Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A method of addressing a matrix-array type liquid crystal cell with a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer having a plurality of pixels defined by areas of overlap between members of a first set of electrodes on one side of the liquid crystal layer and members of a second set of electrodes on the other side of the liquid crystal layer, each of said pixels having a first and a second state and a response time for switching between said first and said second state which depends on the voltage across the liquid crystal layer, said response time showing a minimum at a particular voltage, the method including the step of applying a strobe waveform to a selected member of said first set of electrodes while a data waveform is applied to each member of said second set of electrodes wherein a waveform for switching a pixel defined by said selected member comprises a switching pulse of a given voltage magnitude and given duration and a waveform for not switching a pixel defined by said selected member comprises a non-switching pulse of a voltage magnitude greater than said given voltage magnitude of said switching pulse and a duration less than said given duration of said switching pulse.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
205 words
A method of addressing a matrix-array type liquid crystal cell with a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer having a plurality of pixels defined by areas of overlap between members of a first set of electrodes on one side of the liquid crystal layer and members of a second set of electrodes on the other side of the liquid crystal layer, each of said pixels having a first and a second state and a response time for switching between said first and said second state which depends on the voltage across the liquid crystal layer, said response time showing a minimum at a particular voltage, the method including the step of applying a strobe waveform to a selected member of said first set of electrodes while a data waveform is applied to each member of said second set of electrodes wherein a waveform for switching a pixel defined by said selected member comprises a switching pulse of a given voltage magnitude and given duration and a waveform for not switching a pixel defined by said selected member comprises a non-switching pulse of a voltage magnitude greater than said given voltage magnitude of said switching pulse and a duration less than said given duration of said switching pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the voltage of said non-switching pulse is equal to or greater than said particular voltage.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
71 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, said strobe waveform comprising a strobe pulse of voltage magnitude V S and said data waveform being charge-balanced and bipolar and comprising data pulses of voltage magnitude V D wherein said switching pulse comprises a component of voltage magnitude (V S - V D ) and said non-switching pulse comprises a pulse of voltage magnitude (V S + V D ).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to Claim 3 wherein said strobe waveform is unipolar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to Claim 4 wherein said switching pulse comprises said component of voltage magnitude (V S - V D ) preceded by another component of voltage magnitude V D .
Claim 7
Independent Claim
32 words
A method according to Claims 4 or 5 wherein said non-switching pulse of voltage magnitude (V S + V D ) is preceded by a pulse of voltage magnitude V D .
Claim 8
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to Claism 4, 5 or 6 wherein the polarity of the unipolar strobe waveform is periodically changed.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to Claism 4, 5 or 6 wherein the polarity of the unipolar strobe waveform is periodically changed.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
42 words
A method according to any one of Claims 3 to 7, said data waveform having a fundamental frequency, wherein an A.C. waveform is superimposed on the waveform applied to said pixels, said A.C. waveform having a frequency greater than said fundamental frequency.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
41 words
A method according to any one of Claims 3 to 8 wherein V S and V D are such that (V S - V D ) is substantially matched with the voltage required to effect switching with the minimum response time.