Abstract: A retardation film which is manufacturable by a simple process, and being capable of preventing a decline in light use efficiency is provided. A retardation film includes: a substrate having a plurality of grooves extending in a specific direction on a surface thereof; and a retardation layer arranged in contact with the surface of the substrate, and including a liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal material being aligned along the extending direction of the plurality of grooves and being polymerized.

Abstract: An alignment film or a phase difference device with small shift from a desired alignment direction and a display unit including the same are provided. The alignment film includes: a substrate having a plurality of grooves extending in a specific direction on a surface; and a non-alignment thin film formed along a surface of the plurality of grooves. The phase difference device includes: an alignment film that has a substrate having a plurality of grooves extending in a specific direction on a surface and a non-alignment thin film formed along a surface of the plurality of grooves; and a phase difference layer that is provided being contacted with a surface of the non-alignment thin film, and includes a liquid crystal material that is aligned along an extending direction of a dent formed by the non-alignment thin film and is polymerized.

Abstract: A light-transmitting film that has a predetermined polarization split function, in addition to a light-collecting function is provided. The index of refraction nx in a prism extension direction and the index of refraction in a prism alignment direction differ from each other. By generating a difference in the indices of refraction in the prism extension direction and the prism alignment direction orthogonal thereto, for the light incident on the light-transmitting film, the polarization component Lx oscillating in the prism extension direction and the polarization component Ly oscillating in the prism alignment direction can have different transmission characteristics.

Abstract: An optical sheet capable of eliminating rapid lowering of the luminance view angle while minimizing the lowering amount of the front luminance, or while avoiding the lowering of the front luminance is provided. The optical sheet includes a first light transmissive film and a second light transmissive film. The first light transmissive film and the second light transmissive film are layered on each other, the first light transmissive film has a plurality of first convexes that extend in a given direction and are arranged in parallel in a direction crossing the given direction in-plane on the second light transmissive film side, and the second light transmissive film has a plurality of second convexes that are arranged in parallel in one direction and are arranged in parallel in a direction crossing the one direction in-plane on the first light transmissive film side, and has shape anisotropy and refractive index anisotropy in-plane.

Abstract: To provide source images is increased to enhance the uniformity of luminance distribution. A surface emitting device includes: a diffusing sheet constituting a light exiting surface; a reflector disposed opposite to the diffusing sheet; light sources disposed between the diffusing sheet and the reflector; and a prism sheet (light-source-image division sheet) disposed between the diffusing sheet and the light sources. The prism sheet has linear protrusions on the front surface thereof, and a flat portion parallel to the sheet surface between the adjacent linear protrusions. This generates light-source images through the flat portions in addition to the divided light-source images through the linear protrusions 16a to increase the number of light-source images, thereby improving luminance uniformity.

Abstract: A light-transmitting film that has a predetermined polarization split function, in addition to a light-collecting function is provided. The index of refraction nx in a prism extension direction and the index of refraction in a prism alignment direction differ from each other. By generating a difference in the indices of refraction in the prism extension direction and the prism alignment direction orthogonal thereto, for the light incident on the light-transmitting film, the polarization component Lx oscillating in the prism extension direction and the polarization component Ly oscillating in the prism alignment direction can have different transmission characteristics.

Abstract: An optical sheet has a large number of cylindrical lens elements provided successively on one of principal faces thereof. The cylindrical lens elements have a hyperboloidal face or a paraboloidal face and have a finite focal distance on the emission side of illumination light. Where a Z axis is taken in parallel to a normal line direction to the optical sheet and an X axis is taken in a direction of the row of the cylindrical lens elements, a cross sectional shape of the cylindrical lens elements satisfies Z=X2/(R+?{square root over ( )}(R2?(1+K)X2)) (where R is the radius of curvature of a distal end vertex, and K is a conic constant).

Abstract: A light-transmitting film that has a predetermined polarization split function, in addition to a light-collecting function is provided. The index of refraction nx in a prism extension direction and the index of refraction in a prism alignment direction differ from each other. By generating a difference in the indices of refraction in the prism extension direction and the prism alignment direction orthogonal thereto, for the light incident on the light-transmitting film, the polarization component Lx oscillating in the prism extension direction and the polarization component Ly oscillating in the prism alignment direction can have different transmission characteristics.

Abstract: An optical sheet has a large number of cylindrical lens elements provided successively on one of principal faces thereof. The cylindrical lens elements have a finite focal distance on the emission side of illumination light and have an aspheric face of a leftwardly and rightwardly symmetric sectional shape. Where a Z axis is taken in parallel to a normal line direction to the optical sheet and an X axis is taken in a direction of the row of the cylindrical lens elements, a cross sectional shape of the cylindrical lens elements satisfies Z=X2/(R+?{square root over ( )}(R2?(1+K)X2))+AX4+BX5+CX6+ . . . (where R is the radius of curvature of a distal end vertex, K is a conic constant, and A, B, C, . . . are aspheric coefficients).

Abstract: A retardation film which is manufacturable by a simple process, and being capable of preventing a decline in light use efficiency is provided. A retardation film includes: a substrate having a plurality of grooves extending in a specific direction on a surface thereof; and a retardation layer arranged in contact with the surface of the substrate, and including a liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal material being aligned along the extending direction of the plurality of grooves and being polymerized.

