Liquid crystal optical device

Claim 1

A liquid crystal optical device for operation in a time-sharing manner to transmit light to a moving photosensitive surface, the liquid crystal device comprising: liquid crystal cell means formed from a first transparent plate means and a cooperating second transparent plate means; a plurality of N common electrode means disposed in spaced, parallel strips on the interior surface of the first transparent plate means to provide a plurality of M spaced regions for forming light micro-shutters; a plurality of M cooperating signal electrode means disposed on the interior surface of the second transparent plate means substantially orthogonal to the common electrode means and in registration with the micro-shutter forming regions thereof and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the moving photosensitive surface, both N and M being integers, the transparent plate means being spaced apart from and substantially parallel to each other for forming a space therebetween and the transparent plate means being disposed so that the respective electrode means cross in plan view; opaque means including transparent regions for defining micro-shutters located where the respective electrode means cross, there being M transparent regions diagonally offset from each other across the width of the signal electrode means and with respect to the crossed common electrode means, the transparent regions repeating along the signal electrode means at each crossing common electrode means so that the micro-shutters are disposed in a diagonal line which is substantially transverse to the direction of motion of an associated photosensitive surface, there being intervals of L=(m+1/N)T 1 v between the centers of adjacent transparent regions of adjacent common electrodes, wherein v is the speed of transfer of the photo-sensitive surface, T 1 is a writing period, and m is an integer equal to or greater than 2; liquid crystal means encapsulated in the space between the transparent plate means; and time sharing liquid crystal driving circuit means coupled to the N common and M signal electrode means for applying signals to the electrode means which optically switch the light micro-shutters, whereby transmission of light through the liquid crystal is stopped.