Abstract: A mutant carotenoidogenic bacterium, comprising any of genes (a)-(c) below: (a) a gene encoding a protein comprising a mutant amino acid sequence in which at least the 225th amino acid residue in the amino acid sequence of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase of a carotenoidogenic bacterium has been substituted with other amino acid residue; (b) a gene encoding a protein comprising a mutant amino acid sequence in which at least the 305th amino acid residue in the amino acid sequence of decaprenyl diphosphate synthase of a carotenoidogenic bacterium has been substituted with other amino acid residue; and (c) both of the genes (a) and (b) above.

Abstract: A mutant carotenoidogenic bacterium, comprising any of genes (a)-(c) below: (a) a gene encoding a protein comprising a mutant amino acid sequence in which at least the 225th amino acid residue in the amino acid sequence of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase of a carotenoidogenic bacterium has been substituted with other amino acid residue; (b) a gene encoding a protein comprising a mutant amino acid sequence in which at least the 305th amino acid residue in the amino acid sequence of decaprenyl diphosphate synthase of a carotenoidogenic bacterium has been substituted with other amino acid residue; and (c) both of the genes (a) and (b) above.

Abstract: An illumination unit includes a light modulation layer including a first region and a second region that have optical anisotropy and different responsiveness to an electric field. The light modulation layer satisfies an expression A/B<A1/B1 when the light modulation layer exhibits the scattering characteristics.

Abstract: An illumination unit includes: a light modulation layer disposed in a gap between a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate, and exhibiting a scattering property or transparency with respect to light from a light source, depending on magnitude of an electric field; and an electrode generating an electric field in the light modulation layer, when a voltage is applied thereto, in which the light modulation layer generates a plurality of strip-like illumination light beams extending in a direction intersecting with a first end surface of the first or second transparent substrate with use of light from the light source, when an electric field for a three-dimensional display mode is applied from the electrode to the light modulation layer, and a light emission area per unit area of each of the strip-like illumination light beams varies with a distance from the light source.

Abstract: A display unit is provided including: a display panel having a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged; a first polarization plate and a second polarization plate that face each other with the display panel in between; and an illumination device configured to illuminate the display panel through the first polarization plate. The illumination device includes a light modulation layer provided in a clearance between first and second transparent substrates, the light modulation layer being configured to exhibit scattering property or transparency of the light from the light source depending on a magnitude of an electric field. The light modulation layer includes a first portion having optical anisotropy, and relatively high responsiveness to the electric field, and a second portion having optical anisotropy, and relatively low responsiveness to the electric field.

Abstract: An illumination unit capable of obtaining high luminance and a display apparatus including it are provided. The illumination unit includes an illumination optical system generating the illumination light, and a lens sheet narrowing a divergence angle of the illumination light. The illumination optical system includes a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate that are separated from each other and are arranged to face each other, and a light source applying light to an end face of the first transparent substrate or of the second transparent substrate. The illumination optical system is provided in a gap between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, and includes a light modulation layer exhibiting scattering characteristics or transparent characteristics with respect to the light from the light source in accordance with a magnitude of an electric field.

Abstract: Provided is an edge light illumination device, in which a light modulation layer includes: a first region having optical anisotropy and a relatively high responsiveness to an electrical field; and a second region having optical anisotropy and a relatively low responsiveness to the electrical field. When denoting dispersal, the light modulation layer satisfies the formulae A>B>C and A1/C1<A2/C2.

Abstract: There are provided an illumination unit capable of reducing formation of a double image in three-dimensional display and a display unit including the same. An illumination optical system configured to generate linear illumination light formed by two-dimensionally arranging a plurality of linear illumination light beams or a plurality of point-like illumination light beams, and a reflective plate configured to reflect the linear illumination light are included. The reflective plate reflects the linear illumination light to or close to a plane passing through a part that generates the linear illumination light and being perpendicular to a plane including the reflective plate.

Abstract: A light modulation layer disposed between a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate generates a plurality of first strip-like illumination light beams extending in a direction intersecting with a first end surface of the first or second transparent substrate at a first angle with use of light from a light source, when an electric field for a first mode is applied from an electrode to the light modulation layer. The light modulation layer generates a plurality of second strip-like illumination light beams extending in a direction intersecting with the first end surface at an angle different from the first angle or a direction parallel to the first end surface with use of light from the light source, when an electric field for a second mode is applied from the electrode to the light modulation layer.

Abstract: An illumination device capable of suppressing formation of a double image in three-dimensional display, and a display unit including the illumination device are provided. In a light modulation device bonded to a light guide plate, a scattering region that scatters light propagating within the light guide plate, and a transmissive region that allows light propagating within the light guide plate to pass therethrough are formed through control of an electric field. The scattering region scatters light to generate linear illumination light. A reflector is provided directly below the light modulation device. The reflector reflects light, which is part of the scattered light generated in the scattering region and is emitted to a reflector side, to generate reflected light to be focused directly below the scattering region.

