JP3591479B2 - Liquid crystal element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new liquid crystal mode having high contrast, fast response and wide viewing angle characteristics in a liquid crystal device. SOLUTION: The liquid crystal molecules are made to respond stepwise into two or more directions when a voltage is applied by using a means such as to give alignment information with two or more directions to the substrate surface.

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing and a method for driving a liquid crystal element.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Liquid crystal elements are widely used as monitors for word processors and computers, projection TVs, portable small televisions, and light control elements such as optical switching elements. As a typical example of such a liquid crystal element, there is a liquid crystal display element using a twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal or a vertical alignment (VA) liquid crystal.
[0003]
This TN liquid crystal has a viewing angle characteristic in which light transmittance and reflectivity vary greatly depending on the angle at which the element is viewed due to the orientation of the molecular arrangement, causing coloration and a decrease in contrast. A retardation film and a scattering film had to be arranged. Further, there is a disadvantage that the contrast is low due to the reverse tilt domain and the orientation direction of the liquid crystal near the interface.
[0004]
The VA liquid crystal, like the TN liquid crystal, has a viewing angle characteristic such as a change in light transmittance and reflectance depending on a viewing angle, coloring, and a decrease in contrast. Therefore, a method of expanding the viewing angle by dividing the inside of a pixel into two or four has been used in recent years. However, there are problems such as a decrease in efficiency, a decrease in response time of liquid crystal, and a complicated process. Although VA liquid crystals are generally considered to provide high contrast, the highest level of contrast could not be obtained due to light leakage due to slight inclination of the liquid crystal molecules in the black display.
[0005]
In recent years, attention has been paid to a method called in-plane switching (IPS) for the purpose of improving the viewing angle characteristics, and since the method drives a liquid crystal within a substrate surface, the viewing angle characteristics are very good. However, since both electrodes are formed on the same surface of the same substrate, an insulating layer for preventing a short circuit between the electrodes is required on the electrodes. Therefore, the burn-in phenomenon when a fixed pattern is displayed for a long time is a problem.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional liquid crystal liquid crystal modes TN and VA, the viewing angle dependency is large, and there are problems such as coloring, a decrease in contrast, and grayscale inversion depending on the viewing direction, and the response speed is not satisfactory. Was. In the IPS, although the viewing angle is improved, there are many problems such as the occurrence of image sticking and the complicated electrode structure.
[0007]
The present invention solves all of the problems of the current liquid crystal devices, and provides a liquid crystal device having high contrast, a wide viewing angle characteristic, and high-speed response.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A liquid crystal device according to claim 1 of the present invention, which achieves the above object, comprises a pair of upper and lower substrates and liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric anisotropy, and is interposed between the upper and lower substrates. A liquid crystal element comprising a layer and a pair of polarizing plates disposed outside the pair of upper and lower substrates, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are arranged such that, when a voltage is applied, any one of the pair of polarizing plates And the liquid crystal molecules are tilted in a first direction such that the directions of the liquid crystal molecules are parallel to each other. When a voltage is further applied, the first direction and the liquid crystal molecules are in an in-plane direction parallel to the surface of the substrate. Is a liquid crystal element characterized by moving in a different second direction.
The liquid crystal device according to claim 2 of the present invention for achieving the above object has a pair of upper and lower substrates and liquid crystal molecules having a positive dielectric anisotropy, and is sandwiched between the pair of upper and lower substrates. A liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal layer, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are tilted in a first direction such that when a voltage is applied, the angle between the surface of the substrate and the major axis of the liquid crystal molecules increases. The liquid crystal element is characterized in that, when a voltage is further applied, the liquid crystal element moves in a direction parallel to the surface of the substrate in a second direction different from the first direction.
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device of the present invention the first step and the first direction and further applying a voltage to provide an alignment information for tilting the liquid crystal molecules by applying voltages to the first direction A second step of providing alignment information for tilting the liquid crystal molecules tilted in a second direction different from the first direction.
