Method for driving optical address type spatial light modulation device and apparatus for driving optical address type spatial light modulation device

A method for driving an optical address type spatial light modulation device to record an image onto the optical address type spatial light modulation device comprising:

• a first light modulation layer;
• and
• a second light modulation layer, the first and second first light modulation layers stacked on each other, each of the first and second light modulation layers comprising:
• a display layer that reflects a predetermined color upon applied a predetermined threshold voltage or more thereto;
• a photoconductive layer that has an optical switching function of absorbing light in a specified wavelength range to change electric characteristics in accordance with an amount of light absorbed, the display layer and the photoconductive layer being stacked on each other;
• and
• electrodes on an outer side of the display layer and on an outer side of the photoconductive layer, respectively,
• each photoconductive layer comprising:
• a pair of charge generating layers;
• and
• a charge transporting layer disposed between the charge generating layers,
• wherein the photoconductive layers of the first and second light modulation layers are different in the specified wavelength range from the photoconductive layer of the third light modulation layers,
• the method further comprising:
• exposing the optical address type spatial light modulation device to first imagewise light having a wavelength in the specified wavelength range of the first light modulation layer;
• and
• applying such a first voltage between the electrodes of the first light modulation layer that a voltage applied to the display layer of the first light modulation layer exceeds a first threshold value, which is the predetermined threshold value of the first light modulation layer upon exposure, and does not exceeds the first threshold value upon non-exposure;
• applying a second voltage between the electrodes of the second light modulation layer, wherein:
• the exposing and the first and second voltage applying are done at the same time, and
• if the second light modulation layer has such a characteristic that a first curve of an intensity of light, which has the same wavelength as the first imagewise light and is applied to the second light modulation layer, versus a reflectivity of the second light modulation layer after finishing applying the light has an inflection point, the intensity of the first imagewise light in the exposing is in a vicinity of an intensity, which the first curve has at the inflection point.

An optical image recording apparatus for recording an image onto an optical address type spatial light modulation device, the apparatus comprising:

• a first light modulation layer;
• and
• a second light modulation layer, the first and second first light modulation layers stacked on each other, wherein:
• each of the first and second light modulation layers comprises:
• a display layer that reflects a predetermined color upon applied a predetermined threshold voltage or more thereto;
• a photoconductive layer that has an optical switching function of absorbing light in a specified wavelength range to change electric characteristics in accordance with an amount of light absorbed, the display layer and the photoconductive layer being stacked on each other;
• and
• electrodes on an outer side of the display layer and on an outer side of the photoconductive layer, respectively,
• each photoconductive layer comprises:
• a pair of charge generating layers;
• and
• a charge transporting layer disposed between the charge generating layers, and
• the photoconductive layers of the first and second light modulation layers are different in the specified wavelength range from the photoconductive layer of the third light modulation layers,
• the apparatus further comprising:
• an exposing unit that exposes the optical address type spatial light modulation device to first imagewise light having a wavelength in the specified wavelength range of the first light modulation layer;
• and
• a first voltage drive unit that applies such a first voltage between the electrodes of the first light modulation layer that a voltage applied to the display layer of the first light modulation layer exceeds a first threshold value, which is the predetermined threshold value of the first light modulation layer upon exposure, and does not exceeds the first threshold value upon non-exposure;
• a second voltage drive unit that applies a second voltage between the electrodes of the second light modulation layer, wherein:
• the exposing unit exposes the optical address type spatial light modulation device to the first imagewise light while the first and second voltage drive units are applying the first and second voltages, and
• if the second light modulation layer has such a characteristic that a first curve of an intensity of light, which has the same wavelength as the first imagewise light and is applied to the second light modulation layer, versus a reflectivity of the second light modulation layer after finishing applying the light has a first local maximum point,
• (a) an intensity of the first imagewise light in the exposing is larger than an intensity, which the first curve has at the first local maximum point, and
• (b) in the exposing, the second light modulation layer has a reflectivity lower than a reflectivity, which the first curve has at the first local maximum point.