Gradient index liquid crystal optical device and image display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9423623-B2
Application number	US-201313905694-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2013
Priority date	Nov 30, 2010
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a device includes first and second substrate units, a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate unit includes a first substrate, first and second electrodes, an extraction electrode, and a dielectric material layer. The second substrate unit includes a second substrate and a third electrode. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the first and second substrates. The first electrodes are provided on the first substrate to extend in a first direction. The second electrodes are provided on the first substrate and extend along the first direction. The extraction electrode is for electrically connecting the second electrodes. The third electrode is provided on the second substrate to extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gradient index liquid crystal optical device comprising:
a first substrate unit including:
a first substrate;
a plurality of first electrodes provided on the first substrate to extend in a first direction;
a plurality of electrode sets arranged in the first direction, each of the electrode sets being not electrically connected to each other, each of the electrode sets including:
a plurality of second electrodes provided on the first substrate and extending along the first direction, each of the second electrodes being arranged between the first electrodes when each of the second electrodes is projected onto a plane parallel to the first substrate, each of the second electrodes being arranged along a second direction intersecting the first direction; and
an extraction electrode for electrically connecting the second electrodes, the extraction electrode being provided on the first substrate to extend in a third direction intersecting the first direction, wherein a portion of the extraction electrode which is formed between the second electrodes electrically connects the second electrodes; and

a layer which insulates the first electrodes from the second electrodes,

a second substrate unit including:
a second substrate; and
a third electrode provided on the second substrate to extend in the second direction, and

a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate,
wherein one of the first electrodes intersects with at least two of the extraction electrodes.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrodes are electrically connected to form a group.

3. The device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a first voltage supply unit configured to supply a same first voltage to the extraction electrode, and the third electrode opposing the extraction electrode; and
a second voltage supply unit connected to the group of the first electrodes and configured to supply a second voltage.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the extraction electrode is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the first electrodes and the second electrodes are formed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrodes and the second electrodes are alternately repetitively arranged along the third direction.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrodes comprise a portion extending along the first direction, and a bent portion.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the extraction electrode comprises a portion inclining with respect to the third direction.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the extraction electrode is electrically connected to the third electrode formed to oppose the second electrodes connected to the extraction electrode.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the third electrode is formed to oppose the extraction electrode.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer, a long-axis direction of liquid crystal molecules is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Takagi Ayako
• Uehara Shinichi
• Saishu Tatsuo

Classifications

• G02F1/29

  for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection · CPC title

• G02B30/27 Primary

  involving lenticular arrays · CPC title

• G02F1/134363 Primary

  for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS] · CPC title

• G02B27/2214 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G02F2001/134381

  Physics · mapped topic