To provide a driving method of an electro-optic element so as to improve the contrast between pixels in the ON state and in the OFF state.
A display cell voltage applied across segment electrodes 4a-4c and common electrodes 5a-5c is divided by a liquid crystal layer 2 and a ferroelectric film 3. The ferroelectric film 3 is subjected to spontaneous polarization by the divided voltage and the voltage by spontaneous polarization is applied on an induction electrode 6. When the voltage is applied on the induction electrode 6, a voltage of potential difference between the voltage applied on the segment electrode 4 and the voltage applied on the induction electrode 6 is applied on a liquid crystal layer 2. When the voltage is applied on the liquid crystal layer 2 from outside, its optical transmissivity is changed and it becomes ON state or OFF state. After the liquid crystal layer 2 becomes the ON state or the OFF state, the display contrast is stabilized by continuing to apply the maintaining voltage of prescribed value on a display cell.
KIYONO KENICHI
CHIN KUNIHEI
INOUE KINYA
