Liquid crystal display having electrically controlled birefringence

A method of driving a crystal display apparatus having a common electrode and a segment electrode which are periodically driven at each driving frame time, said apparatus including:

• a pair of substrates having tilt orientation directions parallel to each other and being capable of orientating liquid crystal molecules homeotropically or pseudo-homeotropically at an angle range of from 0.degree. to about 20.degree.;
• and a layer of nematic liquid crystal molecules disposed between said pair of substrates to form a cell, having negative dielectric anisotropy and containing substantially no chiral molecules in which said cell has a response time shorter than the driving frame time, said liquid crystal layer not being twisted in an "OFF" state and being spontaneously twisted in an "ON" state, said method comprising the steps of:
• applying a constant voltage signal between the common electrode and the segment electrode in the "OFF" state such that said liquid crystal layer is not twisted, and
• applying a voltage pulse signal between the common electrode and the segment electrode in the "ON" state such that the liquid crystal layer is spontaneously twisted.