Both Symmetric and Asymmetric Electro-Optic Dynamic Behavior with SSD (Smectic Single Domain) Liquid Crystals

SSD-liquid crystal panels' retardation switching dynamic behaviors have been investigated from their in-plane and out-of-plane retardation switching behaviors. In-plane-only and a mixture between in-plane and out-of-plane retardation switching behaviors are highly related to the initial smectic liquid crystal molecular stacking configurations. With uniformly stacked configuration, a completely symmetric retardation switching, as well as light throughput behavior, was obtained. With a slight twisted stacking configuration, the retardation switching behavior is dependent on the applied electric field strength, which may change the initial molecular stacking configuration, resulting in either symmetric or asymmetric retardation switching. When the molecular stacking has twisted heavily, the obtained retardation switching showed asymmetric behavior regardless of the applied electric field strength.