Abstract: A light emission device has an emitter made of a dielectric material, a cathode electrode disposed on a surface of the emitter, an anode electrode disposed on a reverse surface of the emitter, and a pulse generation source for applying a drive voltage between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode through a resistor. A fluorescent body is disposed on the surface of the emitter out of contact with the cathode, but as closely to the cathode electrode as possible.

Abstract: An actuator element has a plate member, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body disposed in facing relation to the plate member, and a beam disposed between the plate member and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and fixing the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body to the plate member. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive body has a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer, an upper electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer which faces the plate member, and a lower electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer which is opposite to the surface thereof facing the plate member. When an electric field is applied to the upper electrode and the lower electrode, a portion of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is displaced toward or away from the plate member.

Abstract: A drive circuit has a drive voltage generating circuit for generating a drive voltage, to be applied between a first electrode and a second electrode of a corresponding electron emitter, based on a selection signal from a corresponding selection line. The drive circuit further includes a modulation circuit for stepwise modulating the amplitude of a drive pulse based on a pixel signal from a corresponding signal line, for thereby controlling the luminance gradation of a corresponding pixel, wherein the drive voltage has a waveform including a drive pulse appearing in timed relation to a selection instruction from the selection line, and wherein the drive pulse, having a predetermined amplitude level, is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, to cause at least part of an emitter to invert or change the polarization thereof to emit electrons from the electron emitter.

Abstract: A light source has a light emission section comprising a two-dimensional array of electron emitters and a drive circuit for applying a drive voltage to each of the electron emitters of the light emission section. The drive circuit applies the drive voltage between upper and lower electrodes of each of the electron emitters based on a control signal representative of turn-on/turn-off from an external source (a turn-on/turn-off switch or the like), for thereby controlling each of the electron emitters. Each of the electron emitters has a plate-like emitter, an upper electrode disposed on a face side of the emitter, and a lower electrode disposed on a reverse side of the emitter.

Abstract: An optical switch comprises a light transmission portion, an optical path-changing portion, an actuator portion and light transmission channels; said light transmission portion having a light reflecting plane provided on one part of a plane facing the changing portion to totally reflect light; said optical path-changing portion being provided in proximity to the light reflecting plane and having an optical path-changing member for reflecting or scattering light; said actuator portion having a mechanism being displaced and transmitting displacement to the optical path changing portion; and said light transmission channels having optical wave guiding bodies and being provided in three directions with the light reflecting plane as a starting point. Switching or dividing of an optical path is conducted by contacting or separating the optical path-changing portion to or from the light reflecting plane by displacement of the actuator portion.

Abstract: One image is displayed in a period as one frame, which includes one charge accumulation period and one light emission period. In the charge accumulation period, all electron emitters are scanned, and voltages depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels are applied to the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to be turned on (to emit light), to accumulate charges (electrons) in amounts depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels in the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to be turned on. In the next light emission period, a constant voltage is applied to all the electron emitters to emit electrons in amounts depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels from the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to be turned on, thereby emitting light from the pixels to be turned on.

Abstract: One image is displayed in a period as one frame, which includes one charge accumulation period and one light emission period. In the charge accumulation period, all electron emitters are scanned, and voltages depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels are applied to the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to be turned on (to emit light), to accumulate charges (electrons) in amounts depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels in the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to be turned on. In the next light emission period, a constant voltage is applied to all the electron emitters to emit electrons in amounts depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels from the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to be turned on, thereby emitting light from the pixels to be turned on.

Abstract: An optical switch includes: at least a light transmission portion, an optical path-changing portion and an actuator portion. The light transmission portion has a light reflecting plane and light transmission channels having optical wave guiding bodies provided in at least three directions. The optical path-changing portion is proximate the light transmission portion in a movable condition and is made to contact or separate from the light transmission portion. An optical path where light input to the light transmission channels is totally reflected in the light transmission portion and is transmitted to a specific light transmission channel on an output side, is switched to another optical path where light input to the light transmission channel is taken to the light introduction member, and is totally reflected at the light reflection member and is transmitted to a specific light transmission channel on the output side.

Abstract: A circuit element comprises a first lead wire; a second lead wire; a third lead wire; first and second rectifying elements which are connected in series in a forward direction between the first lead wire and the second lead wire; and a load which is connected between the third lead wire and a connection point between the first and second rectifying elements. V1≧V2 over an entire operating period provided that V1 represents an electric potential of the first lead wire and V2 represents an electric potential of the second lead wire. V2≦V3≦V1 in a period in which a current is blocked and does not flow into the load, provided that V3 represents an electric potential of the connection point.