Abstract: Provided is an edge light illumination device, in which a light modulation layer includes: a first region having optical anisotropy and a relatively high responsiveness to an electrical field; and a second region having optical anisotropy and a relatively low responsiveness to the electrical field. When denoting dispersal, the light modulation layer satisfies the formulae A>B>C and A1/C1<A2/C2.

Abstract: An illumination unit capable of obtaining high luminance and a display apparatus including it are provided. The illumination unit includes an illumination optical system generating the illumination light, and a lens sheet narrowing a divergence angle of the illumination light. The illumination optical system includes a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate that are separated from each other and are arranged to face each other, and a light source applying light to an end face of the first transparent substrate or of the second transparent substrate. The illumination optical system is provided in a gap between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, and includes a light modulation layer exhibiting scattering characteristics or transparent characteristics with respect to the light from the light source in accordance with a magnitude of an electric field.

Abstract: There are provided an illumination unit capable of reducing formation of a double image in three-dimensional display and a display unit including the same. An illumination optical system configured to generate linear illumination light formed by two-dimensionally arranging a plurality of linear illumination light beams or a plurality of point-like illumination light beams, and a reflective plate configured to reflect the linear illumination light are included. The reflective plate reflects the linear illumination light to or close to a plane passing through a part that generates the linear illumination light and being perpendicular to a plane including the reflective plate.

Abstract: A retardation element includes an alignment film and a retardation layer in contact with a surface of the alignment film, and the retardation layer is formed by applying a paint containing a liquid crystal monomer and a non-liquid crystal monomer on the surface of the alignment film and then polymerizing the paint while the liquid crystal monomer is placed in an alignment state.

Abstract: An illumination device capable of suppressing formation of a double image in three-dimensional display, and a display unit including the illumination device are provided. In a light modulation device bonded to a light guide plate, a scattering region that scatters light propagating within the light guide plate, and a transmissive region that allows light propagating within the light guide plate to pass therethrough are formed through control of an electric field. The scattering region scatters light to generate linear illumination light. A reflector is provided directly below the light modulation device. The reflector reflects light, which is part of the scattered light generated in the scattering region and is emitted to a reflector side, to generate reflected light to be focused directly below the scattering region.

Abstract: Provided is a display unit capable of improving both display luminance and display quality in three-dimensional display. A light modulation layer containing a bulk and microparticles is provided in a light modulation device (30) that is bonded to a light guide plate (10). The bulk and the microparticle each have optical anisotropy, and have respective response speeds to the electric field, that are different from each other. When the electric field is applied to the light modulation layer, an optical axis (AX1) of the bulk and an optical axis (AX2) of the microparticle are orthogonal to each other in a light modulation cell (30-1, 30-2). At this time, the optical axis (AX1) of the bulk is parallel to a transmission axis (AX10) of a polarization plate (210B) on a backlight side.

Abstract: An illumination unit includes a light modulation layer including a first region and a second region that have optical anisotropy and different responsiveness to an electric field. The light modulation layer satisfies an expression A/B<A1/B1 when the light modulation layer exhibits the scattering characteristics.

Abstract: A lighting device includes: a light guide plate; a light source disposed on a side face of the light guide plate; and a light modulation element disposed on a surface or in the inside of the light guide plate and adhered to the light guide plate. The light modulation element has a pair of transparent substrates disposed separately and oppositely, a pair of electrodes provided on respective surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates, and a light modulation layer provided in a gap between the pair of transparent substrates. The light modulation layer includes a first region, having optical anisotropy, responsive to an electric field, and a second region, having optical anisotropy, unresponsive to an electric field. The second region has a striped structure with average striped texture size of 0.05 ?m to 10 ?m both inclusive in a short axis direction.

Abstract: An illumination device is provided and has a light guide plate, a light source and a light modulator, wherein the light modulator has a pair of transparent substrates a pair of electrodes and a light modulator layer. The light modulator layer includes a first region being changed between a transparent state and a scatterable state depending on intensity of an electric field, and a second region being more transparent than the first region in a scatterable state at an electric field having a certain intensity, the electric field being applied when the first region is changed between the transparent state and the scatterable state, and an occupancy rate of the first region in the light modulator layer is increased with increase in distance from the light source.

Abstract: An illuminating device capable of improving display luminance while decreasing light leakage in a range with a large view angle and a display unit are provided. In a light modulation device bonded to a light guide plate, a light modulation layer containing a bulk and microparticles is provided. Both the bulk and the microparticles have optical anisotropy, and each response speed to an electric field is different from each other. Thereby, by controlling the electric field, each optical axis orientation of the bulk and the microparticles is able to correspond with each other, or is able to be different from each other.