JP4863403B2 - Liquid crystal optical device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal optical device having a simple structure and capable of realizing a large and thin lens capable of changing a focal length with a low voltage with good reproducibility.

  Liquid crystals that have liquid-like fluidity and anisotropy in electro-optical characteristics have the feature that the effective refractive index can be continuously varied from a value for almost extraordinary light to a value for ordinary light by applying a voltage. By using this feature, a variable focus lens has been proposed (Patent Document 1 shown later). This variable focus lens has a structure in which a glass substrate with a transparent electrode is curved and the liquid crystal layer itself is shaped like a lens. By applying a voltage between the electrodes, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled, and the effective refractive index. It is a lens that changes

  Next, there is a nematic liquid crystal cell that utilizes the property that liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the direction of an electric field. This is because a liquid crystal lens having a spatial parabolic refractive index distribution characteristic is obtained by using an electrode having a circular hole pattern and utilizing a liquid crystal molecular alignment effect due to an axially symmetric non-uniform electric field. It has been reported as a method to obtain (Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3).

  In Patent Document 4, characteristics are improved by forming a network polymer network in the liquid crystal. In a lens using such a liquid crystal, it is relatively easy to form a microlens array in which a large number of microlenses called a microlens are two-dimensionally arranged in a flat plate shape.

  In the liquid crystal microlens structure proposed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, when the diameter of the electrode opening is increased and the lens opening diameter is increased in a state where the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is constant, the axially symmetric non-uniform electric field is obtained. Is not generated up to the vicinity of the center of the opening, and there is a problem that lens characteristics cannot be obtained. As a method of increasing the effective aperture diameter, there is a liquid crystal lens having a structure in which a transparent high resistance film is attached to the opening of the electrode and an electric field is generated up to the center using the potential distribution on the surface of the high resistance film. It has been proposed (Patent Document 5, Non-Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a structure similar to the liquid crystal microlens proposed in Patent Documents 2, 3, and 4 is arranged such that an electrode having an opening is placed at a certain distance from the liquid crystal layer without contacting the liquid crystal layer. Thus, even if the diameter of the opening of the electrode is increased, an axially symmetric non-uniform electric field can be generated up to the vicinity of the center of the opening. Based on this principle, a method has been proposed in which an insulating layer is inserted between a liquid crystal layer and a circular hole pattern electrode to maintain the distance from the liquid crystal layer to the circular hole electrode (Patent Document). 6, Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3), there is a condition that the ratio of the diameter of the circular hole pattern and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer for obtaining the best characteristics in the liquid crystal microlens needs to be about 2: 1 to 3: 1. It has been shown that liquid crystal lenses that are relaxed and have a large diameter can be constructed.

  On the other hand, in a liquid crystal lens in which an insulating layer is inserted between a liquid crystal layer and a circular hole pattern electrode, a transparent third electrode is disposed outside the circular hole pattern electrode and driven by two voltages. There has been reported a liquid crystal lens in which the focal length can be varied over a wide range from a concave lens characteristic to a convex lens characteristic while maintaining such characteristics (Patent Document 7).

  Unlike ordinary passive optical devices, these liquid crystal optical devices apply a voltage across the electrodes to variably control the effective refractive index of the liquid crystal, which is a medium. A lens capable of adjusting the aberration is realized.

  The above-described liquid crystal microlens utilizing the spatial alignment distribution characteristics of the liquid crystal molecules due to the axisymmetric non-uniform electric field generated by the circular hole pattern electrode cannot obtain a lens having a diameter of the opening larger than about millimeters. There was a problem above. As proposed in Patent Document 5, in the method of providing a high resistance film so as to be in contact with the liquid crystal layer through the alignment film in the opening, a parabolic refractive index distribution based on the alignment distribution of liquid crystal molecules is obtained. As a result, it is extremely difficult to set the potential distribution to an optimum state, and it is difficult to obtain good lens characteristics.

  Furthermore, in the structure in which an insulating layer is provided in order to set the distance between the liquid crystal layer and the circular hole pattern electrode proposed in Patent Documents 6 and 7, the insulating layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the electrode For this reason, there is a problem that the driving voltage becomes high, and in particular, in order to obtain a lens having a large aperture, it is difficult to obtain a lens having a large aperture because the thickness of the insulating layer is further increased and a high voltage is required. There is a problem that the thickness of the entire liquid crystal lens cannot be reduced due to the thickness of the insulating layer.

  In order to solve this problem, the effective thickness of the transparent high resistance layer is reduced by providing a high resistance liquid layer as a transparent high resistance layer in the transparent insulating layer and relaying the potential distribution. A method for reducing the driving voltage is reported in Non-Patent Document 4.

  However, when a transparent high resistance layer is inserted into the transparent insulating layer, the circular hole pattern electrode and the transparent high resistance layer are dielectrically coupled via the insulating layer, so that the potential of the transparent high resistance layer is increased. Therefore, there is a problem that the reproducibility and operation are often unstable due to the influence of the peripheral part. Furthermore, since the molecular alignment effect due to the non-uniform electric field is limited to a part of the liquid crystal layer, there is a problem that the effective variable range of the refractive index in the liquid crystal layer, that is, the variable range of the focus cannot be widened.

JP 54-151854 A JP-A-11-109303 JP-A-11-109304 JP-A-10-239676 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-29001 JP 2004-4616 A JP 2005-115266 A F. Naumov, M. Yu. Loktev, I. R. Guralnik, and G. Vdovin, Liquid crystal adaptive lenses with modal control, Opt. Lett., Vol. 23, pp 992-994, (1998) Proceedings of the 49th Applied Physics-related Joint Lecture Meeting, “M.Ye and S. Sato”, “Optical properties of liquid crystal lens of any size” , March 2002, 28p-X-10, P.M. 1277 M. Ye and S. Sato, “Optical properties of liquid crystal lens of any size”, Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, May 2002, Vol. 41, No.5, P.L571-L573 Hashige, Wang Xun, Susumu Sato: Research on low-voltage driving method of liquid crystal lens, 2007 Proceedings of the Japanese Liquid Crystal Society Annual Meeting, September 2007, 2pC01

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal optical device that solves the above problems, can be stably driven at a low voltage, and has a large aperture while maintaining good optical characteristics. It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal optical device that uses a liquid crystal layer efficiently and is a large lens, has good reproducibility and can greatly change the focal length at a low voltage.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention basically includes a first substrate having a transparent first electrode, a second electrode having a hole, and the first substrate and the second electrode. Between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer, and a liquid crystal layer that is accommodated so as to face the first electrode and that aligns liquid crystal molecules in one direction. Unlike the above, a transparent insulating layer that sets a distance between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer is disposed, and a third electrode is disposed with respect to the second electrode through an insulating layer, A first voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second voltage independent of the first voltage is applied to the third electrode. A liquid crystal optical device that can perform orientation control and has a transparent high-resistance layer disposed in the transparent insulating layer,
A conductive layer located in the same center as the hole of the second electrode and having a hole having a size equal to or larger than the hole of the second electrode is integrated with the transparent high resistance layer. The layer is arranged with a space from the liquid crystal layer and the second and third electrodes,
Means for fixing either the first voltage or the second voltage value;
While fixing either one of the first voltage or the second voltage value and adjusting the other to obtain the first stage optical characteristics that maximize the lens power, as the second stage optical characteristics, Means for operating as a convex lens by varying the second voltage with respect to the first voltage, or operating as a concave lens by varying the first voltage with respect to the second voltage. ,
Optical characteristics can be variably controlled without applying a voltage to the transparent high resistance layer.

  Furthermore, the fourth electrode has a hole that faces the conductive layer or the liquid crystal layer disposed in the transparent high resistance layer, is located at the same center as the hole of the second electrode, and has a size larger than the hole of the second electrode. An optical characteristic can be variably controlled by applying a third voltage from the outside to the electrode and changing the third voltage.

  By the above means, it is possible to realize a large and thin lens having a simple structure and capable of being stably driven with a low voltage with good reproducibility. In addition, the focal length can be changed with a low voltage even though it is a large lens. The focal length can be greatly varied by electrical control with a low voltage without the conventional mechanical movement of the lens.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, the basic configuration will be described.

  FIG. 1A shows a basic configuration of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a plan view of the second electrode 22 having the hole 22-1 shown in FIG. 1A and the third electrode 23 arranged in the hole 22-1. FIG. The third electrode 23 is electrically insulated from the second electrode 22 by the slit 50, and an electrode extraction portion 23-1 is attached so that a voltage can be applied from the outside. In addition, the conductive layer 115 having the hole 115-1 positioned at the same center as the hole 22-1 of the second electrode 22 and having a size larger than the hole 22-1 of the second electrode 22, and the hole 115 thereof. -1 is indicated by a broken line. The first substrate 111 has a transparent first electrode 21. On the other hand, 22 is the second electrode having the hole 22-1 described above. Between the first substrate 111 and the second electrode 22, there is a liquid crystal layer 31 that is accommodated so as to face the first electrode 21 and aligns liquid crystal molecules in one direction.

