Abstract: A light control device of the present invention includes a first patterning polarizing plate 21 containing a plurality of polarization regions having different absorption axis directions, a second patterning polarizing plate 22 containing the same polarization regions as those of the first patterning polarizing plate 21, and a retardation plate 3, wherein at least any one of the first and the second patterning polarizing plates 21, 22 is disposed slidably in a plane direction. Such a light control device hardly causes color irregularities and hardly causes a pattern.

Abstract: A pulse multiplier includes a polarizing beam splitter, a wave plate, and a set of multi-surface reflecting components (e.g., one or more etalons and one or more mirrors). The polarizing beam splitter passes input laser pulses through the wave plate to the multi-surface reflecting components, which reflect portions of each input laser pulse back through the wave plate to the polarizing beam splitter. The polarizing beam splitter reflects each reflected portion to form an output of the pulse multiplier. The multi-surface reflecting components are configured such that the output pulses exiting the pulse multiplier have an output repetition pulse frequency rate that is at least double the input repetition pulse frequency.

Abstract: In order to obtain an optical module which has few components and is simple to assemble and miniaturize, and a method of configuring same, an integrated prism is provided with: a polarization rotating unit which is formed on the external surface of the prism and converts the polarization of first input light into third light having a polarization perpendicular to the polarization of second input light; and a polarization multiplexing unit which is formed on the inner surface of the prism and multiplexes the polarizations of the second and third light to output fourth light including the second and third light.

Abstract: The invention provides a see-through head-mounted display, including: an inner optical mechanism covered by a nontransparent housing having an opening and providing an image beam from the opening; and an outer optical mechanism including an outer polarizing beam splitter guiding the image beam from the opening and an environment beam to the same direction. The inner optical mechanism includes at least a mirror and a driving motor. The mirror reflects the image beam to make the image beam incident to the outer optical mechanism. The driving motor moves the mirror to vary the image distance from the mirror.

Abstract: A rotatable compensator configured to transmit non-collimated light over a broad range of wavelengths, including ultraviolet, with a high degree of retardation uniformity across the aperture is presented. In one embodiment, a rotatable compensator includes a stack of four individual plates in optical contact. The two thin plates in the middle of the stack are made from a birefringent material and are arranged to form a compound, zeroth order bi-plate. The remaining two plates are relatively thick and are made from an optically isotropic material. These plates are disposed on either end of the compound, zeroth order bi-plate. The low order plates minimize the sensitivity of retardation across the aperture to non-collimated light. Materials are selected to ensure transmission of ultraviolet light. The optically isotropic end plates minimize coherence effects induced at the optical interfaces of the thin plates.

Abstract: A laser device includes a light source that radiates a laser beam having a discrete spectrum; and at least one crystal plate through which the laser beam is transmitted. The at least one crystal plate is an axial crystal plate. The at least one crystal plate is configured to generate an arbitrary polarization distribution of the discrete spectrum by adjusting at least one of the thickness and the angle of the at least one crystal plate.

Abstract: There is provided a light-guide, compact collimating optical device, including a light-guide having a light-waves entrance surface, a light-waves exit surface and a plurality of external surfaces, a light-waves reflecting surface carried by the light-guide at one of the external surfaces, two retardation plates carried by light-guides on a portion of the external surfaces, a light-waves polarizing beamsplitter disposed at an angle to one of the light-waves entrance or exit surfaces, and a light-waves collimating component covering a portion of one of the retardation plates. A system including the optical device and a substrate, is also provided.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light input part and a light output part. The light input part includes a micro display; a first and a second polarizing beam splitters configured to reflect or transmit incident light including an image displayed on the micro display; and a first quarter wavelength plate configured to receive light transmitted by the first polarizing beam splitter or the second polarizing beam splitter and change a polarized state of the received light. The light output part includes a third and a fourth polarizing beam splitters configured to transmit or reflect light including the image received from the light input part; a second quarter wavelength plate configured to receive the light transmitted by the third polarizing beam splitter or the fourth polarizing beam splitter and change the polarized state of the received light, and a light condenser configured to condense the polarized light.