[0009]
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device of the present invention, as the first factory, characterized by attaching the irregularities on at least one surface of the substrate of about a second factory. The easiest way to form the unevenness is to pattern with a photosensitive resin. Patterning using a photomask, patterning using two-beam interference of laser, patterning using an electron beam, and patterning using laser ablation may be used. At this time, it is even better if the photosensitive resin is conductive. As another method, a film of an inorganic substance or an organic substance may be formed on a substrate, and unevenness may be formed in one direction by applying physical contact such as stretching, scratching, or rubbing . At this time, it is not necessary that the irregularities are regularly arranged in a belt shape. It is further preferable that the inorganic and organic films at this time are conductive. As still another method, an uneven pattern may be formed in advance on another substrate or the like, and the transferred pattern may be added to the surface of the substrate, and the transfer method may be performed using a roll coater or the like. It is possible to transfer it by using a flat plate like a print, and it is not necessary to transfer the whole surface at once, like a stamp, divide it into small areas and transfer it many times May be provided with irregularities.
[0010]
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device of the present invention, as the first factory, and irradiating ultraviolet rays to at least one of about a second factory. The ultraviolet light may be either non-linearly polarized light or non-linearly polarized light, but linearly polarized light is better, and it is possible to irradiate the substrate at an angle. Further, if there is a chemical bond or the like that reacts with ultraviolet rays on the substrate surface before the irradiation, the bonding or decomposition occurs due to the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays, so that it is easy to give as alignment information. Since polyimide and siloxane-based alignment films are commercially available, they are most easily used.
[0011]
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device of the present invention, as the first factory, and performing a rubbing treatment to at least one of about a second factory. Any cloth can be used for rubbing, and rayon or cotton is generally used.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
First, the first liquid crystal element of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates liquid crystal molecules 103 having a negative dielectric anisotropy sandwiched between an upper substrate 101 and a lower substrate 102. For example, before the voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 103 are arranged almost perpendicular to the substrate, and then, when the voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 103 are inclined as shown in FIG. Then, by further applying a voltage, the liquid crystal molecules 103 move in a direction different from the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules 103 first move, as shown in FIG. When the liquid crystal molecules respond in such two different directions, the characteristics of the liquid crystal element are improved. For example, the polarizing plate 104 and the polarizing plate 105 are arranged as indicated by arrows with the transmission axis 106 and the transmission axis 107, respectively. In the state of FIG. 1A, when light is incident from above or below, no light is transmitted at all because the transmission axes of the polarizing plates are orthogonal. 1B, the liquid crystal molecules 103 are inclined parallel to the transmission axis 106 of the polarizing plate 104, so that no light is transmitted at all. Next, when the state shown in FIG. 1C is reached, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged at approximately 45 degrees with respect to the polarizing plate 104, so that light can be transmitted by setting an appropriate liquid crystal layer thickness. The difference from the conventional TN and VA modes is that the liquid crystal molecules move in the plane of the substrate to control transmission and blocking of light. That is, since the switching is performed in the plane as in the IPS mode, a wide viewing angle characteristic can be obtained.
[0014]
Regarding the contrast, in order to tilt the liquid crystal molecules 103 from the state shown in FIG. 1A to the state shown in FIG. 1B, the direction of the transmission axis 106 is usually determined by rubbing or the like in the initial state (FIG. 1A). Must be slightly tilted. Here, in the VA liquid crystal mode, which is a conventional method, the transmission axis of the polarizing plate is arranged at 45 degrees with respect to the tilt direction, so that even at the time of black display, there is slight light leakage, which causes a decrease in contrast. However, in the present invention, since the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules 103 are tilted and the direction of the transmission axis 106 of the polarizing plate 104 are parallel to each other, no light is modulated by the liquid crystal molecules, and the light is generated only by the polarizing plate 104 and the polarizing plate 105. Light blocking equivalent to light blocking (black display) is obtained, and very high contrast is obtained. The directions in which the movements of the liquid crystal molecules of the present invention change are not limited to two directions, but may be any two or more directions. Also, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules move does not change stepwise, but may change smoothly from the direction 1 to the direction 2 or may move in an arc shape. However, moving in a stepwise manner is more excellent as an element characteristic.
