Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device including a plurality of optical shutters is provided. The optical device includes a first glass substrate having N common electrodes disposed thereon and a second glass substrate having N signal electrodes disposed thereon, the glass substrates spaced apart and opposed to each other so that the electrodes are crossed. A liquid crystal material including a nematic liquid cyrstal having dielectric anisotropy which becomes 0 at a crossing frequency (fC) of 100 KHz or below at atmospheric temperatures including an optically active material encapsulated between the glass substrates. Polarizing plates are disposed on the outside of the liquid crystal panel and the device is driven in a N time-sharing mode by applying the driving signals to the common electrode and the signal electrodes. The optical device is particularly well suited for use in an optical printer in view of the rapid response times.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device including a plurality of optical shutters is provided. The optical device includes a first glass substrate having N common electrodes disposed thereon and a second glass substrate having N signal electrodes disposed thereon, the glass substrates spaced apart and opposed to each other so that the electrodes are crossed. A liquid crystal material including a nematic liquid crystal having dielectric anisotropy which becomes 0 at a crossing frequency (fC) of 100 KHz or below at atmospheric temperatures including a optically active material encapsulated between the glass substrates. Polarizing plates are disposed on the outside of the liquid crystal panel and the device is driven in a N time-sharing mode by applying the driving signals to the common electrode and the signal electrodes. The optical device is particularly well suited for use in an optical printer in view of the rapid response times.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method for printing on a record medium utilizing an electric thermo-transfer process. The apparatus includes an ink sheet having an ink layer with heat-fusable ink thereon facing the record medium, and a resistive layer. A print head having at least a pair of opposed electrodes is in contact with the resistive layer. A driving circuit is coupled to the pair of opposed electrodes for applying a voltage to the pair of opposed electrodes. The applied voltage causes a current to flow in the ink sheet to heat the ink layer. A pulse width setting circuit controls the pulse width of the voltage applied to the electrodes to control the position and amount of heating of the ink. The system provides full-color printing on the record medium.