Abstract: The present invention provides a member for projection image display, including a reflection layer and a retardation layer, wherein the reflection layer includes a cholesteric liquid crystal layer exhibiting selective reflection in a visible light region, the cholesteric liquid crystal layer is a layer formed from a liquid crystal composition containing a discotic liquid crystal compound, and a front phase difference of the retardation layer is in a range of 50 nm to 400 nm; and a projection image display system which includes the above member for projection image display, wherein the retardation layer is disposed on an incident light side relative to the reflection layer, and the incident light is p-polarized light that vibrates in a direction parallel to a plane of incidence, which is capable of displaying a clear image having high reflectance and high transmittance, without a problem of a double image.

Abstract: The invention provides: a circularly polarized light separation film which selectively allows the transmission of any one of right circularly polarized light and left circularly polarized light in at least a part of a near infrared light wavelength range and includes a visible light shielding layer which reflects or absorbs light in at least a part of a visible light wavelength range and a circularly polarized light separation layer which selectively allows the transmission of any one of right circularly polarized light and left circularly polarized light in at least a part of a near infrared light wavelength range; a manufacturing method of the circularly polarized light separation film; an infrared sensor including the circularly polarized light separation film; and a sensing system and a sensing method utilizing the circularly polarized light separation film or a combination of the circularly polarized light separation film and a film including the visible light shielding layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination device which selectively radiates either one of right-circularly polarized light and left-circularly polarized light, comprising a reflective polarizing plate 1, a light source, and a reflective polarizing plate 2 in this order, and further comprising a retardation plate, wherein the reflective polarizing plate 1, the light source, and the reflective polarizing plate 2 are disposed such that polarized light reflected by the reflective polarizing plate 1 passes through the reflective polarizing plate 2 and polarized light reflected by the reflective polarizing plate 2 passes through the reflective polarizing plate 1, and phase difference and disposition of the retardation plate are adjusted such that the above either one of the circularly polarized lights is radiated toward both of a direction of the reflective polarizing plate 1 and a direction of the reflective polarizing plate 2 based on the light source.

Abstract: A circularly polarizing plate includes a polarizing film, a first optically anisotropic layer, and a second optically anisotropic layer in this order, in which the first optically anisotropic layer contains a twisted aligned liquid crystal compound of which a helical axis is a thickness direction thereof, a helix angle of the liquid crystal compound is 28.6±10°, an absorption axis of the polarizing film and an in-plane slow axis of the second optically anisotropic layer are parallel or orthogonal to each other, ?nd and ReB(550) respectively fall in predetermined value ranges. The circularly polarizing plate can sufficiently suppress the mixing of black with other colors in a front direction when being stuck on a display apparatus. A retardation plate used for the circularly polarizing plate and an organic EL display apparatus that have the circularly polarizing plate are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is an optical film which is resistant to repelling, bright dots, irregularity, and the use of such an optical film in a liquid crystal display leads to high front contrast, reduced grayscale inversion, and a reduced difference between a front image and an oblique image in grayscale reproducibility and color. The optical film including a first optically anisotropic layer; and a second optically anisotropic layer on the first optically anisotropic layer, wherein the first optically anisotropic layer is a layer of liquid crystal compounds aligned and fixed by polymerization, and the surface tilt angle of molecules of the liquid crystal compound is in a range of 5° to 80° at a site in contact with the second optically anisotropic layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical member including a reflection layer and an information presentation layer, the reflection layer comprising one or more circularly-polarized light reflection layers selected from the group consisting of a right circularly-polarized light reflection layer and a left circularly-polarized light reflection layer, the circularly-polarized light reflection layer consisting of a layer obtained by fixing a cholesteric liquid-crystalline phase, the reflection layer having a reflection wavelength at which a specular reflectance for non-polarized light is more than 20% in a wavelength region in which the circularly-polarized light reflection layer exhibits selective reflection, a diffuse reflectance for non-polarized light at the reflection wavelength less than 50%, the reflection wavelength being in an infrared wavelength region, and the information presentation layer having a pattern of a material that absorbs or reflects light of the reflection wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reflection film, comprising a right circularly-polarized light reflection layer and a left circularly-polarized light reflection layer as circularly-polarized light reflection layers, each of the circularly-polarized light reflection layers consisting of a layer obtained by fixing a cholesteric liquid-crystalline phase, having a reflection wavelength at which a diffuse reflectance for non-polarized light becomes 50% or more in a wavelength region in which each of the circularly-polarized light reflection layers exhibits selective reflection, the reflection wavelength being in an infrared wavelength region, and the reflection film exhibiting a direct transmittance of non-polarized visible light of 50% or more and a haze value of 5% or less; and an optical member including the reflection film, which can be used as a handwriting input sheet. The optical member can be used by being stuck to the surface of a display.

Abstract: The phase difference plate for a circularly polarizing plate including a first optically anisotropic layer, and a second optically anisotropic layer, in which the first optically anisotropic layer contains a liquid crystal compound helically aligned around a helical axis in its thickness direction, a helix angle of the liquid crystal compound in the first optically anisotropic layer is in a predetermined range, and an in-plane slow axis in a surface of the first optically anisotropic layer at the second optically anisotropic layer side is in parallel with an in-plane slow axis of the second optically anisotropic layer. The phase difference plate can sufficiently suppress the mixing of black with another color observed in the front direction when being stuck as a circularly polarizing plate on a display apparatus.

Abstract: The phase difference plate for a circularly polarizing plate includes a first optically anisotropic layer; and a second optically anisotropic layer, in which the first and second optically anisotropic layers contain a liquid crystal compound that is helically aligned around a helical axis which is in a thickness direction of each of the layers, the liquid crystal compound has a same helix direction in the first optically anisotropic layer and in the second optically anisotropic layer, and a helix angle of the liquid crystal compound each in the first optically anisotropic layer and in the second optically anisotropic layer is in a predetermined range. The phase difference plate can sufficiently suppress the mixing of black with another color observed in the front direction when being stuck as a circularly polarizing plate on a display apparatus.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition containing an optically active compound represented by the following formula (1) and a liquid crystal compound shows a cholesteric liquid crystal phase having an excellent alignment state: K1 and K2 represent benzene, cyclohexane or cyclohexene; X1 to X12 represent hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkynyl, alkenyl or alkyloxy.

Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination apparatus for plant cultivation, including a unit configured to change light in any wavelength region of 300 nm or higher and 600 nm or lower (wavelengths of 452 nm to 474 nm, for example) to light in the wavelength region having dominantly a right-circularly polarized light component. The illumination apparatus of the present invention enables irradiation with light that is capable of giving a specific effect in plant cultivation.

Abstract: According to the present invention, provided is a system for irradiating a target object selectively with specific circularly polarized light, comprising a polarization-state control member that controls the polarization state of light to thereby generate circularly polarized light; and a circularly polarized light-reflecting member, wherein the circularly polarized light-reflecting member is disposed at a position on which the circularly polarized light emitted from the polarization-state control member can be incident; the circularly polarized light-reflecting member generates reflected light that selectively comprises circularly polarized light of the same sense as the incident circularly polarized light from the polarization-state control member; and the circularly polarized light-reflecting member is disposed such that the target object can be irradiated with at least a part of the reflected light.

Abstract: The phase difference plate for a circularly polarizing plate includes a first optically anisotropic layer; and a second optically anisotropic layer, in which the first and second optically anisotropic layers contain a liquid crystal compound that is helically aligned around a helical axis which is in a thickness direction of each of the layers, the liquid crystal compound has a same helix direction in the first optically anisotropic layer and in the second optically anisotropic layer, and a helix angle of the liquid crystal compound each in the first optically anisotropic layer and in the second optically anisotropic layer is in a predetermined range. The phase difference plate can sufficiently suppress the mixing of black with another color observed in the front direction when being stuck as a circularly polarizing plate on a display apparatus.