  Here, unlike the alignment film portion, the transparent insulating layer 112 that sets the distance between the second electrode 22 and the liquid crystal layer 31 is disposed between the second electrode 22 and the liquid crystal layer 31. . Then, the voltage V1 can be applied between the first and second electrodes 21 and 22 to control the alignment of liquid crystal molecules. Therefore, the lens function can be turned on / off by turning on / off the voltage V1.

  In particular, in this device, a transparent high resistance layer 114 is disposed in the transparent insulating layer 112. For this reason, dielectric coupling occurs between the second electrode 22 (circular pattern electrode) having the hole 22-1 and the liquid crystal layer 31 through the high resistance layer 114, and the liquid crystal without such a transparent high resistance layer. Compared with the lens, the device of the present invention can reduce the operating voltage to a low voltage of about 10 volts.

  The above-described configuration is a basic idea for increasing the diameter of the lens. Next, a device having a focal length variable function in addition to the above lens function will be described.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the device includes a first substrate 111 having a transparent first electrode 21, a second electrode 22 having a hole 22-1, and the first electrode 21 and the first electrode 21. Between the two electrodes 22, there is provided a liquid crystal layer 31 accommodated so as to face the first electrode 21 and aligns liquid crystal molecules in one direction. And, unlike the alignment film portion, between the second electrode 22 and the liquid crystal layer 31, there is a transparent insulating layer 112 that sets the distance between the second electrode 22 and the liquid crystal layer 31. Be placed.

  Here, the voltage V1 can be applied between the first and second electrodes 21 and 22 to control the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules, and the transparent third electrically insulated from the second electrode 22 can be controlled. The third electrode 23 is arranged, and a second voltage V2 independent of the first voltage V1 can be applied to the third electrode 23. A liquid crystal optical device is obtained that can obtain the first stage optical characteristics based on the first voltage V1 and the second stage optical characteristics based on the second voltage V2.

  According to this liquid crystal optical device, functions as a convex lens and a concave lens can be obtained, and a transparent high resistance layer 114 is disposed in the transparent insulating layer 112 to obtain a large lens.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 111 denotes a first substrate (transparent glass having a thickness of 300 μm), and an indium / tin oxide transparent conductive material (ITO material) is formed as the first electrode 21 on the inner surface side. . The second electrode 22 and the transparent third electrode 23 that is electrically insulated from the second electrode 22 are both made of an ITO material, and the second electrode 22 has a hole 22-1. The diameter was 6 mm.

  Here, a liquid crystal layer 31 (for example, 75 μm thick) that is accommodated between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 so as to face the first electrode 21 and aligns liquid crystal molecules in one direction is enclosed. Has been. As the liquid crystal material, nematic liquid crystal E44 (manufactured by Merck) was used. Although not shown, there is a spacer for obtaining the liquid crystal layer 31 having a thickness of 75 μm.

  Further, the transparent insulating layer 112 disposed between the second electrode 22 and the liquid crystal layer 31 specifically includes a transparent glass plate 113 (for example, a thickness of 300 μm), 116 (for example, a thickness of 300 μm), The transparent high resistance layer 114 (for example, thickness of 1 μm) sandwiched between the glass plates 113 and 116 and a conductive layer 115 (for example, thickness of aluminum of 0.2 μm) having a hole 115-1. The configuration of this part is a characteristic configuration of the liquid crystal device. Moreover, the optimal voltage value of voltage V1 or V2 changes by changing the thickness of each glass plate.

  Although this transparent insulating layer 112 is used even when it does not have the conductive layer 115 because it is a new configuration, it is not limited to this name as its name, a transparent insulator having a transparent high resistance layer, Or names such as a transparent insulator having an electric field relay layer or a transparent insulator having a dielectric coupling function are possible. Even in the case of having a conductive layer, this name is used for convenience.

As the transparent high resistance layer 114, a resin-based conductive film having a thickness of about 1 μm was used. Sheet resistance of the conductive film of the resin system used in this example was 50MΩ ^{/ m 2} ~200MΩ ^/ m 2 approximately. Other inorganic thin films, for example, transparent thin films such as ITO, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, zinc sulfide, or a mixed system of these materials to which silicon having a resistance value set to an optimum value can be used. When an inorganic thin film is used for the resistance layer 114, there is an advantage that the structure becomes simpler, stable and has a longer life.

  Note that the surface of the substrate sandwiching the liquid crystal layer is coated with polyimide as an alignment film. Moreover, it is rubbed in one direction.

  As the conductive layer 115, an aluminum thin film manufactured by vacuum deposition was used. The conductive layer 115 is centered on the same center as the hole 22-1 of the second electrode 22, and has a hole 115-1 having a size larger than the hole 22-1 of the second electrode 22 (for example, a diameter of 9 mm). ) Is formed.

  Here, a case where the above-described liquid crystal optical device functions as a liquid crystal lens will be described. First, the first voltage V <b> 1 is applied between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22. When the first voltage V1 is applied, the second voltage V2 is initially set to 0 volts, and the first voltage V1 is set to an optimum value.

  The voltage V1 is supplied from the first voltage supply unit. Here, a voltage value is set so as to obtain an optical characteristic that is the best as a convex lens or has a maximum lens power (this characteristic will be referred to as an optical characteristic of the first stage). Next, the second voltage V2 is applied between the first electrode 21 and the third electrode 23 independently of the first voltage V1. The second voltage V2 is supplied from the second voltage supply unit. By varying the second voltage V2, the optical characteristic of the lens (referred to as the second stage optical characteristic) can be controlled. The voltages V1 and V2 are set to have the same frequency and phase.

  In the above description, an example in which the liquid crystal lens functions as a convex lens has been described. However, in the present invention, the liquid crystal lens can be easily functioned as a concave lens. In this case, a constant AC voltage V <b> 2 ′ is applied between the first electrode 21 and the third electrode 23 from the third voltage supply unit. A voltage V1 ′ is applied between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 from the fourth voltage supply unit. Here, the voltage V1 ′ can be variably controlled. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

  The device may further include a switch. Then, it is possible to switch between a first state in which the first and second voltage supply units are selected by a switch and a second state in which the third and fourth voltage supply units are selected. In the first state, the liquid crystal lens functions as a convex lens, and in the second state, the liquid crystal lens functions as a concave lens.

  According to the present invention, the optical characteristics of the second stage are from the state where the focal length is very close to the infinite (or infinite) state, that is, the reciprocal of the lens given by the focal length expressed in meters. The power (unit is diopter: 1 / m) is variable. By setting the voltage V2 ′ to a high value and changing the value of the voltage V1 ′, the focal length becomes a negative value, that is, a concave lens state. Similarly, the power of the lens can be variously changed by a negative value. For this reason, the variable range of the focal length is widened, which is practical and allows various paths.

A liquid crystal optical device having a diameter of 6 mm was prepared with the sheet resistance value of the high resistance layer 114 inserted into the insulating layer 112 being 57 MΩ / m ² . As a first state in which the liquid crystal optical device operates as a convex lens, a fixed voltage (for example, 30 kHz) V1 = 30 V is applied between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22, and is applied to the third electrode 23. When the voltage V2 is varied to 10V, 15V, 20V, and 25V, the lens power is expressed by diopter (D), and the lens power is 1.6D, 1.3D, and 0.9D corresponding to each V2 value. , 0.4D. That is, since the gradient of the refractive index of light becomes small and the focal length becomes long, the lens power that is the reciprocal of the focal length becomes small.

  As a second state in which the liquid crystal optical device operates as a concave lens, a fixed voltage V2 ′ = 20V is applied between the first electrode 21 and the third electrode 23, and the voltage V1 ′ applied to the second electrode 22 is applied. Was varied to 10V, 13V, and 17V, the lens powers changed to -0.8D, -0.5D, and -0.2D corresponding to the respective values of V1 '. That is, since the gradient of the refractive index of light is reduced, the focal length as a concave lens is increased, and the absolute value of the lens power, which is the reciprocal of the focal length, is reduced.

  By changing the voltage, the power of the lens can be changed from negative to positive. However, one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above configuration. In the configuration shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the diameter of the circular pattern, that is, the diameter of the liquid crystal optical device is 6 mm, the liquid crystal layer and the circular pattern electrode are formed when the transparent high resistance layer 112 is not used. A thickness of the insulating layer that separates the electrodes is required to be about 2 mm, and a driving voltage becomes a high voltage of 100 volts or more, so that a special power source is required.

