Abstract: A spatial light modulator is disclosed that can be fabricated easily and is able to prevent degradation of a contrast ratio by suppressing a fringe effect. The spatial light modulator includes a light transmission substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a pixel array, and a phase difference generation unit provided between the light transmission substrate and the liquid crystal layer. A lens array is formed on the light transmission substrate, and the lens array has the same pitch as that of the pixel array.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that performs resolution conversion on image data to output to a display unit includes a resolution converting unit configured to perform resolution conversion on the image data to generate pixel data having a resolution ? times as high as a resolution of the display unit, where ?>1; an image processing unit configured to perform an image processing on the pixel data; and a decimation unit configured to decimate the pixel data on which the image processing has been performed, to have a resolution equal to or lower than the resolution of the display unit, and to output decimated data to the display unit.

Abstract: An optical deflection device includes an optical deflection element having a pair of transparent boards arranged in a mutually opposing manner. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the boards and forms a chiral smectic C phase. An orientation film orients liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes generate an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. A first voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a deflection frequency switching the optical deflection direction of the optical deflection element. A second voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a higher frequency than the deflection frequency.

Abstract: An imaging unit images light on a light receiving element, and includes an optical path shifting element, and a lens arranged on an input side or an output side of the optical path shifting element. The optical path shifting element includes a liquid crystal layer which is applied with an electrical field in a direction approximately parallel to an in-plane direction. The liquid crystal layer is made of a chiral smectic C phase ferroelectric liquid crystal having a homeotropic alignment. The optical path shifting element shifts an optical path of the light input thereto in an optical path shifting direction.

Abstract: An image display apparatus acquires a high-quality image by suppressing positional fluctuation of projected dots due to a positional offset of an optical path deflecting element. A spatial light modulation element (1) displays an image by projecting a light from an illumination light source. A projection optical system (3) enlarges and projects the image formed on the spatial light modulation element (1). An optical path deflecting element (2) is provided between the spatial light modulation element (1) and the image formed on a screen (4) so as to deflect an optical path in accordance with a screen frame period. The optical path deflecting element (2) shifts the optical path for the image projected on the screen (4) at a high rate so as to apparently increase a number of picture elements. The optical path deflecting element (2) is located within the projection optical system.

Abstract: In a method for displaying a three-dimensional stereo image, a left-eye image defined by multiple left-eye strip pixels and a right-eye image defined by multiple right-eye strip pixels are displayed such that the left-eye pixels and the right-eye pixels are arranged alternately from the left to the right in a width direction. The left-eye image and the right-eye image are guided separately to the left eye and the right eye of an observer. Then, the left-eye image and the right-eye image are shifted by one pixel in an oscillating manner, and the left-eye image and the right-eye image are deflected synchronized with the one-pixel shifting operation.

Abstract: A recording head has a nozzle orifice line, and performs recording on a recording medium. A transport roller transports the recording medium to a position opposite to the recording head. A control unit has information about a plurality of speed levels different from each other which are rotational speeds for constant speed regions of the transport roller, a plurality of recording modes for leading end margins and information about recording start positions different from each other in each recording mode, and includes an optimum transport speed selecting unit that, when any one of the recording modes is selected, compares a first distance from a recording medium sensor to the recording start position with a second distance from a deceleration start point to a stop point, and selects the highest speed level when the second distance is smaller than the first distance.

Abstract: An optical axis deflecting element is provided with a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer disposed between substrate surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates and having a chiral smectic C-phase forming a homeotropic orientation, and a plurality of electrode pairs each defining one of a plurality of divided regions into which an effective region of the liquid crystal layer is divided, wherein an electric field is independently applicable to each divided region defined by a corresponding electrode pair in a direction parallel to the substrate surfaces.

Abstract: A light path shift device is disclosed that is able to divide an effective region of a light path and drive the divided regions independently. The light path shift device includes a liquid crystal layer held between at least two opposite transparent substrates, the liquid crystal layer being homeotropically aligned and being able to form a chiral smectic C phase; and plural electrodes for applying an electric field in the liquid crystal layer in a horizontal direction. An effective region of the liquid crystal layer through which a light path passes is divided into plural sub-regions, plural light path shift elements with the electrodes formed thereon are stacked only at positions corresponding to the sub-regions, and are arranged so that boundary lines of the sub-regions are in agreement when being viewed along the direction of light propagation.