Abstract: The phase difference plate for a circularly polarizing plate including a first optically anisotropic layer, and a second optically anisotropic layer, in which the first optically anisotropic layer contains a liquid crystal compound helically aligned around a helical axis in its thickness direction, a helix angle of the liquid crystal compound in the first optically anisotropic layer is in a predetermined range, and an in-plane slow axis in a surface of the first optically anisotropic layer at the second optically anisotropic layer side is in parallel with an in-plane slow axis of the second optically anisotropic layer. The phase difference plate can sufficiently suppress the mixing of black with another color observed in the front direction when being stuck as a circularly polarizing plate on a display apparatus.

Abstract: A compound which has a benzoxazinone ring and an aromatic ring that directly bonds to the benzoxazinone ring, and has a mesogenic core substituted by a substituent having a polymerizable functional group is excellent in terms of durability, colorless, and exhibits a high ?n while having an azomethine bond.

Abstract: Provided is an optical film which is resistant to repelling, bright dots, irregularity, and the use of such an optical film in a liquid crystal display leads to high front contrast, reduced grayscale inversion, and a reduced difference between a front image and an oblique image in grayscale reproducibility and color. The optical film including a first optically anisotropic layer; and a second optically anisotropic layer on the first optically anisotropic layer, wherein the first optically anisotropic layer is a layer of liquid crystal compounds aligned and fixed by polymerization, and the surface tilt angle of molecules of the liquid crystal compound is in a range of 5° to 80° at a site in contact with the second optically anisotropic layer.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device comprising first and second polarizing elements, and a liquid-crystal cell disposed between the first and second polarizing elements, wherein the liquid-crystal cell comprises first and second substrates (provided that the first substrate is disposed closer to the first polarizing element, and the second substrate is disposed closer to the second polarizing element), a liquid-crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, a color filter layer disposed on an inner surface of the first substrate, and an in-cell polarizing layer disposed between the color filter layer and the liquid-crystal layer, the absorption axis of the first polarizing element and the absorption axis of the in-cell polarizing layer are parallel to each other, and the sum total of the absolute values of Re of all the layers disposed between the in-cell polarizing layer and the first polarizing element is equal to or less than 10 nm, and the sum total of the absolute values of Rth thereof is eq

Abstract: A heat shield comprising a first light-reflective layer, having a reflectance peak both in a wavelength range of from 400 nm to less than 850 nm and in a wavelength range of from more than 850 nm to 1300 nm and satisfying C>A>B, is disclosed. “A” means the maximum reflectance in the wavelength range of from 400 nm to less than 850 nm; “B” means the reflectance at a wavelength of 850 nm; “C” means the maximum reflectance in the wavelength range of from more than 850 nm to 1300 nm; and “B” is equal to or less than 50%.

Abstract: The present invention provides an illuminating device that makes it possible to reduce the number of members for regulating a polarization state and can irradiate light having natural color shades without decreasing energy efficiency of light irradiation, and a plant growth regulation method using the illuminating device. The illuminating device of the present invention includes a light-emitting light source and a polarization state regulation member that regulates a polarization state of the light-emitting light source, in which the polarization state of a wavelength region of a portion of emission wavelengths is changed to circular polarization, and a degree of circular polarization of light in a wavelength band for regulation among the light rays to be irradiated is 0.3 or higher. In a preferable embodiment, a width of at least one wavelength band for regulation of the polarization state regulation member is from 60 nm to 250 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circular polarization illumination device which can irradiate right-circularly polarized light at a large light amount from a light source of right-circularly polarized light with a high efficiency and can irradiate left-circularly polarized light at a large light amount from a light source of left-circularly polarized light with a high efficiency, and a plant growth regulation method that can efficiently regulate the promotion or inhibition of the growth of plants by using the circular polarization illumination device. Moreover, the illumination device includes a light-emitting light source, a reflective polarizing plate, reirradiation unit, and circular polarization conversion unit.