Liquid-crystal-device driving method, liquid crystal device, and electronic apparatus

A liquid crystal device including an image display area including a plurality of pixel electrodes two-dimensionally arranged (1) in a row direction in which a plurality of scanning lines extend and (2) in a column direction in which a plurality of data lines extend and a counter electrode opposed to the plurality of pixel electrodes with a liquid crystal being disposed between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the counter electrode, the liquid crystal device having an optically compensated bend mode for displaying an image by performing an initial transition of an alignment of the liquid crystal from a splay alignment to a bend alignment, the liquid crystal device comprising:

• an inversion driving unit that has a plurality of inversion driving modes for periodically inverting polarities of voltages applied to the plurality of pixel electrodes relative to a voltage level of the counter electrode, in one of the plurality of inversion driving modes, an arrangement of a set of pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes in which the polarities of voltages applied to the set of pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes relative to the voltage level of the counter electrode are the same for each electrode of the set of pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes being different from an arrangement among a remainder of the plurality of inversion driving modes;
• and
• a switching unit that switches among the plurality of inversion driving modes at least once during a time of transition from the splay alignment to the bend alignment, wherein
• the switching unit switches between a first inversion driving mode and a second inversion driving mode, so that the first inversion driving mode and the second inversion driving mode are executed sequentially during the time of transition, the period of the first inversion drive mode being less than or equal to 30 frames, and the period of the first inversion drive mode being 12 or 24 frames,
• one of the first and second inversion driving modes is a frame inversion-driving mode for applying voltages having relatively identical polarities to all the plurality of pixel electrodes, and
• the other of the first and second inversion driving modes is a different inversion driving mode.