Liquid crystal optical element and image device

An image device, comprising:

• a liquid crystal optical element including
• a first substrate unit including
• a first substrate having a first major surface,
• a plurality of first electrodes provided on the first major surface to extend along a first direction, and
• a second electrode provided between two most proximal first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes on the first major surface to extend along the first direction, the second electrode being asymmetric with respect to a central axis, the central axis being parallel to the first direction to pass through a midpoint of a line segment connecting a center in a second direction of one electrode of the two most proximal first electrodes to a center in the second direction of the other electrode of the most proximal first electrodes, the second direction being parallel to the first major surface and perpendicular to the first direction,
• a second substrate unit including
• a second substrate having a second major surface opposing the first major surface, and
• an opposing electrode provided on the second major surface to oppose the first electrodes and the second electrode, and
• a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate unit and the second substrate unit, and having a first portion on the first substrate unit side and a second portion on the second substrate unit side, a liquid crystal in the first portion having a vertical alignment, a liquid crystal in the second portion having a horizontal alignment along the second direction;
• and
• an image unit disposed to overlap the liquid crystal optical element, the image unit including a pixel.