| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal optical element surely functioning as a diffraction element, and an optical pickup device using such a liquid crystal optical element. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal optical element 45 includes a transparent electrode 100 arranged on one of a pair of transparent substrates and having a concentrically disposed band-shaped diffraction pattern, a liquid crystal panel 30 having a transparent counter electrode 32 arranged on the other of the pair of transparent substrates, and a driving part 40 for generating a potential difference distribution in a liquid crystal layer by generating a potential difference between the transparent electrode and the transparent counter electrode and causing the liquid crystal panel to function as a diffraction element for diffracting a transmitted optical beam. The driving part divides the diffraction pattern into a plurality of areas 101, 102, 103 and 104 to adjust potential differences V1, V2, V3 and V4 generated between the transparent electrode and the transparent counter electrode in each area. The optical pickup device 10 includes such a liquid crystal optical element. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT |
