Patent ID: 7489381
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: G02B,G02F,G11B

Abstract:
1. A liquid-crystal optical element comprising: a first transparent substrate; a second transparent substrate which is located opposite the first transparent substrate with a gap left between the first and second transparent substrates; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first and second transparent substrates; a plurality of wiring electrodes located in a position at a first height above the first transparent substrate; a first group of segment electrodes located in a position at a second height greater than the first height above the first transparent substrate; a second group of segment electrodes located in a position at a third height greater than the second height above the first transparent substrate; and contact electrodes which connect, in their contact portions, the individual segment electrodes belonging to the first and second segment electrode groups and the wiring electrodes corresponding thereto, wherein each of the first and second segment electrode groups is formed of a plurality of concentrically arranged ring-shaped segment electrodes such that one segment electrode belonging to the first segment electrode group adjoins one segment electrode belonging to the second segment electrode group, and the contact electrodes are distributed over the first transparent substrate without being concentrated on one straight line when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the planes of the transparent substrates.