Abstract: A retardation plate having a high film strength and having an optical property is provided by using a biaxial liquid crystal compound, in which the direction having a minimum refractive index of the optically anisotropic thin layer almost coincides with the normal direction in the film plane of the retardation plate, and the retardation plate comprises a transparent support and at least one optically anisotropic layer containing a liquid crystal compound capable of expressing a biaxial liquid crystal phase, wherein the liquid crystal compound is a polymerizable compound and/or a polymer compound.

Abstract: A lyotropic liquid crystal composition comprises silver halide grains, silver grains or optically anisotropic grains dispersed in lyotropic liquid crystal. The grains have an aspect ratio of not less than 2.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystal molecules. Three principal refractive indices of the optically anisotropic layer are different from each other.

Abstract: An orientation layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules is provided on a substrate. The orientation layer contains an acrylic copolymer or a methacrylic copolymer. The copolymer comprises repeating units represented by the formula (I) and repeating units represented by the formula (II) or (III).

Abstract: A lyotropic liquid crystal composition comprises silver halide grains, silver grains or optically anisotropic grains dispersed in lyotropic liquid crystal. The grains have an aspect ratio of not less than 2.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer in this order. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from discotic liquid crystal molecules. The discotic liquid crystal molecule comprises a triphenylene nucleus and six cinnamoyl side chains. The optically anisotropic layer has a high refractive anisotropy in the range of 0.065 to 0.16.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises an optically anisotropic layer formed of discotic liquid crystal molecules provided on a transparent substrate. The liquid crystal molecules are horizontally aligned in the optically anisotropic layer. An average inclined angle between discotic planes of the discotic liquid crystal molecules and a surface of the transparent substrate is less than 5°. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are fixed in the optically anisotropic layer while keeping the horizontal alignment.

Abstract: A process for producing ester-substituted polyvinyl alcohol from a compound having a carboxyl group and polyvinyl alcohol, which comprises converting the compound having a carboxyl group to an active derivative thereof and reacting the active carboxylic acid derivative with polyvinyl alcohol in the presence of a base the conjugate acid of which has a pKa of 11 or more; and a thin film, provided on a transparent substrate, which comprises a film of the ester-substituted polyvinyl alcohol as a liquid crystal alignment layer and an optically anisotropic layer containing a discotic liquid crystal compound which has at least one substituent capable of forming a new bond intermolecularly or intramolecularly and which is capable of forming a discotic nematic phase.

Abstract: Resin tie bars are formed between leads of external leads extending out from a resin-sealed region. The external leads are formed such that lead width at portions beyond the portion where the resin tie bars are formed is less than the lead width at portions where the resin tie bars are formed. With this construction, resin extending between the leads from the periphery of the resin-sealed region, including the resin tie bars, can be easily removed after resin-sealing when the resin tie bars are subjected to water sprayed at high pressure.

Abstract: A process for producing an acrylic acid ester or a methacrylic acid ester having a benzoic acid group from a benzoic acid derivative having a hydroxyalkyl group in the presence of an acid catalyst without using an azeotropic solvent with water having a strong toxicity and also without using acrylic acid chloride which has a strong tearing property, is hard to be handled and generates a by-product in the reaction. In the above process, the solvent for the benzoic acid derivative consists essentially of (meth)acrylic acid.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device and a lead frame in which the cross section of bent portions (5a, 5b) of a gull wing type external lead (3) having a plurality of bent portions (5a, 5b) is arranged so that the width of bended inside is formed wider than that of the outside. By forming the external lead (3) in this manner, the external lead (3) of the lead frame is stably formed, and when the semiconductor device is mounted on a printed circuit board (9), a solder fillet is sufficiently formed about the bent portion (5b), and the connecting reliability can be made increased.

Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid crystal display provided with an optical compensatory sheet comprising an optically anisotropic layer which has negative birefringence and comprises a polymer having a discotic structure in its molecule, and an optical compensatory sheet which comprises a transparent support, an orientation layer provided thereon and the optically anisotropic layer provided on the orientation layer. Further, a process for preparation of the optical compensatory sheet and a liquid crystal composition which is useful as material for preparing the optical compensatory sheet are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for correcting the warped surface of a plastic encapsulated semiconductor lead frame device. The semiconductor device is placed on a transporting plate and transported to a heating device. The semiconductor device and the transporting device are clamped between a pair of heating plates and heated. Then the semiconductor device and the transporting plate are removed from the device and clamped between a pair of cooling plates and cooled. The warp is corrected to a substantially flat surface.