Basic Principle for Determining Azimuthal Anchoring Strength by using HAN/TN Two Domain Liquid Crystal Cell

We propose a novel technique for evaluating the azimuthal anchoring strength of the alignment film on the nematic liquid crystal (LC). In our evaluation, a unique cell, which has two domain in one cell, was used; one is hybrid aligned nematic (HAN) region, the other is twsited nematic (TN) region (viz. HAN/TN two domain cell). From the comparison of director angles on the front substrate with each region, we are able to determine the angle between easy axis and real director axis on the front substrate. From this evaluation, the azimuthal anchoring strength was obtained accurately.