JP2000201489A - Liquid crystal motor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal motor which can be worked hyperfinely and can exhibit a stable performance with a low power consumption as an extremely small motor. SOLUTION: A liquid crystal motor 1 has upper and lower substrates 2 and 3 which are faced oppositely to each other with a prescribed gap G in between. On the lower surface of the upper substrate 2, first to third electrodes 4-6 are formed at prescribed intervals and, on the upper surface of the lower substrate 3, fourth to sixth electrodes 7-9 are formed in such a way that the electrodes 7-9 are respectively faced to the electrodes 4-6. In addition, a liquid crystal 10 is enclosed between the substrates 2 and 3. Therefore, the motor 1 can be worked in hyperfine structure because the motor 1 can be manufactured by the same manufacturing technique as that used for manufacturing liquid crystal elements. In addition, since the liquid crystal molecules 10a in the area E between the second and fifth electrodes 5 and 8 are successively inclined and rotated in a plane which is nearly normal to the substrates 2 and 3 by repeating the successive impression of an electric field between the first and sixth electrodes 4 and 9, between the second and fifth electrodes 5 and 8, and between the third and fourth electrodes 6 and 7 in prescribed order, the molecules 10a can be rotated surely with low power consumption as an extremely small motor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal motor which is a micro motor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a micro motor is manufactured by an ultra-fine processing technique called a micro machine, and there are several types of basic principles of its driving source. Have been proposed.

[0003]

However, such an ultra-small motor cannot be said to be sufficient in terms of the ultra-fine processing technology and performance of inorganic materials, and there is still room for development. The conventional motor has a problem that the power consumption is high as a micro motor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal motor capable of performing ultrafine processing and achieving stable performance with low power consumption as a microminiature motor.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A pair of substrates arranged facing each other at a predetermined interval, first to third electrodes arranged at a predetermined interval on the opposing surface of one of the substrates, and the first to third electrodes on the other substrate, respectively. Fourth to sixth electrodes arranged correspondingly;
An electrode and the fourth electrode, a liquid crystal sealed between the pair of substrates arranged with the second electrode and the fifth electrode facing each other, and the third electrode and the sixth electrode facing each other, An electric field is applied only between the first electrode and the sixth electrode to regulate the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal in the direction of the electric field, and an electric field is applied only between the second electrode and the fifth electrode. The liquid crystal molecules are regulated in the direction of the electric field, and an electric field is applied only between the third electrode and the fourth electrode to regulate the liquid crystal molecules in the direction of the electric field. Alternatively, by sequentially applying an electric field in the reverse order and repeating the application, the liquid crystal molecules in a region where the second electrode and the fifth electrode face each other in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pair of substrates are sequentially tilted and rotated. It is characterized by making it.

According to the present invention, of a pair of substrates arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval, first to third electrodes are formed at a predetermined interval on the opposing surface of one of the substrates, and the other substrate is formed on the other substrate. The fourth to sixth electrodes are formed so as to face the first to third electrodes, respectively, and liquid crystal is sealed between the pair of substrates. It is possible to perform ultra-fine processing, and sequentially apply an electric field between the first electrode and the sixth electrode, the second electrode and the fifth electrode, and the third and fourth electrodes in a predetermined order. By repeating this, the liquid crystal molecules in the region where the second electrode and the fifth electrode are opposed to each other in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pair of substrates are sequentially tilted and rotated. The liquid crystal molecules can be rotated, It can be obtained ability liquid motor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pair of substrates arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval, and at least three sets provided between the pair of substrates and facing each other in a plane direction parallel to the substrates. An electrode portion in which the above electrodes are arranged in a polygonal shape; and a liquid crystal sealed in a region surrounded by the three or more sets of electrodes arranged in the polygonal shape of the electrode portion between the pair of substrates. An electric field is applied only between a pair of electrodes facing the electrode section to regulate the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal in the direction of the electric field, and then only between another set of electrodes adjacent to the set of electrodes. An electric field is applied to regulate the liquid crystal molecules in the direction of the electric field. Further, an electric field is applied only between another pair of electrodes adjacent to the set of electrodes to regulate the liquid crystal molecules in the direction of the electric field. Between the electrodes of each set The other is sequentially applied electric field in the reverse order,
By repeating this, the liquid crystal molecules are sequentially tilted and rotated in a plane substantially parallel to the pair of substrates.

