Twisted nematic liquid crystal display devices with optical axis of birefringent layer inclined with respect to birefringent layer normal

A display device, comprising:

• a first polarizer transmitting therethrough light having a first polarization direction;
• a second polarizer parallel with and opposing the first polarizer, the second polarizer transmitting therethrough light having a second polarization direction, the second polarization direction being perpendicular to the first polarization direction;
• a layer of twisted nematic liquid crystal parallel to and between the polarizers;
• a first birefringent layer extending in a plane that is parallel to and between the first and second polarizers;
• means for providing a voltage across the liquid crystal layer, comprising a pair of transparent electrodes opposing one another across the liquid crystal layer and a power source connected to the pair of transparent electrodes;
• and
• wherein the first birefringent layer has the property that it provides uniaxial negative birefringence along an axis that is inclined with respect to a normal to the plane in which the first birefringent layer extends.