Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device comprising a pair of base plates each provided with an electrode, a ferroelectric liquid crystal sealed between the pair of base plates and at least one polarizer, wherein the ferroelectric liquid crystal provides a different monoaxially anisotropic phase having an axial direction through phase transition thereof, the ferroelectric liquid crystal gives an average molecular axis direction forming an angle .circle.H from the axial direction of the different monoaxially anisotropic phase under application of a polarity of voltage, the ferroelectric liquid crystal further gives an average molecular axis direction forming an angle .theta. from the axial direction of the different monoaxially anisotropic phase under the application of zero-voltage between the electrodes of the pair of base plates, the angle .circle.H being smaller than .theta.

Abstract: A driving method for a liquid crystal device of the type comprising a picture element formed by a first electrode, a second electrode oppositely spaced from the first electrode, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed at the opposite portion between the first and second electrodes and having a varying layer thickness. The driving method comprises: a first step of applying a voltage signal between the first and second electrodes for orienting a region extending over the whole area of the picture element to either one of a first and a second state, and a second step of applying a pulse with a waveform corresponding to gradation information between the first and second electrodes to switch the state of a region defining a prescribed area of the picture element from one state resultant in the first step to the other state.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a pair of base plates and a ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the base plates. The pair of base plates being secured to each other to leave a spacing which is small enough to release the spiral structure of the ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal due to the wall effect of the base plates. Fibrous spacers having a diameter d (.mu.m) and an average length l satisfying the relationship of 3.ltoreq.l/d.ltoreq.100 are disposed together with the ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a ferroelectric liquid crystal placed under bistability condition with two stable states. The ferroelectric liquid crystal is placed under the bistability condition in the presence of a surface which has been uniaxially orientation-treated. The molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal align so as to be twisted in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer in either of the two stable states. The average dipole moments of the liquid crystal molecules in the two stable states are in mutually opposite polarities.

Abstract: A display panel comprising a liquid crystal device comprising a plurality of picture elements arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each picture element comprising a ferroelectric crystal under bistability condition showing either a first or a second orientation state; means for orienting the ferroelectric liquid crystal to either one of the first and second orientation states at respective picture elements; and means for controlling the duration of the first or second orientation state at respective picture elements.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell having a pair of substrates disposed with a gap therebetween and a liquid crystal injected through a liquid crystal injection port and enclosed in the gap between the substrates. The liquid crystal cell has spacer members disposed on at least one of the substrates, a liquid crystal layer region, the thickness of which is regulated by the spacer members, and a reduced pressure space communicating with the liquid crystal layer region.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device for time-division driving comprising a plurality of picture elements arranged in a plurality of rows. Each picture element is composed of opposite electrodes, a layer of a ferroelectric liquid crystal having a volume resistivity of 1.times.10.sup.9 .OMEGA..cm or larger, disposed between the opposite electrodes and placed under bistability condition, and an insulating layer disposed on at least one of the opposite electrodes. The liquid crystal device is adapted to driving according to a time-division driving scheme wherein a writing signal is applied row by row and cyclically to the picture elements, and a particular row of picture elements to which the writing signal has been applied in a writing cycle retain their written states until a writing signal is applied to the particular row in a subsequent writing cycle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type comprising a liquid crystal panel having a first substrate having first electrodes thereon, a liquid crystal layer, a second substrate having a second electrode, polarizing means and light-scattering reflection means; a light source for emitting light toward the liquid crystal from the side of the first substrate; means for forming an electrostatic light image corresponding to the light rays reflected from the liquid crystal panel; and developing means. Picture elements are arranged in a row or column with a spacing (P) between adjacent picture elements, each picture element being formed at a portion where the first and second electrodes face each other through the liquid crystal layer, the gap (P) being equal to or larger than the distance (D) from the interface between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer to the scattering reflection surface of the light-scattering reflection means.

Abstract: A driving method for an optical modualtion device is applicable to driving of an optical modulation device, e.g. a liquid crystal device having a matrix electrode arrangement comprising a group of scanning electrodes, a group of signal electrodes oppositely spaced from the group of scanning electrodes, and an optical modulation material (e.g. a liquid crystal) showing bistability with respect to an electrical field applied thereto disposed between the groups of scanning electrodes and signal electrodes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal showing a cholesteric phase at a higher temperature than the temperature giving a smectic phase is interposed between a pair of base plates to give a liquid crystal device. At least one of the base plates has a face to which an orientation controlling function is imparted for preferentially orienting the liquid crystal molecules in contact with the face in one direction.

Abstract: A light-receiving member has a substrate and a light receiving layer having photoconductivity containing an amorphous material comprising a matrix of silicon atoms provided on said substrate, said light receiving layer having, from the said support side with respect to the layer thickness direction of said layer, a first layer region containing atoms of the group III of the periodic table at higher concentration toward the side of said substrate and a second layer region containing atoms of the group III of the periodic table and nitrogen atoms.