According to the present invention, at least three or more pairs of electrodes facing each other in a plane direction parallel to the substrates are arranged in a polygonal shape between a pair of substrates arranged facing each other at a predetermined interval. An electrode portion is provided, and a liquid crystal is sealed in a region surrounded by each set of electrodes arranged in a polygonal shape between the pair of substrates.
Similar to the described invention, it can be manufactured by almost the same manufacturing technology as that of the liquid crystal display element, so that ultra-fine processing can be performed, and an electric field is sequentially applied in a predetermined order between each pair of electrodes. By repeating the above, liquid crystal molecules in a region surrounded by each set of electrodes are sequentially tilted and rotated in a plane substantially parallel to the pair of substrates. The liquid crystal molecules can be reliably rotated with power consumption, and a liquid crystal motor with stable performance can be obtained.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of a liquid crystal motor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view showing a liquid crystal motor in principle. The liquid crystal motor 1 includes a pair of upper and lower substrates 2, 3
It has. The pair of substrates 2 and 3 are made of an insulating material such as glass or synthetic resin, and a transparent or opaque material is selected according to the application. Of these upper and lower substrates 2, 3, first to third electrodes 4 to 6 are formed on the lower surface of the upper substrate 2. The first to third electrodes 4 to 6 are made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO or an opaque conductive material such as metal, and are arranged at predetermined intervals from left to right in FIG.

On the upper surface of the lower substrate 3, fourth to sixth
The electrodes 7 to 9 are formed corresponding to the first to third electrodes 4 to 6 of the upper substrate 2. These fourth to sixth electrodes 7 to 9
The first and third electrodes 4 to 6 are formed of the same material, and the fourth electrode 7 on the left faces the first electrode 4 on the left of the upper substrate 2 as shown in FIG. Electrode 8 is upper substrate 2
The right electrode 9 faces the third electrode 6 on the right side of the upper substrate 2. In addition, the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3 have the first to third electrodes 4 to 6 of the upper substrate 2 and the fourth to sixth electrodes 7 to 9 of the lower substrate 3 facing each other as described above. The substrates are bonded together with a predetermined gap G by a sealing material (not shown) provided at the peripheral portion between the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3. A liquid crystal 10 is sealed in a region surrounded by a seal material between the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3. The liquid crystal 10 has a property that the liquid crystal molecules 10a have a positive dielectric anisotropy.

Next, the operation of the liquid crystal motor 1 will be described. Here, the operation of the liquid crystal molecules 10a in a plane substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower substrates 2, 3 in a region E where the second electrode 5 of the upper substrate 2 and the fifth electrode 8 of the lower substrate 3 face each other will be described. I do. The second electrode 5 and the fifth electrode 8
A large number of liquid crystal molecules 10a are interposed in the region E where the liquid crystal molecules 10 oppose each other. Of these liquid crystal molecules 10a, for example, one liquid crystal molecule 10a located at substantially the center of the region E will be described. First, when an electric field is applied only between the first electrode 4 on the left side of the upper substrate 2 and the sixth electrode 9 on the right side of the lower substrate 3, the liquid crystal molecules 10a are aligned in the direction of the electric field, as shown in FIG. Then, the left end of the liquid crystal molecules 10a in the region E faces the first electrode 4, and the right end of the liquid crystal molecules 10a faces the sixth electrode 9, whereby the liquid crystal molecules 10a are inclined upward to the left.

