Multiplexed driving method for an optical switching element employing ferroelectric liquid crystal

Claim 1

A multiplexed driving method of an light shuttering element employing ferroelectric liquid crystal with a negative dielectric anisotropy including a plurality of signal electrodes and of common signal electrodes arranged in matrix and a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer disposed between the signal electrodes and the common signal electrodes so as to constitute a plurality of pixels at the respective facing portions of the signal electrodes and the common signal electrodes comprises: a step of applying a multi polar pulse with a predetermined amplitude and duration on one of the common signal electrodes to select pixels covered thereby for information writing during a first information writing period, applying either a light transmitting signal voltage of first polarity or a light cutoff signal voltage of second polarity on the respective signal electrodes depending on a first set of input signals during the first information writing period, and applying an AC voltage with a predetermined amplitude and frequency on the other common signal electrodes during the first information writing period, whereby either first or second information writing voltages formed in combination with the multi polar pulse and the light transmitting signal voltage and the light cutoff signal voltage and being enough to determine one of the light transmitting and cutoff statuses are applied on the respective first selected pixels, and either first or second status holding voltages formed in combination with the AC voltage and the light transmitting signal voltage and the light cutoff signal voltage and being enough to hold the previously written statuses are applied on the respective first non-selected pixels; and a step of applying the multi polar pulse with the predetermined amplitude and duration on another one of the common signal electrodes to select pixels covered thereby for information writing during a second information writing period, applying either the light transmitting signal voltage of first polarity or the light cutoff signal voltage of second polarity on the respective signal electrodes depending on a second set of input signals during the second information writing period and applying the AC voltage with the predetermined amplitude and frequency on the common signal electrodes other than the one applied with the multi polar pulse during the second information writing period, whereby either the first or second information writing voltages formed in combination with the multi polar pulse and the light transmitting signal voltage and the light cutoff signal voltage and being enough to determine one of the light transmitting and cutoff statuses are applied on the respective second selected pixels, and either the first or second status holding voltages formed in combination with the AC voltage and the light transmitting signal voltage and the light cutoff signal voltage and being enough to hold the previously written statuses are applied on the respective second non-selected pixels.