Abstract: A cellulose acylate film containing a cellulose acylate and a sugar ester compound having from 1 to 12 pyranose structures or furanose structures in which at least one hydroxyl group is esterified, the film satisfying 40 nm?Re(550)?60 nm and 100 nm?Rth(550)?140 nm, and having a dimensional change of ?0.5 to 0.5% and an internal haze of at most 0.1%.

Abstract: An optical rotating plate has an optical rotating material layer. A phase plate is provided on a first surface side of the optical rotating plate and has at least one birefringent material layer. The first surface side is disposed toward an emitting side of an optical path, thereby giving different phase differences to a first linearly polarized light group containing at least a linearly polarized light having a first wavelength and a second linearly polarized light group containing at least a linearly polarized light having a second wavelength which is different from the first wavelength.

Abstract: A retardation film is provided and is formed by laminating a thermoplastic norbornene resin film, an anchor layer, an alignment film and a phase difference layer in this order. In this retardation film, the anchor layer is formed by applying an anchor material including a tri-, or more-functional acrylate monomer of 50 parts by weight or more and 90 parts by weight or less onto the thermoplastic norbornene resin film and then, drying and curing the anchor material with ultraviolet light.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polarization conversion apparatus, the apparatus including a first optical device capable of angle-converting incident unpolarized light to allow a polarization direction to be emitted in mutually different first and second linear polarizations, an FEL (Fly Eye Lens) including first and second MLAs (Micro Lens Arrays) arrayed with first and second micro lenses, where first and second linear polarizations of the first optical device incident on the first micro lenses are divided and condensed on an upper side and a bottom side of the second micro lenses of the second MLA, and a second optical device converting the first and second linear polarizations condensed on the upper side or the bottom side of the second MLA at the FEL to any one polarization of the first and second linear polarizations and emitting the polarization.

Abstract: A cellulose acylate film containing a polymer having a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1) and a cellulose acylate. wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 2 or more carbon atoms, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; and R2 represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.

Abstract: First and a second wave plates using quartz crystal having birefringence are laminated together in such a manner that their optical axes intersect to form a laminated wave plate functioning as a half-wave plate as a whole. Phase differences of the first and the second wave plates relative to an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray with respect to a predetermined wavelength ? are set to be ?1 and ?2, an order of a high-mode order is set to be a natural number n, whereby the high-order mode laminated half-wave plate is formed so as to satisfy: ?1=180°+360°×n; and ?2=180°+360°×n.

Abstract: An optical film comprising a thermoplastic resin, which is such that the slow axis direction in the film plane differs from the film tilt direction and the birefringence of a sliced section of the film that contains the tilt direction and the thickness direction in the plane varies in the thickness direction of the film.

Abstract: The present invention provides at low cost a display device with superior visibility and high contrast ratio even in a bright room environment through a reduction in the undesired reflection, not only of the incident outside light from the normal direction, but also of the outside incident light from an oblique direction. The present invention is a circularly polarizing plate including a polarizer and a ?/4 plate, and the aforementioned circularly polarizing plate includes an anti-reflective layer, the aforementioned polarizer, a birefringent layer, and the aforementioned ?/4 plate which are laminated in this order, the NZ coefficient of the aforementioned birefringent layer satisfies NZ<0.1, the in-plane fast axis of the aforementioned birefringent layer is orthogonal to the absorption axis of the aforementioned polarizer, the NZ coefficient of the aforementioned ?/4 plate satisfies NZ>0.

Abstract: An optical element includes a first periodic structure portion being formed on a base portion and having a one-dimensional periodic structure in which a first medium and a second medium with a smaller refractive index than that of the first medium are alternately disposed in a first direction, and a second periodic structure portion being formed on the first periodic structure portion and having a periodic structure in which a third medium and a fourth medium with a smaller refractive index than that of the third medium are alternately disposed in the first direction. At an interface between the first and second periodic structure portions, a ratio of the first medium in the first periodic structure portion and a ratio of the third medium in the second periodic structure portion are different from each other. The element has a good form birefringence effect and a high reflection-suppressing effect.

Abstract: A stereo projection optical system includes a polarization converter, a 2-way wheel, a retarder, and an image engine. The polarization converter is configured for converting an incident light into a polarized light which have single polarization. The 2-way wheel includes a reflective region and a transmissive region. The reflective region is configured for reflecting the polarized light and the transmissive region is configured for transmitting the polarized light. The retarder is positioned to receive an emergent light from one of the reflective region and the transmissive region. The image engine is positioned to receive light output of the 2-way wheel and the retarder and configured for emitting the light output comprising spatial information. The stereo projection optical systems provide viewers three-dimensional images formed by two alternative polarized light beams whose polarizations are perpendicular to each other utilizing the 2-way wheel.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display in which occurrence of iridescent unevenness is suppressed, even when a film with high level of mechanical properties, chemical resistance and water-barrier properties is used as a polarizer-protective-film. Also, disclosed is a polarizing plate to be used in the liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal cell, a light source, a first polarizing plate placed between the liquid crystal cell and the light source, and a second polarizing plate placed on a viewer side of the liquid crystal cell. The first polarizing plate includes a polarizer and a first protective film placed on a light source side principal surface of the first protective film, and the first protective film satisfies following relations: (i) 0 nm?Re1?3000 nm; (ii) Nz1?5; and (iii) Rth1>2500 nm.

Abstract: There is provided an optical sheet for use as a display device surface, which has a functional layer on at least one side of a base material and has a diffusion factor on the outer surface and/or interior of the functional layer, wherein the relationship represented by the following formula (I) is satisfied. 0.16<S×?<0.70??(I) S: Diffuse regular reflection intensity/regular reflection intensity of base material ?: The diffusion angle exhibiting ? of the diffusion intensity, obtained by extrapolating a straight line connecting the reflection intensity for diffuse regular reflection intensity at ±2 degrees and the reflection intensity for diffuse regular reflection at ±1 degree, to the diffuse regular reflection angle.

Abstract: A polarization conversion element having plural polarization separation sections and plural phase modulation sections is disclosed. A light flux is separated into transmission light (P polarization) and reflection light (S polarization) by being input to a polarization separation section. The reflection light reflected at the polarization separation section is output in the same direction as that of the transmission light by being reflected again at an adjacent polarization separation section at a different position from a position where a light flux is input to the adjacent polarization separation section. The phase modulation section is disposed on an optical path of the transmission light or the reflection light and output light becomes the same polarization.

Abstract: A first and a second wave plates using quartz crystal having birefringence are laminated together in such a manner that their optical axes intersect to form a laminated wave plate functioning as a half-wave plate as a whole. Phase differences of the first and the second wave plates relative to an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray with respect to a predetermined wavelength ? are set to be ?1 and ?2, an order of a high-mode order is set to be a natural number n, whereby the high-order mode laminated half-wave plate is formed so as to satisfy: ?1=180°+360°×n; and ?2=180°+360°×n.

Abstract: Stereoscopic eyewear with compound curvature may be employed to view three dimensional content. The manufacture of such eyewear may be achieved by thermoforming a first material and by thermoforming a second material. The first and second materials may be in roll stock form prior to thermoforming, and the first layer may be polarizer material, while the second layer may be retarder material. Each of the first and second materials may be thermoformed by employing optimized thermoforming conditions for each of the two materials. Additionally, the two thermoforming lines may be timed so that the curved shapes of the first material in roll stock form may be substantially synchronized with the curved shapes of the second material in roll stock form, which may allow the curved shapes of each of the first and second materials in roll stock form may be joined together.

Abstract: A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (1) is satisfied when a slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially perpendicular to a slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, ?10 nm??Re1??Re2?10 nm??Relationship (1) wherein Relationship (2) is satisfied when the slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially parallel to the slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, and ?10 nm??Re1+?Re2?10 nm ??Relationship (2) wherein an in-plane retardation value Re of the film as a whole satisfies 30 nm?Re?500 nm, where ?Re1 denotes a value calculated from “Re1 (at an RH of 80%)—Re1 (at an RH of 50%)” concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ?Re2 denotes a value calculated from “Re2 (at an RH of 80%)—Re2 (at an RH of 50%)” concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: A wideband retardation layer (or film) that can perform circular polarizing so that the retardation layer can be formed with an organic light-emitting device to be relatively thin and have a relatively high contrast with no reduction in brightness, and an organic light-emitting device including the retardation layer. The retardation film includes a base and a retardation layer including an alkali oxide layer grown to be inclined on a surface of the base, wherein the alkali oxide layer is disposed by slant-angle depositing alkali oxide on the surface of the base.

Abstract: An optical film includes: a layer A formed of a resin composition P1 containing a resin x1 having a positive intrinsic birefringence value and a resin y1 having a negative intrinsic birefringence value; and a layer B formed of a resin composition P2 containing a resin x2 having a positive intrinsic birefringence value and a resin y2 having a negative intrinsic birefringence value. In the optical film, retardations R450, R550, and R650 at an incident angle of 0° satisfy the relationship of R450<R550<R650, and retardation Re at an incident angle of 0° and retardation R40 at an incident angle of 40°. satisfy the relationship of 0.92?R40/Re?1.08. Also provided is a liquid crystal display device including the optical film.