[0015]
Next, the case where the liquid crystal molecules are aligned parallel to the substrate when no voltage is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates liquid crystal molecules 203 having a positive dielectric anisotropy sandwiched between an upper substrate 201 and a lower substrate 202. For example, before the voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 203 are arranged almost in parallel to the substrate, and thereafter, when the voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 203 rise and become as shown in FIG. Further, by further applying a voltage, the liquid crystal molecules 203 move in a direction different from the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules 203 first move and in an in-plane direction parallel to the substrate surface, as shown in FIG. 2C. When the liquid crystal molecules respond in such two different directions, the characteristics of the liquid crystal element are improved. For example, the polarizing plate 204 and the polarizing plate 205 are arranged as indicated by arrows with the transmission axis 206 and the transmission axis 207, respectively. In the state shown in FIG. 2A, when light is incident from above or below, the transmission axes of the polarizing plates are orthogonal to each other, and the liquid crystal molecules are inclined at 45 degrees with respect to the transmission axis 206. When set, the light passes completely. In the state shown in FIG. 2B, the liquid crystal molecules 203 are arranged almost vertically with a slight inclination remaining, so that only a small amount of light passes. Next, when the state shown in FIG. 2C is reached, the liquid crystal molecules are parallel to the transmission axis 206 of the polarizing plate 204, so that light is completely blocked. The difference from the conventional TN mode is that in a state where light is blocked (black display), complete liquid light blocking can be achieved and high contrast can be obtained because all liquid crystal molecules are arranged parallel to the direction of the transmission axis of the polarizing plate. Is to be done. The directions in which the movements of the liquid crystal molecules of the present invention change are not limited to two directions, but may be any two or more directions. Also, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules move does not change stepwise, but may change smoothly from the direction 1 to the direction 2 or may move in an arc shape.
[0016]
In order to enable the response of liquid crystal molecules in two or more directions, information for controlling the orientation of the liquid crystal in two or more directions is given to at least one of two substrates of the liquid crystal panel. Can be achieved. At this time, orientation information in two or more directions may be given to both substrates, or only one of them may be given. However, giving orientation information to both substrates is better because orientation stability is increased.
[0017]
For example, consider a case where both substrates provide orientation information in two directions. For example, a liquid crystal material has a negative dielectric anisotropy. First, a photosensitive resin is applied on the electrodes of a substrate having two electrodes at a thickness of 100 to 5 μm and patterned using a photomask having a strip-like stripe pattern with a pitch of 0.1 μm to 5 μm. At this time, the ratio between the band-shaped light-shielding region and the exposure region does not necessarily have to be 1: 1. Even if the pattern is not completely removed in a band shape, for example, if the resist is a positive resist, the exposed portion of the resist may remain. In addition, as a method of forming the unevenness, a belt-shaped patterning may be performed by using two-beam interference of a laser by using a photosensitive resin. Further, a laser beam or laser ablation may be used. Furthermore, instead of using a photosensitive resin, another material such as an inorganic material, an organic material, or an electrode itself may be formed into a film, and physical contact such as stretching, scratching, or rubbing may be applied to form unevenness in one direction. Further, in the manner of printing, an uneven substance may be formed on another substrate or roller and then transferred.
[0018]
In the case where the substance forming the unevenness 302 on the electrode 301 is an insulator, a conductive layer 303 is provided further above the unevenness 302 formed on the electrode 301 as shown in FIG. And the conductive layer 303 are connected to each other with a conductive substance 304, which is more preferable because a burn-in phenomenon due to an electrode-like insulator and an increase in driving voltage can be avoided.