Abstract: A display device comprises an actuator substrate which has actuator elements, an optical waveguide plate, crosspieces which is interposed between the optical waveguide plate and the actuator substrate and which surround the actuator elements, and picture element assemblies which are joined onto the actuator elements. A stack for constructing each of the picture element assemblies has a transparent layer opposed to the optical waveguide plate. The transparent layer contains a major component of a cured resin obtained by polymerization with a principal ingredient which is composed of one or more materials selected from modified epoxy, bisphenol A type epoxy, bisphenol F type epoxy, and glycidyl ether type epoxy, and a curing agent which is composed of one or more materials selected from modified polyamine, modified alicyclic polyamine, and heterocyclic diamine modified product of tertiary amine.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device includes a pair of mutually opposing thin plate sections, a movable section, and a fixing section for supporting the thin plate sections and the movable section. Piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are arranged on at least one thin plate section of the pair of thin plate sections. A hole is formed by both inner walls of the pair of thin plate sections, an inner wall of the movable section, and an inner wall of the fixing section. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device has a mechanism for restricting amplitude of the thin plate sections. The mechanism includes a cavity portion formed in the inner wall of the movable section and a stopper member provided on the inner wall of the fixing section, wherein the forward end of the stopper member extends into the cavity portion.

Abstract: An adhesion-suppressing agent is added or applied to a picture element assembly precursor which is a precursor of a picture element assembly. Accordingly, when the hardening is performed while allowing the picture element assembly precursor to make pressed contact with an optical waveguide plate, the picture element assembly precursor is prevented from adhesion to the optical waveguide plate. Further, the gap between the picture element assembly and the optical waveguide plate is narrowed by allowing the adhesion-suppressing agent to intervene. Therefore, when a display device is in the light emission state, the picture element assembly reliably makes pressed contact with the optical waveguide plate. Further, owing to the adhesion-suppressing agent, the mutual adhesion between the picture element assembly and the optical waveguide plate is remarkably suppressed when the display device is used. Preferred examples of the adhesion-suppressing agent include silicone-based substances.

Abstract: An electronic pulse generation device has an emitter section having a plate shape, a cathode electrode formed on a front surface of the emitter section, an anode electrode formed on a back surface of the emitter section, and a pulse generation source which applies a drive voltage between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode through a resistor. The anode electrode is connected to GND through another resistor. A collector electrode is provided above the cathode electrode, and the collector electrode is coated with a phosphor layer. A bias voltage is applied to the collector electrode through another resistor.

Abstract: An optical system of a display including a light conducting plate introduced with light and a panel portion provided to oppose to one plate surface of the light conducting plate. The panel portion includes a driving part arranged with actuator parts each corresponding to a plurality of pixels so as to control displacement motions of the actuator parts in the contacting and separating directions to and from the light conducting plate correspondingly to attributions of input image signals, thereby controlling leaked light-beams in predetermined regions of the light conducting plate, to thereby cause the light conducting plate to display an image corresponding to the input image.

Abstract: A reflective display device includes a transparent display panel into which light is introduced. A driving section is disposed at the back of the display panel. Actuator elements corresponding to a number of picture elements are arranged in the driving section. A picture element assembly is provided on each of the actuator elements. The picture element assembly includes a light-reflecting layer and a color filter. A light-absorptive material is filled between the display panel and an actuator substrate. The actuator elements are selectively driven according to an attribute of an input image signal for controlling displacement of the picture element assembly in a direction closer to or away from the display panel, thereby adjusting degree of light-absorption and/or light reflection between the display panel and the picture element assembly so that a screen image corresponding to the image signal is displayed on the display panel.

Abstract: Primary electrons impinge upon an emitter section of an electron emitter for causing emission of the secondary electrons. The secondary electrons are outputted from the electron emitter. The secondary electrons emitted from the emitter section are accelerated in an electric field applied to the emitter section for generating an electron beam. The electron emitter has the emitter section having a plate shape, a cathode electrode formed on a front surface of the emitter section, an anode electrode formed on a back surface of the emitter section. A drive voltage from a pulse generation source is applied between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode through a resistor. The anode electrode is connected to GND. A collector electrode is provided above the cathode electrode. A bias voltage is applied to the collector electrode.

Abstract: An electron emitter has an electric field receiving member formed on a substrate, and a cathode electrode and an anode electrode formed on a same surface of the electric field receiving member. A slit is formed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. The cathode electrode is supplied with a drive signal from a pulse generation source, and the anode electrode is connected to an anode potential generation source (GND in this example). A charging film is formed on a surface of the anode electrode.

Abstract: An electron emitter has an emitter section formed on a substrate, and a cathode electrode and an anode electrode formed on a same surface of the emitter section. A slit is formed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. A drive voltage from a pulse generation source is applied between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The anode electrode is connected to the ground. A charging film is formed on a surface of the anode electrode.

Abstract: An electron emitter has an electric field receiving member formed on a substrate, and a cathode electrode and an anode electrode formed on a same surface of the electric field receiving member. A slit is formed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. The cathode electrode is supplied with a drive signal from a pulse generation source, and the anode electrode is connected to an anode potential generation source (GND in this example). A collector electrode is provided above the electric field receiving member at a position facing the slit. The collector electrode is connected to a collector potential generation source (Vc in this example) through a resistor. The electric field receiving member is made of a piezoelectric material.

Abstract: An electron emitter has an emitter section formed on a substrate, and a cathode electrode and an anode electrode formed on a same surface of the emitter section. A slit is formed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. A drive voltage from a pulse generation source is applied between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode, and the anode electrode is connected to the ground. A collector electrode is provided above the emitter section at a position facing the slit. The collector electrode is connected to a bias voltage source through a resistor. The emitter section is made of a piezoelectric material.