Next, when an electric field is applied only between the intermediate second electrode 5 of the upper substrate 2 and the intermediate fifth electrode 8 of the lower substrate 3, the liquid crystal molecules 10a are aligned in the direction of the electric field. As shown in FIG.
Of the liquid crystal molecules 10a are displaced to the left and face the fifth electrode 8, whereby the liquid crystal molecules 10a are shifted from the state of being inclined upward to the left to the second electrode 5.
By rotating by 0 °, it becomes perpendicular to the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3. Next, when an electric field is applied only between the third electrode 6 on the right side of the upper substrate 2 and the fourth electrode on the left side of the lower substrate 3, the liquid crystal molecules 10a are aligned in the direction of the electric field, as shown in FIG. The upper end of the liquid crystal molecules 10a in a vertical state is displaced rightward and faces the third electrode 6, and the lower end of the liquid crystal molecules 10a is displaced leftward and faces the fourth electrode 7.
a is rotated by 60 ° from the vertical state and tilted upward to the right.

Thereafter, when an electric field is applied again only between the first electrode 4 on the left side of the upper substrate 2 and the sixth electrode 9 on the right side of the lower substrate 3, the liquid crystal molecules 10a are aligned in the direction of the electric field. As shown in the figure, the right end of the liquid crystal molecules 10a inclined upward to the right is displaced downward to face the sixth electrode 9, and the left end of the liquid crystal molecules 10a is displaced upward to dispose the first electrode 4a. This causes the liquid crystal molecules 10a to rotate by 60 ° from the state of tilting upward to the right and to the state of tilting downward to the right. At this time, the state of the liquid crystal molecules 10a has the same inclination as the state where an electric field is first applied between the first electrode 4 and the sixth electrode 9, but the orientation of both ends of the liquid crystal component 10a is opposite to the initial state. Become. Similarly, when an electric field is sequentially applied between the second electrode and the fifth electrode 8 and between the third electrode 6 and the fourth electrode 7, the liquid crystal molecules 1
0a are successively rotated by 60 °, whereby the liquid crystal molecules 10a are rotated.
a rotates once. Thus, the first electrode 4 and the sixth electrode 9
An electric field is sequentially applied between the second electrode 5 and the fifth electrode 8 and between the third electrode 6 and the fourth electrode 7 in this order, and the electric field is repeated. Within
The liquid crystal molecules 10a in the region E where the second electrode 5 and the fifth electrode 8 face each other are rotated stepwise by 60 ° clockwise in FIG. When the electric field is applied in the reverse order, the liquid crystal molecules 10a rotate counterclockwise stepwise.

As described above, according to the liquid crystal motor 1,
Of the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3 arranged opposite to each other with a predetermined gap G, first to third electrodes 4 to 6 are formed at predetermined intervals on the lower surface of the upper substrate 2, and the fourth electrodes 4 to 6 are formed on the lower substrate 3. ~
Since the sixth electrodes 7 to 9 are formed so as to correspond to the first to third electrodes 4 to 6 and the liquid crystal 10 is sealed between the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3, the manufacturing technology of the liquid crystal display element is improved. It can be manufactured by the same manufacturing technology, and therefore, can be ultra-fine processed. Further, in the liquid crystal motor 1, between the first electrode 4 and the sixth electrode 9, between the second electrode 5 and the fifth electrode 8, the third electrode 6
By applying an electric field between the first and fourth electrodes 7 in that order or in the reverse order, the second electrode 5 and the fifth electrode 8 face each other in a plane substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3. Since the liquid crystal molecules 10a in the region E are sequentially rotated stepwise at an angle of 60 °, the liquid crystal molecules 10a can be reliably rotated with low power consumption as a micro motor, thereby obtaining a stable performance. Can be.

In the liquid crystal motor 1 of the first embodiment, an alignment film for aligning the liquid crystal molecules 10a is not provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an alignment film is provided on the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower substrates 2, 3. The liquid crystal molecules 10a may be aligned. In this case, a rubbing treatment is performed on the alignment film so that the liquid crystal molecules 10a are vertically or horizontally aligned, and the alignment direction may be made to coincide with the rotation direction of the liquid crystal molecules 10a.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the liquid crystal motor according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The liquid crystal motor 20 includes a pair of upper and lower substrates 2 and 3 as in the first embodiment. These upper and lower substrates 2 and 3 also
As in the embodiment, they are bonded together with a predetermined gap G by a sealing material (not shown) provided on the periphery thereof. Then, between the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3 in a region surrounded by the sealing material, the electrode portion 21 is formed in a substantially hexagonal frame shape. The electrode portion 21 is provided between the upper and lower substrates 2,
It is composed of three sets of electrodes 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b facing each other in a plane direction parallel to 3, and these electrodes 23a to 25b are arranged in a regular hexagonal shape without contacting each other. Has become.

