Abstract: In a method of producing an optical film including: a rubbing treatment step of rubbing a surface of a long plastic film F by a rubbing roll 4 on which a raised fabric is wound; an applying step of applying liquid crystalline molecules on the surface of the film after the rubbing treatment step; and a fixing step of fixing the applied liquid crystalline molecules, in which in the rubbing treatment step, the film is conveyed while being supported by a conveyance belt 3 having a metal surface, and a backup roll mechanism 5 that supports a bottom face of the conveyance belt is provided. The backup roll mechanism has a plurality of backup rolls 51 each rotating along the conveyance direction of the conveyance belt, and each backup roll is disposed directly below the rubbing roll, along a straight line that is approximately parallel with a rotation axis of the rubbing roll.

Abstract: A polarizing plate with optical compensation layers that performs a wide viewing angle compensation with respect to a liquid crystal cell, allows circularly polarized light to be obtained over a wide range of light wavelengths, contributes to the reduction in thickness, prevents thermal irregularity from occurring, and can effectively prevent light leakage from occurring in a black display. The polarizing plate includes a polarizer, a first optical compensation layer, and a second optical compensation layer that are stacked together in this order. The first optical compensation layer is formed of a liquid crystal compound and has a relationship of nx>ny=nz and an in-plane retardation Re1 of 100 to 170 nm. The second optical compensation layer has a relationship of nx=ny>nz and a thickness direction retardation Rth2 of 30 to 400 nm. The angle formed between the absorption axis of the polarizer and the slow axis of the first optical compensation layer is in the range of “plus” or “minus” 25 to 65 degrees.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing an optical film having excellent durability and capable of contributing to reduction in thickness, preventing uneven heating, and favorably preventing light leak in black display. The method of producing an optical film includes the steps of: applying an application liquid containing a liquid crystal material to an alignment substrate; forming a first optical compensation layer on a substrate surface by aligning the liquid crystal material; transferring the first optical compensation layer to a surface of a transparent protective film; laminating a polarizer on the surface of the transparent protective film; and forming a second optical compensation layer on a surface of the first optical compensation layer. The polarizer and the first optical compensation layer are arranged on opposite sides through the transparent protective film.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical film capable of contributing to reduction in thickness, preventing uneven heating, and favorably preventing light leak in black display, and an image display apparatus using such an optical film. An optical film of the present invention includes a polarizer, a first optical compensation layer having a refractive index profile of nx>ny=nz, and a second optical compensation layer having a refractive index profile of nx>ny>nz in the stated order. In the optical film, an angle formed between an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the first optical compensation layer is +17° to +27° or ?17° to ?27°, an angle formed between the absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the second optical compensation layer is +85° to +95°, and an Nz coefficient of the second optical compensation layer is 1.2?Nz?2.

Abstract: To provide a method of producing a broadband and wide viewing angle elliptically polarizing plate having excellent properties in an oblique direction, the elliptically polarizing plate, and an image display apparatus.

Abstract: To provide a method of producing a liquid crystal panel capable of easily realizing stable high contrast of the liquid crystal panel to be obtained at low cost, a liquid crystal panel, and an image display apparatus.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing an optical film, the method comprising a rubbing treatment step of rubbing the surface of a lengthy plastic film F with a rubbing roll 4 obtained by winding a raised fabric 4a, an application step of applying a liquid crystalline molecule to the surface of the plastic film processed through said rubbing treatment step and a fixing step of fixing said applied liquid crystalline molecule. In the rubbing treatment step, the lengthy plastic film is supported and conveyed by a conveyer belt 3 having a metal surface, and plural backup rolls 5 which support the underside of the conveyer belt supporting the plastic film are disposed opposite to said rubbing roll, to set a rubbing strength RS defined by the following equation (1) to 2600 mm or more (more preferably 3400 mm or more).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing an elliptically polarizing plate including the steps of: forming a first birefringent layer on a surface of a transparent protective film; laminating a polarizer on a surface of the transparent protective film; forming a second birefringent layer on a surface of the first birefringent layer; and forming a third birefringent layer on a surface of the second birefringent layer. The first birefringent layer is arranged on the opposite side against the polarizer with respect to the transparent protective film. The step of forming the first birefringent layer includes the steps of: applying a liquid crystal material onto a substrate subjected to an alignment treatment; treating the applied liquid crystal material, so as to form the first birefringent layer on the substrate; and transferring the first birefringent layer onto a surface of the transparent protective film.

Abstract: Provided is a very thin elliptically polarizing plate having broadband and wide viewing angle, a simple method of producing the same, and an image display apparatus using the elliptically polarizing plate. An elliptically polarizing plate of the present invention includes a polarizer, a protective layer formed on one side of the polarizer, a first birefringent layer serving as a ?/2 plate, and a second birefringent layer serving as a ?/4 plate in the stated order. In the plate, an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the first birefringent layer form an angle ? of one of 10° to 20° and ?10° to ?20°, and the absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the second birefringent layer form an angle ? of one of 65° to 85° and 5° to 25°.

Abstract: An obliquely oriented liquid crystal layer and an obliquely oriented film is provided by performing a rubbing treatment on a homeotropically orienting substrate and, after the rubbing treatment, applying a liquid crystal coating solution containing at least one of a homeotropically orienting liquid crystal composition and a photopolymerizable liquid crystal composition on the homeotropically orienting substrate.

Abstract: A polarizing plate with optical compensation layers that performs a wide viewing angle compensation with respect to a liquid crystal cell, allows circularly polarized light to be obtained over a wide range of light wavelengths, contributes to the reduction in thickness, prevents thermal irregularity from occurring, and can effectively prevent light leakage from occurring in a black display. The polarizing plate includes a polarizer, a first optical compensation layer, and a second optical compensation layer that are stacked together in this order. The first optical compensation layer is formed of a liquid crystal compound and has a relationship of nx>ny=nz and an in-plane retardation Re1 of 100 to 170 nm. The second optical compensation layer has a relationship of nx=ny>nz and a thickness direction retardation Rth2 of 30 to 400 nm. The angle formed between the absorption axis of the polarizer and the slow axis of the first optical compensation layer is in the range of “plus” or “minus” 25 to 65 degrees.

Abstract: An optical compensation layer-attached polarizing plate of the invention comprises a polarizing plate, an optical compensation layer (1) and another optical compensation layer (2) that are laminated in this order, wherein the optical compensation layer (1) has the relation nx1>ny1=nz1, comprises a resin with a photoelastic coefficient absolute value of at most 2.0×10?11 m2/N, and has an in-plane retardation (nx1?ny1)d1 in the range of 200 nm to 300 nm, the optical compensation layer (2) has the relation nx2>ny2>nz2, comprises a resin with a photoelastic coefficient absolute value of at most 2.0×10?11 m2/N, and has an in-plane retardation (nx2?ny2)d2 in the range of 90 nm to 160 nm, a slow axis of the optical compensation layer (1) makes an angle of 10° to 30° with an absorption axis of the polarizing plate, and a slow axis of the optical compensation layer (2) makes an angle of 75° to 95° with the absorption axis of the polarizing plate.

Abstract: To provide: a very thin elliptically polarizing plate having broadband and wide viewing angle; a simple method of producing the same; and an image display apparatus employing the elliptically polarizing plate. The elliptically polarizing plate of the present invention includes a polarizer, a protective layer formed on one side of the polarizer, a first birefringent layer serving as a ?/2 plate, and a second birefringent layer serving as a ?/4 plate. In the elliptically polarizing plate, the first birefringent layer and the second birefringent layer are each formed by using a liquid crystal material. Preferably, the first birefringent layer has a thickness of 0.5 to 5 ?m and the second birefringent layer has a thickness of 0.3 to 3 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a method of producing a broadband and wide viewing angle elliptically polarizing plate having excellent characteristics in an oblique direction as well; and an image display using the elliptically polarizing plate obtained through the method.

Abstract: An obliquely oriented liquid crystal layer and an obliquely oriented film is provided by performing a rubbing treatment on a homeotropically orienting substrate and, after the rubbing treatment, applying a liquid crystal coating solution containing at least one of a homeotropically orienting liquid crystal composition and a photopolymerizable liquid crystal composition on the homeotropically orienting substrate.

Abstract: A retardation plate characterized by being obtained by laminating a homeotropic liquid-crystal film formed from a homeotropic liquid-crystal polymer of the side chain type or from a homeotropic liquid-crystalline composition comprising the side chain type liquid-crystal polymer and a photopolymerizable liquid-crystal compound to a stretched film having a retardation function. In the retardation plate, the retardation in the thickness direction can be regulated to a value in a wide range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing an elliptically polarizing plate including the steps of: forming a first birefringent layer on a surface of a transparent protective film; laminating a polarizer on a surface of the transparent protective film; forming a second birefringent layer on a surface of the first birefringent layer; and forming a third birefringent layer on a surface of the second birefringent layer. The first birefringent layer is arranged on the opposite side against the polarizer with respect to the transparent protective film. The step of forming the first birefringent layer includes the steps of: applying a liquid crystal material onto a substrate subjected to an alignment treatment; treating the applied liquid crystal material, so as to form the first birefringent layer on the substrate; and transferring the first birefringent layer onto a surface of the transparent protective film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polarizing member constituted by, at least, a cholesteric liquid-crystal layer (1), a quarter-wave plate (2), and an optical rotatory layer (3). By the polarizing member according to the present invention, the plane of polarization of light linearly polarized by a combination of the cholesteric liquid-crystal layer and the quarter-wave plate are rotated by the optical rotatory layer so that the linearly polarized light is supplied to an absorption type polarizer (4) with good coincidence between the plane of polarization of the linearly polarized light and the axis of polarization of the absorption type polarizer. Thus, there can be obtained a liquid-crystal display device which has luminance improved by prevention of absorption loss and is excellent in display quality.

Abstract: A twist-obliquely oriented liquid crystal layer and a twist-obliquely oriented film is formed by forming an alignment layer, on a substrate, containing at least one selected from a glassy macromolecule and a silane coupling agent, performing a rubbing treatment on the alignment layer, and then applying a liquid crystal coating solution containing a chiral agent and a photopolymerizable liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: There is provided: a broadband and wide viewing angle elliptically polarizing plate with excellent properties even in an oblique direction; and an image display apparatus using the same. The present invention provides an elliptically polarizing plate including: a polarizer; a protective layer formed on one side of the polarizer; a first birefringent layer serving as a ?/2 plate; a second birefringent layer serving as a ?/4 plate; and a third birefringent layer having a refractive index profile of nz>nx=ny, in which a ratio Rth3/Rthp of an absolute value of thickness direction retardation of the third birefringent layer Rth3 to an absolute value of thickness direction retardation of the protective layer Rthp is 1.1 to 4.