  However, according to the present invention, since the high resistance layer 114 is inserted into the insulating layer 112, the high resistance layer 114 is mediated between the circular pattern electrode and the liquid crystal layer 31 so that dielectric coupling occurs. A liquid crystal lens having a diameter of 6 mm can be driven by a low voltage of about 30 volts. Further, since the conductive layer 115 having the circular hole 115-1 is provided in the high resistance layer 114, stable characteristics can be obtained without the dielectric coupling being affected by the shape of the element or the outside. In addition, the device could be manufactured with good reproducibility.

  In this embodiment, the thickness of the insulating layer 112 is 600 μm, which is the sum of the thicknesses of the two glass plates by the glass plates 113 and 116 each having a thickness of 300 μm. However, by using a thinner glass plate, the thickness can be further reduced. It can be driven by voltage.

  Furthermore, since the circular pattern, that is, the diameter of the optical device, the resistance value of the high resistance layer 114 inserted into the insulating layer 112, and the thickness of the glass substrate disposed above and below the high resistance layer 114 are also related to the driving voltage. It can be changed and set as appropriate.

  In FIG. 1, only one liquid crystal layer is used. However, by dividing the liquid crystal layer into a plurality of layers, the effective thickness is reduced to improve response characteristics, and the alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules are orthogonal to each other. By arranging in such a manner, a liquid crystal optical device compatible with natural light that does not depend on the polarization component can be configured.

  As another embodiment, the conductive layer 115 can be used as the fourth electrode, and a third voltage can be applied from the outside to control the refractive index distribution of the liquid crystal. By making the diameter of the conductive layer 115 larger than the diameter of the hole of the second electrode 22, the effective diameter of the lens can be enlarged.

  Furthermore, another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 2A is a basic configuration showing this embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a plan view showing the relationship between the electrodes 22 and 23 and the fourth electrode provided on the liquid crystal layer side. The structure of the electrode in this embodiment is a structure in which an electrode structure in a liquid crystal microlens proposed in Patent Documents 2 and 3 and an electrode having a hole is provided through an insulating layer proposed in Patent Documents 6 and 7. By utilizing the features of the above, the diameter can be increased while maintaining the lens power, and the thickness and voltage are reduced.

  In this embodiment, the conductive layer 115 disposed on the transparent high resistance layer 114 in the configuration of FIG. 1 is moved to the liquid crystal layer 31 side to be used as the fourth electrode 115 ′. That is, as in the configuration of the liquid crystal optical device shown in FIG. 1, a third electrode 23 insulated from the second electrode 22 is disposed, and the first voltage V1 is applied to the third electrode. An independent second voltage V2 can be applied, and the liquid crystal layer 31 is faced and the center is located at the same center as the hole 22-1 of the second electrode 22, and the second electrode 22 A fourth electrode 115 ′ having a hole 115′-1 having a size larger than the hole 22-1 is disposed, and the fourth electrode 115 ′ has a first electrode independent of the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2. By applying the voltage V3 of 3, the characteristics of the liquid crystal optical device can be controlled. Here, if the diameter of the hole 115′-1 of the fourth electrode 115 ′ is the same as the diameter of the hole 22-1 provided in the second electrode 22, electrostatic discharge by the fourth electrode 115 ′. Since the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer 31 is weakened due to the shielding effect, predetermined characteristics cannot be obtained. Therefore, it is necessary to set the size of the hole 115 ′-1 provided in the fourth electrode 115 ′ larger than the size of the hole 22-1 of the second electrode 22. Furthermore, the diameter of the hole 115 ′-1 provided in the fourth electrode 115 ′ can be appropriately set in relation to the thickness of the insulating layer in addition to the diameter of the hole 22-1 of the second electrode 22.

  A liquid crystal optical device in which the diameter of the hole 22-1 provided in the second electrode 22 was 6 mm and the diameter of the hole 115'-1 of the fourth electrode 115 'was 8 mm was configured. Other dimensions and the like are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. The liquid crystal optical device with this electrode structure has the same power as a liquid crystal lens, and the effective aperture can be expanded to about 8 mm. As a result, the utilization efficiency of the liquid crystal layer is higher than that of the conventional structure (about 40%). It became possible to improve to more than 70%.

