Abstract: An LCD having the liquid crystal in at least a portion of the interpixel region displaced by a spacer material. The spacer material has a low dielectric constant relative to the liquid crystal, thus further impeding the formation of the bend deformation in the liquid crystal in the interpixel region when pixels on opposite sides of the spacer material are operating in the inversion mode. This elimination of the bend deformation in the interpixel region eliminates the reverse tilt disclination.

Abstract: In a display device comprising a first substrate having at least one transparent, first picture electrode of a first material, a second substrate comprising at least one second picture electrode of a second material which, jointly with the picture electrode on the first substrate and an intermediate opto-electronic material, defines a pixel, and means for supplying electric voltages to the picture electrodes, the work function between the two picture electrodes is decreased in that at least one of the picture electrodes is coated with at least one layer of conducting material, or a layer of a material comprising a dipole.

Abstract: In a display device comprising a first substrate having at least one transparent, first picture electrode of a first material, a second substrate comprising at least one second picture electrode of a second material which, jointly with the picture electrode on the first substrate and an intermediate opto-electronic material, defines a pixel, and means for supplying electric voltages to the picture electrodes, the work function between the two picture electrodes is decreased in that at least one of the picture electrodes is coated with at least one layer of conducting material, or a layer of a material comprising a dipole.

Abstract: The invention provides optical modulation devices and displays of the DHFLCtype having a high contrast. Said modulation devices comprise a first substrate and a second substrate which are positioned substantially parallel to each other and which are provided, on their facing surfaces, with, in succession, an electrode layer and an orientation layer. This advantageous effect is achieved by using different orientation layers, the surfaced energy of the orientation layer of the first substrate being different from the surface energy of the orientation layer of the second substrate, said difference in surface energy being at least 5 mN/m. The orientation layer having the high surface energy is preferably made from rubbed polyimide, and the orientation layer having the low surface energy is preferably made from unrubbed polyorganosilsesquioxane. The optically active layer of the modulation devices in accordance with the invention exhibits a "tilted-bookshelf" structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a substrate having a modified orientation layer and a liquid-crystalline display device comprising such a substrate. The orientation layer is made from a polymer and is modified with organic groups which induce a pretilt in the liquid-crystalline material when they are used in a liquid-crystalline display device. According to the invention, for modifying the orientation layer use is made of a precursor compound of the organic groups which is vaporized, whereafter the substrate carrying the orientation layer is exposed to the vapour formed in the process. Preferably, the orientation layer comprises hydroxyl groups such as PVA, and a carboxylic acid halogenide such as an alkyloyl chloride is used as the precursor. A further favourable combination comprises orientation layers of polyamide acid and alkylamine precursor compounds.