Method of driving an optical modulation device

The method of driving an optical modulation device forming pixels in a matrix between scanning lines and signal lines, characterized by scanning to select the scanning lines sequentially while selecting at least two sequential scanning lines at the same time, wherein each of the pixels is driven in the steps of:

• dividing a selection period in which a scanning line is selected into at least four division periods;
• applying a voltage to each pixel connected to the selected scanning line in such a manner that each pixel becomes a first stable state of its bistable states during third and second division periods counted from the last division period in the selection period, and either becomes a second stable state of the bistable states or holds the first stable state during the last division period according to data to be displayed;
• and
• applying a voltage for holding a stable state established during the selection period to each pixel during a non-selection period in which the scanning line is not selected.

A method of driving an optical modulation device forming pixels in a matrix between scanning lines and signal lines, the total number of the scanning lines being N, characterized by scanning to select the scanning lines sequentially while selecting k+1 scanning lines at the same time in the sequence of first through k-th scanning lines. second through (k+2)-th scanning lines, . . . , n-th through (n+k)-th scanning lines, . . . , where k is any integer of k<<N, wherein each of the pixels is driven in the steps of:

• dividing a selection period T.sub.S in which a scanning line is selected into a least 2(k+1) division periods each being .tau. satisfying a condition of H.gtoreq.2.tau., where H is a horizontal scanning period;
• applying a voltage to each pixel connected to the selected scanning line in such a manner that each pixel becomes a first stable state of its bistable states during third and second division periods counted from the last division period in the selection period, and either becomes a second stable state of the bistable states or holds the first stable state during the last division period according to data to be displayed;
• and
• applying an alternating voltage for holding a stable state established during the selection period to each pixel during a non-selection period in which the scanning line is not selected.