Patent ID: 6094184
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: G09G

Abstract:
A driving method for changing the display state of each pixel of a liquid crystal display element made up of a plurality of scanning line electrodes provided so as to run perpendicular to a plurality of signal line electrodes, ferroelectric liquid crystal being provided between the scanning line electrodes and the signal line electrodes, and a pixel being provided near each intersection of a scanning line electrode with a signal line electrode;the driving method comprising the steps of:a first step for applying to a signal line electrode a plurality of gray-scale signals which include pulses which are phase-modulated in accordance with a gray-scale level, and which, from the point of view of direct current, are balanced within each line-address period; at least one of the gray-scale signals being a writing signal which causes the ferroelectric liquid crystal within the pixel to shift to one of two stable states; and at least one of the gray-scale signals being a holding signal which maintains the stable state of the ferroelectric liquid crystal; anda second step for selectively applying to a scanning line electrode a scanning signal which, from the point of view of direct current, is balanced within each scanning period, and which includes an erasure voltage which causes the ferroelectric liquid crystal within the pixel to shift to one of two stable states, a selection voltage which applies the gray-scale signals to the pixel, and a non-selection voltage which maintains the stable state of the ferroelectric liquid crystal; the erasure, selection, and holding voltages being applied, respectively, during an erasure period, a selection period, and a non-selection period of variable length between the selection period and the erasure period, each of which is provided during each scanning period.