[0019]
The unevenness 401 and the substrate 403 having the electrode 402 formed in this manner and the substrate 406 having the unevenness 404 and the electrode 405 formed by the same method are respectively prepared, and the substrates 403 and 406 are each provided with a vertically oriented alignment film. Apply. The substrate 403 is rubbed in the direction of arrow 407, and the substrate 406 is rubbed in the direction of arrow 408. As shown in FIG. 4, two substrates are arranged, a liquid crystal cell is assembled by a usual method, liquid crystal 409 having a negative dielectric anisotropy is injected, and polarizing plates 410 and 411 have transmission axes 412 and 413, respectively. And complete the liquid crystal cell. This liquid crystal cell has two pieces of orientation information in the direction of the unevenness of the substrate and in the direction of the rubbing. FIG. 4A shows the orientation of the liquid crystal when no voltage is applied. The liquid crystal molecules are in contact with the substrate surface at the end of the long axis, and the orientation information received by the liquid crystal molecules 409 is orientation information called rubbing, which is slightly inclined in the rubbing direction. At this time, even if light is transmitted from above or below, the liquid crystal molecules are completely blocked because they are inclined in the transmission axis direction of the polarizing plate. Next, when a voltage is applied between the electrodes 402 and 405, the liquid crystal molecules 409 are further inclined in the rubbing direction, as shown in FIG. At this time, the light is still blocked. When a voltage is further applied, the long axis side surface of the liquid crystal molecules comes into contact with the substrate surface, and the liquid crystal molecules 409 receive the orientation information of the substrate shape, and as shown in FIG. Turn in the direction of. At this time, since the liquid crystal molecules are arranged so as to form an angle of 45 degrees with the transmission axis directions 412 and 413 of the polarizing plates 410 and 411, the incident light is transmitted by being modulated by the liquid crystal molecules.
[0020]
As described above, since the direction of the liquid crystal molecules is changed in two steps, the contrast is very high, and the viewing angle characteristic is very good because the light is transmitted and cut off by the movement of the liquid crystal molecules in the substrate surface. In this example, the step 1 in which the liquid crystal molecules are tilted in the vertical direction and the step 2 in which the liquid crystal molecules are turned in the plane are performed in a stepwise manner. Stage 1 and stage 2 may occur without distinction. Further, in this example, the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned by applying a vertical alignment film on both substrate surfaces. However, an alignment film for horizontal alignment may be applied to one substrate to drive as a hybrid type.
[0021]
As a driving method, the switching of light is performed by using a threshold voltage portion at which the liquid crystal molecules start to tilt in the transmission axis direction of the polarizing plate, and further using a voltage exceeding the voltage and at which the liquid crystal molecules start to change the angle in the plane. Best to do. This is because the higher the voltage, the higher the response speed of the liquid crystal. Therefore, switching only in a high voltage region can use a region that responds faster.
[0022]
Next, the case where a liquid crystal material having a positive dielectric anisotropy is used will be considered. For example, as the orientation information in two directions, unevenness and rubbing of the substrate similar to the above-described example are used. The same method is used until the unevenness is formed on the substrate. The substrate 503 having the unevenness 501 and the electrode 505 formed in the same manner as the substrate 503 having the unevenness 501 and the electrode 502 formed as described above is prepared, and both the substrates 503 and 506 have a horizontal alignment film ( (TN alignment film). The substrate 503 is rubbed in the direction of arrow 507, and the substrate 506 is rubbed in the direction of arrow 508. As shown in FIG. 5, two substrates are arranged, a liquid crystal cell is assembled by a normal method, liquid crystal 509 having a positive dielectric anisotropy is injected, and polarizing plates 510 and 511 have transmission axes of 512 and 513, respectively. And complete the liquid crystal cell. This liquid crystal cell has two pieces of orientation information in the direction of the unevenness of the substrate and in the direction of the rubbing. FIG. 5A shows the orientation of the liquid crystal when no voltage is applied. The major axis of the liquid crystal molecules is in contact with the substrate surface and is governed by the rubbing direction of the horizontal alignment film having a very strong alignment regulating force, and the liquid crystal molecules 509 are oriented almost horizontally (0 ° to 10 °) in the rubbing direction. are doing. At this time, when light is transmitted from above or below, the liquid crystal molecules are completely transmitted because they are inclined by 45 ° with