Abstract: Provided is an optical waveguide element having high polarization conversion efficiency even in an optical waveguide having a large core thickness. A core C22 of an optical waveguide 22 constituting a polarization separation and rotation unit 12 is formed in a tapered shape in which the width W1 continuously gradually increases from the input end toward the output end. A groove 25 having a V-shaped cross section is formed on the upper surface of the core C22. The groove 25 is formed on the upper surface of the core C22 to extend in the light propagation direction in the range from the input end to the output end of the core C22. In the optical waveguide 22, a waveguide mode in which an effective refractive index between an input end and an output end thereof is maximized is a TE0 mode, a second guided mode is a TM0 mode at the input end and a TE1 mode at the output end, and a transition is made from the TM0 mode to the TE1 mode from the input end toward the output end.

Abstract: An operation assistance system for assisting a user in operating an opening and closing portion includes: a sensor configured to detect an acceleration applied to the opening and closing portion; a drive unit configured to generate a driving force for displacing the opening and closing portion; a manual operation detection unit configured to detect, based on the acceleration detected by the sensor, a manual operation of opening or closing the opening and closing portion when the user applies a force to the opening and closing portion; and a drive control unit configured to control the drive unit to reduce an operation force of the user required for the manual operation when the manual operation is detected.

Abstract: An operation assistance system for assisting a user in operating an opening and closing portion includes: a sensor configured to detect an acceleration applied to the opening and closing portion; a drive unit configured to generate a driving force for displacing the opening and closing portion; a manual operation detection unit configured to detect, based on the acceleration detected by the sensor, a manual operation of displacing the opening and closing portion when the user applies a force to the opening and closing portion; a state detection unit configured to detect, based on an opening degree of the opening and closing portion, whether the opening and closing portion is in a small opening degree state in which the opening and closing portion has a first opening degree or less, or in an intermediate holding state in which the opening and closing portion is held at a second opening degree larger than the first opening degree; an obstacle detection unit configured to detect a distance from the opening and c

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one of characteristics such as high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, low minimum temperature of the nematic phase, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large negative dielectric anisotropy, large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light and high stability to heat, or having a suitable balance regarding at least two of the characteristics. Also provided is an AM device having a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having a polymerizable group as a first component, a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy and a low minimum temperature as a second component, or a specific compound having a small viscosity or a large maximum temperature as a third component, and a liquid crystal display device contains the composition.

Abstract: To provide a polymerizable compound having a high solubility in a liquid crystal composition, and laterally having a ring structure; a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display device using the composition; and the polymerizable compound includes a compound represented by formula (1): wherein, for example, R1 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons, R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen or methyl; A1 and A2 are a single bond, 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-cyclohexylene; Z1 is a single bond or alkylene having 1 to 3 carbons, Z2 is —O—, —COO—, —OCO— or alkylene having 1 to 6 carbons, Z3 is a single bond or —O—, Z4 is a single bond or alkylene having 2 to 20 carbons; X1 is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons; and a is 0 or 1.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which can simply create a role that is an assembly of the authorities for using each function of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a polymerizable compound with large solubility in a liquid crystal composition and high reactivity irradiated by ultraviolet in the longer wavelength range. Provided is a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large negative dielectric anisotropy, large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light and high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced between at least two of the characteristics.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal compound that has a large negative dielectric anisotropy (??) and also has at least one of characteristics such as the stability to heat, light or the like, a high clearing point, a suitable refractive index anisotropy (?n), a large negative dielectric anisotropy (??) and an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds. An excellent effect in which especially the value of the dielectric anisotropy (??) is increased negatively is achieved by use of the compound having two moieties of 1) a tetrahydropyran ring and and thus the effect is utilized.

Abstract: To provide a polymerizable compound having a high solubility in a liquid crystal composition, and laterally having a ring structure; a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display device using the composition; and the polymerizable compound includes a compound represented by formula (1): wherein, for example, R1 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons, R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen or methyl; A1 and A2 are a single bond, 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-cyclohexylene; Z1 is a single bond or alkylene having 1 to 3 carbons, Z2 is —O—, —COO—, —OCO— or alkylene having 1 to 6 carbons, Z3 is a single bond or —O—, Z4 is a single bond or alkylene having 2 to 20 carbons; X1 is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons; and a is 0 or 1.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one of characteristics such as high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, low minimum temperature of the nematic phase, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large negative dielectric anisotropy, large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light and high stability to heat, or having a suitable balance regarding at least two of the characteristics. Also provided is an AM device having a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having a polymerizable group as a first component, a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy and a low minimum temperature as a second component, or a specific compound having a small viscosity or a large maximum temperature as a third component, and a liquid crystal display device contains the composition.

