Abstract: An optical film comprising an optically anisotropic layer including a liquid crystalline compound, wherein the optically anisotropic layer satisfies the following formulae: Re(450)/Re(650)<1.25: ??Formula (1) wherein Re(450) and Re(650) are in-plane retardation values (unit: nm) of the optically anisotropic layer at wavelengths of 450 nm and 650 nm, respectively; 0.09<Re—m(550)/d: ??Formula (2) wherein Re_m(550) is an in-plane retardation value (unit: nm) of a uniaxial alignment layer in which the director of the liquid crystalline compound is aligned to be parallel in the plane at a wavelength of 550 nm, and d is the thickness of the uniaxial alignment layer (unit: nm).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display, which allows proper optical compensation for bend-aligned mode liquid crystal cell and exhibits high contrast, excellent viewing angle properties and a high black display fidelity, is provided. A bend-aligned mode liquid crystal cell is properly optically compensated for by properly controlling the optical properties, including wavelength dispersion, of a first optical anisotropic layer and a second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: A portable communication apparatus includes a first unit having at least a display section and a second unit having at least a main operation section, which are coupled by a slide coupling and are freely slidable in a longitudinal direction between a retracted state and an extended state. The first unit and the second unit are urged by an urging member in an extension direction and are releasably locked by a releasable lock mechanism in the retracted state. The locking is released by a predetermined operation. An optical aperture for optical function is provided in one of surfaces of the first and second units that face one another in the retracted state. The optical function section is made operable when the first and second units are positioned in the extended state.

Abstract: A portable communication apparatus includes a first unit having at least a display section and a second unit having at least a main operation section, which are coupled by a slide coupling and are freely slidable in a longitudinal direction between a retracted state and an extended state. The first unit and the second unit are urged by an urging member in an extension direction and are releasably locked by a releasable lock mechanism in the retracted state. The locking is released by a predetermined operation. An optical aperture for optical function is provided in one of surfaces of the first and second units that face one another in the retracted state. The optical function section is made operable when the first and second units are positioned in the extended state.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display showing a high contrast and reduced in color shift depending on the viewing angle is provided. The liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal cell having a retardation value Re1(400) at 400 nm and a retardation value Re1(550) at 500 nm in the black state; and at least one layer of optically anisotropic layer formed of a composition comprising at least one species of liquid crystalline compound, having a retardations value Re2(400) at 400 nm and a retardation value Re2(550) at 550 nm, wherein Re2(400) and Re2(550) of said optically anisotropic layer, and retardations values Re1(400) and Re1(550) satisfy the relational expression (1) below: 0.9??2/?1?1.1 ??Relational Expression (1) where, ?1=Re1(400)/Re1(550) and ?2=Re2(400)/Re2(550).

Abstract: An optically anisotropic material comprising at least one discotic compound having a cyclopropylcarbonyl group. The material is excellent in both the wavelength dispersion property and the refractive index anisotropy.

Abstract: An optical film comprising an optically anisotropic layer including a liquid crystalline compound, wherein the optically anisotropic layer satisfies the following formulae: Re(450)/Re(650)<1.25??Formula (1): wherein Re(450) and Re(650) are in-plane retardation values (unit: nm) of the optically anisotropic layer at wavelengths of 450 nm and 650 nm, respectively; 0.09<Re—m(550)/d??Formula (2): wherein Re_m(550) is an in-plane retardation value (unit: nm) of a uniaxial alignment layer in which the director of the liquid crystalline compound is aligned to be parallel in the plane at a wavelength of 550 nm, and d is the thickness of the uniaxial alignment layer (unit: nm).

Abstract: A folding mobile communications apparatus comprises an upper unit 200, a lower unit 100, and a hinge 300 for connecting the units as rotatable in an open-and-close state. On a main surface 201a of the upper unit 200, a first speaker 203 is provided at one end of the unit, and a second speaker 230 having at least the function of a receiver is provided near the hinge 300. On the main surface 101a of the lower unit 100, a microphone 103 is provided at an end opposite the hinge 300. A control unit 117 controls the first speaker 203, the second speaker 230, and the microphone 103 such that any two of them can function as a set of a receiver and a transmitter based on a relative position of the two units detected by an attitude detection unit 113.

Abstract: A novel optical compensation film is disclosed. The optical compensation film comprises a first optically anisotropic layer and a second optically anisotropic layer, each of which formed of a composition comprising a liquid-crystalline compound, wherein molecules of the liquid-crystalline compound in each of the first and second optically anisotropic layers are fixed in a hybrid alignment state in which tilt angles of the molecules with respect to a layer plane varies in a thickness direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information processing system wherein if external equipment (PC) 1 transfers music and image data to a portable device (PD) 2 capable of executing a synchronizing process, synchronization is carried out by extracting music data, image data, and template data used in a project file, determining whether or not the data has been transferred or updated, and transferring required data or the like depending on the determination.

Abstract: When a processing including transmission, reception, and/or deletion of content data is performed, a play count detecting unit detects play count of the content data stored in a portable terminal from a time when previous processing has been performed to a time when current processing has been performed, by comparing a first database with a third database, the first database managing play count of content data stored in an information processing apparatus and the third database managing play count of content data stored in the portable terminal. A first update unit reflects in the first database the detected play count. A second database which maintains play count every time the processing is performed is updated by a second update unit based on the first database in which play count has been updated by the first update unit. A third update unit updates the third database based on the second database.

Abstract: An inputting device, an electronic instrument using this inputting device, and an inputting method thereof, in which displacement of an operating section in the direction slanting for the X or the Y direction is detected and the movement of a moving object such as a cursor on a display can be controlled easily and precisely, are provided. The operating section is displaced about in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction for a plane being almost parallel to the surface of a cabinet. In case that orthogonal coordinates having the X axis and the Y axis are set on the plane being almost parallel to the surface of the cabinet, horizontal direction sensors detect the displacement of the operating section in the direction slanting for the X or Y direction, in addition to in the X or Y direction. The cursor moves on the display based on the displacement of the operating section about in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A novel polarization selective membrane is disclosed. The membrane comprises a liquid crystal molecule having a helical structure and selectively transmits specific polarized light and selectively reflects the other polarized light. The helical axis of the helical structure is practically oriented in the normal direction of the membrane plane, and the angle between the helical axis of the helical structure and the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules is from 5° to 85°.

Abstract: A folding mobile telephone includes a 2-axis hinge unit. The end portion of the 2-axis hinge unit is constantly exposed outside the mobile telephone. The exposed portion includes input elements. The input elements can be, for example, a pointing device. The pointing device can be operated regardless of the positions of the housings of the communications terminal. The telephone includes position detection elements for detecting the relative positions of the housings. The control unit can control the operation of the terminal based on the relative positions of the housings. The position detection elements includes a magnet and a magnetic sensor. The input elements can be a fingerprint sensor.

Abstract: A folding mobile communications apparatus comprises an upper unit 200, a lower unit 100, and a hinge 300 for connecting the units as rotatable in an open-and-close state. On a main surface 201a of the upper unit 200, a first speaker 203 is provided at one end of the unit, and a second speaker 230 having at least the function of a receiver is provided near the hinge 300. On the main surface 101a of the lower unit 100, a microphone 103 is provided at an end opposite the hinge 300. A control unit 117 controls the first speaker 203, the second speaker 230, and the microphone 103 such that any two of them can function as a set of a receiver and a transmitter based on a relative position of the two units detected by an attitude detection unit 113.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an information processing device is capable of processing audio data linked with predetermined image data in each of positions on a display screen, the positions corresponding to a plurality of playback times for the audio data.

Abstract: A data recording and reproducing apparatus has a reproduction-only mode capable of reproducing a voice file and a recording and reproducing mode capable of recording and reproducing a voice file as an operating mode. An operating mode switching section automatically switches the operating mode to the recording and reproducing mode when an instruction to record a voice file is given in the reproduction-only mode. A recording section records the voice file after the operating mode is switched to the reproduction-only mode.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when image data displayed on a monitor is linked with audio data using a digital recorder as a remote controller, an operator is permitted to sequence a plurality of image data to sequentially select the image data. After sound recording is started through the digital recorder, the operator turns on a shutter button of the digital recorder, thus closing an audio file and opening a new audio file. Further, the next image data is displayed. After that, the operator turns on a stop button of the digital recorder to return a screen to an edit screen. Then, all of audio files currently formed are connected to each other in the order of selection, the plurality of mage data are linked as indexes with the connected audio files in the sequence such that each image data is inserted between the audio files, thus forming an audio album.

Abstract: A novel polarization selective membrane is disclosed. The membrane comprises a liquid crystal molecule having a helical structure and selectively transmits specific polarized light and selectively reflects the other polarized light. The helical axis of the helical structure is practically oriented in the normal direction of the membrane plane, and the angle between the helical axis of the helical structure and the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules is from 5° to 85°. The membrane may be prepared by using a composition comprising a compound represented by Formula (I): wherein X represents a group having an optically active site, M represents a group having at least one aromatic carbocycle or aromatic heterocycle, Y1 and Y2 independently represent a bivalent group; R1 to R3 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, R represents an alkyl group.

Abstract: A portable communication apparatus includes a main housing having at least a display section and an operation section and a movable housing that is engaged with the main housing slidably in a longitudinal direction between a retracted State and an extended state. The main housing and the movable housing are urged in an extension direction and are releasably locked in the retracted state. A portion of the display section is covered and protected by the movable housing when retracted. An optical aperture for optical function is provided in the main housing and its optical function is made operable when expended.