In this case, of the first set of electrodes 23a and 23b, one electrode 23a is located on the upper left side of the regular hexagon shown in FIG. 3, and the other electrode 23b is located on the lower right side thereof. Of the second set of electrodes 24a and 24b, one electrode 24a is located on the upper side of the regular hexagon shown in the figure, and the other electrode 24b is located on the lower side thereof. Third
Of the pair of electrodes 25a and 25b, one electrode 25a is located on the lower left side of the regular hexagon shown in the figure, and the other electrode 25b is located on the upper right side thereof. Each of the electrodes 23a to 25b is formed of a transparent conductive material such as ITO or an opaque conductive material such as a metal as in the first embodiment. Then, as in the first embodiment, the liquid crystal molecules 10a have a liquid crystal 1 having a positive dielectric anisotropy in a region surrounded by a sealing material between the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3.
0 is sealed, and the liquid crystal 10 is also sealed in a hexagonal region surrounded by the electrodes 23a to 25b of the electrode unit 21.

Next, the operation of the liquid crystal motor 20 will be described. Here, each electrode 23a of the electrode portion 21
The operation of the liquid crystal molecules 10a in a plane substantially parallel to the upper and lower substrates 2, 3 in the hexagonal region surrounded by 〜25b will be described. A large number of liquid crystal molecules 10a are interposed in the hexagonal region surrounded by the electrodes 23a to 25b. Among these liquid crystal molecules 10a, for example, one of the liquid crystal molecules 10a which is located substantially at the center in the hexagonal region is used. Liquid crystal molecules 10
a will be described. First, the first set of electrodes 23a, 23b
When an electric field is applied only between the liquid crystal molecules, the liquid crystal molecules 1
As shown in FIG. 3, the left ends of the liquid crystal molecules 10a face the first set of upper left electrodes 23a, and the right ends of the liquid crystal molecules 10a face the first set of lower right electrodes 23b. As a result, the liquid crystal molecules 10a are inclined upward and left as shown in FIG.

Next, when an electric field is applied only between the second set of electrodes 24a and 24b adjacent to the first set of electrodes 23a and 23b, the liquid crystal molecules 10a are aligned in the direction of the electric field, and as shown in FIG. Liquid crystal molecules 10a tilted to the left
Of the liquid crystal molecules 10a is displaced to the right and faces the upper side electrode 24a of the second set, and the right end of the liquid crystal molecules 10a is displaced to the left and faces the lower side electrode 24b of the second set.
Is rotated by 60 ° from the state in which it is tilted to the upper left, and becomes a state of up and down shown in FIG. Then, the second set of electrodes 24
When an electric field is applied only between the third set of electrodes 25a, 25b adjacent to the liquid crystal molecules 10a, 10a in the direction of the electric field.
Are aligned, and as shown in the figure, the upper end of the liquid crystal molecules 10a in the up and down direction is displaced rightward and faces the electrode 25a on the upper right side of the third set, and the lower end of the liquid crystal molecules 10a is displaced leftward. Then, the liquid crystal molecules 10a are turned to the third set of electrodes 25b on the lower left side, whereby the liquid crystal molecules 10a are rotated by 60 ° from the state of the up and down direction and tilted to the right as shown in FIG.

