Abstract: A liquid crystal display element having an improved response speed by using a liquid crystal compound having a high K33, while neither improving nor deteriorating all the characteristics as a liquid crystal display element. The liquid crystal display element 10 of the present invention has a first substrate 15, a second substrate 15?, and a liquid crystal composition layer 5 interposed between the first substrate 15 and the second substrate 15?, wherein at least one of the first substrate 15 and the second substrate 15? has an electrode that controls the liquid crystal composition layer 5 and the bend elastic constant K33 of at least one kind of liquid crystal compounds in the liquid crystal composition constituting the liquid crystal composition layer 5 is 20 pN or more.

Abstract: A microlens for an organic EL element, which is used by being disposed on a light-emitting surface of the organic EL element, said microlens comprising a cured resin layer having concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, wherein when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 ?m?1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wavenumber is within a range of 1 ?m?1 or less.

Abstract: A microlens for an organic EL element includes a cured resin layer having concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, wherein when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wave number is 0 ?m?1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wave number is within a range of 1 ?m?1 or less. The microlens is disposed on a light-emitting surface of the organic EL element.

Abstract: A microlens for an organic EL element, which is used by being disposed on a light-emitting surface of the organic EL element, said microlens comprising a cured resin layer having concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, wherein when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 ?m?1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wavenumber is within a range of 1 ?m?1 or less.

Abstract: A diffraction grating having a transparent supporting substrate; and a cured resin layer which is stacked on the transparent supporting substrate and which has concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, wherein when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the cured resin layer by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 ?m?1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wavenumber is within a range of 10 ?m?1 or less.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display element having an improved response speed by using a liquid crystal compound having a high K33, while neither improving nor deteriorating all the characteristics as a liquid crystal display element. The liquid crystal display element 10 of the present invention has a first substrate 15, a second substrate 15?, and a liquid crystal composition layer 5 interposed between the first substrate 15 and the second substrate 15?, wherein at least one of the first substrate 15 and the second substrate 15? has an electrode that controls the liquid crystal composition layer 5 and the bend elastic constant K33 of at least one kind of liquid crystal compounds in the liquid crystal composition constituting the liquid crystal composition layer 5 is 20 pN or more.

Abstract: A transparent electroconductive substrate for a solar cell, comprising: a transparent supporting substrate; a transparent electroconductive layer; and a cured resin layer placed between the transparent supporting substrate and the transparent electroconductive layer, wherein concavities and convexities are formed on a surface of the cured resin layer, the surface facing the transparent electroconductive layer, and when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 ?m?1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wavenumber is within a range from 0.5 to 10 ?m?1.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an organic EL element having a corrugated structure, the organic EL element comprising a transparent supporting substrate, a transparent electrode, an organic layer, and a metal electrode, the method comprises the steps of: laminating on the transparent supporting substrate a curable-resin layer having concavity and convexity formed thereon in a periodic arrangement in a way that a curable resin is applied onto the transparent supporting substrate, the curable resin is then cured with a master block being pressed thereto, and thereafter the master block is detached; and obtaining an organic EL element by laminating on the curable-resin layer the transparent electrode, the organic layer, and the metal electrode individually so that a shape of the concavity and convexity formed on a surface of the curable-resin layer can be maintained.

Abstract: A diffraction grating having a transparent supporting substrate; and a cured resin layer which is stacked on the transparent supporting substrate and which has concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, wherein when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the cured resin layer by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 ?m?1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wavenumber is within a range of 10 ?m?1 or less.

Abstract: A microlens for an organic EL element, which is used by being disposed on a light-emitting surface of the organic EL element, said microlens comprising a cured resin layer having concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, wherein when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 ?m?1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wavenumber is within a range of 1 ?m?1 or less.

Abstract: A laser oscillation element 1 according to the invention comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 2 containing cholesteric liquid crystals, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 3 containing cholesteric liquid crystals facing the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 2, and a defect layer 4 containing a dye 5 which emits fluorescence upon optical excitation disposed between the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3. A selective reflection wavelength band in the cholesteric liquid crystals overlaps with the emission band of the fluorescence emitted by the dye 5, the helical winding directions of the cholesteric liquid crystals contained in the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3 are identical, and the transition moments of the dye 5 are aligned parallel to the surfaces of the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3. According to the laser oscillation element 1, a laser oscillation can be generated with high efficiency. Moreover, continuous wave lasing can be generated.

