Abstract: A method of driving a liquid crystal device, which comprises matrix-addressed driving a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal, particularly a ferroelectric liquid crystal, disposed between a pair of substrates and comprising finely distributed domains differing in threshold voltage for use in switching said liquid crystal, said method being a pulse modulation method comprising modulating at least one of pulse voltage and pulse width, a pixel electrode division method, or a time integration method. Also claimed is a liquid crystal device driven by any of said methods. The liquid crystal device provides a further improved analog multiple gray-scale level display, realizes a large-area display at a low cost, and enables drive at full color video rate.

Abstract: A reflective guest-host liquid-crystal display includes: a pair of upper and lower substrates joined together with a predetermined space therebetween; and a guest-host liquid-crystal layer which is held within the space and contains a dichroic dye. The upper substrate is provided with at least a counter electrode. At least thin-film transistors (TFTs), a reflective layer, a .lambda./4 phase shifter (quarter-wavelength plate), and pixel electrodes are formed on the lower substrate. The .lambda./4 phase shifter is formed above the TFTs and the reflective layer, and has contact holes connecting to the drain electrodes of the TFTs. The pixel electrodes are patterned on the .lambda./4 phase shifter and connected to the corresponding drain electrodes of the TFTs through the corresponding contact holes.