Thereafter, the first set of electrodes 23a, 23
When an electric field is applied only between the points b, the liquid crystal molecules 10a are aligned in the direction of the electric field, and as shown in FIG. Facing the lower right electrode 23b, the left end of the liquid crystal molecule 10a is displaced upward to face the first set of upper left electrodes 23a,
As a result, the liquid crystal molecules 10a rotate by 60 ° from the state of tilting to the right to the state of tilting to the right as shown in FIG. At this time, the state of the liquid crystal molecules 10a has the same inclination as the state where an electric field is first applied between the first pair of electrodes 23a and 23b, but the directions of both ends of the liquid crystal component 10a are opposite to the initial state. . Similarly, the second set of electrodes 24a, 24
When an electric field is sequentially applied between the electrodes b and the third pair of electrodes 25a and 25b, the liquid crystal molecules 10a sequentially rotate by 60 °, thereby rotating the liquid crystal molecules 10a once. Thus, between the first set of electrodes 23a and 23b, the second set of electrodes 24a and 24b
, The electric field is sequentially applied between the third pair of electrodes 25a and 25b in that order, and this is repeated, whereby the upper and lower substrates 2,
The liquid crystal molecules 10a in a hexagonal region surrounded by the electrodes 23a to 25b in a plane substantially parallel to the step 3 rotate stepwise by 60 ° clockwise in FIG. 3 around the center of the liquid crystal molecules 10a as the center of rotation. I do. When the electric field is applied in the reverse order, the liquid crystal molecules 10a rotate counterclockwise stepwise.

As described above, according to the liquid crystal motor 20, between the upper and lower substrates 2, 3 arranged to face each other with the predetermined gap G, they face each other in a plane direction parallel to these substrates 2, 3. First to third sets of electrodes 23a to 2
5b are provided with electrode portions 21 arranged in a regular hexagonal shape, and each set of electrodes 23a to 25 between the upper and lower substrates 2, 3 is provided.
Since the liquid crystal 10 is sealed in a regular hexagonal region surrounded by b, the liquid crystal display device can be manufactured by substantially the same manufacturing technology as that of the liquid crystal display element as in the first embodiment. Fine processing is possible. The liquid crystal motor 20
Then, the first portion between the electrodes 23a to 25b of each set of the electrode portion 21 is formed.
The liquid crystal molecules 10a are sequentially tilted and rotated by 60 ° in a plane substantially parallel to the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3 by repeatedly applying an electric field in the order of the set to the third set or in the reverse order, thereby rotating the liquid crystal molecules. As in the first embodiment, the liquid crystal molecules 10a can be reliably rotated with low power consumption as an ultra-small motor, whereby a stable performance can be obtained.

In the second embodiment, the electrode 21
Is formed in a regular hexagonal shape by the three sets of electrodes 23a to 25b, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed in a regular octagonal shape by, for example, four sets of electrodes, or a regular dodecagonal shape by five sets of electrodes. It may be formed, or may be formed in a regular polygonal shape with six or more sets of electrodes. In the liquid crystal motor 20 of the second embodiment, the alignment film for aligning the liquid crystal molecules 10a is not provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the alignment film is provided on the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower substrates 2 and 3. , The liquid crystal molecules 10a may be horizontally aligned. In the first and second embodiments, the liquid crystal molecules 10a have a positive dielectric anisotropy.
Although 0 has been described, the invention is not limited thereto, and for example, any of a liquid crystal in which liquid crystal molecules have negative dielectric anisotropy, a liquid crystal in which liquid crystal molecules have spontaneous polarization, and a guest-host liquid crystal may be used. In this case, in a liquid crystal having liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric anisotropy, when an electric field is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are orthogonal to the direction of the electric field. Operate in a shifted state. In a liquid crystal in which the liquid crystal molecules have spontaneous polarization, the center of rotation of the liquid crystal molecules is not at the center of the liquid crystal molecule but at the end, and the liquid crystal molecule rotates around this end.

