Abstract: An optical deflection device includes an optical deflection element having a pair of transparent boards arranged in a mutually opposing manner. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the boards and forms a chiral smectic C phase. An orientation film orients liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes generate an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. A first voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a deflection frequency switching the optical deflection direction of the optical deflection element. A second voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a higher frequency than the deflection frequency.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.

Abstract: An optical deflection device includes an optical deflection element having a pair of transparent boards arranged in a mutually opposing manner. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the boards and forms a chiral smectic C phase. An orientation film orients liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes generate an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. A first voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a deflection frequency switching the optical deflection direction of the optical deflection element. A second voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a higher frequency than the deflection frequency.

Abstract: An optical element, an optical device, and a display device are disclosed that are able to change a polarization state in time order and to produce polarized light with little wavelength dependence and superior in polarization purity, and able to perform pixel shift easily and accurately to realize high resolution image display. The optical element has a translucent surface parallel to the rotational axis of the optical element, and at least a portion of the translucent surface is formed from an optically anisotropic medium. A polarization state of a light beam transmitting through the translucent surface is switched in time order along with rotation of the optical element.

Abstract: A reliable image display apparatus is provided that is capable of preventing a direct current from being applied to liquid crystal of a spatial light modulating element so that damage such as burns in the liquid crystal and screen flicker may be prevented and a high resolution image with high image quality may be displayed. The image display apparatus is configured to divide a frame into 2i sub frames (i corresponding to a natural number) and sequentially display the sub frames using the liquid crystal spatial light modulating element. The image display apparatus includes a polarity switching unit configured to reverse the polarity of a drive voltage for a pixel of the spatial light modulating element for every j sub frame(s) (j corresponding to a natural number that is less than 2i) and for every n frame(s)(n corresponding to a natural number).

Abstract: An optical path deflecting element, an optical path deflecting apparatus, an image displaying apparatus, an optical writing apparatus, an optical interconnection apparatus, an optical element, and a fabrication method thereof. The optical path deflecting element includes a pair of transparent substrates, transparent electrode films on the substrates to which a voltage having an inverse polarity is selectively applied, an alignment layer in the inner sides of the substrates, and a liquid crystal layer formed of a chiral smectic C phase between the substrates via the alignment layer and homogeneously aligned by the alignment layer. The optical deflecting element can realize the uniformly-aligned liquid crystal layer more easily than a case in which the liquid crystal is aligned to become in a bistable condition. For this reason, it is possible to improve yield in the fabrication.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator is disclosed that can be fabricated easily and is able to prevent degradation of a contrast ratio by suppressing a fringe effect. The spatial light modulator includes a light transmission substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a pixel array, and a phase difference generation unit provided between the light transmission substrate and the liquid crystal layer. A lens array is formed on the light transmission substrate, and the lens array has the same pitch as that of the pixel array.

Abstract: An imaging unit images light on a light receiving element, and includes an optical path shifting element, and a lens arranged on an input side or an output side of the optical path shifting element. The optical path shifting element includes a liquid crystal layer which is applied with an electrical field in a direction approximately parallel to an in-plane direction. The liquid crystal layer is made of a chiral smectic C phase ferroelectric liquid crystal having a homeotropic alignment. The optical path shifting element shifts an optical path of the light input thereto in an optical path shifting direction.

Abstract: An optical deflection device includes an optical deflection element having a pair of transparent boards arranged in a mutually opposing manner. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the boards and forms a chiral smectic C phase. An orientation film orients liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes generate an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. A first voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a deflection frequency switching the optical deflection direction of the optical deflection element. A second voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a higher frequency than the deflection frequency.

Abstract: An optical path deflecting element easily can realize a uniform alignment condition although liquid crystal of a large cone angle is used therein. In the optical path deflecting element, a slope region is formed between two transparent substrates arranged to have a slope angle &thgr;. A liquid crystal layer of a chiral smectic C phase is provided in the slope region. The liquid crystal is aligned in a single-stable condition where a stable condition direction and an unstable condition direction coexist. Here, the stable condition direction is the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules aligned in a rubbing direction, and the unstable condition is the major axis direction at time when a voltage is applied between transparent electrode films. In such a single-stable liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal can be uniformly aligned more easily than in a case where the liquid crystal is aligned in a bistable condition.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an indicating element which modulates or emits light as a pixel in accordance with image information. A displacement unit optically displaces a position of the pixel for each of two or more sub-fields constituting an image field corresponding to the image information. A projection unit enlarges the pixel and projects an enlarged pixel on a screen. A pixel-profile deformation unit changes an optical intensity profile of the pixel.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.

