Advanced gray-scale compensator for TN-LCDs for avionics applications

— The gray‐scale and contrast‐viewing‐angle deficiencies of normally white TN‐LCDs must be overcome for the device to be utilized in high‐performance avionics display applications. A compensator that enhances the contrast and gray scale of normally white TN‐LCDs over a wide range of viewing angles is described. The compensator includes a unique biaxial element with an obliquely oriented principal optical axis. The compensator's design, fabrication, modeled performance, and performance measured on an avionics display system are presented.