Abstract: A first lens transmits a beam of light having a vertical cross-sectional diameter made closer to a horizontal cross-sectional diameter. The beam of light is emitted from an optical waveguide on a substrate and configured such that the vertical cross-sectional diameter which is the diameter of a vertical cross section along the direction of the thickness of the substrate is greater than the horizontal cross-sectional diameter which is the diameter of a horizontal cross section along the direction of the width of the substrate. A second lens is disposed at a position, at which the vertical cross-sectional diameter and the horizontal cross-sectional diameter coincide with each other, so as to focus the beam of light on the optical fiber. The position is closer to the optical fiber than the first lens along the direction of travel of the beam of light transmitted by the first lens.

Abstract: An electronic eyeglass is disclosed. The electronic eyeglass includes a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) and an eyeglass frame. The eyeglass frame carries the PBS.

Abstract: An organic EL display device includes at least a polarizer layer, a ?/2 plate, a ?/4 plate and an organic EL panel in this order, and an in-plane retardation Re2(550) of the ?/4 plate at 550 nm satisfies 115?Re2(550)?155, and an in-plane retardation Re1(550) of the ?/2 plate at 550 nm satisfies Re1(550)=2×Re2(550)±50 nm.

Abstract: A scuba mask structure includes at least one window section, a mounting seat for receiving an attachable device to removably attach thereto, and an integrally formed supporting section. The supporting section is insert molded around a periphery of the window section and an end of the mounting seat so that the mounting seat is at one side of the supporting section and the window section is at another side of the supporting section so as to form a seamless scuba mask. Such a structure is formed by first placing the window section and the mounting seat in a mold and forming through injection the support section to be insert molded with the mounting seat and the window section for wrapping around a periphery of the window section so that a seamless scuba mask that, in the entirety thereof, has an integrally formed configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, comprising at least one mirror arrangement having a plurality of mirror elements which are adjustable independently of one another for the purpose of changing an angular distribution of the light reflected by the mirror arrangement, and a polarization-influencing optical element, which generates, for impinging light having a constantly linear or a circular input polarization distribution, an output polarization distribution having a direction of polarization that varies continuously over the light beam cross section.

Abstract: An image display system includes an image transmitter, a first display device that displays a first image, and a second display device that displays a second image, the second display device includes a display device side receiving unit that receives the second image, a display unit that displays the second image, a visual direction acquiring unit that acquires a current visual direction of the user, and a display device side transmitting unit that transmits the current visual direction, and the image transmitter includes a transmitter side receiving unit that receives the current visual direction, an extracting unit that extracts the first image as an image of a partial area in a whole image and the second image as an image of an area in response to the current visual direction in the whole image, and a transmitter side transmitting unit that transmits the first and second images.

Abstract: There is disclosed a viewing panel unit, comprising: a first panel and a second panel; a drive mechanism for moving the first panel relative to the second panel; and an abutment member mounted so as to have a fixed spatial relationship relative to the second panel, wherein: the first panel comprises a coupling member; the drive mechanism comprises a drive member configured to engage with the coupling member such that rotation of the drive member imparts a linear motion to the first panel via the coupling member; and the drive mechanism is configured such that a first impact surface of the drive member is brought into contact with a surface of the abutment member to stop the drive member when the drive member is rotated through a maximum angle in a first sense.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a waveguide sandwich which comprises a pair of host materials, each of the host materials housing a component waveguide. The component waveguides are then placed in physical contact with each other to form a composite waveguide thereby producing a waveguide sandwich.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a new method for polarizing an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of not less than 0.1 THz and not more than 0.8 THz using a polarizer. The method comprises: a step (a) of preparing the polarizer; wherein the polarizer comprises a sapphire single crystalline layer and a CaxCoO2 crystalline layer, the CaxCoO2 crystalline layer is stacked on the sapphire single crystalline layer, a surface of the CaxCoO2 crystalline layer has a (010) surface orientation, and the CaxCoO2 crystalline layer has a thickness of not less than 2 micrometers and not more than 20 micrometers; and a step (b) of irradiating the polarizer with the electromagnetic wave having a frequency of not less than 0.1 THz and not more than 0.8 THz to output an output wave having only a component parallel to a c-axis direction of the sapphire single crystalline layer.

