Abstract: A liquid crystal display element of the present invention is arranged so that a material layer having dielectric anisotropy includes a chiral material and a liquid crystal material with a nematic liquid crystal phase, and 0.25?d/p?0.50 is satisfied assuming that the thickness of the material layer is d and the chiral pitch length of the liquid crystal material is p.

Abstract: A base unit and a handset comprise a wireless part, a control part, and a transmission (151) and reception part (150), respectively. Communications are switched by either of the two ways: PT switching and tone generation in the base unit, and tone detection in the handset or PTT switching in the base unit, and voice detection in the handset. It is preferable that the transmission (151) and reception (150) part of the handset includes a single transducer type headphone. It is also preferable that photo-coupler (41, 43) and a photo-switch (42) are provided at connection point of signal paths between the transmission (151) and reception part (150), the control part, and between the control part and the wireless part.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first substrate; a second substrate provided so as to face the first substrate; a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of pixel areas each including a first electrode provided on the first substrate, a second electrode provided on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a wall structure regularly arranged on a surface of the first electrode closer to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer, when being provided with at least a prescribed voltage, forms at least one liquid crystal domain exhibiting a radially inclined orientation in an area substantially surrounded by the wall structure.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrate. The device has a plurality of pixels each including a first electrode formed on the first substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second electrode, and a shading region provided around the pixels. A plurality of supports for defining the thickness of the liquid crystal layer are placed regularly on the surface of the first or second substrate facing the liquid crystal layer in the shading region. The liquid crystal layer forms at least one liquid crystal domain exhibiting axisymmetric alignment when at least a predetermined voltage is applied, and the tilt direction of liquid crystal molecules in the at least one liquid crystal domain is defined with inclined sides of the plurality of supports.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate 1110a, a second substrate 1110b placed to face the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer 1120 interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal display device has a plurality of pixels each including a first electrode 1111 formed on the first substrate, a second electrode 1131 formed on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode 1131 has at least one opening 1114 formed at a predetermined position in the pixel, the first substrate has a shading region in gaps between the plurality of pixels, and a wall structure 1115 is placed regularly on the surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer in the shading region.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrate. The device has a plurality of pixels each including a first electrode formed on the first substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second electrode, and a shading region provided around the pixels. A plurality of supports for defining the thickness of the liquid crystal layer are placed regularly on the surface of the first or second substrate facing the liquid crystal layer in the shading region. The liquid crystal layer forms at least one liquid crystal domain exhibiting axisymmetric alignment when at least a predetermined voltage is applied, and the tilt direction of liquid crystal molecules in the at least one liquid crystal domain is defined with inclined sides of the plurality of supports.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate 1110a, a second substrate 1110b placed to face the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer 1120 interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal display device has a plurality of pixels each including a first electrode 1111 formed on the first substrate, a second electrode 1131 formed on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode 1131 has at least one opening 1114 formed at a predetermined position in the pixel, the first substrate has a shading region in gaps between the plurality of pixels, and a wall structure 1115 is placed regularly on the surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer in the shading region.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first substrate; a second substrate provided so as to face the first substrate; a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of pixel areas each including a first electrode provided on the first substrate, a second electrode provided on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a wall structure regularly arranged on a surface of the first electrode closer to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer, when being provided with at least a prescribed voltage, forms at least one liquid crystal domain exhibiting a radially inclined orientation in an area substantially surrounded by the wall structure.

Abstract: The invention provides an image shifting device including at least one image shifting part for periodically shifting the position of an optical axis. The image shifting part includes a liquid crystal device 10 for switching a polarization direction of light between two orthogonal directions in accordance with High/Low level of an applied voltage, and a birefringent device 11 having different refractive indexes depending upon the polarization direction of the light. The liquid crystal device 10 and the birefringent device 11 are disposed to transmit light in this order. A liquid crystal layer included in the liquid crystal device 10 is made of a TN liquid crystal layer that satisfies a relationship formula of 0.25<d/p<1, wherein a natural pitch length is indicated by p and a cell gap is indicated by d, and is disposed to be twisted at 90° within the liquid crystal cell.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first substrate; a second substrate provided so as to face the first substrate; a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of pixel areas each including a first electrode provided on the first substrate, a second electrode provided on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a wall structure regularly arranged on a surface of the first electrode closer to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer, when being provided with at least a prescribed voltage, forms at least one liquid crystal domain exhibiting a radially inclined orientation in an area substantially surrounded by the wall structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a small and economical two-way communications device that has both an excellent echo-cancellation function that substantially suppresses echoes over the entire frequency range and an excellent voice-operated exchange function that provides natural switching of conversation sounds while protecting against unnatural disconnection or echoes during conversation, even when a reception signal and a transmission signal are superimposed in a single transducer.

Abstract: Sequentially carried out are: a sealing-agent applying step of applying a sealing agent to a predetermined portion of a vehicle body; a coating step of applying a coating material to the vehicle body after the sealing-agent applying step; and a baking step of baking the coating material to the vehicle body after the coating step. Further, a sealing-agent drying step of drying the sealing agent by heating only the predetermined portion of the vehicle body is carried out between the sealing-agent applying step and the coating step. Thus, the sealing agent applied partially to the vehicle body can be dried with a high thermal efficiency in the process of forming a coating on the vehicle body.

Abstract: An optical shifter includes at least one shifting section that periodically displaces the optical axis of incoming linearly polarized light. The shifting section includes first and second liquid crystal cells and a birefringent element. Each of the liquid crystal cells changes the polarization direction of the incoming light from a first direction into a second direction, or vice versa, responsive to a voltage being applied to the cell. The first and second directions are perpendicular to each other. The birefringent element changes its refractive indices with the polarization direction of the light incident thereon. The first and second cells and the birefringent element are arranged to transmit the incoming light in this order. The liquid crystal layer of the second cell compensates for a disturbance in polarization that was caused while the incoming linearly polarized light was transmitted through the liquid crystal layer of the first cell.

Abstract: A projection type optical display system includes: a light source; at least one liquid crystal panel for modulating light that has been emitted from the light source; and a projection optical system for projecting the light that has gone out of the at least one liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes: a liquid crystal layer; a first polarizer and a second polarizer, which are provided on the light incoming side and the light outgoing side of the liquid crystal layer, respectively; a first uniaxial optical compensator, which is provided between the liquid crystal layer and the first polarizer; a first biaxial optical compensator, which is provided between the first uniaxial optical compensator and the first polarizer; and a second biaxial optical compensator, which is provided between the liquid crystal layer and the second polarizer.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposed to the first substrate, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates, and has a plurality of pixels each including a first electrode formed on the first substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second electrodes. The first substrate has a shading region in gaps between the plurality of pixels, and a wall structure is placed regularly on the surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer in the shading region. A color filter layer of the second substrate has at least one hole formed at a predetermined position in each pixel.

Abstract: A cogeneration system is provided which includes a prime mover for obtaining power for driving a generator by combustion of a fuel, a waste heat boiler for recovering thermal energy from exhaust gas discharged from the prime mover, and a heat exchanger for heating air that is to be fed into an air conditioner by heat exchange with the exhaust gas discharged from the waste heat boiler. Drain water that is generated from the exhaust gas cooled by heat exchange in the air-heating heat exchanger (5) with the air that is to be fed into the air conditioner (30) is recovered by drain water recovery/supply means (36). The drain water recovery/supply means (36) supplies the drain water thus recovered to appliances (37, 38) that require comparatively high temperature water. Thermal energy can thus be recovered effectively from the drain water discharged from the heat exchanger on the downstream side of the waste heat boiler, thereby improving the efficiency of recovery of waste heat energy.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrate. The device has a plurality of pixels each including a first electrode formed on the first substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second electrode, and a shading region provided around the pixels. A plurality of supports for defining the thickness of the liquid crystal layer are placed regularly on the surface of the first or second substrate facing the liquid crystal layer in the shading region. The liquid crystal layer forms at least one liquid crystal domain exhibiting axisymmetric alignment when at least a predetermined voltage is applied, and the tilt direction of liquid crystal molecules in the at least one liquid crystal domain is defined with inclined sides of the plurality of supports.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the invention has a plurality of pixels, each including a first electrode 111, a second electrode 131 and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer 120 interposed between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode has at least one opening 114 or cut 113 formed at a predetermined position in the pixel. At least one shading conductive layer 116 electrically connected to the first electrode is formed at least near the at least one opening or cut. In each of the plurality of pixels, a plurality of regions in which the directions of tilt of liquid crystal molecules are different from one another are formed when at least a predetermined voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposed to the first substrate, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates, and has a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix having rows and columns. Each pixel includes a first electrode formed on the first substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second electrodes. The first substrate has a shading region in gaps between the plurality of pixels, and a wall structure is placed regularly on the surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer in the shading region. The first and second electrodes have at least one opening formed at a predetermined position in the pixel.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate 1110a, a second substrate 1110b placed to face the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer 1120 interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal display device has a plurality of pixels each including a first electrode 1111 formed on the first substrate, a second electrode 1131 formed on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode 1131 has at least one opening 1114 formed at a predetermined position in the pixel, the first substrate has a shading region in gaps between the plurality of pixels, and a wall structure 1115 is placed regularly on the surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer in the shading region.