Optical axis deflecting element, the optical path deflecting element, the optical axis deflection method, the optical path deflecting method, the optical axis deflection device, an optical path deflecting apparatus, image display apparatus

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical axis deflection element which is constructed so as to provide an optical axis deflection effect similar to the conventional one even when an applied voltage value is set to be one-half or lower of the conventional value and with which electrostatic discharge and a noise is prevented and a power source is downsized.;SOLUTION: The optical axis deflection element 10 includes a pair of transparent substrates 11, 12, a liquid crystal layer 15 filled between the pair of substrates and forming a homeotropic aligned chiral smectic C phase, and at least electrodes 16a, 16b arranged on both end sides of the liquid crystal layer 15 and generating an electric field in a direction parallel to the substrate surface (hereafter denoted as the parallel electric field), wherein the inside of the effective region between the electrodes is divided into a plurality of regions (1), (2) and one or more split electrodes 17 are disposed so as to apply the parallel electric field to the individual regions independently.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI