Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a component of liquid crystal display and more particularly to a retarder that comprises a birefringent material. The disclosed retarder comprises at least one substrate, and a retardation layer coated onto the substrate. The substrate possesses anisotropic property of positive A-type. The retardation layer is substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range, and a principal axis of the lowest refractive index of the retardation layer and the principal axis of the largest refractive index of the substrate are substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: A patterned retarder includes at least one retardation plate comprising a substrate substantially transparent in visible spectral range and having front and rear surfaces and a set of parallel stripes located on front surface of the substrate and possessing in-plane retardation.