Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Tomoko Murakami

Shuzo Kaneko

Ryoji Fujiwara

Tomoko Maruyama

Akio Maruyama

Takayuki Yagi

Hiroshi Takagi

Masahiro Fushimi

An optical modulation element, in which a pixel surrounding a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer and an column shaped orientation layer is formed between a pair of electrodes. The orientation layer is formed by a high-molecular polymer in which an ultrafine granular conductive substance may be dispersed. External voltage applied across the electrodes in response to gradation signals performs gradation drivings.

Optical modulation element

A microactuator having a piezoelectric material and a drive electrode formed adjacent to the piezoelectric material is manufactured by forming an electroplating electrode on a substrate and providing a photosensitive material layer on the substrate on which the electroplating electrode is formed. The photosensitive material layer is exposed in a desired pattern. The exposed photosensitive material layer is developed to partially remove the exposed photosensitive material layer. A metal with electroplating is filled in a substrate portion from which the photosensitive material layer is removed, so that a drive electrode is formed. A remaining photosensitive material layer is removed. Finally, a piezoelectric material is selectively filled in a substrate portion adjacent to the drive electrode.

Method of manufacturing a microactuator

A liquid crystal optical element comprising a pair of electrode substrates having an electrode and a substrate and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between said pair of electrode substrates, wherein an electrode on at least one of said pair of electrode substrates is provided regularly or randomly with minute insulation portions.

Method for gradation display using a liquid crystal optical element with

Liquid crystal optical element with minute insulation portions on the

Growing community of inventors

Atsugi, Japan

Tomoko Murakami