Abstract: A light shutter is provided wherein a first plate which includes a pixel electrode for use in applying a includes a background electrode located adjacent the pixel voltage potential across a ferroelectric material also electrode and substantially surrounding the pixel electrode, whereby an electronic mask can be created adjacent the pixel electrode in the ferroelectric material. A second plate which, along with the first plate sandwiches the ferroelectric material, includes a backplane electrode which is used in conjunction with the pixel and background electrodes on the first plate for applying voltage potentials across the ferroelectric material.

Abstract: A system and method of transporting a sheet along a sheet path with electrostatic forces by applying corona charges to the sheet in pulses from high voltage corona generating electrodes in plural arrays extending along at least one side of the sheet path and subjecting the charged sheet to an electrical field pattern, defined by unevenly opposing electrodes spaced on the opposite side of the sheet path to provide an electrostatic force component acting on the charged sheet to move the sheet along the sheet path. The unevenly opposing electrodes may include grounded electrodes adjacent the downstream end of each array and commonly biased electrodes adjacent the upstream end of each array. Three different embodiments are illustrated.

Abstract: A linear array of liquid crystal shutters mounted near a photoreceptor surface and arranged transversely to the direction of travel of the photoreceptor surface, an array of multiplexed thin film transistors (TFT's) connected to the array of liquid crystal shutters for electrically driving the shutters and logic means connected to the multiplexed array of thin film resistors selectively pulsing the liquid crystal shutters to selectively expose the photoreceptor surface a line at a time. The system further includes a single backplane and circuit means for producing an electric field between the backplane and electrodes of each of the liquid crystal shutters to prevent passage of light through the shutters and means for selectively de-energizing each of the pairs of electrodes for predetermined time period in response to the receipt of input data signals.

Abstract: A linear array of liquid crystal shutters mounted near a photoreceptor surface and arranged transversely to the direction of travel of the photoreceptor surface, an array of thin film transistors connected to the array of liquid crystal shutters for electrically driving the shutters and logic means connected to the array of thin film transistors selectively pulsing the liquid crystal shutters to selectively expose the photoreceptor surface a line at a time. The system further includes circuit means for producing an electric field between the opposed electrodes of each of the liquid crystal shutters to prevent passage of light through the shutters and means for selectively de-energizing each of the pairs of electrodes for predetermined time period in response to the receipt of input data signals.

Abstract: The invention is a liquid crystal material between horizontal and vertical electrodes. A xerographic drum is placed underneath the electrodes/liquid crystal configuration and an optical system provides light or no light at the intersection of the electrodes to be focused on the xerographic drum. A single line of data is created by printing first the odd elements of the data and then the even elements. First, data is clocked into a shift register coincident with clock pulses. This is the data for the next line to be printed or displayed and not the presently printed or displayed line of odd bits. When the new line has been completely shifted in, a latch pulse transfers the data to latches, a one line parallel in parallel out buffer. Then, on the even half of the cycle, the even bits of data which have been shifted in while the odd dots are being printed, are latched to the drivers.

Abstract: A matrix-addressed display device having a cursor which is movable independently of the displayed information is disclosed. Two interrupt circuits are used to override or interrupt the refresh cycling of the displayed information and to relocate the cursor in the display device in response to a user input control such as a keyboard, joy stick or the like. One interrupt circuit comprises a pair of AND gates and an inverter, while the other interrupt circuit comprises a plurality of AND gate pairs with each pair having an inverter. The interrupt circuits enable the cursor to be moved to its new location prior to completion of the refresh cycling of the displayed information.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatic control of an image storage device. The image storage device, of the type employing a liquid crystal, is utilized in an intermediate processing step during electrostatographic reproduction of the image. An automatic sequence of voltages and illuminations are applied to the image storage device for erasing previously stored images and for preparing the device for storage of an image. The stored image can be applied to a photoreceptor element of an electrostatographic machine for reproduction of the image. The liquid crystal image storage device can be utilized in conjunction with apparatus for displaying signal encoded data. The display of the signal encoded data can be in a format inconvenient for direct application to the photoreceptor, the image storage device serving as a buffer memory for the image. The stored image can be utilized in conjunction with the electrostatographic machine to provide single or multiple copies of the image.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for maintaining the conductance of liquid crystalline compositions comprising pure transstilbene liquid crystalline materials at a level sufficient to allow dynamic scattering of the composition.