Abstract: The present invention relates to a nematic bistable display device, characterized in that it comprises control means (40) for producing, after the anchoring is broken, hybrid textures in which two bistable textures coexist in a controlled proportion within the same pixel, these being separated by 180° volume disclination lines or by 180° reorientation walls on one of the surfaces, and means (40) for the long-term stabilization of the hybrid textures by transformation of the volume lines into surface walls and the immobilization of these walls on the surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal material sandwiched between two confinement plates (1, 2), the device being characterized by the fact that at least one of the plates (2) is provided with treatment which defines degenerate or nearly degenerate azimuth anchoring without azimuth orientation memory.

Abstract: A display device including two parallel transparent plates (10, 12) having transparent electrodes on the inner surfaces thereof and containing a liquid crystal material (20). The device includes means defining a monostable anchoring for each plate (10, 12), means (40) controllable to break at least one of the anchorings, and means for thereafter inducing volume bistability.

Abstract: A display device including two parallel transparent plates (10, 12) having transparent electrodes on the inner surfaces thereof and containing a liquid crystal material (20). The device includes means defining a monostable anchoring for each plate (10, 12), means (40) controllable to break at least one of the anchorings, and means for thereafter inducing volume bistability.

Abstract: A method applicable to a liquid crystal cell comprising two parallel transparent plates (11, 12) coated on their facing inert faces with electrode-forming conductive coatings (14,15), and with a shim (13) interposed between the plates, the space in said cells between said plates containing a substance (17) including molecules which are endowed with nematic properties, wherein: controlled variations in surface impedance are defined on at least one of the electrode coatings in selected zones (16) thereof; and a variable frequency excitation electrical voltage is applied between the electrodes (14, 15) provided on respective ones of said plates (11, 12), and voltage being selected to be suitable for producing alternately an electric field extending normally to the electrodes and an electric field which slopes relative to the normal to said electrodes at said zones (16) having a controlled impedance variation.

Abstract: An electro-optical method and apparatus uses liquid crystals. The method includes the step of filling a space between two parallel transparent plates with a material which comprises molecules having nematic properties, the structure of the molecules initially defining a substantially rectilinear nematic director perpendicular to the plates. A structure is then conferred on the material defining a second nematic director curved at least once in a plane perpendicular to the plate by application of a high frequency electrical field to the material, such that the second nematic director arrives substantially perpendicularly at at least one of the two plates. A twist is imparted to the second nematic director along a component at right angles to said plane perpendicular to the plates to impart a twist in the second nematic director.