A target image can be analyzed determine a respective level of visual saliency for each of a plurality of information presented in the target image. At least a first sub-frame update for a display panel can be determined, the at least first sub-frame update providing at least a partial rendering of the target image on the display panel, the at least partial rendering of the target image providing the information presented in the target image that is determined to have a highest level of visual saliency from among the plurality of information. The at least first sub-frame update can be applied to the display panel.

Optical systems are described that include a lighting component, a switchable diffuser adjacent the lighting component, and a low-absorbing optical component disposed adjacent the switchable diffuser opposite the lighting component or disposed adjacent the lighting component opposite the switchable diffuser or disposed adjacent the lighting component opposite the display panel. The switchable diffuser is capable of being in either a substantially clear state or in a first hazy state. The low-absorbing optical component provides a collimating effect or a turning effect when the lighting component is illuminated and the switchable diffuser is in the substantially clear state.

An in-plane retardation switching device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a non-chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal material is of a bulk state. The liquid crystal material has a phase transition sequence of a smectic C phase, a smectic A phase, a nematic phase and an isotropic phase in this order. The liquid crystal material does not have spontaneous polarization and is configured to be driven by quadra-pole momentum of the liquid crystal material.

An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.

Optical systems are described that include a lighting component, a switchable diffuser adjacent the lighting component, and a low-absorbing optical component disposed adjacent the switchable diffuser opposite the lighting component or disposed adjacent the lighting component opposite the switchable diffuser or disposed adjacent the lighting component opposite the display panel. The switchable diffuser is capable of being in either a substantially clear state or in a first hazy state. The low-absorbing optical component provides a collimating effect or a turning effect when the lighting component is illuminated and the switchable diffuser is in the substantially clear state.

Provided are a liquid crystal display device and a method for driving same. The liquid crystal display device comprises the liquid crystal display device in a PVA mode, an LVA mode, an FFS mode, and in an IPS mode. The liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal layer, which comprises a negative nematic liquid crystal, a positive nematic liquid crystal, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display device comprises a non-ferroelectric liquid crystal and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.