Abstract: An optical film capable of improving luminance of a display unit, in which a viewing angle in the horizontal direction of emitted light of the display unit is wider than a viewing angle in the vertical direction and the emitted light of the display unit has a polarization component in the vertical direction viewable by polarized sunglasses, an illumination system including the same, and a display unit including the same are provided. The optical film includes a plurality of three-dimensional structures extending in one direction and arranged sequentially in a direction crossing the one direction. The three-dimensional structures contain a liquid crystalline polymer having orientation, and have refractive index anisotropy in which refractive index in the extending direction of the three-dimensional structures is smaller than refractive index in the direction crossing the extending direction of the three-dimensional structures.

Abstract: A display unit in which the view angle in the horizontal direction of emitting light is wider than the view angle in the vertical direction thereof, in which the emitting light has a polarization component in the vertical direction viewable with the use of a polarized sunglass, and which is able to improve display luminance is provided. A luminance enhancement film has a plurality of convex sections which extend toward in the horizontal direction and are arranged in the direction crossing the extending direction, and in which the refractive index in the extending direction is larger than the refractive index in the arrangement direction.

Abstract: An optical sheet has a large number of cylindrical lens elements provided successively on one of principal faces thereof. The cylindrical lens elements have a hyperboloidal face or a paraboloidal face and have a finite focal distance on the emission side of illumination light. Where a Z axis is taken in parallel to a normal line direction to the optical sheet and an X axis is taken in a direction of the row of the cylindrical lens elements, a cross sectional shape of the cylindrical lens elements satisfies Z=X2/(R+?{square root over ( )}(R2?(1+K)X2)) (where R is the radius of curvature of a distal end vertex, and K is a conic constant).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display, optical sheet manufacturing method, and an optical sheet are provided. The occurrence of moiré is prevented while suppressing a reduction in front luminance. The liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal display panel; a light source arranged on a back surface side of the liquid crystal display panel; an optical sheet with a light-condensing property arranged between the liquid crystal display panel and the light source, the optical sheet having a number of irregularities arranged continuously on a principal surface of the optical sheet; and a diffuser sheet arranged between the liquid crystal display panel and the optical sheet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing the optical sheet is provided. The method includes: a first step of heating a composition containing a liquid crystal monomer or liquid crystal prepolymer and a photopolymerization initiator at a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of the liquid crystal monomer or liquid crystal prepolymer and pressing the composition in a state where the composition is held between a master including a plurality of solid structures disposed continuously in one surface and having shape anisotropy in the one surface and a light transmission film disposed so as to face the solid structures of the master. The method also includes a second step of irradiating the composition with ultraviolet rays at a temperature lower than a phase transmission temperature to an isotropic phase to polymerize the liquid crystal monomer or liquid crystal prepolymer and, after that, separating the light transmission film from the master.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus is disclosed. The illumination apparatus includes a polarization plate, a light source, and a light transmission film. The light transmission film is disposed between the polarization plate and the light source and includes a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof, the plurality of prisms each having a ridge line in a first direction and being continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In the illumination apparatus, the light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a perpendicular direction and an approximately perpendicular direction to a transmission axis of the polarization plate.

Abstract: An optical sheet has a large number of cylindrical lens elements provided successively on one of principal faces thereof. The cylindrical lens elements have a hyperboloidal face or a paraboloidal face and have a finite focal distance on the emission side of illumination light. Where a Z axis is taken in parallel to a normal line direction to the optical sheet and an X axis is taken in a direction of the row of the cylindrical lens elements, a cross sectional shape of the cylindrical lens elements satisfies Z=X2/(R+?{square root over ( )}(R2?(1+K)X2)) (where R is the radius of curvature of a distal end vertex, and K is a conic constant).

Abstract: To provide a surface emitting device and a liquid crystal display in which the number of divided main light-source images is increased to enhance the uniformity of luminance distribution. A surface emitting device 10 according to the invention includes: a diffusing sheet 14 constituting a light exiting surface; a reflector 13 disposed opposite to the diffusing sheet 14; light sources 12 disposed between the diffusing sheet 14 and the reflector 13; and a prism sheet (light-source-image division sheet) 16 disposed between the diffusing sheet 14 and the light sources 12. The prism sheet 16 has linear protrusions 16a on the front surface thereof; and a flat portion 16d parallel to the sheet surface between the adjacent linear protrusions 16a. This generates light-source images through the flat portions 16d in addition to the divided light-source images through the linear protrusions 16a to increase the number of light-source images, thereby improving luminance uniformity.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display, optical sheet manufacturing method, and an optical sheet are provided. The occurrence of moiré is prevented while suppressing a reduction in front luminance. The liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal display panel; a light source arranged on a back surface side of the liquid crystal display panel; an optical sheet with a light-condensing property arranged between the liquid crystal display panel and the light source, the optical sheet having a number of irregularities arranged continuously on a principal surface of the optical sheet; and a diffuser sheet arranged between the liquid crystal display panel and the optical sheet.

Abstract: An optical sheet combination structure disposed between a polarizer and a surface emitting unit, includes a first optical sheet having a number of columnar cubic structures of curing resin arrayed on a transparent base, a valley portion between adjacent cubic structures contacting a surface of the transparent base, and a second optical sheet disposed nearer to the side of the polarizer than the first optical sheet, having a number of columnar cubit structures arrayed on a surface, and a refractive index of the cubic structures along an extension direction thereof being different from a refractive index of the cubic structures along an array direction thereof.