Abstract: An infrared dimming apparatus of the present invention includes an automatic control circuit that controls switching in a dimming cell between an infrared reflective state and an infrared transmissive state in accordance with a predetermined time schedule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a moth-eye film that is not likely to cause condensation on the surface. A moth-eye film including: a resin composition that, when formed into a flat film, has a contact angle with water of larger than 5° but smaller than 31.3°, the contact angle measured between a surface of the flat film and a droplet of water dropped onto the surface of the flat film, after 100 msec from contact of the droplet and the surface.

Abstract: A display device capable of emitting sufficient fluorescence is provided without an increase in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. The device includes: a fluorescent emission layer (23) having fluorescent pigment molecules that absorb light to emit fluorescence; and a liquid crystal layer (4) capable of switching between a transparent state and a scattering state. The fluorescent pigment molecules are dichroic fluorescent pigment molecules (23a) with different emission intensities depending on the direction of emission. The dichroic fluorescent pigment molecules (23a) in the fluorescent emission layer (23) are oriented so as to have transition dipole moments with the same direction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel (100A) includes: a first substrate (2) and a second substrate (3), a liquid crystal layer (1) retained between the first substrate (2) and the second substrate (3), and plurality of pixels. The liquid crystal layer (1) has a first liquid crystal region (81) and a second liquid crystal region (82) provided outside the first liquid crystal region (81). The first liquid crystal region (81) is essentially composed of a nematic liquid crystal material alone, whereas the second liquid crystal region (82) has a plurality of liquid crystal subregions (11) containing a nematic liquid crystal material and polymer-containing walls (12) formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of liquid crystal subregions (11). The plurality of pixels include pixels accounting for the first liquid crystal region (81) and pixels accounting for the second liquid crystal region (82).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel (100A) according to an embodiment of the present invention is a liquid crystal display panel including: a first substrate (2) having a pixel electrode (4) formed thereon; a second substrate (3) opposing the first substrate (2); and a liquid crystal layer (1) retained between the first substrate (2) and the second substrate (3). The liquid crystal layer (1) edges near at least one of side faces of the liquid crystal display panel (100A), and includes a black layer (52) in contact with the side face of the liquid crystal layer (1) along which the liquid crystal layer (1) edges near at least one of the side faces of the liquid crystal display panel (100A).

Abstract: A modulation layer in a display device is made of a dispersion liquid including: a plurality of shape-anisotropic members that, by rotating or moving in accordance with changes in the magnitude of frequency of an applied voltage, change the area thereof projected onto substrates in a direction normal to the substrates; a dispersion medium; and a thickening agent. When shear stress applied to the dispersion liquid is high, the thickening agent reduces the viscosity of the dispersion liquid more than when shear stress is low.

Abstract: A display panel includes: a substrate constituted by an active matrix substrate; a substrate opposite the substrate; and a light modulation layer interposed between the substrates. The change in the magnitude or the frequency of the voltage applied between a pixel electrode and a common electrode rotates a shape-anisometric member in the light modulation layer, and the pixel electrode extends over a scan signal line over an insulating layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transflective display device which is high in transmittance, can secure sufficient brightness in display, and can display black. A transflective display device 1 includes a display panel 2 and a backlight 3. The display panel 2 includes a substrate 10 having an electrode 12. a substrate 20 having an electrode 22, and an optical modulation layer 30 containing shape-anisotropic members 32. A frequency of a voltage to be applied to the electrodes 12 and 22 is changed so as to rotate the shape-anisotropic members 32. When the shape-anisotropic members 32 are oriented such that their major axes extend in parallel with one of the substrates on which the shape-anisotropic members 32 abut, multiple reflection of incoming light is caused, and thus black is displayed.

Abstract: A light modulation layer of a display panel in the present invention includes shape-anisotropic members and liquid crystal molecules. The projected area of the shape-anisotropic members on a first substrate and a second substrate is changed by altering the voltage applied to the light modulation layer, which changes the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. According to the present invention, it is possible to increase light use efficiency with a simple configuration and to control light/dark switching in both directions at a high switching speed. The present invention is applicable to a television.

Abstract: This light modulation panel is provided with: a first substrate having comb electrodes disposed on a uniformly planar electrode with an insulating layer therebetween; a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate and provided with a uniformly planar electrode; a light modulation layer obtained by dispersing anisometric members in a medium; and formed between the substrates; and a circuit for changing the direction in which an electric field is applied, which changes the direction of an electric field applied to the light modulation layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100A) of the present invention includes a liquid crystal layer (1) and first and second alignment films (12, 13) which are provided with an alignment treatment. The liquid crystal layer (1) includes, in each of the pixels, a plurality of first small sections (14a) separated by a wall (10) and the first alignment film (12) and a plurality of second small sections (14b) separated by the wall (10) and the second alignment film (13). Each of the plurality of first small sections (14a) has a first liquid crystal region (11a). Each of the plurality of second small sections (14b) has a second liquid crystal region (11b). Each of the first and second liquid crystal regions (11a, 11b) includes a nematic liquid crystal material and a dichromatic dye (21a, 21b). The dichromatic dye (21a) of the first liquid crystal region (11a) is aligned along the alignment direction of the first alignment film (12).

Abstract: A display device (100A) includes a first substrate (11) and second substrate (41) that are placed so as to face each other; active color filter layers (32) which are placed between the first substrate (11) and the second substrate (41), which have memory properties, and which become in a colored state or an uncolored state depending on the voltage applied thereto; and a light-modulating layer (17) for controlling the intensity or degree of scattering of light incident on the active color filter layers (32) or the intensity or degree of scattering of light passing through the active color filter layers (32).

Abstract: A display device (100A) according to the present invention includes a first substrate (11), a second substrate (21) facing the first substrate (11), a first electrode (15) formed on the first substrate (11), a second electrode (25) formed on the second substrate (21), and an electrochromic layer (17) provided between the first electrode (15) and the second electrode (25) and containing an oxidation coloring-type dye and a reduction coloring-type dye.

Abstract: An optical device (100) includes a first substrate (10) and a second substrate (20), and an optical layer (30) interposed therebetween. The first substrate includes a first electrode (11) and a second electrode (12), and the second substrate includes a third electrode (21). The optical layer contains a medium (31) and anisotropically-shaped particles (32) whose alignment direction changes in accordance with the direction of an electric field applied to the optical layer. The first electrode and the second electrode, which are interdigitated electrodes, are disposed so that their respective branches (11a, 12a) mesh with one another via a predetermined interspace. The relationships w1<l, w2<l and g?l—w1+w2+g are satisfied, where w1 is the width of each branch of the first electrode, w2 is the width of each branch of the second electrode, g is the predetermined interspace, and l is the length of the anisotropically-shaped particles.

Abstract: A front light (1) includes a light source (8), a light guide plate (9), and a plurality of dots (4) that are provided on a surface of the light guide plate (9), which surface faces a light exit surface of the light guide plate (9). Each of the plurality of dots (4) includes (i) a light reflective layer (2) for reflecting light toward the light guide plate (9), and (ii) a dark layer (3) for absorbing light, the dark layer completely covering the light reflective layer (2) so as to be in contact with the light guide plate (9) without any gap between the light guide plate (9) and the dark layer (3).

Abstract: Provided are a display panel and a display device in which light usage efficiency can be improved using a simple structure. A light modulating layer disposed between substrates of a display panel includes a polar solvent, a non-polar solvent, and hydrophilic shape-anisotropic members. The hydrophilic substrate is in contact with the polar solvent and the hydrophobic substrate is in contact with the non-polar solvent. The disposition of the shape-anisotropic hydrophilic members in the light modulating layer is varied by varying the voltage applied to the light modulating layer.

Abstract: A display panel includes: a substrate constituted by an active matrix substrate; a substrate opposite the substrate; and a light modulation layer interposed between the substrates. The change in the magnitude or the frequency of the voltage applied between a pixel electrode and a common electrode rotates a shape-anisometric member in the light modulation layer, and the pixel electrode extends over a scan signal line over an insulating layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a moth-eye film that is not likely to cause condensation on the surface. A moth-eye film including: a resin composition that, when formed into a flat film, has a contact angle with water of larger than 5° but smaller than 31.3°, the contact angle measured between a surface of the flat film and a droplet of water dropped onto the surface of the flat film, after 100 msec from contact of the droplet and the surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display panel that exhibits increased light use efficiency and decreased occurrence of display anomalies. The display panel includes substrates; a light modulating layer that contains shape-anisotropic members that rotate according to the direction of an electric field and that controls the transmittance of incident light by changing the area projected onto the substrates by the shape-anisotropic members; and supporting members that support the shape-anisotropic members and are rotatably connected thereto.

Abstract: A display panel (2) in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes: substrates (10) and (20) which are provided so as to face each other; and an optical modulation layer (30) including a plurality of shape anisotropy members (32) each of which includes (i) a core that is an electric conductor and (ii) a covering layer that is a dielectric and that covers an entire periphery of the core. The display panel (2) changes an area of each image of the plurality of shape anisotropy members (32) which image is projected on the substrates (10) and (20), by changing a voltage to be applied to the optical modulation layer (30).