  Furthermore, the resistance value of the transparent high resistance layer can be set to the same value as that of the insulating layer, that is, the liquid crystal optical device can be operated without the transparent high resistance layer. In this case, low voltage driving cannot be performed because the dielectric coupling effect by the high resistance layer does not work, but the thickness of the two glass plates 113 and 116 constituting the insulating layer 112 and the conductive layer, that is, the fourth electrode By appropriately adjusting the diameter of the provided hole and controlling the third voltage applied to the fourth electrode, a lens having a larger aperture than the hole provided in the second electrode can be configured. It is also possible to configure an optical device having a complicated refractive index distribution by adjusting the voltage applied to the electrode.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the transparent high resistance layer 114 can be provided with the conductive layer 115 having the holes 115-1 as in the configuration of FIG. In this case, a stable liquid crystal optical device with good reproducibility can be configured.

  Moreover, by setting the resistance value of the high resistance layer as appropriate, one or both of the two glass plates 113 and 116 constituting the insulating layer 112 are formed into a very thin thin film having a thickness of several μm or less. Since only the polyimide film used as the alignment film can be used as the alignment film 113, a thin optical device in which the effective thickness of the liquid crystal optical device is further reduced can be configured.

  In this embodiment, the high resistance layer 114 disposed in the transparent insulating layer 112 is one layer, but not only one layer but also a plurality of layers may be provided.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment. Further, although one liquid crystal lens is shown, a configuration in which a plurality of liquid crystal lenses are arranged may be used. Further, it may be a two-dimensional array such as a compound eye.

  The optical element of the present invention can be used in various applications such as an autofocus lens, a magnifying lens, a zoom lens, and a lens for an imaging unit used as a visual function in a robot.

FIG. 1A is a configuration explanatory view showing an embodiment of a liquid crystal optical device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of an electrode 22 in FIG. FIG. 2A is a configuration explanatory view showing an embodiment of a liquid crystal optical device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a plan view of an electrode 22 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 ... 1st board | substrate, 112 ... Insulating layer, 113 ... Glass plate, 114 ... High resistance layer, 115 ... Conductive layer, 116 ... Glass plate, 21 ... 1st DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 electrode, 22 ... 2nd electrode, 23 ... 3rd electrode, 115 '... 4th electrode, 31 ... Liquid crystal layer, 50 ... Slit.

Claims (4)

A first substrate having a transparent first electrode, a second electrode having a hole, and a space between the first substrate and the second electrode so as to face the first electrode. In addition, a liquid crystal layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules in one direction is provided, and the distance between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer is different between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer, unlike the alignment film portion. A transparent insulating layer that sets a first voltage between the first and second electrodes, the third electrode being disposed with respect to the second electrode through an insulating layer. In addition, the second electrode independent of the first voltage can be applied to the third electrode to control the alignment of liquid crystal molecules, and the transparent insulating layer is transparent. It is a liquid crystal optical device with a high resistance layer,
A conductive layer located in the same center as the hole of the second electrode and having a hole having a size equal to or larger than the hole of the second electrode is integrated with the transparent high resistance layer. The layer is arranged with a space from the liquid crystal layer and the second and third electrodes,
Means for fixing either the first voltage or the second voltage value;
While fixing either one of the first voltage or the second voltage value and adjusting the other to obtain the first stage optical characteristics that maximize the lens power, as the second stage optical characteristics, Means for operating as a convex lens by varying the second voltage with respect to the first voltage, or operating as a concave lens by varying the first voltage with respect to the second voltage. ,
A liquid crystal optical device capable of variably controlling optical characteristics without applying a voltage to the transparent high resistance layer . 2. The liquid crystal optical device according to claim 1, wherein the third electrode is disposed in the hole of the second electrode at an interval . 3. A first substrate having a transparent first electrode, a second electrode having a hole, and a space between the first substrate and the second electrode so as to face the first electrode. In addition, a liquid crystal layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules in one direction is provided, and the distance between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer is different between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer, unlike the alignment film portion. A transparent insulating layer for setting the liquid crystal molecules, and controlling the orientation of liquid crystal molecules by applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes. In a liquid crystal optical device in which layers are arranged,
A third electrode insulated from the second electrode is disposed, and a second voltage independent of the first voltage can be applied to the third electrode. A resistance layer is disposed at a distance from the liquid crystal layer and the second and third electrodes, and further faces the liquid crystal layer and is located at the same center as the hole of the second electrode. A fourth electrode having a hole with a size larger than that of the first electrode, and a third voltage independent of the first voltage and the second voltage can be applied to the fourth electrode. A liquid crystal optical device characterized by the above . 4. The liquid crystal optical device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent high resistance layer has an area resistance value of 100 Ω / m ² or more .

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