US4796980A
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US
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Ferroelectric liquid crystal optical modulation device with regions within pixels to initiate nucleation and inversion
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1987-03-27
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Granted: 1989-01-10
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Expires: 2007-03-27
Abstract
Abstract An optical modulation device comprises a pair of substrates respectively having electrodes thereon arranged so as to form a pixel at an intersection thereof, and an optical modulation material disposed at the pixel. The pixel has regions of the optical modulation material having mutually different threshold characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Shuzo Kaneko
- 👤 Tsutomu Toyono
- 👤 Junichiro Kanbe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:28
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/36; G09G3/3611; G09G3/3622; G09G3/3629; G09G3/3637; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1337; G02F1/133753; G02F1/137; G02F1/139; G02F1/141; G02F1/133371; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/30; G09G3/2007; G09G3/2011; G09G3/2014; G09G3/207
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
An optical modulation device, comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, each pixel comprising a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to each other and an optical modulation material disposed between the first and second electrodes; each pixel having regions with mutually different uniaxial alignment control powers for aligning the optical modulation material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
An optical modulation device, comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, each pixel comprising a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to each other and an optical modulation material disposed between the first and second electrodes; each pixel having regions with mutually different uniaxial alignment control powers for aligning the optical modulation material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said optical modulation material is a ferroelectric liquid crystal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said ferroelectric liquid crystal is a chiral smectic liquid crystal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal is formed in a layer thin enough to release its own helical structure under no electric field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said regions of the pixel with different control powers correspond to different regions of an alignment control layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein said alignment control layer comprises an organic polymer layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, each row of pixels are commonly connected to a scanning electrode, and each column of pixels are commonly connected to an information electrode; the device further comprising means for applying to the information electrode a pulse signal depending on given gradation data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said pulse signal has a pulse duration depending on given gradation data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said pulse signal has a number of pulses depending on given gradation data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said pulse signal has a peak value depending on given gradation data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said pulse signal is applied after the optical modulation material in the pixel concerned has been oriented to one stable state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said regions with mutually different alignment control powers comprise first alignment control power regions and a second alignment control power region, said first alignment control power regions being dispersely distributed in said second alignment control power region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
An optical modulation device comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, each pixel comprising a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to each other with an optical modulation material disposed between the first and second electrodes; each pixel having portions capable of having a locally different electric field intensity distributed dispersely in the pixel when an electric field is applied between the first and second electrodes wherein said portions having a locally different electric field intensity correspond to portions of the optical modulation material generating nuclei for initiating modulation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
An optical modulation device comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, each pixel comprising a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to each other with an optical modulation material disposed between the first and second electrodes; each pixel having portions capable of having a locally different electric field intensity distributed dispersely in the pixel when an electric field is applied between the first and second electrodes wherein said portions having a locally different electric field intensity correspond to portions of the optical modulation material generating nuclei for initiating modulation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein the portions of a locally different electric field intensity correspond to minute projections produced in the pixel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein the portions of a locally different electric field intensity correspond to low-resistivity portions formed on at least one of the first and second electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said electric field applied between the first and second electrodes is given by a pulse signal having a duration depending on given gradation data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said electric field applied between the first and second electrodes is given by a pulse signal having a number of pulses depending on given gradation data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 13; wherein said electric field applied between the first and second electrodes is given by a pulse signal having a peak value depending on given gradation data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said optical modulation material is a ferroelectric liquid crystal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein said ferroelectric liquid crystal is a chiral smectic liquid crystal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein said chiral smectic liquid crystal is formed in a layer thin enough to release its own helical structure under no electric field.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-01-10 | 1992-07-11 | 1993-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-10 | 1996-07-11 | 1997-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-10 | 2000-07-11 | 2001-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |