Ferroelectric liquid crystal light shutter device and method of controlling the driving of the same

摘要

An improved ferroelectric liquid crystal light shutter device formed of an array of light shutter elements, each including a ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibiting a chiral smectic phase. The light shutter elements are divided into a plurality of groups for multiplexing in accordance with a predetermined duty ratio. The formerly memorized states of the light shutter elements belonging to one of the groups and the light shutter elements to be addressed in the next scanning sequence are erased. Thereafter, the erased light shutter elements are turned into a memorized "ON-state" or "OFF-state" in accordance with image data signals. The formerly memorized states of the light shutter elements other than those which are erased or memorized are maintained by the application of predetermined voltage levels.