1. A scanner system comprising: an illumination source for generating source illumination; an electrical control device for generating a plurality of sequential electrical scanning signals; and a liquid crystal device for controlling the source illumination to generate scanning illumination in response to the plurality of sequential electrical scanning signals generated with said electrical control device, said liquid crystal device including a plurality of segments each segment being selectable in response to a sequential electrical scanning signal generated with said electrical control device to control the source illumination, wherein said liquid crystal device generates the scanning illumination under control of the sequential electrical scanning signals selecting each of the plurality of segments in sequence.