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 μm and is surface-stabilized [1] with an FLC material of high spontaneous polarization (140 nC/cm²) and fast switching time (16 μs) at room temperature. It is capable of operating at a speed of 6.5 in/s (24 ppm printing speed) with optical contrast ratios better than 4. Using a tungsten-halogen illumination, a prototype print head has been made, and print samples have been obtained on an electrophotographic printer engine. © 1991 IEEE