| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a time period required for a state transition of a liquid crystal layer in a liquid crystal element using a transition between two alignment states.SOLUTION: The liquid crystal element includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, an electrode to impart to the liquid crystal layer a first electric field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface and a second electric field substantially parallel to the substrate surface, and a drive circuit to supply a drive voltage to the electrode. Directions of an alignment process applied to the first substrate and the second substrate are set to induce a first alignment state where liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are twisted in a first direction; and the liquid crystal layer contains a chiral material that induces a second alignment state where the liquid crystal molecules are twisted in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A drive voltage supplied from the drive circuit first imparts the first electric field to the liquid crystal layer and then imparts the second electric field. The liquid crystal layer transmits from the first alignment state to the second alignment state by application of the first electric field and the second electric field. |
