Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a matrix of pixels is driven for gradational display with better temperature compensation and better flicker suppression by a driving method, wherein (a) a first voltage signal is applied to a pixel on a selected scanning line, the first voltage signal including a clear pulse, a writing pulse of a polarity opposite to that of the clear pulse and a correction pulse of a polarity opposite to that of the writing pulse,(b) a second voltage signal is applied to an associated pixel on a subsequent scanning line, the second voltage signal including a clear pulse, a writing pulse and a correction pulse of which polarities are respectively opposite to corresponding pulses of the first voltage signal, and (c) the correction pulse applied to the pixel on the selected scanning line is determined based on gradation data for the associated pixel on the subsequent scanning line, and the writing pulse applied to the pixel on the selected scanning line is determined based on gradation da

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates having mutually opposing electrodes thereon, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates so as to form a pixel comprising a pair of the opposing electrodes and the liquid crystal layer therebetween. The liquid crystal layer in a pixel is divided into a plurality of regions having mutually different liquid crystal layer thicknesses, and the pixel is constituted so as to show an applied voltage-transmittance characteristic having an improved linearity. More specifically, for example, the liquid crystal layer in a pixel is provided with locally varying thicknesses by forming on a substrate pluralities of stripe-shaped projections and indentations at locally different indentation widths so that the projections have a smaller width in a region having a smaller indentation width than in a region having a larger indentation width.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises: a) a liquid crystal cell including a plurality of pixels aligned on a plurality of lines and rows, each of the pixels composed of a pair of electrodes and liquid crystals provided between the pair of electrodes; and b) an optical unit including high-refractive portions positioned corresponding to the pixels, and low-refractive portions positioned next to the high-refractive portions on a plane, the high-refractive portions and low-refractive portions having the refractive indexes the ratio between which satisfies the condition for total reflection of incident light.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal assuming at least two stable states disposed between the two substrates. At least one of the substrates is subjected to a uniaxial aligning treatment in two directions including a normal direction and a reverse direction substantially opposite to the normal direction. The liquid crystal is placed in an alignment state such that the liquid crystal provides an apparent tilt angle .theta.a which is a half of an angle between said two stable states, a tilt angle H and a pretilt angle .alpha. with respect to a substrate surface, and forms smectic layers forming an inclination angle .delta. from a normal to the substrate surfaces satisfying: H/2<.theta.a.ltoreq.H and H>.alpha.+.delta.. According to the liquid crystal device, an undesirable liquid crystal molecular movement along the substrates is effectively suppressed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates each having a plurality of opposing electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so as to form a plurality of pixels each composed by a combination of a pair of the opposing electrodes and the ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed therebetween. Each pixel is provided with regions of different polarity inversion threshold voltages, and at least one of the pair of opposing electrodes is provided with a plurality of regions having unevennesses at different densities including a region with a higher density of unevennesses corresponding to a region of a lower polarity inversion threshold voltage and a region with a lower density of unevennesses corresponding to a region of a higher polarity inversion threshold voltage.

Abstract: Provided an image forming method comprising the steps of;forming electric charges on a recording layer by charging the recording medium comprising a conductive substrate and, provided thereon a photoconductive layer and a recording layer containing a polymeric liquid crystal compound, in this order;irradiating, after the step of charging, said recording medium with a light corresponding to an image information to move electric charges to said photoconductive layer; andwriting said image information by means of changing a birefringence of the recording layer caused by said movement of electric charges.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal cell including a plurality of pixels aligned on a plurality of lines and rows, each of the pixels composed of a pair of electrodes and liquid crystals provided between the pair of electrodes; and an optical unit including high-refractive portions positioned corresponding to the pixels, and low-refractive portions positioned next to the high-refractive portions on a plane, the high-refractive portions and the low-refractive portions having the refractive indexes the ratio between which satisfies the condition for total reflection of incident light. Another embodiment is a liquid crystal device comprising two liquid crystal cells wherein each of the cells exhibit monostable orientation.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates each having a plurality of opposing electrodes, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so as to form a plurality of pixels each composed by a combination of a pair of the opposing electrodes and the ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed therebetween. Each pixel is provided with regions of different polarity inversion threshold voltages, and at least one of the pair of opposing electrodes is provided with a plurality of regions having unevennesses at different densities including a region with a higher density of unevennesses corresponding to a region of a lower polarity inversion threshold voltage and a region with a lower density of unevennesses corresponding to a region of a higher polarity inversion threshold voltage.

Abstract: A liquid crystal element includes a liquid crystal exhibiting spontaneous polarization, a pair of electrode substrates for sandwiching the liquid crystal therebetween, and insulating layers formed between the electrode substrates and the liquid crystal. A spontaneous polarization P.sub.s value, in nC/cm.sup.2, of the liquid crystal, an interelectrode composite capacitance Ci, in nF/cm.sup.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal device having excellent gradation characteristics. A liquid crystal device of the invention has a liquid crystal held between a pair of electrodes. At least one of the electrodes is provided with a plurality of stripe electrodes with different spaces therebetween, and films provided between the respective stripe electrodes and having a sheet resistance of 10.sup.4 .OMEGA./.quadrature. to 10.sup.8 .OMEGA./.quadrature.. Alternatively, at least one of the electrodes has a plurality of projecting stripe portions formed thereon with different spaces within each of the pixels formed by intersections of both electrodes, the spaces between the projecting portions changes with a gradient within a pixel, and means for forming a distribution gradient of the strength of the electric field applied to the liquid crystal along the gradient of the space change.

Abstract: An optical modulation device includes scanning electrodes and signal electrodes disposed opposite to and intersecting with the signal electrodes, and an optical modulation material disposed between the electrodes, a pixel being formed at each intersection of the electrodes and showing a contrast depending on the polarity of a voltage applied thereto. The device is driven by a method including in a writing period for writing in all or prescribed pixels among the pixels on a selected scanning electrode, a first phase for applying a voltage of one polarity having an amplitude exceeding a first threshold voltage of the optical modulation material to the all or prescribed pixels, and a second phase for applying a voltage of the other polarity having an amplitude exceeding a second threshold voltage of the optical modulation material to a selected pixel and applying a voltage not exceeding the threshold voltages of the optical modulation material to the other pixels, respectively among the all or prescribed pixels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal apparatus including a liquid crystal panel having a pair of electrodes and a liquid crystal exhibiting spontaneous polarization and arranged between the pair of electrodes, first means for applying a gradation voltage signal corresponding to gradation information to the pair of electrodes, and second means for applying, a DC component serving as a reverse bias of an internal electric field generated upon application of the gradation voltage signal, to the liquid crystal during one vertical scanning period.

Abstract: An optical modulation element, in which a pixel surrounding a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer and an column shaped orientation layer is formed between a pair of electrodes. The orientation layer is formed by a high-molecular polymer in which an ultrafine granular conductive substance may be dispersed. External voltage applied across the electrodes in response to gradation signals performs gradation drivings.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element comprising a pair of electrode substrates having an electrode and a substrate and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between said pair of electrode substrates, wherein an electrode on at least one of said pair of electrode substrates is provided regularly or randomly with minute insulation portions.

Abstract: A color image display apparatus includes: an image recording medium comprising a recording layer capable of selectively forming a light-scattering state and a transparent state, and a color filter having a pattern of plural color segments operatively associated with the recording layer, a light source, a viewing position, and display means for selectively sending to the viewing position a colored optical image composed of scattered light having passed through the recording layer. The display means may include direction means for directing light from the light source to be incident to the recording layer in a direction not normal to the recording layer.

Abstract: An optical modulation device is provided by forming an optical modulation layer comprising a polymer liquid crystal having a helical structure and a non-helical structure in chiral smectic C phase. The helical structure of the polymer liquid crystal is selectively formed or removed to provide a recorded state. The recorded state is held below the glass transition point of the polymer liquid crystal. The helical pitch of the helical structure can be selectively changed to form a recorded state. The helical structure can be formed to dispose its principal axis perpendicularly to the polymer liquid crystal layer. The recorded state may be read out by detecting a reflectance from the polymer liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element comprising a pair of electrode substrates having an electrode and a substrate and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between said pair of electrode substrates, wherein an electrode on at least one of said pair of electrode substrates is provided regularly or randomly with minute insulation portions.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device has a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer held in a gap defined by at least a pair of electrodes, wherein the crystal pixel has a time constant. The liquid crystal device also has a parallel circuit having a time constant greater than the time constant of the liquid crystal pixel and less than a field period for giving a gradation change to the pixel by repeated application of a gradation signal.

Abstract: An optical modulation device includes scanning electrodes and signal electrodes disposed opposite to and intersecting with the signal electrodes, and an optical modulation material disposed between the electrodes, a pixel being formed at each intersection of the electrodes and showing a contrast depending on the polarity of a voltage applied thereto.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus has a matrix of ferroelectric liquid crystal pixels which perform gradation display under active matrix driving. Each pixel is provided with a sub-capacitance for eliminating the influence of noise introduced through parasitic capacitance of a driving thin film transistor. The ferroelectric liquid crystal has a spontaneous polarization value P.sub.S [C/cm.sup.2 ] expressed by the following formula:P.sub.S >V.sub.th (C.sub.LC +C.sub.S)/2A,where C.sub.LC represents the capacitance [F] of the pixel serving as a capacitor, C.sub.S represents the capacitance [F] of the sub-capacitance, A represents the area [cm.sup.2 ] of the pixel, and V.sub.th represents the inversion threshold voltage of the liquid crystal.