Display device producing display by changing shape of refractive index ellipsoid of medium by applying electric field to medium

A display element, comprising:

• a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent;
• a medium between the substrates, wherein optical anisotropy magnitude of the medium is changeable by and according to an electric field applied thereon;
• at least one pair of electrodes for applying, on the medium, the electric field substantially parallel to the substrates;
• a shielding electrode overlapping at least a display portion of at least one of the substrates, and used for shielding the display element from static electricity, and
• wherein the medium is optically isotropic when no field is applied thereon, and becomes optically anisotropic when the field is applied thereon.

A display device comprising:

• a display element comprising:
• a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent;
• a medium between the substrates, wherein optical anisotropy magnitude of the medium is changeable by and according to an electric field applied thereon;
• at least one electrode pair on a principal plane of one of the substrates, the at least one electrode pair including a first and a second electrodes for applying, on the medium, the electric field substantially parallel to the one of the substrates;
• a third electrode provided on an other principal plane of the substrates than the principal plane on which the at least one electrode pair is provided, and
• wherein the medium is optically isotropic when no field is applied thereon, and becomes optically anisotropic when the field is applied thereon.

A display device comprising:

• a display element including:
• a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent;
• a medium between the substrates, wherein optical anisotropy magnitude of the medium is changeable by and according to an electric field applied thereon;
• at least one pair of electrodes for applying, on the medium, the electric field substantially parallel to the substrates;
• and
• a shielding electrode overlapping at least a display portion of at least one of the substrates, and used for shielding the display element from static electricity, and wherein the medium is optically isotropic when no field is applied thereon, and becomes optically anisotropic when the field is applied thereon.