Abstract: A method of driving a liquid crystal display element in which a switching element is provided for each of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix manner and a ferroelectric liquid crystal is sandwiched between the pixel electrodes and a counter electrode includes the steps of applying a reset voltage for resetting the entire pixel to a first stable state of the ferroelectric liquid crystal across the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, partially transiting the pixel to a second stable state by a tone signal voltage having a pole opposite to that of the reset voltage, and reversing the pole of the reset voltage every predetermined period. Assuming that a state reverse ratio of the ferroelectric liquid crystal is T(V)% when the tone signal voltage is V, a tone signal voltage V.sub.1 after negative resetting and a corresponding tone signal voltage -V.sub.2 after positive resetting satisfy the following relation:T(V.sub.1)+T(V.sub.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image of the present invention comprises an image medium which is made of a heat-sensitive material in and from whcih an image can be thermally recordded and erased. The image medium has at least two display regions having different colors in the same face and having different thermal transition temperatures between a transparent state and a scattering state. A thermal signal applying member is employed for forming an image by thermally scanning said image medium which is characterized by applying to said medium a temperature controlled so that at least two differnt colors are displayed in a one-signal period of thermal scanning. The present invention also provides a method of forming an image using the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A polymer liquid crystal device is formed by a color polymer liquid crystal layer, generally disposed on a substrate. The color polymer liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of minute polymer liquid crystal elements, which in turn comprise plural species of color polymer liquid crystals colored in at least two colors and disposed regularly or irregularly in the layer so that the polymer liquid crystal elements emit scattered light in intensities which are selectively controlled thermally to effect a display with scattered light. In the color polymer liquid crystal layer, a color of the polymer liquid crystal elements emitting the longest wavelength scattered light are disposed in a larger areal proportion than the other color of the polymer liquid crystal elements so as to correct color balance in compensation for a difference in spectral luminous efficiency or differences in scattering intensity and scattering angle depending on colors during a display using scattered light.

Abstract: A color display medium is constituted by a colored polymer layer having at least two display regions of different colors, typically three colors of blue, green and red, along the extension of the polymer layer. The display regions of different colors have respectively different wavelength regions of light absorption or respectively different temperatures of thermal transition between transparent and scattering states.

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 heat-sensitive transfer medium comprising a support and at least two heat-transferable ink layers including a first and a second ink layer. The first ink layer has relative adhesions with the second ink layer and the support which are reverse at a higher temperature from those at a lower temperature. When the heat-sensitive transfer medium is superposed with paper, a heat energy is applied, and the transfer medium is separated from the paper; the second ink layer is selectively transferred or both the first and second ink layers are transferred to the paper depending on the length of time from the heat application until the separation of the transfer medium, whereby two color images can be formed by a single transfer medium.

Abstract: A color image forming method provides clear color images with good color balance by thermally controlling a thermosensitive medium, such as polymer liquid crystal. The medium is capable of reversibly assuming optical states of being transparent and of scattering light, and allows picture-element display areas in at least two colors to be composed on a surface thereof. Picture elements within color areas are selected if they correspond to the color whose spectral transmission center is, among those of the colors to be displayed, closest to the longest wavelength involved. Heat is applied such that the maximum haze degree of the selected picture elements is greater than that of picture elements corresponding to any of the other colors.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus which includes a conveying device for conveying a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristics change when a first energy and a second energy different from the first energy are applied thereto. A recording section is disposed along a conveying route of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveying device and having a first energy applying device for applying the first energy to the transfer recording medium and a second energy applying device for applying the second energy thereto. A tension imparting device is used for imparting tension to the transfer recording medium in such a manner that the transfer recording medium is pressed against the first energy applying device. A transfer device for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section to a recording medium and a conveying device for conveying the recording medium to a discharge section via the transfer device are also employed.

Abstract: An image forming medium is constituted by a laminate including at least an optical scattering layer and a backing member preferably comprising a pattened color filter. The laminate is composed to have an interface between the optical scattering layer and the backing member capable of reflecting light incident to the optical scattering layer. The optical scattering layer may comprise a polymer liquid crystal optionally containing a fluorescent agent or nucleating agent so as to enhance the optical scattering effect. The interface may be given by a low-refractive index layer, such as air layer. The optical scattering layer and the backing member can be separated and combined with an adjusting means for adjusting the relative position of the optical scattering layer and the backing member to provide an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An optical image recording apparatus includes an image holding member comprising a polymer recording layer capable of recording and holding data through heat application, thermal recording means for applying heat to the polymer recording layer, a photosensitive member, and exposure means for recording the data recorded by the recording layer by the photosensitive member. The polymer recording layer is preferably composed from a polymer liquid crystal. The polymer recording layer and the photosensitivie member can be provided in a laminated form. The data recorded on the photosensitive member may be subjected to an electrophotographic image forming process.

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 transfer recording medium comprising a transfer recording layer is provided. The transfer recording layer causes an irreversible change in transfer characteristic when provided with plural kinds of energies such as heat, light and pressure energies. Such plural energies are applied to the transfer recording layer with at least one energy applied imagewise to provided a transferable portion or latent image portion in the transfer recording layer. The transferable portion is then transferred to a medium such as plain paper. The provision of plural kinds of energies aids in realization of high quality multi-color transfer image in a compact apparatus through functional separation of image formation and transfer operations. Further, even a multi-color image can be obtained through a single transfer step.

Abstract: A transfer recording medium comprising a transfer recording layer is provided. The transfer recording layer causes an irreversible change in transfer characteristic when provided with plural kinds of energies such as heat, light and pressure energies. Such plural energies are applied to the transfer recording layer with at least one energy applied imagewise to provided a transferable portion or latent image portion in the transfer recording layer. The transferable portion is then transferred to a medium such as plain paper. The provision of plural kinds of energies aids in realization of high quality multi-color transfer image in a compact apparatus through functional separation of image formation and transfer operations. Further, even a multi-color image can be obtained through a single transfer step.

Abstract: A recording medium having a recording layer comprising a polymer liquid crystal is used for multivalue recording by using at least two different liquid crystal phases at least two levels of locally different liquid crystal proportion, or thicknesswise difference in an optical variable, such as transmittance a reflectance, generally through controlled heating and cooling. In effecting the recording, two heating sources may suitably be used, one for imagewise heating and the other for supplemental heating.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light source; an optical shutter unit comprising a pair of parallel substrates respectively having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of data electrodes disposed to intersect with each other to form a matrix electrode structure on their opposite surfaces, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the pair of substrates so as to form a microshutter at each intersection of the scanning electrodes and data electrodes; an optical system for forming an image at a desired position with light transmitted through the optical shutter unit; a photosensitive member as a medium for recording the thus formed image; a scanning side drive circuit for applying a scanning voltage signal to the plurality of scanning electrodes so as to sequentially select at least one scanning electrode in a prescribed cycle; and a data side drive unit for applying data voltage signals to the plurality of data electrodes in synchronism with said scanning voltage signal.

Abstract: An optical modulation device, such as a ferroelectric liquid crystal device, comprises a matrix of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, pixels on each row being electrically connected to a scanning electrode and pixels on each column being electrically connected to a signal electrode. The optical modulation device is driven by a method comprising, in a scanning selection period applying a scanning selection signal to a selected scanning electrode, the scanning selection signal comprising plural voltage levels including a maximum value .vertline.Vs.max.vertline. in terms of an absolute value with respect to the voltage level of a non-selected scanning electrode, and applying in phase with the scanning selection signal a voltage signal comprising plural voltage levels to a signal electrode so as to apply to a pixel on the selected scanning electrode plural pulse voltages including a maximum value voltage .vertline.Vmax.vertline. and a minimum pulse voltage .vertline.Vmin.vertline.

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 so as to provide a matrix of pixels as a whole and having 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 the respective pixels on a selected scanning electrode: at least two repeating sets of phases, each set of phases comprising a state-determining phase for determining the contrast of a pixel and an auxiliary phase for not determining the contrast of the pixel.

Abstract: A driving apparatus suitable as, e.g., an electrode plate for an optical modulation device such as a liquid crystal device, comprises a conductor film, a plurality of voltage supply lines electrically connected to the conductor film respectively by the medium of a resistor, means for simultaneously applying a voltage signal to at least two voltage supply lines among the plurality of voltage supply lines, and means for changing a potential level provided to the conductor film defined between the at least two voltage supply lines.

Abstract: Image recording is indirectly achieved on a recording sheet via an intermediate transferring medium. First, the circumferential surface of a rotatable transferring medium having heat-transferable ink contained therein is fused or softened in response to image information by means of a recording electrode which is disposed at the position opposite to the transferring medium while the intermediate transferring medium is interposed therebetween. After completion of the first transferring step the ink image which has been transferred onto the intermediate transferring medium is transported to the position where a second transferring step is achieved while the ink image is kept in the fused or softened state. The second transferring step is achieved in such a manner that the ink image is transferred onto the recording sheet under the effect of pressure which is imparted by a pressure roller. The intermediate transferring medium may be made of electric conductive material.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer medium comprises a support and at least two heat-transferable ink layers including a first and a second ink layer. The first ink layer has relative adhesions with the second ink layer and the support which are reverse at a higher temperature from those at a lower temperature. When the heat-sensitive transfer medium is superposed with paper, a heat energy is applied, and the transfer medium is separated from the paper; the second ink layer is selectively transferred or both the first and second ink layers are transferred to the paper depending on the length of time from the heat application until the separation of the transfer medium, whereby two color images can be formed by a single transfer medium.