Patent ID: 7633563

Claim:
An optical element comprising: a container having a holding chamber; a polarized or conductive and transparent first liquid filled in the holding chamber; a liquid crystal filled in the holding chamber and not mutually mixing with the first liquid; first and second electrodes applying an electric field to the first liquid; and voltage application means for applying voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the change of the position subject to the voltage application by the voltage application means to the first and second electrodes moves the first liquid in the liquid crystal within the holding chamber; the liquid crystal contains a guest-host liquid crystal; the holding chamber partially has an adjustment chamber through which light passes and a lay-by chamber in the remaining part; the adjustment chamber and the lay-by chamber have first and second end walls facing against each other in the direction that light passes through; the first electrode is provided on one end wall of the first and second end walls of the adjustment chamber and lay-by chamber; the second electrode is provided on the other end wall of the first and second end walls; and the second electrode has a first electrode member facing the adjustment chamber and a second electrode member being separated from the first electrode member and facing the lay-by chamber.