Nippon Electric Co., Ltd.

Fumihiro Ogawa

Chizuka Tani

A display panel of the liquid crystal type provides a positive color display of segments or unit display areas using a reduced number of divided electrodes and an increased number of different driving signals. On one side of the panel there is a separate electrode encompassing each display area and all such electrodes include a display area. On the other side there are several common electrodes, each encompassing at least one display area and all cumulatively encompassing all of the display areas. A display area is selected for display by applying driving signals to its opposed electrodes such that substantially zero voltage is across the selected display area thereby leaving colored appearance in the selected display area. All other display areas and background areas are decolored by applying to the respective opposed electrodes driving signals resulting in a liquid crystal threshold voltage being applied across said non-selected display areas and said background areas.

Display apparatus

A liquid crystal cell includes a nematic liquid crystal of negative dielectric anisotropy is disposed between a pair of transparent electrode substrates. The electrode substrates have on their inner surfaces small grooves formed parallel to each other, the grooves on one surface being perpendicular to those on the other surface. In the absence of a voltage applied between the substrates, the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are perpendicular to the inner surfaces of the electrode substrates. The addition of a small amount of a cholesteric liquid crystal material markedly improves the contrast of the display.

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Tokyo, Japan

Fumihiro Ogawa