Abstract: The invention relates primarily to a retardation film and a process for producing the retardation film, wherein a layer formed of a mixture of a photosensitive polymer and a low molecular weight compound is irradiated with linear polarized ultraviolet ray, ultraviolet ray including a perfectly polarized light component and a non-polarized light component, or a non-polarized ultraviolet ray to orient molecules thereby developing a retardation and the direction of the optical axis arbitrarily in the layer formed of a mixture.

Abstract: A retardation film mainly used in a liquid crystal display and a process for producing the retardation film are provided. By using the retardation film having a birefringence, a coloring phenomenon and gray scale inversion can be reduced and viewing angle characteristics of a TN liquid crystal display can be improved.

Abstract: An egg inspecting apparatus (1) of the present invention includes an optical path switching and projecting assembly (30) for automatically selecting one of a plurality of optical paths through which a white source light (11) emitted from a light source (2) is guided and also for sequentially projecting the white source light (11) from the associated optical paths onto eggs held at respective positions, a spectrum converting assembly for spectrally analyzing light which has been transmitted through each of the eggs and converting it into a spectrum, and a determining circuit (5) for determining whether the egg is a normal egg or a bloody egg by using the spectrum so converted. By way of example, a spectrum of an egg is measured and a secondary differential curve is formulated for classification of the eggs according to egg shell colors.

Abstract: A retardation film mainly used in a liquid crystal display and a process for producing the retardation film are provided. By using the retardation film having a birefringence, a coloring phenomenon and gray scale inversion can be reduced and viewing angle characteristics of a TN liquid crystal display can be improved.

Abstract: The invention relates primarily to a retardation film and a process for producing the retardation film, wherein a layer formed of a mixture of a photosensitive polymer and a low molecular weight compound is irradiated with linear polarized ultraviolet ray, ultraviolet ray including a perfectly polarized light component and a non-polarized light component, or a non-polarized ultraviolet ray to orient molecules thereby developing a retardation and the direction of the optical axis arbitrarily in the layer formed of a mixure.

Abstract: The invention relates primarily to a retardation film and a process for producing the retardation film, wherein a layer formed of a mixture of a photosensitive polymer and a low molecular weight compound is irradiated with linear polarized ultraviolet ray, ultraviolet ray including a perfectly polarized light component and a non-polarized light component, or a non-polarized ultraviolet ray to orient molecules thereby developing a retardation and the direction of the optical axis arbitrarily in the layer formed of a mixure.

Abstract: An alignment layer is obtained by applying a polymer having a mesogen structure onto a substrate and irradiating this applied polymer with ultraviolet light. According to the invention, there can be provided an alignment layer capable of conferring alignment functions on liquid crystals by a non-rubbing treating means in a simple optical alignment device without generating fine dusts or causing an electric discharge by static electricity, as well as a liquid crystal display using the same.

Abstract: An egg inspecting apparatus (1) of the present invention includes an optical path switching and projecting assembly (30) for automatically selecting one of a plurality of optical paths through which a white source light (11) emitted from a light source (2) is guided and also for sequentially projecting the white source light (11) from the associated optical paths onto eggs held at respective positions, a spectrum converting assembly for spectrally analyzing light which has been transmitted through each of the eggs and converting it into a spectrum, and a determining circuit (5) for determining whether the egg is a normal egg or a bloody egg by using the spectrum so converted. By way of example, a spectrum of an egg is measured and a secondary differential curve is formulated for classification of the eggs according to egg shell colors.

Abstract: The invention relates primarily to a retardation film and a process for producing the retardation film, wherein a layer formed of a mixture of a photosensitive polymer and a low molecular weight compound is irradiated with linear polarized ultraviolet ray, ultraviolet ray including a perfectly polarized light component and a non-polarized light component, or a non-polarized ultraviolet ray to orient molecules thereby developing a retardation and the direction of the optical axis arbitrarily in the layer formed of a mixure.

Abstract: A polarizing screen 20 for presenting images in response to receipt of imagewise rays of light 22 projected from, for example, a video projector. The polarizing screen 20 is made of a woven polarizing fabric 1 which has front and rear surfaces D and E opposite to each other and which is woven in a satin fashion including warps of one of polarizing and non-polarizing threads 12 and 11 and wefts of the other of the polarizing and non-polarizing threads 12 and 11. The front surface D of the woven polarizing fabric 1 has a relatively large portion of the polarizing threads 12 being exposed therefrom and the rear surface E thereof has a relatively large portion of the non-polarizing threads 11 exposed therefrom. The polarizing threads 12 of the woven polarizing fabric 1 have their lengthwise direction oriented substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane and, therefore, the horizontal viewing angle is increased.

