Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal composition for a light-scattering liquid crystal device shown in FIG. 1 containing a polymerizable compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following general formula (1) as a first component and containing a compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy as a second component, a light-scattering liquid crystal device using the liquid crystal composition, and a smart window using the light-scattering liquid crystal device. A reverse mode type light-scattering liquid crystal device can have excellent transparency when no voltage is applied and a reduced driving voltage by the liquid crystal composition of the present invention.

Abstract: A compound and a polymer which can each form a photo-alignment film having excellent ability of controlling alignment, a photo-alignment film obtained using the polymer and an optically anisotropic body and a liquid crystal display element each having the photo-alignment film are provided. A compound represented by the general formula (1). In the formula, P represents a polymerizable group, Z and Z1 represent divalent linking groups, A and A1 represent divalent cyclic groups, and X1 to X5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, a cyano group or an alkyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, provided that X1, X2, X4 and X5 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-crystal display element using a liquid-crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy, capable of realizing excellent display characteristics by being used in a liquid-crystal display element provided with a photo-alignment film, without deteriorating various characteristics as a liquid-crystal display element such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, a nematic phase upper limit temperature, nematic phase stability at low temperatures, and ?1, and burn-in characteristics of a display element. A liquid-crystal display element using a liquid-crystal composition containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following General Formula (I) is provided.

Abstract: [Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for developing a large anchoring energy by simple processes. [Solution] There is provided a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal alignment film, comprising: a process (I) of mixing a solvent with a photoresponsive polymer to prepare a photoresponsive polymer solution; a process (II) of coating the photoresponsive polymer solution on a substrate, followed by drying at 50 to 100° C. for 1 to 3 minutes and then drying at 120° C. to 180° C. for 5 to 75 minutes to form a coating film; and a process (III) of adjusting a temperature of the coating film while the coating film is irradiated with a light of 200 to 350 nm to 40° C. to 100° C.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-crystal display element using a liquid-crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy, capable of realising excellent display characteristics by being used in an FFS mode liquid-crystal display element, without deteriorating various characteristics as a liquid-crystal display element such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, a nematic phase upper limit temperature, nematic phase stability at low temperatures, and ?1, and burn-in characteristics of a display element.

Abstract: A compound and a polymer which can each form a photo-alignment film having excellent ability of controlling alignment, a photo-alignment film obtained using the polymer and an optically anisotropic body and a liquid crystal display element each having the photo-alignment film are provided. A compound represented by the general formula (1). In the formula, P represents a polymerizable group, Z and Z1 represent divalent linking groups, A and A1 represent divalent cyclic groups, and X1 to X5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, a cyano group or an alkyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, provided that X1, X2, X4 and X5 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: The invention provides an acrylic resin-based transparent substrate having an alignment layer spread thereon, wherein the photo-alignment layer and the substrate are kept tightly bonded to each other. The invention also provides a layered body having an acrylic resin-containing transparent substrate and, as formed on one surface of the transparent substrate by spreading and bonding thereto, a photo-alignment layer containing photo-responsive molecules capable of responding to light. According to the invention, there can be provided an acrylic resin-based transparent substrate having on the surface thereof, a photo-alignment layer having excellent adhesion force and containing photo-responsive molecules capable of responding to light.

Abstract: The present inventors have made earnest investigations for enhancing the alignment regulation force of the alignment film, and as a result, it has been found that the alignment regulation force can be easily achieved by controlling the yellowness index (YI) of the alignment film to a certain value or more, and thus has been found that the problems can be solved by the following invention. An image display device containing an image display part containing a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal compound regulating a phase or a velocity of transmitted light, and in contact with the liquid crystal layer, a photo alignment layer regulating alignment of liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal compound, the alignment layer having a yellowness index (YI) of 0.001<YI<100.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a photoalignment layer with a more reliable absorption anisotropy parameter as a photoalignment layer that allows for reduced AC image-sticking. Specifically, provided is a photoalignment layer, obtained by exposure to polarized UV radiation, that has a maximum ?A (=A1?A2, where A1 is the absorbance in a direction parallel to a vibration direction of the polarized UV radiation, and A2 is the absorbance in a direction parallel to the vibration direction of the polarized UV radiation) of 0.35 or more per micrometer of layer thickness in a range of 230 to 380 nm.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a photoalignment layer with a more reliable absorption anisotropy parameter as a photoalignment layer that allows for reduced AC image-sticking. Specifically, provided is a photoalignment layer, obtained by exposure to polarized UV radiation, that has a maximum ?A (=A1?A2, where A1 is the absorbance in a direction parallel to a vibration direction of the polarized UV radiation, and A2 is the absorbance in a direction parallel to the vibration direction of the polarized UV radiation) of 0.35 or more per micrometer of layer thickness in a range of 230 to 380 nm.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-crystal display element using a liquid-crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy, capable of realizing excellent display characteristics by being used in a liquid-crystal display element provided with a photo-alignment film, without deteriorating various characteristics as a liquid-crystal display element such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, a nematic phase upper limit temperature, nematic phase stability at low temperatures, and ?1, and burn-in characteristics of a display element. A liquid-crystal display element using a liquid-crystal composition containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following General Formula (I) is provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-crystal display element using a liquid-crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy, capable of realising excellent display characteristics by being used in an FFS mode liquid-crystal display element, without deteriorating various characteristics as a liquid-crystal display element such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, a nematic phase upper limit temperature, nematic phase stability at low temperatures, and ?1, and burn-in characteristics of a display element.

Abstract: [Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for developing a large anchoring energy by simple processes. [Solution] There is provided a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal alignment film, comprising: a process (I) of mixing a solvent with a photoresponsive polymer to prepare a photoresponsive polymer solution; a process (II) of coating the photoresponsive polymer solution on a substrate, followed by drying at 50 to 100° C. for 1 to 3 minutes and then drying at 120° C. to 180° C. for 5 to 75 minutes to form a coating film; and a process (III) of adjusting a temperature of the coating film while the coating film is irradiated with a light of 200 to 350 nm to 40° C. to 100° C.

Abstract: Provided is a prism sheet which has high effects of suppressing Moiré fringes, high front luminance and reduced number of components when it is used as a prism sheet for a backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device. The prism sheet has a prism row having ridges formed in parallel to each other at equivalent intervals on one surface and a light diffusion layer containing porous particles on the other surface. The prism sheet preferably has the prism row on one surface and the light diffusion layer on the other surface by having a light-transmissive substrate in between.

Abstract: Provided is a prism sheet which has high effects of suppressing Moiré fringes, high front luminance and reduced number of components when it is used as a prism sheet for a backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device. The prism sheet has a prism row having ridges formed in parallel to each other at equivalent intervals on one surface and a light diffusion layer containing porous particles on the other surface. The prism sheet preferably has the prism row on one surface and the light diffusion layer on the other surface by having a light-transmissive substrate in between.