Optical modulation or image display system
First Claim
1. A driving method for an optical modulation unit including a light source periodically turned on and optical modulation means including an optical modulation element that is periodically turned on, said driving method comprising the step of:
- changing an amplitude of a voltage applied to the optical modulation element depending on given gradation data so as to modulate an overlapping time between an ON period of the optical modulation means and a lighting period of the light source in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical modulation unit is constituted by a light source periodically turned on, and an optical modulation means including an optical modulation element and periodically turned on. The optical modulation unit is driven by changing a voltage applied to the optical modulation element depending on given graduation data so as to modulate an overlapping time between an ON period of the optical modulation means and a lighting period of the light source. The gradation data may be analog gradation data and may be carried by light illuminating the optical modulation element synchronized with a voltage applied to the optical modulation element.
49 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A driving method for an optical modulation unit including a light source periodically turned on and optical modulation means including an optical modulation element that is periodically turned on, said driving method comprising the step of:
changing an amplitude of a voltage applied to the optical modulation element depending on given gradation data so as to modulate an overlapping time between an ON period of the optical modulation means and a lighting period of the light source in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme. - View Dependent Claims (2, 54, 55, 56, 58)
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3. An optical modulation apparatus, comprising:
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a light source periodically turned on; optical modulation means including an optical modulation element that is periodically turned on; and drive means for driving said optical modulation means by changing an amplitude of a voltage applied to the optical modulation element depending on given gradation data so as to modulate an overlapping time between an ON period of said optical modulation means and a lighting period of said light source in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 59, 60)
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13. A driving method for an optical modulation unit including a light source periodically turned on and optical modulation means comprising a plurality of optical modulation elements arranged in a plane, wherein each of the optical modulation elements is periodically turned on, said driving method comprising the step of:
changing an amplitude of a voltage applied to an optical modulation element depending on given gradation data so as to modulate an overlapping time between an ON period of the optical modulation element and a lighting period of the light source in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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14. A driving method for an optical modulation unit including a light source periodically turned on and optical modulation means comprising a planar optical modulation element that is periodically turned on, said driving method comprising the step of:
changing an amplitude of a voltage applied to a local region of the planar optical modulation element depending on given gradation data so as to modulate an overlapping time between an ON period of the optical modulation element and a lighting period of the light source in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme.
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15. A driving method for an optical modulation unit including optical modulation means comprising a pair of electrodes, and a photoelectric conversion layer and an optical modulation element disposed between the pair of electrodes, a signal light source for supplying light data carrying gradation data to the photoelectric conversion layer, and a readout light source for supplying readout light to the optical modulation element, said driving method comprising the step of:
controlling a lighting time of the readout light source to modulate an overlapping time between a period when the optical modulation element assumes a prescribed optical state and the lighting time depending on given gradation data in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 52)
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16. A driving method for driving an optical modulation unit including a light source and optical modulation means comprising an optical modulation element, said driving method comprising the steps of:
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applying to the optical modulation element a voltage with an amplitude that changes with time depending on given gradation data, thereby modulating a timing when the optical modulation element is switched from a first optical state to a second optical state; and turning on the light source to obtain light data subjected to analog duty modulation depending on the gradation data in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme. - View Dependent Claims (20, 34, 41, 42, 53)
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17. A driving method for an optical modulation unit including a light source and optical modulation means comprising an optical modulation element that assumes bistable states, a photoelectric conversion substance, and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the optical modulation element and the photoelectric conversion substance, said driving method comprising the steps of:
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applying a voltage between the pair of electrodes, and supplying to the optical modulation element light data carrying gradation data to the photoelectric conversion substance so as to apply a voltage having an amplitude that changes with time depending on the gradation data, thereby modulating a period between switching from a first stable state to a second stable state to switching from the second stable state to the first stable state, respectively, of the optical modulation element, the period being modulated within a range having a maximum set to be shorter than a prescribed period so as to allow recognition of a change in gradation level, in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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18. A driving method for an optical modulation unit including a light source and optical modulation means comprising an optical modulation element, a photoelectric conversion substance, and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the optical modulation element and the photoelectric conversion substance, said driving method comprising the steps of:
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applying a voltage between the pair of electrodes, supplying to the optical modulation element light data carrying gradation data to the photoelectric conversion substance so as to apply a voltage with an amplitude that changes with time depending on the gradation data, thereby modulating a timing of switching from a first optical state to a second optical state in an analog manner; and turning on the light source so as to provide a lighting time within a range having a maximum period set to be shorter than a prescribed period so as to allow recognition of a change in gradation level in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
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19. A driving method for an optical modulation unit including a light source and optical modulation means comprising an optical modulation element, a photoelectric conversion substance, and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the optical modulation element and the photoelectric conversion substance, said driving method comprising the steps of:
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repetitively applying a voltage between the pair of electrodes, the voltage causing a polarity inversion and having a DC component of substantially zero within a prescribed period; supplying light data carrying gradation data to the photoelectric conversion substance; and applying to the optical modulation element a voltage with an amplitude that changes with time depending on the gradation data to the optical modulation element to modulate a timing of switching from a first optical state to a second optical state, thereby turning on the light source in either a former half or a latter half of the prescribed period, in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme.
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57. A driving method for an image display unit including an optical modulation device comprising a pair of electrodes for application of a voltage therebetween, and a photoconductor layer and an optical modulation element disposed between the pair of electrodes, a signal light source for supplying light information carrying gradation data to the photoconductor layer, and a readout light source for supplying readout light for reading out image data to the optical modulation element, said driving method comprising the step of:
operating the readout light source in a lighting period controlled to be different from a period of supplying the light information, thereby modulating an overlapping time between a period in which the optical modulation element assumes a prescribed optical state and the lighting period depending on the gradation data in order to effect an analog duty-modulated gradational display scheme.
Specification