In a display device utilizing ferroelectric (e.g., chiral, smectic C material), a stabilizing electric field perpendicular to the cell surfaces forces the molecules to orient themselves in one of two states both of which are parallel to the cell surfaces. A particular state is selected by a switching...http://www.google.com.au/patents/US4707078?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4707078 - Ferroelectric liquid crystal devices using field-stabilized states
