A back lighted transflective liquid crystal display with improved contrast ratio has a light mask positioned between the transflective element and the source of back lighting. The mask has light transmitting sections which are aligned with and have the same configuration as the indicia-forming electrodes in the cell. The mask has opaque or light blocking sections that are aligned with the background portion of the cell. In the transmissive mode light impinges on the cell only in the area of the indicia-forming electrodes, thereby enhancing the contrast ratio between the indicia and background portions of the cell.

A system in which several colors of the spectrum are selectable to be displayed having common polarity and with high contrast against a black background, utilizing liquid crystal cells along with linear and color polarizers disposed along an optical axis so that comparable results in either reflective or transmissive modes are achieved, with appropriate light sources.

Disclosed are field sensitive optical displays, and arrangements and methods for inducing fields in the displays and for scanning the displays. In the disclosed embodiments, liquid crystal, optoceramic and electroluminescent materials are utilized. Methods and arrangements for improving the response time of twisted nematic liquid crystal material and for generating color displays are also disclosed. Methods and arrangements are also disclosed for superimposing varying and a dc fields in field sensitive material. Various display patterns such as a movable dot, intersecting lines and a pivoting line can be obtained.