Abstract: A display device includes; a display panel, a lens substrate facing the display panel, an air layer disposed between the display panel and the lens substrate, and a light refraction portion disposed on a surface of the lens substrate facing the display panel, wherein an average refractive index of the light refraction portion taken along a plane substantially parallel to the display panel increases in a direction substantially parallel to a path of light from the display panel to the lens substrate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to measuring a distance from a mobile device to a remote surface. An energy emitter directs an energy signal onto an energy splitter, the energy splitter partitions the energy signal into a first energy beam having a first wavelength and a second energy beam having a second wavelength, a reflector array reflects the first energy beam at a first angle and the second energy beam at a second angle different from the first angle and projects the first energy beam and the second energy beam onto the remote surface, a receiver measures a first propagation time of the first energy beam reflected off of the remote surface and a second propagation time of the second energy beam reflected off of the remote surface, and a processor estimates the distance to the remote surface based on the first propagation time and the second propagation time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a display apparatus using the same. The LCD panel comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer and quarter wave (?/4) pattern retarder films. The second electrode of the second substrate comprises first sub-pixels and second sub-pixels. When images are displayed by the pixels, a voltage difference between a first voltage of the first sub-pixels and a second voltage of the second sub-pixels is inversely proportional to a grayscale of the images displayed by the pixels. The present invention can mitigate the viewing angle problem of the pixels.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a cellulose ester film which satisfies the requirement 0.95<plasticizer content of A surface/plasticizer content of B surface<1.05, provided that A surface represents one surface of the cellulose ester film and B surface represents the other surface, has a high sound velocity of the film and is excellent in light leakage and color unevenness, and a film-forming method of this cellulose ester film. The cellulose ester film of the present invention, which contains a cellulose ester, is characterized by satisfying the requirement 0.95<plasticizer content of A surface/plasticizer content of B surface<1.05, provided that A surface represents one surface of the cellulose ester film and B surface represents the other surface, and having a sound velocity along at least one of a film transport direction and the lateral direction at 23.° C. 55% RH of 2.0-2.7 km/s.

Abstract: Compositions comprise a highly miscible polymer blend of at least one cellulose derivative and at least one polysiloxane additive of formula [R1R2R3SiO0.5]a[R4R5SiO]b[R6SiO1.5]c[SiO2]d, wherein the substituents R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 each independently represents a hydrocarbon group or a functional group selected from a hydroxyl group, an acyloxy group or an alkoxy group, and may be the same or different from each other with respect to each individual silicon atom, and 0?a?0.4, 0.01?b?0.99, 0.01?c?0.99, 0?d?0.3, under the proviso that at least one hydrocarbon group and at least one functional group are present and a+b+c+d=1.

Abstract: There is provided a polarizing plate that achieves an excellent reflection hue. A polarizing plate according to an embodiment of the present invention is used in an organic EL panel, and includes a polarizer and a retardation film. In-plane retardations of the retardation film satisfy a relationship of Re(450)<Re(550); and an angle ? formed between an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the retardation film satisfies a relationship of 38°???44° or of 46°???52°.

Abstract: The present invention provides a long retardation film having sufficient reversed wavelength dispersion characteristics and favorable for film lamination according to a roll-to-roll system. A long retardation film of the present invention includes a polycarbonate resin or a polyester carbonate resin, an orientation angle ? which is an angle between a slow axis and a width direction satisfies the following formula (I), and a ratio of an in-plane retardation R450 measured at a wavelength of 450 nm to an in-plane retardation R550 measured at a wavelength of 550 nm satisfies the following formula (II): 38°???52°??(I) R450/R550<1??(II).

Abstract: A polarizing multilayer film is provided. The polarizing multilayer film comprises a first adhesive layer, a second adhesive layer, a polarization layer which is arranged between the first and second adhesive layers, a first separating film which is removably arranged on a side of the first adhesive layer remote from the polarization layer, and a second separating film which is removably arranged on a side of the second adhesive layer remote from the polarization layer. There are further provided a method of using the polarizing multilayer film and a method for producing a screen, a light-emitting decorative element or another device using the polarizing multilayer film.

Abstract: Provided are a polarizing plate with an optical compensation layer capable of contributing to the reduction in thickness, enhancing viewing angle properties, realizing a high contrast, preventing interference uneveness and heat uneveness, suppressing a color shift, realizing satisfactory color reproducibility, and preventing light leakage in a black display satisfactorily, and a liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal display apparatus, and an image display apparatus using the polarizing pate with an optical compensation layer.

Abstract: A polarization conversion element includes first light transmissive substrates and second light transmissive substrates each of which has a light incident surface and a light exiting surface and which are disposed alternately, polarization separation films, reflection films, and retardation plates. One of each of the polarization separation films and a plasma polymerization film is formed on a first surface of each of the first light transmissive substrate. Each of the reflection films is formed on a second surface of each of the first light transmissive substrate. An adhesive layer is formed on a first surface of each of the second light transmissive substrates. The other of each of the polarization separation films and the plasma polymerization films is formed on a second surface of each of the corresponding second light transmissive substrates.

Abstract: A laminated optical film which exhibit a high front contrast ratio and even brightness, improve viewing angle characteristics of a liquid crystal display of a horizontal alignment mode, and have high durability. A laminated optical film comprising: a B layer; and a C layer, wherein the B layer satisfies the following three formulae (Ib) to (IIIb), the C layer satisfies the following two formulae (Ic) and (IIc), and the absolute value |?SP value| of a difference in SP value between the primary components of the B and C layers is not more than 1.5, the SP value being determined by Hoy's method. 1.0?Nz?3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical film and method of manufacturing the same. The optical film of the present invention includes an acrylic resin and a core-shell type graft copolymer wherein the core includes a conjugate diene rubber, and the shell includes an acrylic monomer, an aromatic vinyl monomer, and a maleimide monomer.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a retardation film which includes cellulose acetate having a low degree of acyl substitution and, despite this, swells very little when immersed in a saponifying solution and which has satisfactory adhesion to polarizing elements. This retardation film comprises: a cellulose ester which has a total degree of substitution with acyl groups of 2.0-2.55 and in which when log [Mw(a)] obtained through analyses by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), low angle laser light scattering (LALLS), and viscosity measurement, is plotted as abscissa and log [Iv(a)], obtained through the analyses is plotted as ordinate, the plot has a slope of 0.65-0.85; and a glass-transition-temperature lowering agent having an SP value of 9.0-11.0. The retardation film contains a solvent remaining therein in an amount of 700-3,000 mass ppm and has a change in weight through storage at 80° C. and 90% RH of ?0.5 to 0.5%.

Abstract: Provided is a laser irradiation device for use in laser processing, and a laser processing method performed using the same. Provided is a laser irradiation device including: a light source that emits a laser beam; and an irradiation optical system which has one or a plurality of lenses, and is provided for light-guiding and light-converging of the laser beam emitted from the light source to the target substance, in which a birefringent material is used as a material entity of at least one lens of the irradiation optical system. Also provided is a laser processing method. The irradiation optical system may have a beam expander having a first lens that is a concave lens or a convex lens, and a second lens that is a convex lens, in the order along the laser-beam travel direction, the beam expander being configured so as to make the interval between the first lens and the second lens variable, in which a birefringent material may be used as a material entity of the first lens and/or the second lens.

Abstract: Method for producing a thin optical laminated body. This method is a method for producing a laminated body including a polarization layer, a ?/2 layer, a ?/4 layer, a positive C layer, and a transfer adhesive layer, the laminated body including the polarization layer, the ?/2 layer and the ?/4 layer in this member-described order; including the positive C layer between the polarization layer and the ?/4 layer, or at the side of the ?/4 layer that is opposite to the ?/2-layer-arranged side of the ?/4 layer; and including the transfer adhesive layer between the polarization layer and the ?/4 layer or positive C layer, the method including the step of bonding a bonding body including a substrate and the transfer adhesive layer to an adherend through the transfer adhesive layer, and peeling the substrate from the resultant.

Abstract: A phase difference film layered body is obtained by stretching a film before stretching, the film before stretching including: a P1 layer formed of a resin p1 containing polyphenylene ether having a positive intrinsic birefringence value and a polystyrene-based polymer having a negative intrinsic birefringence value and having a syndiotactic structure; and a P2 layer disposed in contact with the P1 layer and formed of a resin p2 containing an acrylic resin or an alicyclic structure-containing polymer. In the resin p1, the weight ratio of (the content of the polyphenylene ether)/(the content of the polystyrene-based polymer) is 35/65 to 45/55. A method for producing the phase difference film layered body and a method for producing a phase difference film using the phase difference film layered body are also provided.

Abstract: A bidirectional Cartesian-cylindrical converter system and method for converting the spatial distribution of polarization states include a radial polarization converter capable of receiving a linearly polarized, spatially uniform, polarization distribution beam in order to convert it into a beam having a radial or azimuthal distribution of polarization states about an axis of symmetry. An optical device compensates for the phase shift induced by the radial polarization converter and is capable of introducing a spatially uniform phase shift to compensate for the phase shift introduced by the radial polarization converter.

Abstract: An optical film, has a film thickness of 15 ?m to 45 ?m, Rth (440 W, 30% RH) and “Rth (440 W, 30% RH)?Rth (440 W, 80% RH)” of the optical film satisfy Expression (1) ?20 nm?Rth (440 W, 30% RH)?5 nm and Expression (2) 0 nm?Rth (440 W, 30% RH)?RH (440 W, 80% RH)?18 nm, here, in Expressions (1) and (2), Rth (440 W, 30% RH) represents a retardation value in a film thickness direction at a wavelength of 440 nm measured at 25° C. and at a relative humidity of 30% and Rth (440 W, 80% RH) represents a retardation value in the film thickness direction at a wavelength of 440 nm measured at 25° C. and at a relative humidity of 80%; a polarizer and liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: An adhesive film for a polarizing plate includes a functional group represented by Formula 1: wherein * represents a binding site; A is a C1 to C20 aliphatic hydrocarbon group; B is —O—, —S—, a C1 to C20 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, or a single bond; R2 is a C1 to C20 aliphatic hydrocarbon group; and n is an integer from 1 to 5.

Abstract: To provide an optical film excellent in suppression of light leakage in black display. An optical film having a first phase difference layer and a second phase difference layer, wherein the second phase difference layer has an optical property represented by the formula (3), the second phase difference layer has a thickness of 0.2 ?m to 2.0 ?m, and further, the optical film has optical properties represented by the formulae (1) and (2): Re(450)/Re(550)?1.00??(1) 1.00?Re(650)/Re(550)??(2) nx?ny<nz??(3).

Abstract: To provide an optical film excellent in suppression of light leakage in black display. An optical film having a first phase difference layer and a second phase difference layer, wherein the second phase difference layer has an optical property represented by the formula (3) and the optical film has optical properties represented by the formulae (1), (2) and (30): Re(450)/Re(550)?1.00??(1) 1.00?Re(650)/Re(550)??(2) nx?ny<nz??(3) 0.001<|Rth(550)/Re(550)|<0.2??(30).

Abstract: An optical-compensation film, an optical-compensation polarizing sheet and a liquid crystal display are disclosed.

Abstract: Optical film having a first phase difference layer and a second phase difference layer, wherein the second phase difference layer having an optical property represented by the formula (3), and the optical film has optical properties represented by the formula (1) and the formula (2). Re(450)/Re(550)?1.00(1)1.00?Re(650)/Re(550)(2)nx?ny<nz(3), wherein, Re(450) represents the in-plane phase difference value at a wavelength of 450 nm, Re(550) represents the in-plane phase difference value at a wavelength of 550 nm, and Re(650) represents the in-plane phase difference value at a wavelength of 650 nm, nx represents the principal refractive index in a direction parallel to the film plane, ny represents the refractive index in a direction parallel to the film plane and orthogonally-crossing the direction of nx, nz represents the refractive index in a direction vertical to the film plane, in an index ellipsoid formed by the phase difference layer.

Abstract: Laminated body including a substrate and an optically anisotropic layer. This layer satisfies the following expressions (1), (2), and (3): ?n50(450)/?n50(550)?1.00 (1), and 1.00??n50(650)/?n50(550) (2) wherein ?n50(450), ?n50(550) and ?n50(650) represent the respective birefringences of the layer that are derived from retardation values of the laminated body that are obtained by measuring the laminated body at wavelengths of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm in the state of inclining the fast axis of the layer at an angle of 50 degrees to act as an inclined central axis; and nz>nx?ny (3) wherein nx and ny represent the respective refractive indexes of the substrate in directions parallel with the plane of the substrate, these directions being orthogonal to each other, and nz represents the refractive index of the substrate in a direction orthogonal to each of the directions about nx and ny.

Abstract: A method for producing a long retardation film having an optical axis in an oblique direction relative to the length direction of the long retardation film is provided.

Abstract: To provide an optical film excellent in suppression of light leakage in black display. An optical film having at least two phase difference layers and having optical properties represented by the formulae (30) and (31) is provided: ?2.0?a*?0.5??(30) ?0.5?b*?5.0??(31) wherein, a* and b* represent the chromatic coordinate in the L*a*b* color system.

Abstract: To provide an optical film excellent in suppression of light leakage in black display. An optical film having a first phase difference layer and a second phase difference layer, wherein the second phase difference layer has an optical property represented by the formula (3), and the optical film has optical properties represented by the formulae (1), (2) and (30) is provided: ?n(450)/?n(550)?1.00??(1) 1.00??n(650)/?n(550)??(2) nx?ny<nz??(3) 0.000<T<0.1??(30).

Abstract: To provide an elliptical polarization plate excellent in suppression of coloration and light leakage in display. An elliptical polarization plate having a transparent protective film pasted to one surface of a polarizer and an optically anisotropic film pasted to the other surface thereof, wherein, when measured under condition of incident polarization in the film normal direction from the side of the transparent protective film, the visibility corrected single body transmittance is 43.0% or more, the visibility corrected polarization degree is 95.0% or more, the single body hue value a* is ?2.0 to 1.0 and the single body hue value b* is ?1.0 to 5.0, and the optically anisotropic film satisfies the formulae (1), (2) and (3): Re(450)/Re(550)?1.00??(1) 1.00?Re(650)/Re(550)??(2) 100<Re(550)<160??(3).

Abstract: Provided is a producing method for a retardation film with a reverse wavelength dispersion property, which is highly reliable in terms of a small wavelength dispersion change and is low in display unevenness due to a position dependence of a retardation variation. The production method is designed for a retardation film which satisfies the following formulas (1) and (2): 0.7<Re1[450]/Re1[550]<0.97 - - - (1); and 1.5×10?3<?n<6.0×10?3 - - - (2) (where: Re1[450] and Re1[550] represent, respectively, in-plane retardation values thereof as measured by using light of a wavelengths of 450 nm and light of a wavelength of 550 nm, at 23° C.; and ?n represents an in-plane birefringence thereof as measured by using light of a wavelength of 550 nm).

Abstract: An optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises at least one mirror arrangement, having a plurality of mirror elements which are adjustable independently of one another for varying an angular distribution of the light reflected by the mirror arrangement, a polarization-influencing optical arrangement, by which, for a light beam passing through during the operation of the projection exposure apparatus, different polarization states can be set via the light beam cross section, and a retarder arrangement, which is arranged upstream of the polarization-influencing optical arrangement in the light propagation direction and at least partly compensates for a disturbance of the polarization distribution that is present elsewhere in the projection exposure apparatus, wherein the polarization-influencing optical arrangement has optical components which are adjustable in their relative position with respect to one another, wherein different output polarization distributions can be produc

Abstract: There is provided a phase difference film which includes a, an intermediate layer, and a phase difference layer to which an alignment state of a liquid crystal material is fixed in this order, in which the substrate contains cellulose acylate in which an average substitution degree DS of an acyl group satisfies 2.0<DS<2.6, specific polycondensation ester, or specific sugar ester, the intermediate layer contains a polyvinyl alcohol resin or an acrylic resin having a polar group, and the phase difference layer contains a liquid crystal compound which is homeotropically aligned and has specific optical characteristics.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a retardation film which has high retardation developability, good mechanical strength and good durability. This retardation film contains a cellulose derivative and at least one compound represented by general formula (1), wherein each of R1 and R2 independently represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; X1 represents a single bond, —NR4—, —O— or —S—; X2 represents a single bond, —NR5—, —NR5—(C?O)—, —O— or —S—; each of R4 and R5 independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; R3 represents a substituent; n represents an integer of 0-4; and when n is 2 or more, a plurality of R3s may be the same or different and adjacent R3s may be joined together to form a ring).

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical film having a cellulose ester and a polyester containing an alicyclic structure and having a hydroxyl terminal group, a hydrogen atom of which is substituted by an acyl group derived from a monocarboxylic acid, and having a thickness of from 10 to 45 ?m, an in-plane retardation of from ?5 to 5 nm, a retardation in thickness direction of from ?5 to 5 nm, and an elastic modulus of 4.2 GPa or more. The optical film has a reduced thickness, achieves both a high rigidity and optical characteristics including a low retardation, and enhances the polarizer durability used in a polarizing plate.