IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,249,224
Granted Patent B2
US 11,249,224 · App. 16/938,883 · Granted Feb 15, 2022

Liquid crystal element, deflection element, and eyeglasses

Inventors: Giichi Shibuya (Suita, JP); Hiroyuki Yoshida (Suita, JP); Masanori Ozaki (Suita, JP)
Assignee: OSAKA UNIVERSITY
G02B3/08G02B3/10G02C7/00G02C7/041G02F1/13G02F1/133G02F1/137G02F1/1343G02F1/1347G02F1/133345G02F1/29G02F1/294G02F2201/122
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,249,224
App. No.
16/938,883
Granted
Feb 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid crystal element ( 100 ) refracts and outputs light. The liquid crystal element ( 100 ) includes a first electrode ( 1 ), a second electrode ( 2 ), an insulating layer ( 21 ) that is an electric insulator, a resistance layer ( 22 ), a liquid crystal layer ( 23 ) including liquid crystal, and a third electrode ( 3 ). The insulating layer ( 21 ) is disposed between each location of the first and second electrodes ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) and the resistance layer ( 22 ) to insulate the first and second electrodes ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) from the resistance layer ( 22 ). The resistance layer ( 22 ) has an electrical resistivity higher than that of the first electrode ( 1 ) and lower than that of the insulating layer ( 21 ). The resistance layer ( 22 ) and the liquid crystal layer ( 23 ) are disposed between the insulating layer ( 21 ) and the third electrode ( 3 ). The resistance layer ( 22 ) is disposed between the insulating layer ( 21 ) and the liquid crystal layer ( 23 ). The insulating layer ( 21 ) has a thickness (ts) smaller than a thickness (th) of the resistance layer ( 22 ).

Claims (38)

1. A liquid crystal element that refracts and outputs light, comprising:

a core electrode;

a center electrode surrounding the core electrode;

a unit electrode including a first electrode and a second electrode and surrounding the center electrode;

an insulating layer that is an electric insulator;

a resistance layer;

a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal; and

a third electrode, wherein

the insulating layer

is disposed between each location of the core electrode and the center electrode and the resistance layer to insulate the core electrode and the center electrode from the resistance layer, and

is disposed between each location of the first electrode and the second electrode and the resistance layer to insulate the first electrode and the second electrode from the resistance layer,

the resistance layer has an electrical resistivity that is higher than an electrical resistivity of the core electrode and lower than an electrical resistivity of the insulating layer,

the resistance layer and the liquid crystal layer are disposed between the insulating layer and the third electrode,

the resistance layer is disposed between the insulating layer and the liquid crystal layer, and

a distance from a center of gravity of the core electrode to an outer edge of the core electrode is larger than a width of the center electrode, a width of the first electrode, or a width of the second electrode.

2. The liquid crystal element according to claim 1 , wherein

the core electrode has a discoid shape,

the center electrode has a ring shape, and

the core electrode has a radius that is equal to or larger than ⅕ of a radius of the center electrode.

3. The liquid crystal element according to claim 1 , wherein

a first voltage is applied to the first electrode,

a second voltage is applied to the second electrode,

a core voltage is applied to the core electrode,

a center voltage is applied to the center electrode,

a frequency of the core voltage differs from a frequency of the first voltage and a frequency of the second voltage, and

a frequency of the center voltage differs from the frequency of the first voltage and the frequency of the second voltage.

4. The liquid crystal element according to claim 1 , wherein

in the unit electrode, a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is larger than a width of the first electrode and larger than a width of the second electrode.

5. A deflection element that deflects and outputs light, comprising:

two liquid crystal elements each according to claim 1 , wherein

in one liquid crystal element of the two liquid crystal elements, the first electrode and the second electrode each extend in a first direction,

in the other liquid crystal element of the two liquid crystal elements, the first electrode and the second electrode each extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and

the one liquid crystal element and the other liquid crystal element are overlaid one on the other.

6. Eyeglasses comprising:

the liquid crystal element according to claim 1 ;

a controller configured to control a first voltage applied to the first electrode and a second voltage applied to the second electrode; and

a pair of temple members, wherein

the liquid crystal element refracts and outputs the light.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2020
From: SHIBUYA, GIICHI; YOSHIDA, HIROYUKI; OZAKI, MASANORI
To: OSAKA UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 053311/0584 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-144430 · Jul 22, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 16318803
Related Publication 20200355853A1 · Nov 12, 2020