simulation results show that the display exhibits reasonably low operating voltage, high optical efficiency, and well-matched voltage-dependent transmittance and reflectance curves. Besides, the fabrication process and the driving mode of the transflective liquid crystal display are relatively simple, and it is suitable for mobile applications.