A high-resolution and high-speed ferroelectric liquid-crystal shutter array print head

A 1-in-wide, 577-dot/in, and 4:1 multiplex ferroelectric-liquid-crystal (FLC) shutter array has been fabricated and tested for optical performance. The array has a cell gap of 2.8 mu m and is surface stabilized with an FLC material of high spontaneous polarization (140 nC/cm/sup 2/) and fast switching time (16 mu s) at room temperature. It is capable of operating at a speed of 6.5 in/s (24 p.p.m. printing speed) with optical contrast ratios of better than 4. Using tungsten-halogen illumination, a prototype print head has been made, and print samples have been obtained on an electrophotographic printer engine.<
>