Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell comprising a chiral ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal layer whose helix structure is influenced by the action of an electric field such that its optical anisotropy alters; a pair of transparent plates between which the liquid crystal is disposed and which have a surface structure for aligning the molecule of the liquid crystal and are provided with electrodes to produce an electric field therein; and one polarizer each before and after the liquid crystal, such that a ratio d/p of the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer to the pitch height p of the helical twisting is greater than 5, the smectic tilt angle &thgr;o between 0.39 radians and 0.87 radians and the product d·&thgr;2·&Dgr;n·1/&lgr; (phase factor) of the thickness d, the square of the tilt angle &thgr;°, the value of the birefringence &Dgr;n and the reciprocal of the wavelength &lgr; of light bending is greater than 0.45 radians2.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell comprising a chiral ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal layer whose helix structure is influenced by the action of an electric field such that its optical anisotropy alters; a pair of transparent plates between which the liquid crystal is disposed and which have a surface structure for aligning the molecule of the liquid crystal and are provided with electrodes to produce an electric field therein; and one polariser each before and after the liquid crystal: such ratio d/p of the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer to the pitch height p of the helical twisting is greater than 5, the smectic tilt angle .theta..sub.o is being between 22.5 .degree. and 50.degree. and the product d..theta..sub.o.sup.2..DELTA.n.1/.lambda. (phase factor) of the thickness d, the square of the tilt angle .theta..sub.o, the value of the birefringence .DELTA.n and the reciprocal of the wavelength .lambda. of light bedding is greater than 0.45 .mu.m.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell comprising a chiral ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal layer whose helix structure is influenced by the action of an electric field such that its optical anisotropy alters; a pair of transparent plates between which the liquid crystal is disposed and which have a surface structure for aligning the molecule of the liquid crystal and are provided with electrodes to produce an electric field therein; and one polariser each before and after the liquid crystal: such ratio d/p of the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer to the pitch height p of the helical twisting is greater than 5, the smectic tilt angle .theta..sub.o is being between 22.5.degree. and 50.degree. and the product d.multidot..theta..sub.o.sup.2 .multidot..DELTA.n.multidot.l/.lambda. (phase factor) of the thickness d, the square of the tilt angle .theta..sub.o, the value of the birefringence .DELTA.n and the reciprocal of the wavelength .lambda. of light bedding is greater than 0.45 .mu.m.