Abstract: Provided is a polymerizable compound with large solubility in a liquid crystal composition and high reactivity irradiated by ultraviolet in the longer wavelength range. Provided is a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large negative dielectric anisotropy, large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light and high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced between at least two of the characteristics.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal compound that has a large negative dielectric anisotropy (??) and also has at least one of characteristics such as the stability to heat, light or the like, a high clearing point, a suitable refractive index anisotropy (?n), a large negative dielectric anisotropy (??) and an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds. An excellent effect in which especially the value of the dielectric anisotropy (??) is increased negatively is achieved by use of the compound having two moieties of 1) a tetrahydropyran ring and and thus the effect is utilized.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which can simply create a role that is an assembly of the authorities for using each function of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The compound of the present invention is represented by the formula (1). In the formula (1), R1 and R2 are hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, methyl or ethyl; X1 and X2 are hydrogen, fluorine, methyl or trifluoromethyl; Z1 and Z2 are a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH?CH—COO—, —OCO—CH?CH—, —CH2CH2—COO—, —OCO—CH2CH2—, —CH2O—, —CONH—, —(CH2)4—, —CH2CH2— or —C?C—; Z3 and Z4 are a single bond or —O—; A1 and A2 are 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, pyridin-2,5-diyl, pyrimidin-2,5-diyl, naphthalen-2,6-diyl or tetrahydronaphtlane-2,6-diyl; and Y1 and Y2 are alkylene having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The compound of the present invention is represented by the formula (1). In the formula (1), R1 and R2 are hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, methyl or ethyl; X1 and X2 are hydrogen, fluorine, methyl or trifluoromethyl; Z1 and Z2 are a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH?CH—COO—, —OCO—CH?CH—, —CH2CH2—COO—, —OCO—CH2CH2—, —CH2O—, —CONH—, —(CH2)4—, —CH2CH2— or —C?C—; Z3 and Z4 are a single bond or —O—; A1 and A2 are 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, pyridin-2,5-diyl, pyrimidin-2,5-diyl, naphthalen-2,6-diyl or tetrahydronaphtlane-2,6-diyl; and Y1 and Y2 are alkylene having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The compound of the present invention is represented by the formula (1). In the formula (1), R1 and R2 are hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, methyl or ethyl; X1 and X2 are hydrogen, fluorine, methyl or trifluoromethyl; Z1 and Z2 are a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH?CH—COO—, —OCO—CH?CH—, —CH2CH2—COO—, —OCO—CH2CH2—, —CH2O—, —CONH—, —(CH2)4—, —CH2CH2— or —C?C—; Z3 and Z4 are a single bond or —O—; A1 and A2 are 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, pyridin-2,5-diyl, pyrimidin-2,5-diyl, naphthalen-2,6-diyl or tetrahydronaphtlane-2,6-diyl; and Y1 and Y2 are alkylene having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing compounds represented by the formula (1-1) and the formula (1-2), compounds represented by the formula (2-1) and the formula (2-2), and a compound represented by the formula (3-1): the polymerizable liquid crystal composition having homogeneous, homeotropic, or hybrid alignment, which can be coated on a support substrate, for example, of a transparent plastic film such as a triacetyl cellulose film or cycloolefin polymer film, or glass, and is aligned on a substrate as a polymer film while maintaining the alignment.

Abstract: In order to obtain such a liquid crystal thin film having optical anisotropy that suffers less change in optical characteristics thereof under heating to 200° C., the following polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided as a raw material therefor. The composition contains Compound (1) and at least one of Compound (2) and Compound (3), with a proportion of Compound (1) being from 50 to 99% by weight, a proportion of Compound (2) being from 0 to 50% by weight, and a proportion of Compound (3) being from 0 to 50% by weight: wherein R is alkyl; each of W1 and W2 is independently hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine or —CH3; each of W3 and W4 is independently hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, —CH3 or —CF3; W5 is alkyl having, alkoxy, chlorine, fluorine, —CN or —OCF3; X is a single bond, —CH?CH— or —CH2CH2—; Z is a single bond, —COO—, —OCO— or —CH2CH2—; and q is an integer of from 1 to 20.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing compounds represented by the formula (1-1) and the formula (1-2), compounds represented by the formula (2-1) and the formula (2-2), and a compound represented by the formula (3-1): the polymerizable liquid crystal composition having homogeneous, homeotropic, or hybrid alignment, which can be coated on a support substrate, for example, of a transparent plastic film such as a triacetyl cellulose film or cycloolefin polymer film, or glass, and is aligned on a substrate as a polymer film while maintaining the alignment.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing compounds represented by the formula (1-1) and the formula (1-2), compounds represented by the formula (2-1) and the formula (2-2), and a compound represented by the formula (3-1): the polymerizable liquid crystal composition having homogeneous, homeotropic, or hybrid alignment, which can be coated on a support substrate, for example, of a transparent plastic film such as a triacetyl cellulose film or cycloolefin polymer film, or glass, and is aligned on a substrate as a polymer film while maintaining the alignment.