Ferroelectric liquid crystal device with an AC electric field producing a helical structure

An electro-optical device comprising:

• a pair of substrates having an electrode arrangement thereon;
• a uniaxial orientation control means provided on a surface of only one of said substrates;
• and
• a light modulating layer containing a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said substrates,
• wherein said light modulating layer includes a first region contiguous to said uniaxial orientation control means and a second region distant from said uniaxial orientation control means, and wherein said ferroelectric does not form a spiral structure in said first region while said ferroelectric liquid crystal forms a spiral structure in said second region in response to an application of an AC field.

An electro-optical device comprising:

• a pair of substrates having an electrode arrangement thereon;
• a uniaxial orientation control means provided on a surface of only one of said substrates;
• and
• a light modulating layer interposed between said substrates, said modulating layer comprising a mixture of a ferroelectric liquid crystal and a polymer,
• wherein said light modulating layer includes a first region contiguous to said uniaxial orientation control means and a second region distant from said uniaxial orientation control means, and wherein said ferroelectric does not form a spiral structure in said first region while said ferroelectric liquid crystal forms a spiral structure in said second region in response to an application of an AC field.