Display apparatus and variable lens array

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a display unit that displays a two-dimensional image; and

a variable lens array disposed to face the display unit,

wherein the variable lens array includes a first substrate having a transparent first common electrode that has a plate shape and is formed on a surface of the first substrate, a second substrate having a transparent second common electrode that has a plate shape and is formed on a surface of the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first common electrode and the second common electrode and forming liquid crystal lens columns,

the liquid crystal layer is processed in such a way that liquid crystal molecules are oriented such that each of the liquid crystal lens columns produces refracting power in a state in which no potential difference is present between the first common electrode and the second common electrode, and

a voltage applied between the first common electrode and the second common electrode controls the refracting power of each of the liquid crystal lens columns,

wherein a wall-shaped or pole-shaped spacer is disposed in a central portion of each of the liquid crystal lens columns.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein to nullify the refracting power of each of the liquid crystal lens columns, a voltage is applied between the first common electrode and the second common electrode in such a way that the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are oriented in a fixed direction.

3. The display apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein an orientation film is formed on at least one of a surface of the first substrate that faces the liquid crystal layer and a surface of the second substrate that faces the liquid crystal layer, and the orientation film orients the liquid crystal molecules in such a way that each of the liquid crystal lens columns produces refracting power in the state in which no potential difference is present between the first common electrode and the second common electrode.

4. The display apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein peripheries of the first and second substrates of the variable lens array are sealed by a sealer, and

a gap is present between each end of the wall-shaped or pole-shaped spacers and the sealer.

5. A variable lens array comprising:

a first substrate having a transparent first common electrode that has a plate shape and is formed on a surface of the first substrate;

a second substrate having a transparent second common electrode that has a plate shape and is formed on a surface of the second substrate; and

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first common electrode and the second common electrode,

wherein the liquid crystal layer is processed in such a way that liquid crystal molecules are oriented such that each liquid crystal lens column produces refracting power in a state in which no voltage is applied between the first common electrode and the second common electrode, and

a voltage applied between the first common electrode and the second common electrode controls the refracting power of each of the liquid crystal lens columns,

wherein a wall-shaped or pole-shaped spacer is disposed in a central portion of each of the liquid crystal lens columns.