Abstract: The present invention provides a technology of switching the appearance of a product. A decorative film according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a light control layer including a first transparent conductive film, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer containing a polymer matrix and droplets dispersed in the polymer matrix, the droplets each containing a liquid crystal compound and a dichroic dye, and a second transparent conductive film in the stated order from a viewer side thereof; and a reflective layer arranged on a side of the light control layer opposite to the viewer side.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technology of switching the appearance of a product. A decorative film according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a light control layer including a first transparent conductive film, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer containing a polymer matrix and droplets dispersed in the polymer matrix, the droplets each containing a liquid crystal compound and a dichroic dye, and a second transparent conductive film in the stated order from a viewer side thereof; and a decorative layer arranged on at least one side of the light control layer.

Abstract: According to the present invention, provided is a PDLC film, which includes a PDLC layer excellent in thickness uniformity and is suppressed from causing liquid crystal leakage from the PDLC layer. A method of producing a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film of the present invention includes: applying, to a first transparent conductive film, an emulsion including a solvent, and polymer particles and liquid crystal particles dispersed in the solvent to form an applied layer; drying the applied layer to form a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer containing a polymer matrix and the liquid crystal particles dispersed in the polymer matrix; and laminating a second transparent conductive film on the polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer, wherein the polymer particles include first polymer particles and second polymer particles, and wherein an average particle diameter of the second polymer particles is larger than an average particle diameter of the first polymer particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light control film, including: a first transparent substrate; a first transparent electrode layer; a light control layer which contains a liquid crystal compound, and which enables switching between a light transmitting state and a light scattering state in accordance with a voltage to be applied; a second transparent electrode layer; and a second transparent substrate in the stated order, wherein the first transparent substrate has a front retardation of 50 nm or less, wherein the second transparent substrate has a front retardation of 50 nm or less, and wherein the light control film has a total light transmittance of from 85% to 99% in the light transmitting state.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display apparatus includes: a liquid crystal panel; a light control layer; and a surface light source device, wherein the liquid crystal panel includes: a liquid crystal cell; a viewer-side polarizing plate; and a back surface-side polarizing plate, wherein the light control layer includes a first transparent substrate; a first transparent electrode layer; a composite layer of a polymer matrix and a liquid crystal compound; a second transparent electrode layer; and a second transparent substrate, wherein the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate each independently have a thickness of 70 ?m or less, wherein the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate each independently have a front retardation at a wavelength of 590 nm of 100 nm or less, wherein the surface light source device is configured to emit light which has directivity in an approximately normal direction of the light emitting surface.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a light control element of the present invention includes: removing, in a predetermined portion of a light control film including a first base material with a transparent electrode layer and a second base material with a transparent electrode layer arranged so that transparent electrode layers are opposed to each other, and a liquid crystal light control layer sandwiched between the base materials with transparent electrode layers, one of the base materials with transparent electrode layers; swelling the liquid crystal light control layer remaining in the predetermined portion after the removal of the one of the base materials with transparent electrode layers with an organic solvent; bonding a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape to a surface of the swollen liquid crystal light control layer; and peeling off the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape from the light control film together with the swollen liquid crystal light control layer.

Abstract: Provided is a light control film that hardly causes damage to its functional layers (a light control layer and transparent conductive layers) while including thin base materials. The light control film of the present invention includes: a first transparent base material, a first transparent conductive layer, a light control layer, a second transparent conductive layer, and a second transparent base material in the stated order; and a first resin layer on a side of the first transparent conductive layer opposite to the light control layer, wherein the first resin layer has a modulus of elasticity at 23° C. of from 4.0×104 Pa to 1.0×105 Pa, and wherein the first transparent base material and the second transparent base material each have a thickness of 150 ?m or less.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light control element including an extraction electrode portion includes the steps of obtaining a light control film including a first base material with a transparent electrode layer and a second base material with a transparent electrode layer arranged so that transparent electrode layers are opposed to each other, a liquid crystal light control layer sandwiched between the base materials with transparent electrode layers, and an extending portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction; inserting peeling means between the base materials with transparent electrode layers in the extending portion, to thereby peel off one base material with a transparent electrode layer from the light control film and bending a peeled portion of the one base material with a transparent electrode layer outward, to snap the peeled portion. The one base material has a breakage bending diameter of from 0.1 mm to 5 mm.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a light control element of the present invention includes: removing, in a predetermined portion of a light control film including a first base material with a transparent electrode layer and a second base material with a transparent electrode layer arranged so that transparent electrode layers are opposed to each other, and a liquid crystal light control layer sandwiched between the base materials with transparent electrode layers, one of the base materials with transparent electrode layers; swelling the liquid crystal light control layer remaining in the predetermined portion after the removal of the one of the base materials with transparent electrode layers with an organic solvent; bonding a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape to a surface of the swollen liquid crystal light control layer; and peeling off the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape from the light control film together with the swollen liquid crystal light control layer.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display apparatus of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal panel, a viewer-side polarizing plate arranged on the viewer side of the liquid crystal cell, and a back surface-side polarizing plate, a light control layer and a surface light source device including a light source unit and a light guide plate configured to cause light from the light source unit to enter from a side surface, and to emit the light from a viewer-side surface opposed to the light control layer, wherein the surface light source device is configured to emit light which has directivity in an approximately normal direction of the viewer-side surface, and which contains a linearly polarized light component that vibrates in a plane approximately parallel to a light guide direction of light of the light guide plate at a high ratio, and wherein the linearly polarized light component has a vibration direction.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display apparatus includes: a liquid crystal panel; a light control layer; and a surface light source device, wherein the liquid crystal panel includes: a liquid crystal cell; a viewer-side polarizing plate; and a back surface-side polarizing plate, wherein the light control layer includes a first transparent substrate; a first transparent electrode layer; a composite layer of a polymer matrix and a liquid crystal compound; a second transparent electrode layer; and a second transparent substrate, wherein the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate each independently have a thickness of 70 ?m or less, wherein the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate each independently have a front retardation at a wavelength of 590 nm of 100 nm or less, wherein the surface light source device is configured to emit light which has directivity in an approximately normal direction of the light emitting surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light control film, including: a first transparent substrate; a first transparent electrode layer; a light control layer which contains a liquid crystal compound, and which enables switching between a light transmitting state and a light scattering state in accordance with a voltage to be applied; a second transparent electrode layer; and a second transparent substrate in the stated order, wherein the first transparent substrate has a front retardation of 50 nm or less, wherein the second transparent substrate has a front retardation of 50 nm or less, and wherein the light control film has a total light transmittance of from 85% to 99% in the light transmitting state.