Abstract: An optical diode. A cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) layer has a selective reflection wavelength band with a left-handed helical structure, and a phase shifter for changing a phase difference between two intrinsic polarized light components of left-handed circularly polarized light having a wavelength within the selective reflection wavelength band of the CLC layer. When left-handed circularly polarized light having a wavelength within the selective reflection wavelength band of the CLC layer is incident on the phase shifter in the optical diode, the phase shifter turns the left-handed circularly polarized light into right-handed circularly polarized light, which can be transmitted through the CLC layer. When left-handed circularly polarized light having a wavelength within the selective reflection wavelength band of the CLC layer is incident on the CLC layer, it is selectively reflected by the CLC layer.

Abstract: An optical diode which can lower the cost and save electric power is provided. An optical diode 21 of the present invention comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) layer 2 having a selective reflection wavelength band with a left-handed helical structure, and a phase shifter 24 for changing the phase difference between two intrinsic polarized light components of left-handed circularly polarized light having a wavelength within the selective reflection wavelength band of the CLC layer 2. When left-handed circularly polarized light having a wavelength within the selective reflection wavelength band of the CLC layer 2 is incident on the phase shifter 24 in the optical diode 21, for example, the phase shifter 24 turns the left-handed circularly polarized light into right-handed circularly polarized light, this right-handed circularly polarized light can be transmitted through the CLC layer 2.

Abstract: A laser oscillation element 1 according to the invention comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 2 containing cholesteric liquid crystals, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 3 containing cholesteric liquid crystals facing the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 2, and a defect layer 4 containing a dye 5 which emits fluorescence upon optical excitation disposed between the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3. A selective reflection wavelength band in the cholesteric liquid crystals overlaps with the emission band of the fluorescence emitted by the dye 5, the helical winding directions of the cholesteric liquid crystals contained in the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3 are identical, and the transition moments of the dye 5 are aligned parallel to the surfaces of the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3. According to the laser oscillation element 1, a laser oscillation can be generated with high efficiency. Moreover, continuous wave lasing can be generated.

Abstract: An optical pickup head apparatus for reading information signals from a recording medium having a laser beam light source, an objective lens and a photodetector, the improvement comprises a holographic optical element constructed of a pair of diffraction gratings having different diffractive conditions wherein the element is split into two by a split line near its optical axis as a border and a diffraction generation prevention device for preventing the generation of unwanted diffracted beams from a recording medium. The optical pickup head apparatus irradiates a laser beam emitted from the light source onto a recording medium via the holographic optical element and the objective lens. Beams reflected from the recording medium are guided to the photodetector via the objective lens and the holographic optical element.

Abstract: An optical pickup head apparatus for reading information signals from a recording medium having a laser beam light source, an objective lens and a photodetector, the improvement comprises a holographic optical element constructed of a pair of diffraction gratings having different diffractive conditions wherein the element is split into two by a split line near its optical axis as a border and a diffraction generation prevention device for preventing the generation of unwanted diffracted beams from a recording medium. The optical pickup head apparatus irradiates a laser beam emitted from the light source onto a recording medium via the holographic optical element and the objective lens. Beams reflected from the recording medium are guided to the photodetector via the objective lens and the holographic optical element.

Abstract: A polarizing beam-splitter comprises an optically isotropics crystalline substrate and a birefringent material layer made of an oriented polydiacetylene film formed on the optically isotropic crystalline substrate. A periodic grating photo-mask is formed in the birefringent material layer by an area that is changed into a different color phase when an ultra violet light is irradiated in a predetermined pattern on the birefringent material layer and by an area in which the color remains unchanged. The periodic grating photo-mask has a diffraction efficiency for the orientation of the oriented polydiacetylene film in the area that is changed into a different color phase which is lower than that in the area in which the color is unchanged.

Abstract: A polarizing beam splitter includes: an optically isotropic substrate; a layer of birefringent material formed on top of said optically isotropic substrate; and a periodic pattern of ridges and grooves formed on a surface of said optically isotropic substrate to make a grating; and a refractive index equal to either the refractive index of the birefringent material for ordinary light or the index for extraordinary light, said grooves being filled with the material.