Examination of image-sticking-free feasibility in multi-level/high-speed spatial light modulators utilizing anti-ferroelectric liquid crystals

Liquid crystal devices are electrically-controllable photonic devices and used in a wide range of ends such as filters, switches and spatial light modulators. So far, we developed smectic liquid crystal material as a liquid crystal device and realized multivalued amplitude/phase modulation and high-speed operation at 2kHz by proposing a high-speed driving scheme. However, because smectic material with spontaneous polarization is activated by a sequential writing system, it is affected by the polarity of applied voltage. This character causes the spiking phenomenon and image-sticking when the same pattern is displayed. In this paper, we propose and evaluate a driving scheme which enables presentation of arbitrary patterns at arbitrary times with use of smectic material with spontaneous polarization.