Abstract: Provided is a protective film capable of satisfactorily suppressing warping of a polarizing plate. The protective film of the present invention, includes a first resin layer (11), an adhesion layer (13), and a second resin layer (12) in the stated order.

Abstract: Provided are a laminated optical film capable of enhancing a contrast ratio in an oblique direction remarkably while enhancing viewing angle characteristics when being used in a liquid crystal display apparatus or the like, and a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the laminated optical film. The laminated optical film of the present invention includes a polarizer, a first optical compensation layer, and a second optical compensation layer in the stated order, in which the first optical compensation layer has a refractive index profile of nx>nz>ny and is placed so that a slow axis direction thereof is substantially parallel to or substantially perpendicular to an absorption axis direction of the polarizer, and the second optical compensation layer converts linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light or circularly polarized light into linearly polarized light in a visible light region.

Abstract: Provided are a laminated optical film capable of enhancing a contrast ratio in an oblique direction remarkably while enhancing viewing angle characteristics when being used in a liquid crystal display apparatus or the like, and a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the laminated optical film. The laminated optical film of the present invention includes a polarizer, a first optical compensation layer, and a second optical compensation layer in the stated order, in which the first optical compensation layer has a refractive index profile of nx>nz>ny and is placed so that a slow axis direction thereof is substantially parallel to or substantially perpendicular to an absorption axis direction of the polarizer, and the second optical compensation layer converts linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light or circularly polarized light into linearly polarized light in a visible light region.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a laminated optical film, a liquid crystal panel, and a liquid crystal display apparatus that have an excellent screen contrast and have a small color shift. A laminated optical film of the present invention includes in this order: a polarizer; a first optical compensation layer that has a refractive index ellipsoid exhibiting a relationship of nx>ny=nz and an in-plane retardation Re1 of 80 to 300 nm; a second optical compensation layer that has a refractive index ellipsoid exhibiting a relationship of nz>nx=ny; and a third optical compensation layer that has a refractive index ellipsoid exhibiting a relationship of nx>ny=nz and an in-plane retardation Re3 of 80 to 200 nm, wherein an absorption axis of the polarizer is perpendicular to a slow axis of the first optical compensation layer.

Abstract: There are provided a polarizing plate laminated with a retardation layer, a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal display apparatus each being excellent in screen contrast and being capable of suppressing display unevenness occurring in high-temperature environment. The polarizing plate laminated with a retardation layer includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, a retardation layer including a resin layer and an inclined alignment layer and a polarizer, in this order.

Abstract: An obliquely oriented liquid crystal layer and an obliquely oriented film is provided by performing a rubbing treatment on a homeotropically orienting substrate and, after the rubbing treatment, applying a liquid crystal coating solution containing at least one of a homeotropically orienting liquid crystal composition and a photopolymerizable liquid crystal composition on the homeotropically orienting substrate.

Abstract: An obliquely oriented liquid crystal layer and an obliquely oriented film is provided by performing a rubbing treatment on a homeotropically orienting substrate and, after the rubbing treatment, applying a liquid crystal coating solution containing at least one of a homeotropically orienting liquid crystal composition and a photopolymerizable liquid crystal composition on the homeotropically orienting substrate.

Abstract: A retardation plate characterized by being obtained by laminating a homeotropic liquid-crystal film formed from a homeotropic liquid-crystal polymer of the side chain type or from a homeotropic liquid-crystalline composition comprising the side chain type liquid-crystal polymer and a photopolymerizable liquid-crystal compound to a stretched film having a retardation function. In the retardation plate, the retardation in the thickness direction can be regulated to a value in a wide range.

Abstract: A polarizing member is constituted by an absorption type polarizing film, and one polymer material layer or two or more polymer material layers provided on one or both of opposite surfaces of the absorption type polarizing film, wherein each polymer material layer does not have any extraordinary refractive index area with a length not smaller than 20 ?m and does not have two or more extraordinary refractive index areas with a length of from 0.5 to 20 ?m in a region of 50 ?m-radius. An optical member is constituted by a laminate at least having the polarizing member, and a reflection type polarizing plate. A liquid-crystal display device is constituted by either of the polarizing member and the optical member, and a liquid-crystal cell, wherein either of the polarizing member and the optical member is provided on one or both of opposite sides of the liquid-crystal cell.

Abstract: A polarizing member is constituted by an absorption type polarizing film, and one polymer material layer or two or more polymer material layers provided on one or both of opposite surfaces of the absorption type polarizing film, wherein each polymer material layer does not have any extra ordinary refractive index area with a length not smaller than 20 ?m and does not have two or more extraordinary refractive index areas with a length of from 0.5 to 20 ?m in a region of 50 ?m-radius. An optical member is constituted by a laminate at least having the polarizing member, and a reflection type polarizing plate. A liquid-crystal display device is constituted by either of the polarizing member and the optical member, and a liquid-crystal cell, wherein either of the polarizing member and the optical member is provided on one or both of opposite sides of the liquid-crystal cell.

