A method of displaying and reading a picture by using a liquid crystal display device with a function of reading a picture, said liquid crystal display device comprising a plurality of source lines for transmitting a picture signal, a plurality of gate lines for transmitting a scanning signal, said gate lines provided in a crossing direction with said source lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes provided corresponding to each intersection of the source lines and the gate lines, a plurality of first transistors, each connected to one of the source lines and one of the gate lines and each of the pixel electrodes, an opposite electrode opposed to the pixel electrodes, a liquid crystal provided between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode, a plurality of photo detectors, each provided corresponding to each of the pixel electrodes, said photo detectors being ones in which an electric charge retained therein beforehand is discharged by receiving a reflected light from an original picture and thereby a quantity of the reflected light is detected, a plurality of second transistors, each connected to one of said source lines and one of said gate lines and one end of each of the photo detectors, an other end line connected to the other end of each of the photo detectors, and a back light source emitting a light for displaying a picture and a light for illuminating the original picture, said method comprising:
- repeating a plurality of times the step of reading the original picture wherein said photo detectors are made to retain an electric charge for a single pixel at a time or for a set of pixels not adjacent to each other at a time, and said liquid crystal is made to transmit light through a single pixel at a time or through a set of pixels not adjacent to each other at a time so that the light from said back light source irradiates the original picture, and a quantity of the reflected light is detected by said photo detectors, whereby the original picture is read.