Abstract: A photoconductive member comprises a support for a photoconductive member and an amorphous layer exhibiting photoconductivity and comprising an amorphous material comprising silicon atoms as a matrix and at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms as a constituting atom, characterized in that the amorphous layer has a first layer region containing oxygen atoms and a second layer region containing an atom of Group III or an atom of Group V of the Periodic Table and existing interiorly at the support side, and the first layer region and the second layer region share in common at least a portion of said mutual region, and there is the relation:t.sub.B /(T+t.sub.B).ltoreq.0.4where t.sub.B is the thickness of the second layer region and T is a difference between the thickness of the amorphous layer and the thickness of the second layer region t.sub.B.

Abstract: A photoconductive member, comprises a support for a photoconductive member and an amorphous layer which is constituted of silicon atoms as matrix containing at least one of hydrogen atom and halogen atom and exhibits photoconductivity, said amorphous layer having a layer region containing carbon atoms in at least a part thereof, the content of the carbon atoms in said layer region being distributed unevenly in the direction of the thickness of said layer.

Abstract: A photoconductive member, is provided which has a support, a first layer having photoconductivity containing an amorphous material comprising silicon atoms as a matrix provided on said support and a second layer containing silicon atoms and carbon atoms as essential components provided on said first layer, wherein said first layer contains at least one kind of atoms selected from the group III of the periodic table together with nitrogen atoms, with the nitrogen atoms having a substantially uniform concentration distribution within said first layer and the group III atoms of the periodic table having a depth concentration profile of said atoms with respect to the layer thickness direction having the maximum concentration at the end surface on the side of said support or in the vicinity thereof and having the concentration of said atoms tending to decrease continuously toward the second layer.

Abstract: A photoconductive member having a support, amorphous charge generation and charge transport layers and a barrier layer between the support and the charge generation layer. The charge generation layer contains from 0.1 to 10 atomic percent of a conduction controlling impurity. Intermediate and surface barrier layers are also employed and additional transport layers are utilized.

Abstract: A photoconductive member comprising a support and a light receiving layer provided on said support, having photoconductivity containing silicon atoms as a matrix and at least hydrogen atoms as constituent atom, said light receiving layer having a layer region with depth profile such that the content of hydrogen atoms contained therein is decreased in the direction of layer thickness toward both ends of said layer.

Abstract: A photoconductive member comprises a support for a photoconductive member; a first amorphous layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms as a matrix and exhibiting photoconductivity, said first amorphous layer having a first layer region containing oxygen atoms as constituent atoms in a distribution state which is ununiform and continuous in the direction of layer thickness and a second layer region containing atoms belonging to the group III of the periodic table as constituent atoms in a distribution state which is continuous in the direction of layer thickness, said first layer region existing internally beneath the surface of said first amorphous layer; and a second amorphous layer comprising an amorphous material represented by any of the following formulae:Si.sub.a C.sub.1-a (0.4<a<1) (1)(Si.sub.b C.sub.1-b).sub.c H.sub.1-c (0.5<b<1, 0.6.ltoreq.c<1) (2)(Si.sub.d C.sub.1-d).sub.e X.sub.1-e (0.47<d<1, 0.8.ltoreq.e<1) (3)(Si.sub.f C.sub.1-f).sub.g (H+X).sub.

Abstract: A photoconductive member, comprises a support for a photoconductive member and an amorphous layer which is constituted of silicon atoms as matrix containing at least one of hydrogen atom and halogen atom and exhibits photoconductivity, said amorphous layer having a layer region containing carbon atoms in at least a part thereof, the content of the carbon atoms in said layer region being distributed unevenly in the direction of the thickness of said layer.

Abstract: A photoconductive member, comprises a support for a photoconductive member, a first amorphous layer exhibiting photoconductivity comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms as a martix, said first amorphous layer having a first layer region containing oxygen atoms in a distribution which is continuous and ununiform in the direction of layer thickness and a second layer region containing atoms belonging to the group III of the periodic table as constituent atoms in a distribution which is continuous and ununiform in the direction of layer thickness, and a second amorphous layer comprising an amorphous material represented by any of the following formulae:Si.sub.a C.sub.1-a (0.4<a<1) (1)(Si.sub.b C.sub.1-b).sub.c H.sub.1-c (0.5<b<1, 0.6.ltoreq.c<1) (2)(Si.sub.d C.sub.1-d).sub.e X.sub.1-e (0.47<d<1, 0.8.ltoreq.e<1) (3)(Si.sub.f C.sub.1-f).sub.g (H+X).sub.1-g (0.47<f<1, 0.8.ltoreq.g<1) (4)(wherein X represents a halogen atom).

Abstract: A photoconductive member comprising a support and a silicon amorphous layer, and the silicon amorphous layer has a first layer region containing at least one of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon and a second layer region containing an element of Group III. The first layer exists internally within the amorphous layer below its surface.