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:
Sep. 21, 1999
Filed:
May. 30, 1997
Yasufumi Asao, Isehara, JP;
Yasuaki Takeda, Chigasaki, JP;
Hirohide Munakata, Yokohama, JP;
Yukio Hanyu, Isehara, JP;
Nobuhiro Ito, Sagamihara, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A liquid crystal apparatus is constituted by a liquid crystal device including a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates, and means for applying an asymmetrical drive signal waveform to the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal is capable of having at least two stable states S1 and S2 and capable of causing a cumulative translational movement depending on a change in an external electric field applied to the liquid crystal. To the liquid crystal, an asymmetrical drive signal waveform having an effective frequency range is applied by the above application means so as to provide an absolute value of a difference between an inversion frequency f.sub.01 where a direction of the movement of said liquid crystal is turned in an opposite direction in the state S1 and an inversion frequency f.sub.02 where a direction of the movement of said liquid crystal is turned in an opposite direction in the state S2 smaller than a difference therebetween in the case of applying a symmetrical drive signal waveform to said liquid crystal. The inversion frequencies f.sub.01 and f.sub.02 are within the effective frequency range of the asymmetrical drive signal waveform. The application means is effective in suppressing liquid crystal movement in the liquid crystal device.