Ferroelectric display panel of varying thickness and driving method therefor

摘要

A driving method for a liquid crystal device of the type comprising a picture element formed by a first electrode, a second electrode oppositely spaced from the first electrode, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed at the opposite portion between the first and second electrodes and having a varying layer thickness. The driving method comprises: a first step of applying a voltage signal between the first and second electrodes for orienting a region extending over the whole area of the picture element to either one of a first and a second state, and a second step of applying a pulse with a waveform corresponding to gradation information between the first and second electrodes to switch the state of a region defining a prescribed area of the picture element from one state resultant in the first step to the other state.