Display devices

Abstract

A reflective liquid crystal display device includes a ferroelectric liquid crystal cell, a first polarizer through which light from a light source passes before passing through the cell, a second polarizer through which the light passes after passing through the cell, and a reflective layer which reflects the light back through the second polarizer, the cell and the first polarizer, in that order, for viewing by an observer. In order to obtain a bright image, the first and second polarizers are orientated with their directions of polarization at angles of .alpha. and .beta., respectively, relative to the alignment direction, the value of .alpha.+.beta. being determined from ##EQU1## where the optic axes in the two switching states of the liquid crystal material are at angles of +.theta..sub.c, and -.theta..sub.c, respectively, to the alignment direction wherein angle .theta..sub.c is in a range wherein .theta..sub.c <22.5.degree..

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.