Patent ID: 8502759

Claim:
A method for driving a light modulation element, wherein: the light modulation element comprises a pair of electrode layers, a display layer containing cholesteric liquid crystal that reflects or transmits light in response to a texture state of the cholesteric liquid crystal, and a photoconductive layer, the photoconductive layer comprises a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer deposited on each other without one of the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer sandwiching the other, and the display layer and the photoconductive layer are disposed between the electrode layers, the method comprising: applying write light to the light modulation element in accordance with an image to be displayed on the light modulation element while applying a DC voltage between the pair of electrode layers of the light modulation element; rapidly discharging accumulated charges and preventing a texture state of the cholestric liquid crystal from maintaining a focal conic texture by applying a pulse voltage having both an opposite polarity to and a pulse width shorter than the DC voltage applied so far between the pair of electrode layers with the write light being applied; and terminating the applying of the write light when the applying of the pulse voltage is terminated, wherein: the applying of the write light, the applying of the pulse voltage and the terminating of the applying of the write light are executed sequentially.