Abstract: An image projection device performing pixel shift in synchronization with sequential updating of image data is disclosed that is able to start and stop pixel shift operations within a period of updating the image frames while maintaining brightness of the image. The image projection device has an intermediate image formation optical system including a light valve able to update an image frame in a line-sequential manner, a pixel shift unit to shift the light path of a light beam from the light valve so as to shift a position of an image formed on the light valve, and an intermediate image formation unit arranged on the light path between the light valve and the pixel shift unit for forming an intermediate image of the image on the light valve at a position of the pixel shift unit.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.

Abstract: An optical deflection device includes an optical deflection element having a pair of transparent boards arranged in a mutually opposing manner. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the boards and forms a chiral smectic C phase. An orientation film orients liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes generate an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. A first voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a deflection frequency switching the optical deflection direction of the optical deflection element. A second voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a higher frequency than the deflection frequency.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.

Abstract: In a platen gap adjustment device, a stable area detection device for a platen gap formed between ahead and an upper surface of a platen, wherein the carriage guide shaft is moved relatively to the platen so that the platen gap is adjusted by driving the drive motor to rotate the gap adjuster cam, the gap adjuster cam is configured so as to provide a plurality of stable areas and a plurality transition areas; and wherein a stable area detection sensor is provided so as to face to a rotational member which rotates synchronously with the gap adjuster cam, and a detection object in correspondence with the stable areas of the platen gap is provided on the rotational member.

Abstract: An optical deflection device includes an optical deflection element having a pair of transparent boards arranged in a mutually opposing manner. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the boards and forms a chiral smectic C phase. An orientation film orients liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes generate an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. A first voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a deflection frequency switching the optical deflection direction of the optical deflection element. A second voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a higher frequency than the deflection frequency.

Abstract: A method of producing a hologram element is disclosed that is able to prevent spread of a polymerization reaction and light leakage during exposure with interference light, and improve productivity in mass production. The hologram element is for transmitting, reflecting, diffracting, or scattering incident light, and includes a pair of substrates, an isolation member between the substrates that forms an isolated region, and a photo-sensitive recording material sealed in the isolated region. The hologram element includes a periodic structure formed by exposing the recording material to interference light. The interference light is generated by two or more light beams, or by using a master hologram. The recording material is formed from a composite material including a polymerized polymer or a polymerized liquid crystal. The periodic structure is formed by exposing the recording material to the interference light to induce the polymerization reaction and phase separation in the composite material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image switching apparatus allowing a operator to easily operate a plurality of special effect apparatuses through different interfaces by using a common operation.

Abstract: An optical element, an optical device, and a display device are disclosed that are able to change a polarization state in time order and to produce polarized light with little wavelength dependence and superior in polarization purity, and able to perform pixel shift easily and accurately to realize high resolution image display. The optical element has a translucent surface parallel to the rotational axis of the optical element, and at least a portion of the translucent surface is formed from an optically anisotropic medium. A polarization state of a light beam transmitting through the translucent surface is switched in time order along with rotation of the optical element.

Abstract: An optical path deflecting element, an optical path deflecting apparatus, an image displaying apparatus, an optical writing apparatus, an optical interconnection apparatus, an optical element, and a fabrication method thereof. The optical path deflecting element includes a pair of transparent substrates, transparent electrode films on the substrates to which a voltage having an inverse polarity is selectively applied, an alignment layer in the inner sides of the substrates, and a liquid crystal layer formed of a chiral smectic C phase between the substrates via the alignment layer and homogeneously aligned by the alignment layer. The optical deflecting element can realize the uniformly-aligned liquid crystal layer more easily than a case in which the liquid crystal is aligned to become in a bistable condition. For this reason, it is possible to improve yield in the fabrication.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator is disclosed that can be fabricated easily and is able to prevent degradation of a contrast ratio by suppressing a fringe effect. The spatial light modulator includes a light transmission substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a pixel array, and a phase difference generation unit provided between the light transmission substrate and the liquid crystal layer. A lens array is formed on the light transmission substrate, and the lens array has the same pitch as that of the pixel array.