Abstract: A liquid crystal orientation film, which is formed of a liquid crystal polymer, having a satisfactory orientation property is obtained by a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal orientation film, comprising the steps; coating a polymerizable liquid crystal monomer on an orientation substrate; orienting said polymerizable liquid crystal monomer in a state of liquid crystal; polymerizing said polymerizable liquid crystal monomer to form a liquid crystal orientation layer (1); coating a liquid crystal polymer on said liquid crystal orientation layer (1); and orienting said liquid crystal polymer in a state of liquid crystal to form a liquid crystal orientation layer (2).

Abstract: An optical film in which a function of a brightness enhancement film is maintained and variations in brightness and chromaticity within a film plane are suppressed is provided. An optical film is a laminate of an absorptive dichroic polarizing plate and a brightness enhancement film. A maximum chromaticity difference ?xy(max) of in-plane transmitted light is 0.008 or smaller after the optical film is attached to a glass plate and allowed to stand at 70° C. for 120 hours. The brightness enhancement film includes a layer having a circularly polarized light separating function, and a quarter wavelength plate. The quarter wavelength plate is a film showing an in-plane retardation (?nd) satisfying ?nd(450 nm)/?nd(550 nm)<1.02 or a film containing a polymer having a photoelastic coefficient of 40×10?12 m2/N or smaller.

Abstract: A cutting method and a cutting apparatus which allow a cross section of a layered sheet to be cut with high precision in a manner where the condition of this cross section is excellent and ripping does not easily occur along the expansion direction as well as a layered sheet and an optical member which have been cut according to this method, an optical element provided with this optical member and an image display on which this optical member or this optical element has been mounted are provided.

Abstract: An optical film having excellent light utilization efficiency and high brightness, and a liquid crystal display using the optical film. The optical film is formed by laminating integrally a brightness enhancement film (A) that separates natural light into transmitted light and reflected light and a collimating film (B) having an uneven portion on a surface thereof. Since an air interface is eliminated by the integral lamination of the brightness enhancement film and the collimating film, stray light is reduced, and the brightness enhancement film has an improved efficiency in reflecting and polarizing light; thereby, enhancing the brightness.

Abstract: A linearly polarized light separating film comprising a linearly polarized light separating film and a hard coat layer, which is preferably a thickness in the range of from 1 to 6 ?m, which is preferably formed with a resin coat layer having conductivity in which metal oxide fine particles are dispersed, on one side thereof, is good in scratch resistance, and in handleability.

Abstract: There is provided a polarizing member having a sheet-like member formed so that linearly polarized light can be obtained as transmitted light through the sheet-like member after natural light is incident on a rear surface of the sheet-like member, wherein the sheet-like member exhibits a transmittance difference of not larger than 6% between transmitted light components within a 20 nm-wide wavelength region in a transmission spectrum of light in a wavelength range of from 520 to 640 nm when natural light is incident on the sheet-like member at any angle ranging from an angle viewing from a line normal to a surface of the sheet-like member to an elevation angle of 80 degrees. There is provided an illuminator having a planar light source including a reflection layer on a rear surface side of the planar light source, and a polarizing member defined above and disposed on a front surface side of the planar light source.

Abstract: A retardation plate characterized by being obtained by laminating a homeotropic liquid-crystal film formed from a homeotropic liquid-crystal polymer of the side chain type or from a homeotropic liquid-crystalline composition comprising the side chain type liquid-crystal polymer and a photopolymerizable liquid-crystal compound to a stretched film having a retardation function. In the retardation plate, the retardation in the thickness direction can be regulated to a value in a wide range.

Abstract: A diffusing/polarizing member (1) is provided which comprises a laminate (1) of a reflective polarizer (12) which separates incident natural light into a reflected light comprising a polarized light and a transmitted light, and a diffusing layer (11), wherein the reflective polarizer and the diffusing layer, when viewed from a slantwise direction, have respective colors which are complementary. Also provided is a liquid crystal display having the diffusing/polarizing member. In this diffusing/polarizing member, the color of the reflective polarizer viewed from a slantwise direction is negated by the color of the diffusing layer, these colors being complementary, whereby the member as a whole can be reduced in coloration when viewed from a slantwise direction. Thus, a reflective, semi-transmitting, or another liquid crystal display reduced in display unevenness, e.g., coloration in viewing from a slantwise direction, can be provided.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical element which comprises a polymeric liquid crystal layer having a helically twisted molecular structure and has satisfactory thickness precision and satisfactory optical properties. The process comprises applying a mixed solution containing a polymerizable nematic liquid crystal compound and a polymerizable chiral reagent to an oriented substrate, followed by drying, to orient the liquid crystal compound; and irradiating the mixed solution applied with radiation from the oriented substrate side while maintaining the mixed solution in contact with a gas comprising oxygen to thereby polymerize and cure the mixed solution.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device having a polarizing element, an optical element, a polarized light supply unit, and liquid-crystal cells. The polarizing element has a function of separating natural light into reflected or transmitted light composed of polarized light, wherein a half-reflecting wavelength in each position in a surface of the polarizing element ranges within ±10 nm relative to a half-reflecting average wavelength when the half-reflecting wavelength is a wavelength which is located at a long or short wave side of a wavelength exhibiting maximum reflectivity on the basis of a spectrum of reflected light in a predetermined wave range in which the natural light is separated into the reflected light and the transmitted light, and which exhibits reflectivity of 50% with respect to the maximum reflectivity, and the half-reflecting average wavelength is an average of half-reflecting wavelengths in the surface.