Patent ID: 7038835
Filing Date: 2006-05-02
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. An optical deflection device, comprising: an optical deflection element comprising a pair of transparent substrates arranged in a mutually opposing manner, a liquid crystal layer filling a gap formed between said pair of substrates, a liquid crystal of said liquid crystal layer forming a chiral smectic C phase, each of said substrates carrying thereon an orientation film orienting liquid crystal molecules in said liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to said liquid crystal layer, and electrodes generating an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to said liquid crystal layer; a first voltage application part applying, to said electrodes, an ac voltage of a first frequency so as to cause switching in an optical deflection direction of said optical deflection element; a second voltage application part applying, to said electrodes, an ac voltage of a second frequency different from the first frequency; and a control part causing said second voltage application part to apply an ac voltage of said second frequency after causing said first voltage application part to apply the ac voltage of the first frequency.