Abstract: A screen of reflection-type operable with linearly polarized imagewise rays of light projected thereon for presenting a projected image, carried by the linearly polarized imagewise rays of light (8), to viewers occupying a position in front of the screen. The screen comprises a polarizing film (6) having first and second surfaces, a metal layer (4) formed on the second surface of the polarizing film (6) for reflecting the linearly polarized imagewise rays of light (8), and an indentation structure formed on both of the metal layer (4) and the polarizing film (6) for reflecting the imagewise rays of light (8) uniformly at a desired angle of reflection. The linearly polarized imagewise rays of light (8) enter the polarizing film (6) through the first surface thereof while the linearly polarized rays of light (8) have a plane of vibration of an electric field or a magnetic field in a direction required to exhibit a maximum light transmissivity.

Abstract: A polarizing screen for visually presenting a picture in response to receipt of projected imagewise rays of light having a polarizing fabric overlaying a first surface of the screen base facing a viewer and operable to pass therethrough the projected imagewise rays of light having the first polarizing direction, but absorb rays of light having a second polarizing direction. The polarizing fabric includes a plurality of juxtaposed polarizing fibers and a plurality of juxtaposed non-polarizing fibers interlaced with the juxtaposed polarizing fibers so as to extend perpendicular to said juxtaposed polarizing fibers. Instead of the polarizing fabric, a non-woven sheet having the polarizing fibers juxtaposed thereon may be used.

Abstract: A polarizing optical element which comprises a first substrate having a first surface formed with first and second gratings so as to cross relative to each other at a predetermined crossing angle, each of which first and second gratings has a grating pitch equal to or smaller than the wavelength of a laser beam which may be incident upon the polarizing optical element. A magneto-optical head system of a type comprising a laser source for emitting and projecting a laser beam on a magneto-optical recording medium and utilizing a magneto-optical effect for reading information, recorded on the magneto-optical recording medium, by the utilization of reflected or transmitted laser beams reflected from or transmitted through the magneto-optical recording medium and utilizing the polarized optical element is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical low pass filter for use in an imaging device including an objective lens and a solid state image sensor forming a plurality of picture elements thereon, which filter comprises a diffraction grating disposed between the objective lens and the solid state image sensor. The diffraction grating is of a type which the periodicity of an image of the diffraction grating projected onto the solid state image sensor by the objective lens is selected to be twice or 1/n of the periodicity of the picture element, wherein n represents an integer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a blazed diffraction grating by using a transmission modulation diffraction grating as a photomask in photolithography. The photomask is composed of a relief modulation diffraction grating (A) made of a transparent material and a blazed diffraction grating (B) made of a material containing a ray absorbing agent. The diffraction grating (A) and the diffraction grating (B) are mated with each other through their grating surfaces.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a combination pattern-refraction modification type phase grating comprises the steps of (1) forming a thin film of composition which includes a photosensitive acrylic acid or methacrylic acid group polymer including double bonds between carbons and at least one of compounds selected from aromatic aldehyde and aromatic ketone which have a substituent or a no-substituent (2) irradiating the thin film in a regularly arranged pattern with ultraviolet rays and (3) removing the non-reacted compound.

Abstract: A combination pattern-refraction modification type phase grating comprises dual grating elements which are regularly arranged and each includes convex and concave portions which have respectively different thickness and are formed of material respectively different in refractive index so as to combine respective characteristics of a pattern and a refraction modification type phase grating.

Abstract: A thin film waveguide path comprises a waveguide path layer overlying a substrate but separated therefrom by at least one intermediate layer. The waveguide path layer comprises a first transparent high molecular material. The at least one intermediate layer comprises a second organic high molecular material having a solubility different from that of the first material and a lower refractive index lower than that of the first material, the substrate comprises a third high molecular material different from the first and second materials for supporting the waveguide path and intermediate layers.

Abstract: An aluminum atom- and monocarboxylic acid residue-containing polyester is provided. Using the polyester as an adhesive or a base, laminates and laminated hollow vessels which comprise, as the constituent elements, the polyester and an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer can be produced. The laminates and laminated hollow vessels are suitable for use as packaging materials or containers for food and drink.

Abstract: An aluminum atom- and monocarboxylic acid residue-containing polyester is provided. Using the polyester as an adhesive or a base, laminates and laminated hollow vessels which comprise, as the constituent elements, the polyester and an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer can be produced. The laminates and laminated hollow vessels are suitable for use as packaging materials or containers for food and drink.