Optical apparatus using ferroelectric liquid crystal and switching unit for emitted light
First Claim
1. An optical apparatus comprising an optical device having an optically functional material sandwiched between a pair of substrates with electrodes formed on opposing surfaces, said optically functional material having such a characteristic that intensity of light emitted from said optical device changes asymmetrically in response to inversion of the polarity of an applied external field, whereinfirst means for applying to said optically functional material pulse voltages of one polarity for determining the intensity of the emitted light and pulse voltages of an opposite polarity at a predetermined period so that an average voltage is zeroed within the predetermined period, andsecond means for selecting or changing said emitted light intensity under the application of the pulse voltages of one polarity and said emitted light intensity under the application of the other pulse voltages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical apparatus comprises an optical device having an optically functional material sandwiched between a pair of substrates with electrodes formed on opposing surfaces. The optically functional material has such a characteristic that intensity of light issuing from the optical device changes asymmetrically in response to inversion of the polarity of an applied external field. Pulse voltages of one polarity for determining the intensity of the issuing light and pulse voltages of an opposite polarity are applied from a source at a predetermined period so that an average voltage is zeroed within the predetermied period. The issuing light intensity under the application of the pulse voltages of one polarity and the issuing light intensity under the application of the other pulse voltages are selected or changed by a switching unit.
43 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An optical apparatus comprising an optical device having an optically functional material sandwiched between a pair of substrates with electrodes formed on opposing surfaces, said optically functional material having such a characteristic that intensity of light emitted from said optical device changes asymmetrically in response to inversion of the polarity of an applied external field, wherein
first means for applying to said optically functional material pulse voltages of one polarity for determining the intensity of the emitted light and pulse voltages of an opposite polarity at a predetermined period so that an average voltage is zeroed within the predetermined period, and second means for selecting or changing said emitted light intensity under the application of the pulse voltages of one polarity and said emitted light intensity under the application of the other pulse voltages.
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24. In an optical apparatus comprising an optical device having an optically functional material sandwiched between a pair of substrates with electrodes formed on opposing surfaces, said optically functional material having such a characteristic that intensity of light issuing from the optical device changes asymmetrically in response to inversion of the polarity of an applied external field, the improvement which comprises:
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first means for applying to said optically functional material pulse voltages of one polarity for determining the intensity of the issuing light and pulse voltages of an opposite polarity at a predetermined period so that an average voltage is zeroed within the predetermined period; and a chopper arranged on a path of light passing through said optical device and having a function to intermittently block the light and to synchronize the intermittent blocking of light with the application of said pulse voltages of one polarity. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification