Patent ID: 8675148

Claim:
A gradient index liquid crystal optical apparatus comprising: a first substrate having a first face; a second substrate having a second face opposed to the first face; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of first electrodes provided on the first face of the first substrate, and arranged along a first direction; a plurality of second electrodes provided on the first face of the first substrate to correspond to the first electrodes, the plurality of second electrodes being arranged along the first direction; a plurality of third electrodes provided on the first face of the first substrate and arranged along the first direction; a fourth electrode provided on the second face of the second substrate; and a drive unit configured to apply a first voltage between the first electrodes and the fourth electrode, apply a second voltage between the second electrodes and the fourth electrode, and apply a third voltage between the third electrodes and the fourth electrode, wherein a first electrode pair, including a first one of the first electrodes and a first one of the second electrodes corresponding to the first one of the first electrodes, is disposed on a first side of a first one of the third electrodes; and a second electrode pair, including a second one of the first electrodes and a second one of the second electrodes corresponding to the second one of the first electrodes, is disposed on an opposite side of the first side of the first one of the third electrodes; in the first electrode pair viewed from the second substrate, a center of the first one of the second electrodes of the first electrode pair in a section along the first direction is located near the first one of the third electrodes as compared with a center of the first one of the first electrodes of the first electrode pair; a center of the second one of the second electrodes of the second electrode pair in the section along the first direction is located near the first one of the third electrodes as compared with a center of the second one of the first electrodes of the second electrode pair viewed from the second substrate; and the drive unit applies the second voltage smaller than the first and third voltages, to the second electrodes of the first and second electrode pairs located between the third electrodes, a distance between the third electrodes being a lens pitch.