The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 1996
Filed:
May. 19, 1995
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An optical modulation apparatus has a matrix electrode arrangement comprising scanning electrodes and signal electrodes oppositely spaced from the scanning electrodes. Scanning signals are selectively applied sequentially and periodically to the scanning electrodes and information signals are selectively applied to the signal electrodes in synchronism with the scanning signals to effect optical modulation of an optical modulation material showing a first stable state and a second stable state with respect to an electric field applied thereto interposed between the scanning and signal electrodes. Before or after an information signal is applied to a selected signal electrode in synchronism with a scanning signal applied to a selected scanning electrode, an auxiliary signal different from the information signal is applied to the selected signal electrode in synchronism with the scanning signal, and an amplitude of a writing voltage applied to an intersection of the selected scanning electrode and the selected signal electrode is two or more times that of a first non-writing voltage applied to an intersection of a non-selected scanning electrode and the selected signal electrode. The amplitudes of the writing voltage and the first non-writing voltage are respectively determined with respect to a reference voltage determined as a difference between a voltage applied to a signal electrode receiving no data signal, and a voltage applied to the non-selected scanning electrode.