Initially, Wild investigated earlier LCD work done at the
RCA Laboratories in the US. Thereafter, Brown Boveri entered into a joint venture with
Roche in
Basel to explore LCD technologies. As part of this common project,
physicists at Roche discovered and patented the
Twisted nematic field effect (TN). Also, new room-temperature liquid crystal compounds for the TN effect were developed during this cooperation. Wild recognized early-on, that matrix-addressing of such displays was important for many potential applications to show images (such as flat-screen
computer monitors). Results of his work in this field were published. In particular, Wild discovered, that the
RMS voltage of the driving waveforms of LCD matrix displays is relevant for the electrooptic threshold and is not to be exceeded at partially-addressed
pixels of
passive-matrix displays. Pioneering work of his team included experiments with
LCD projectors as well as illumination schemes for
backlit panels resulting in corresponding patents. More than 20 patent applications where filed naming Wild as inventor or co-inventor. He helped setting up manufacturing of TN LCDs at a new factory in
Lenzburg, Switzerland, which started deliveries in 1974, mainly to manufacturers of
digital watches, such as
Casio of
Japan, which used these LCDs to launch its first quartz
wristwatches with digital time display under the
Casiotron brand. == References ==