respect to the transmission axis direction of the polarizing plate. Next, when a voltage is applied between the electrodes 502 and 505, the liquid crystal molecules 509 rise as shown in FIG. 5B while still tilting in the rubbing direction (the substrate surface and the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules are formed). Angle increases). As the angle increases, light is increasingly blocked. When a voltage is further applied, the interaction between the liquid crystal molecules 509 and the rubbing is reduced, and the liquid crystal molecules 509 receive the orientation information of the substrate shape, and as shown in FIG. Change. At this time, since the liquid crystal molecules are arranged in parallel to the transmission axis directions 512 and 513 of the polarizing plates 510 and 511, the incident light is completely shielded without any modulation by the liquid crystal molecules. In this way, the direction of the liquid crystal molecules is changed in two stages, and in a state where light is blocked, almost all the liquid crystal molecules are arranged in the transmission axis direction of the polarizing plate, so that a very high contrast can be obtained. In this example, the step 1 in which the liquid crystal molecules are tilted in the vertical direction and the step 2 in which the liquid crystal molecules are turned in the plane are performed in a stepwise manner. Stage 1 and stage 2 may occur without distinction. Also, in this example, the liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned by applying a horizontal alignment film on both substrate surfaces. However, an alignment film for vertical alignment may be applied to one of the substrates to drive as a hybrid type. As described above, the liquid crystal element exhibits extremely high characteristics regardless of whether the dielectric anisotropy is negative or positive. As the orientation information in two or more directions, not only the unevenness and rubbing of the substrate shown as an example, but also polarized or unpolarized ultraviolet irradiation or ultraviolet oblique irradiation may be used. In addition, a method of generating an oblique electric field in the liquid crystal layer by providing a portion having no electrode on the electrode surface and a method of generating a diagonal electric field by forming a third electrode in addition to the respective electrodes of the two substrates and generating the oblique electric field. The molecule may respond in two steps.
[0023]
Further, the alignment information in two or more directions may be the same, for example, rubbing and rubbing, but different ones, for example, unevenness of the substrate and irradiation with ultraviolet light can easily form a difference in alignment regulating force. It is better because the movement to 2 easily occurs.
[0024]
Further, the liquid crystal material may be a liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization.
[0025]
Further, as for the unevenness of the substrate, the unevenness 601 does not need to be in a band shape as shown in FIG. 6A, and may be divided in the middle as shown in FIG. 6B.
[0026]
The viewing angle may be further improved if one of the orientation information, in particular, the orientation information that determines the orientation of the liquid crystal in a state of transmitting light is divided in two or four directions in the plane.
[0027]
The case of division in two directions will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic view from the top of the liquid crystal cell, showing a substrate 701, unevenness 702, liquid crystal molecules 703 having negative dielectric anisotropy, a rubbing direction 704, a transmission axis 705 of a first polarizing plate, and a second polarizing plate. Only the transmission axis 706 is shown. Two polarizing plates are arranged vertically above and below the liquid crystal cell. The alignment film is coated with an alignment film for vertical alignment, and in a state where no voltage is applied (FIG. 7A), the liquid crystal molecules are aligned almost perpendicular to the substrate surface (paper surface). Next, when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are inclined in the rubbing direction as shown in FIG. When a voltage is further applied, the liquid crystal molecules rearrange along the irregularities of the substrate as shown in FIG. At this time, since the unevenness of the substrate has a zigzag structure (divided in two directions), the liquid crystal molecules are directed in directions different by 90 ° for each minute area. By arranging in this way, light is transmitted and the viewing angle is widened, and the symmetry is increased.
[0028]
The liquid crystal element of the present invention may be of a reflective type or a transmissive type, and can be used not only as a direct-view monitor or a television using a polarizing plate, but also as a display element such as a projector using an optical element such as a polarizing beam splitter. Further, it can be used as an optical switching element utilizing transmission and blocking of light and reflection and blocking.
[0029]
Although the liquid crystal element of the present invention is very excellent in viewing angle, the characteristics are further improved by using a retardation film, a scattering plate or the like.
