PTFE alignment for rapid prototyping of LCDs

Garry Lester; Harry J. Coles

doi:10.1117/12.472195

27 June 2002 PTFE alignment for rapid prototyping of LCDs

Garry Lester, Harry J. Coles

Proceedings Volume 4759, XIV Conference on Liquid Crystals: Chemistry, Physics, and Applications; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.472195
Event: XIV Conference on Liquid Crystals, Chemistry, Physics, and Applications, 2001, Zakopane, Poland

Abstract

Films of Poly-Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene (PTFE) have been shown to be very effective alignment agents for liquid crystal materials. Such films may be deposited in a one step dry process offering advantages in terms of both time and simplicity over deposition of polyimide or SiO₂ alignment layers. This is most appropriate for applications where a test device is required as part of a rapid prototype for ergonomic and similar testing. Earlier work has identified suitable deposition parameters (temperature, surface pressure, velocity) for production of PTFE films but with single films there is still typically some variation in the alignment due to the machined surface of the PTFE bar itself. In this work multiple film deposition using a 'step and repeat' has been investigated as means of achieving improved alignment uniformity and has been found effective in test devices of several cm². Electro-Optic measurements on a multiple pixel test device show little spatial variation in the threshold voltage illustrating the possibility of matrix addressing a PTFE aligned prototype device. In conclusion PTFE films offer a very rapid method of producing alignment layers for devices having reproducible and uniform electro-optic characteristics.

Citation Download Citation

Garry Lester and Harry J. Coles "PTFE alignment for rapid prototyping of LCDs", Proc. SPIE 4759, XIV Conference on Liquid Crystals: Chemistry, Physics, and Applications, (27 June 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.472195

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