Abstract: There is provided a circularly polarizing plate for an organic EL display apparatus, which has an excellent antireflection function and has an excellent organic EL panel-protecting function. A circularly polarizing plate according to the present invention is used in an organic EL display apparatus. The circularly polarizing plate includes in this order: a polarizer; a retardation layer functioning as a ?/4 plate; a barrier layer; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having a barrier function. An angle formed between an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the retardation layer is from 35° to 55°.

Abstract: There is provided a circularly polarizing plate for an organic EL display apparatus, which has an excellent antireflection function and has an excellent organic EL panel-protecting function. A circularly polarizing plate according to the present invention is used in an organic EL display apparatus. The circularly polarizing plate includes in this order: a polarizer; a retardation layer functioning as a ?/4 plate; a barrier layer; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having a barrier function. An angle formed between an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the retardation layer is from 35° to 55°.

Abstract: There is provided a circularly polarizing plate for an organic EL display apparatus, which has an excellent antireflection function and has an excellent organic EL panel-protecting function. A circularly polarizing plate according to the present invention is used in an organic EL display apparatus. The circularly polarizing plate includes in this order: a polarizer; a retardation layer functioning as a ?/4 plate; a barrier layer; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having a barrier function. An angle formed between an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the retardation layer is from 35° to 55°.

Abstract: There is provided a circularly polarizing plate for an organic EL display apparatus, which has an excellent antireflection function and has an excellent organic EL panel-protecting function. A circularly polarizing plate according to the present invention is used in an organic EL display apparatus. The circularly polarizing plate includes in this order: a polarizer; a retardation layer functioning as a ?/4 plate; a barrier layer; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having a barrier function. An angle formed between an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the retardation layer is from 35° to 55°.

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: A polarizer of the present invention is composed of a film comprising a structure in which fine metallic particles is dispersed in a polymer matrix is characterized in that a polymer forming the polymer matrix is a translucent polymer having a transmittance of 88% or more when measured thereof with a thickness of 1 mm and the film is uniaxially stretched. The polarizer is good in heat resistance and transmittivity.

Abstract: There is provided a polarizing plate with optical compensation layers that contributes to reduction in thickness and has excellent heat resistance and moisture resistance. A polarizing plate with optical compensation layers according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a polarizer; a first optical compensation layer; a second optical compensation layer; and a third optical compensation layer, in this order. The first optical compensation layer has a refractive index profile of nx>ny=nz, and an in-plane retardation Re1 of 200 to 300 nm; the second optical compensation layer has a refractive index profile of nx>ny=nz, and an in-plane retardation Re2 of 80 to 170 nm; and the third optical compensation layer is formed of a material exhibiting an optical negative uniaxial property, and the material is aligned so as to be inclined.

Abstract: There is provided a polarizing plate with optical compensation layers that contributes to reduction in thickness and has excellent heat resistance and moisture resistance. A polarizing plate with optical compensation layers according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a polarizer; a first optical compensation layer; a second optical compensation layer; and a third optical compensation layer, in this order. The first optical compensation layer has a refractive index profile of nx>ny=nz, and an in-plane retardation Re1 of 200 to 300 nm; the second optical compensation layer has a refractive index profile of nx>ny=nz, and an in-plane retardation Re2 of 80 to 170 nm; and the third optical compensation layer is formed of a material exhibiting an optical negative uniaxial property, and the material is aligned so as to be inclined.