[0030]
(Embodiment)
(1) As shown in FIG. 8, indium tin oxide (hereinafter referred to as ITO) is formed as a transparent conductive film 802 by a sputtering method on a glass substrate 801 (12 mm × 17 mm × 1.1 mm) which has been optically polished. Thereafter, a positive resist was applied to a thickness of 1 μm, and a photolithography was performed to form a striped resist pattern 803 having a pitch of 1 μm. After heat treatment at 150 ° C. for 30 minutes for curing, a vertical alignment film was applied at 200 ° C., cured at 200 ° C., and rubbed with a cotton cloth in the direction of 45 ° with respect to the unevenness.
[0031]
(2) The same thing is manufactured by the same method, and as shown in FIG. 8B, the 3 μm beads 807 are included so that the direction of the pitch of the unevenness is parallel and the direction of the rubbing is antiparallel. The sealing resin 808 was used for bonding. A liquid crystal material 809 having a dielectric anisotropy of -4.1 and a birefringence of 0.12 was injected under vacuum.
[0032]
(3) A polarizing plate was arranged above and below the cell, and the contrast was measured. As a result, a contrast of 3000: 1 was obtained. When the viewing angle characteristics were measured, a contrast of 10: 1 was obtained in the vertical and horizontal directions and at 160 ° or more.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a liquid crystal element having a high contrast, a wide viewing angle, and a high-speed response can be manufactured by causing liquid crystal molecules to respond stepwise in two or more directions by applying a voltage, and a conventional TN, VA, or IPA mode can be manufactured. It is an excellent solution to all problems.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view of a liquid crystal element according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual perspective view of a liquid crystal element according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a liquid crystal element according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a conceptual perspective view of a liquid crystal element according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a conceptual perspective view of a liquid crystal element according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a conceptual perspective view of a liquid crystal element according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a conceptual perspective view of a liquid crystal element according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a liquid crystal element according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Conceptual cross-sectional view of [Description of symbols]
101 substrate 102 substrate 103 liquid crystal molecules 104 polarizing plate 105 polarizing plate 106 transmission axis 107 transmission axis 201 substrate 202 substrate 203 liquid crystal molecules 204 polarizing plate 205 polarizing plate 206 transmission axis 207 transmission axis 301 electrode 302 unevenness 303 conductive layer 304 conductive material 401 Unevenness 402 Electrode 403 Substrate 404 Unevenness 405 Electrode 406 Substrate 407 Rubbing direction 408 Rubbing direction 409 Liquid crystal 410 Polarizing plate 411 Polarizing plate 412 Transmission axis 413 Transmission axis 501 Liquid crystal 510 Polarizing plate 511 Polarizing plate 512 Transmission axis 513 Transmission axis 601 Roughness 701 Substrate 702 Roughness 703 Liquid crystal molecule 704 Rubbing direction 705 Transmission axis 706 Transmission axis 801 Glass substrate 802 Transmission Resist pattern 807 3 [mu] m bead 808 sealing resin 809 liquid crystal material of the resist pattern 804 glass substrate 805 transparent conductive film 806 irregularities of the conductive film 803 irregularities

Claims (5)

A pair of upper and lower substrates, liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of upper and lower substrates, and a pair of polarized light disposed outside the pair of upper and lower substrates. A liquid crystal element comprising a plate and
The liquid crystal molecules are
When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are inclined in a first direction such that the transmission axis of one of the pair of polarizing plates and the direction of the liquid crystal molecules are parallel to each other,
A liquid crystal element, wherein, when a voltage is further applied, the liquid crystal element moves in a second direction different from the first direction in a direction in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate. A liquid crystal element including a pair of upper and lower substrates and liquid crystal molecules having a positive dielectric anisotropy, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of upper and lower substrates,
The liquid crystal molecules are
When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a first direction such that an angle between the surface of the substrate and a major axis of the liquid crystal molecules increases,
A liquid crystal element, wherein, when a voltage is further applied, the liquid crystal element moves in a second direction different from the first direction in a direction in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate. The liquid crystal element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal molecules move in an arc from the first direction to the second direction. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate surface is provided with irregularities. The liquid crystal device according to claim 4, wherein a rubbing treatment is applied to the substrate.

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