Light modulator using an asymetrically-driven ferroelectric liquid crystal thick cell
AssigneeShimadzu Corporation
InventorsJunya Kobayashi, Junichi Kita
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a liquid crystal thick cell light modulator using ferroelectric liquid crystal, a series of voltage pulses with an asymmetrical duty ratio (that is, duty ratio of 55-85%) is applied between a pair of electrode plates containing the ferroelectric liquid crystal. In another liquid crystal thick cell light modulator using ferroelectric liquid crystal, a DC bias voltage is added to the voltage pulses, where the magnitude of the DC bias voltage is 20-50% of the half amplitude of the voltage pulses. In still another liquid crystal thick cell light modulator, the gap length between the electrode plates is larger than 50 .mu.m, and the helical pitch in smectic C phase of the ferroelectric liquid crystal is 0.7 to 0.95 times the gap length.
Claims8
A liquid crystal thick cell light modulator comprising:
- a thick cell containing ferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of parallel electrode plates;
- and
- a voltage applying circuit for applying a series of voltage pulses with an asymmetrical duty ratio between the pair of electrode plates.
A liquid crystal thick cell light modulator comprising:
- a thick cell containing ferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of parallel electrode plates;
- and
- a voltage applying circuit for applying a series of voltage pulses with a DC bias voltage added to the voltage pulses between the pair of electrode plates.
A liquid crystal thick cell light modulator comprising:
- a thick cell including a pair of parallel electrode plates with a gap length between the electrode plates larger than 50 .mu.m;
- ferroelectric liquid crystal contained between the pair of electrode plates with a helical pitch of the ferroelectric liquid crystal in smectic C phase being 0.7 to 0.95 times the gap length;
- and
- a voltage applying circuit for applying a series of voltage pulses between the electrode plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.