Abstract: A polarization component, capable of efficiently reflecting an obliquely transmitted light beam toward a light source without degrading the transmission-polarization property of a perpendicular incident light beam, is provided. A C-plate having an oblique retardation of at least ?/8 with respect to a light beam inclined by at least 30° is disposed between at least two reflective circular polarizer layers whose selective reflection wavelength bands of polarized light overlapping each other. A combination of a reflective linear polarizer and a quarter wavelength plate may be used instead of the reflective circular polarizer. Alternatively, a combination of two reflective linear polarizer layers and two quarter wavelength plate layers (Nz?2) disposed therebetween can provide a similar effect. Further, a combination of two reflective linear polarizer layers and a half wavelength plate (Nz?1.5) disposed therebetween may be used.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are light collectors for use in projection applications. The light collectors gather light from surface emitting sources (e.g., LEDs) of differing color (or same color in some embodiments) using input lightpipes. A light collection system splits the light into orthogonal linear polarization states and efficiently propagates the light by use of a polarizing beamsplitter (PBS) and a reflecting element. Further, the light collection system may efficiently homogenize the light using an output lightpipe in a lightpath from the output of the PBS and the reflecting element. In addition, the light collection system may present a single, linear polarization at the output through the use of a half-wave switch (LC cell) in some embodiments or ColorSelect filter in other embodiments. The light collection system may be integrated into a single, monolithic glass, plastic or combination glass/plastic assembly.

Abstract: First and a second wave plates using quartz crystal having birefringence are laminated together in such a manner that their optical axes intersect to form a laminated wave plate functioning as a half-wave plate as a whole. Phase differences of the first and the second wave plates relative to an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray with respect to a predetermined wavelength ? are set to be ?1 and ?2, an order of a high-mode order is set to be a natural number n, whereby the high-order mode laminated half-wave plate is formed so as to satisfy: ?1=180°+360°×n; and ?2=180°+360°×n.

Abstract: A polarizing device for converting a circularly polarized light beam into a radial polarized light beam, wherein the circularly polarized light beam is obtained by passing a linearly polarized light beam oscillated from a laser oscillator through a quarter-wave plate. The polarizing device includes an axicon lens having a conical surface and a dielectric film formed on the conical surface of the axicon lens.

Abstract: There are provided an easily producible retardation plate for forming a stereoscopic image and a stereoscopic image display device and a stereoscopic image display system produced therewith. A retardation plate for forming a stereoscopic image has a plurality of first retardation regions and a plurality of second retardation regions in the same plane. The first retardation regions have an in-plane retardation of (¼+m)? at a wavelength ?, and the second retardation regions have an in-plane retardation of (¾+n)? at a wavelength ?, wherein m and n are each 0 or a natural number, preferably m=n=0. The first and second retardation regions have slow axis directions parallel to each other.

Abstract: A phase difference element, in which imbalance hardly occurs between right and left pictures during displaying a three-dimensional image, and a display device having the phase difference element are provided. A base film 31 of the phase difference element 30 includes, for example, a thin resin film having optical anisotropy. A slow axis AX3 of the base film 31 points in a vertical or horizontal direction, and points in a direction intersecting with a slow axis AX1 of a right-eye region 32A of the phase difference element 30 and with a slow axis AX2 of a left-eye region 32B thereof. Thus, influence due to optical anisotropy of the base film 31 is exerted on each light being transmitted by the base film 31, so that the influence is not extremely greatly exerted on only one of light corresponding to a right eye and light corresponding to a left eye, the respective light being transmitted by the base film 31.

Abstract: An optical film with super low retardation, including metal oxide nano-particles dispersed in a transparent resin having a three-dimensional crosslinking structure. The optical film has about 0-2 nm in-plane retardation (Ro) and almost zero out-of-plane retardation (Rth). The optical film can replace conventional triacetyl cellulose (TAC) as a polarizer protective film to improve black-white contrast and color shift on liquid crystal displays at wide viewing angles.

Abstract: A combined retardation optical device includes a first retardation optical plate and a second retardation optical plate. The second retardation optical plate contains a flat portion and a multi-step portion. This multi-step portion has several step-like flat surfaces with predetermined heights. The flat portion contacts with the first retardation optical plate. Both the first retardation optical device and the second retardation optical plate are made from birefringent materials. This invention is easy to switch to a different retardation condition for observation. Plus, there is no need to adjust or replace any element.

Abstract: Described are illumination systems whereby light spectra from multiple LEDs of various colors can be combined and polarized with minimal components, while substantially reducing the losses for the combining and polarizing. The described systems and methods use polarizing beam splitters (PBSs) with retarder stack filters to combine color and split polarization for mixed light beams in one step, and to ultimately align the polarizations of the several colored light beams.

Abstract: First and second wave plates using quartz crystal having birefringence are laminated together in such a manner that their optical axes intersect to form a laminated wave plate functioning as a half-wave plate as a whole. Phase differences of the first and the second wave plates relative to an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray with respect to a predetermined wavelength ? are set to be ?1 and ?2, an order of a high-mode order is set to be a natural number n, whereby the high-order mode laminated half-wave plate is formed so as to satisfy: ?1=180°+360°×n; and ?2=180°+360°×n.