Antiferroelectric liquid-crystal cells usually show symmetric electro-optic switching response from the antiferroelectric state to two opposite ferroelectric states. Intermediate transmission levels (analog gray scale) can be stabilized, applying a constant dc bias voltage after switching. Modifying the manufacturing process and using narrow dynamic-range antiferroelectric materials, a fully asymmetric response has been achieved. This asymmetric switching allows the antiferroelectric cell to be driven as a ferroelectric cell, reducing or eliminating the bias voltage, and ultimately leading to analog optical multistability, i.e., devices whose optical transmission may be arbitrarily set and maintained without power supply.
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