Abstract: An illumination system having a light-emitting unit and a reflecting mirror for condensing light is described. The illumination system includes a lens plate having a plurality of approximately identical lens elements. The lens plate is disposed away from the light-emitting unit and the plurality of lens elements are arranged two-dimensionally and approximately perpendicular to a main optical axis of a projection lens system and an object to be projected. The illumination system further includes first and second lenticules, and at least one convex lens disposed so as to refract a light path of the light flux formed by each of the plurality of lens elements such that the light flux illuminates a surface of the object to be projected after passing through the first and second lenticules.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is disclosed, comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal layer which has an intrinsic helical pitch of approximately twice as large as a thickness of the liquid crystal layer and also has a bistable character capable of switching by an application of voltage, and further provided with at least one birefringent medium layer between a polarizer and a substrate. This construction of the liquid crystal display device results in a reduction of birefringent effects, whereby achieving a high contrast, satisfactory color purity, and other display characteristics such as a higher duty ratio operation and faster time response, suitable for displaying a large volume of information data.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is disclosed, comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal layer which has an intrinsic helical pitch of approximately twice as large as a thickness of the liquid crystal layer and also has a bistable character capable of switching by an application of voltage, and further provided with at least one birefringent medium layer between a polarizer and a substrate. This construction of the liquid crystal display device results in a reduction of birefringent effects, whereby achieving a high contrast, satisfactory color purity, and other display characteristics such as a higher duty ratio operation and faster time response, suitable for displaying a large volume of information data.

Abstract: A bistable liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal material which has a plurality of states, such as a stable state with a twist angle w.sub.0 and first and second metastable states with w.sub.0 180.degree. and w.sub.o -180.degree., respectively, wherein w.sub.0 is a twist angle along a direction of cell thickness of the liquid crystal material at an initial stable state. In order to properly drive the liquid crystal device, a first pulse voltage is applied to induce a transition from the stable state to a homeotropic state for the liquid crystal material, and a second voltage pulse is subsequently applied to relax the liquid crystal material from the homeotropic state selectively to either the first or second metastable state depending on the pulse shape. The liquid crystal material is composed such that a change of unstrained pitch thereof with temperature may suppress the change of switching behaviors with temperature, to thereby improve display characteristics of the liquid crystal device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display cell having a layer of a twisted-nematic liquid crystal material with a positive dielectric anisotropy constant and constructed such that a plurality of voltage potentials applied to the liquid crystal cell may firstly induce a Freedricksz transition of the liquid crystal material and then select either one of first and second metastable states caused by relaxation of the liquid crystal material succeeding the Freedricksz transition. A first voltage potential is adjusted higher than a threshold voltage necessary to cause changes from an initial state to the metastable states, a second voltage potential to select one of the metastable states is adjusted in comparison with a voltage potential necessary to switch between the metastable states, and a third voltage potential is applied as a modulation voltage during or succeeding the application of the second voltage potential.

Abstract: An insulating layer is formed on a plurality of electrodes formed on a plastic film substrate, the insulating layer having a plurality of electrode connecting holes formed therein. Electrodes of the plurality of electrodes are selectively connected to an external circuit via respective ones of the plurality of connecting holes. Conductive color filter layers are formed on the thus-connected electrodes by an electrochemical method. A value obtained as a result of subtracting a width of each one of the plurality of electrode connecting holes from a width of a respective one of the plurality of electrodes is large so that a position of the electrode connecting hole is maintained to correspond to a position of the electrode even when the plastic film substrate expands or contracts maximally.

Abstract: The method for preparing a crosslinked polycarbodiimide according to the present invention comprises reacting a polydicarbodiimide compound with a compound, which has in a molecule thereof two or more hydroxy or mercapto groups, in the presence of an alcoholate of an alkali metal or of an alkaline earth metal. The crosslinked polycarbodiimide obtained according to the method is excellent in heat resistance and mechanical properties.