[0023]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, of the pair of substrates arranged opposite to each other at a predetermined interval, the first to third substrates are provided on the opposing surface of one of the substrates. Since the electrodes are formed at predetermined intervals, the fourth to sixth electrodes are formed on the other substrate in correspondence with the first to third electrodes, and liquid crystal is sealed between the pair of substrates. It can be manufactured with the same manufacturing technology as the device,
Therefore, ultra-fine processing can be performed, and the first electrode, the sixth electrode,
An electric field is sequentially applied in a predetermined order between the second electrode and the fifth electrode, and between the third electrode and the fourth electrode, and the electric field is repeated, so that the second electrode and the second electrode are arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pair of substrates. Since the liquid crystal molecules in the region facing the fifth electrode are sequentially tilted and rotated, the liquid crystal molecules can be reliably rotated with low power consumption as a micro motor, thereby obtaining a liquid crystal motor with stable performance. Can be.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, at least three substrates facing each other in a plane direction parallel to the substrates are provided between a pair of substrates disposed facing each other at a predetermined interval.
An electrode portion in which more than one set of electrodes are arranged in a polygonal shape is provided, and a liquid crystal is sealed in a region surrounded by each set of electrodes arranged in a polygonal shape between the pair of substrates. Similar to the invention described in 1, the liquid crystal display element can be manufactured by substantially the same manufacturing technique as that of the liquid crystal display element, so that ultrafine processing can be performed, and an electric field is sequentially applied in a predetermined order between each pair of electrodes. By repeating this process, the liquid crystal molecules are sequentially tilted and rotated in a plane substantially parallel to the pair of substrates, so that the liquid crystal molecules are reliably rotated with low power consumption as a micro motor as in the first aspect of the present invention. As a result, a liquid crystal motor having stable performance can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view showing a liquid crystal motor according to a first embodiment of the present invention in principle.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing in principle a second embodiment of the liquid crystal motor of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the principle of the operation of liquid crystal molecules as viewed from the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 20 Liquid crystal motor 2 Upper substrate 3 Lower substrate 4-9 First to sixth electrodes 10 Liquid crystal 10a Liquid crystal molecules 21 Electrode portions 23a, 23b First set of electrodes 24a, 24b Second set of electrodes 25a, 25b Third Pair of electrodes

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pair of substrates arranged opposite to each other at a predetermined interval, first to third electrodes arranged at a predetermined interval on an opposing surface of one of the substrates, and the first to third electrodes arranged on the other substrate.
Fourth to sixth electrodes arranged corresponding to the third electrode, the first electrode and the fourth electrode, the second electrode and the fifth electrode, and the third electrode and the sixth electrode, respectively. And a liquid crystal sealed between the pair of substrates disposed in a state where the liquid crystal molecules are opposed to each other. An electric field is applied only between the first electrode and the sixth electrode, and liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal are applied in the direction of the electric field. And an electric field is applied only between the second electrode and the fifth electrode to regulate the liquid crystal molecules in the direction of the electric field, and an electric field is applied only between the third electrode and the fourth electrode. The liquid crystal molecules are regulated in the direction of the electric field by applying the electric field, and the electric field is sequentially applied between these electrodes in the above order or in the reverse order, and by repeating this, the plane is substantially perpendicular to the pair of substrates. Second
A liquid crystal motor, wherein the liquid crystal molecules in a region where an electrode and the fifth electrode face each other are sequentially tilted and rotated. 2. A pair of substrates arranged opposite to each other at a predetermined interval, and at least three or more pairs of electrodes provided between the pair of substrates and facing each other in a plane direction parallel to the substrates. An electrode section arranged in
A liquid crystal sealed in a region surrounded by the three or more sets of electrodes arranged in a polygonal shape of the electrode portion between the pair of substrates, and only between a pair of opposed electrodes of the electrode portion. An electric field is applied to regulate the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal in the direction of the electric field, and then an electric field is applied only between another set of electrodes adjacent to the set of electrodes to regulate the liquid crystal molecules in the direction of the electric field. Further, an electric field is applied only between the other set of electrodes adjacent to the set of electrodes to regulate the liquid crystal molecules in the direction of the electric field,
By sequentially applying an electric field between these pairs of electrodes in the above order or the reverse order, and repeating the electric field, the liquid crystal molecules are sequentially tilted and rotated in a plane substantially parallel to the pair of substrates. Liquid crystal motor. 3. The liquid crystal according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal is one of a liquid crystal having liquid crystal molecules having positive or negative dielectric anisotropy, a liquid crystal having liquid crystal molecules having spontaneous polarization, and a guest-host liquid crystal. 2. The liquid crystal motor according to 2.