Abstract: A retardation film of the present invention comprises a stretched film of a polymer film containing a norbornene-based resin, wherein the stretched film satisfies the following equation (1) and the equation (2); 100 nm?(nx?ny)·d?350 nm . . . (1), 0.1?(nx?nz)/(nx?ny)?0.9 . . . (2), where the refractive indices in the slow axis direction, the fast axis direction and the thickness direction of the film are nx, ny and nz, respectively, d(nm) is thickness of the film, and the slow axis direction is a direction that the refractive index in film plane is maximum. The retardation film is hard to cause a shift or an unevenness of a retardation value due to a stress.

Abstract: An optical film(3) of the invention comprises a polarizing plate(1), in which a transparent protective film(1b) is laminated on both sides of a polarizer(1a), and plural retardation films(2) so that an absorption axis of the polarizing plate(1) is perpendicular or parallel to slow axes of the plural retardation films(2) and the slow axes of the plural retardation films(2) are parallel to one another. An Nz value expressed by Nz=(nx1?nz1)/(nx1?ny1) is in the range of from 0.15 to 0.85 and an in-plane retardation Re1 expressed by Re1=(nx1?ny1)×d1 is in the range of from 200 to 350 nm, where in each of the plural retardation films, a direction along with the refractive index in the film plane is maximum is defined as the X-axis, a direction perpendicular to the X-axis as the Y-axis, the thickness direction of the film as the Z-axis, and where refractive indices in each axial direction are defined as nx1, ny1, and nz1, respectively, and the thickness of the film as d1 (nm).

Abstract: A light diffusing sheet of a structure in which a light diffusing layer is formed on at least one surface of a transparent film, the light diffusing layer including a resin coat layer having a minute unevenness shape and a low refractive index layer having a refractive index lower than that of the resin coat layer on the surface having a minute unevenness shape thereof, whereby the sheet can retain antiglare property, shows almost no white blurring to be recognized due to surface scattering, exhibits almost no birefringence, and is excellent in adherence and durability even when applied to a high definition LCD.

Abstract: An optical film(3) of the invention comprises a polarizing plate(1) and plural retardation films(2) so that an absorption axis of the polarizing plate(1) is perpendicular or parallel to slow axes of the plural retardation films(2) and the slow axes of the plural retardation films(2) are parallel to one another. An Nz value expressed by Nz=(nx1?nz1)/(nx1?ny1) is in the range of from 0.15 to 0.85 and an in-plane retardation Re1 expressed by Re1=(nx1?ny1)×d1 is in the range of from 200 to 350 nm, where in each of the plural retardation films, a direction along with the refractive index in the film plane is maximum is defined as the X-axis, a direction perpendicular to the X-axis as the Y-axis, the thickness direction of the film as the Z-axis, and where refractive indices in each axial direction are defined as nx1, ny1, and nz1, respectively, and the thickness of the film as d1 (nm). The optical film may realize an easily viewable display with high contrast ratio in a wide range.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel of the present invention comprises at least: a liquid crystal cell comprising a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal molecule that is oriented in homogeneous alignment with no electric field applied thereto; a first polarizer placed on one side of the liquid crystal cell; a first optical element placed between the liquid crystal cell and the first polarizer; and a second polarizer placed on the other side of the liquid crystal cell, wherein the first optical element is substantially optically isotropic, the liquid crystal cell has an initial alignment direction that is substantially parallel to the direction of an absorption axis of the first polarizer, and the absorption axis of the first polarizer is substantially perpendicular to an absorption axis of the second polarizer. The liquid crystal panel shows less discoloration of images even when the screen is viewed from oblique directions.

Abstract: An optical device including a laminate of cholesteric liquid-crystal layers in which the wavelength ranges of selective reflection of circularly polarized light beams are out of visible light region and which are combined so that circularly polarized light beams transmitted through the cholesteric liquid-crystal layers to be left-handed and right-handed are inverted to each other. A liquid-crystal display apparatus including a vertically aligned liquid-crystal cell, polarizers disposed on opposite surfaces of the liquid-crystal cell, and one or two optical devices defined above and interposed between the liquid-crystal cell and either or each of the polarizers.

Abstract: A retardation film of the present invention comprises a stretched film of a polymer film containing a norbornene-based resin, wherein the stretched film satisfies the following equation (1) and the equation (2); 100 nm?(nx?ny)·d?350 nm . . . (1), 0.1?(nx?nz)/(nx?ny)?0.9 . . . (2), where the refractive indices in the slow axis direction, the fast axis direction and the thickness direction of the film are nx, ny and nz, respectively, d(nm) is thickness of the film, and the slow axis direction is a direction that the refractive index in film plane is maximum. The retardation film is hard to cause a shift or an unevenness of a retardation value due to a stress.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel having improved contrast ratio in an oblique direction and good display evenness without causing shift or unevenness in retardation values due to shrinkage stress of a polarizer or heat of backlight is provided. A liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell; a polarizer arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal cell; a first optical element arranged between one polarizer and the liquid crystal cell; and a second optical element arranged between the other polarizer and the liquid crystal cell, wherein: the first optical element comprises a retardation film containing a styrene-based resin and a polycarbonate-based resin and satisfying the following expressions (1) and (2); and the second optical element has substantially optical isotropy: 240 nm?Re[590]?350 nm??(1) 0.20?Rth[590]/Re[590]?0.80??(2).

Abstract: An optical film obtained by stretching a polymer film comprising a polycarbonate resin and a styrene resin: wherein a photoelastic coefficient is 2.0×10?11 to 6.0×10?11 m2/N, and a three dimensional refractive index is controlled so that an Nz coefficient may satisfy a relationship of Nz?0.9 and a front retardation (Re) may satisfy a relationship of Re?80 nm, has characteristics of giving wide viewing angle and also outstanding durability.

Abstract: A polarizing plate with an optical compensation layer is provided, which has an excellent peelability and is easy to reattach after mounted on an image display apparatus. A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer satisfying the condition (I) below is formed on both surfaces of an optical compensation layer, and one of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layers is further laminated with a polarizing plate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display of the invention comprises an in-plane switching liquid crystal panel containing a liquid crystal layer whose alignment orientation changes according to an electric field in parallel with a surface of a substrate; a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate disposed sandwiching the liquid crystal panel therebetween; a first optical film inserted between the first polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel; and a second optical film inserted between the second polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel, wherein the first optical film includes: a retardation film A1 having a relation of nz>nx?ny; and a retardation film B having an in-plane retardation (Re) in the range of from 200 to 300 nm, a relation of nx>nz>ny and satisfying Nz coefficient in the range of 0.3<Nz<0.

Abstract: An optical film for a liquid crystal display of the present invention laminating a polarizing plate and a retardation film so that an absorption axis of the polarizing plate and a slow axis of the retardation film are perpendicular or parallel to each other, wherein the polarizing plate comprises a transparent protective film on both surfaces of a polarizer and the transparent protective film has an in-plane retardation Re1=(nx1?ny1)×d1 is 10 nm or less and a thickness direction retardation Rth={(nx1+ny1)/2?nz1}×d1 is in the range of from 30 nm to 100 nm, and the retardation film has an Nz value represented by Nz=(nx2?nz2)/(nx2?ny2) is in the range of from 0.1 to 0.8 and an in-plane retardation Re2=(nx2?ny2)×d2 is in the range of from 60 to 300 nm. The optical film of the invention realizes a high contrast ratio over a wide range and a better view in a case where the optical film is applied to a liquid crystal display driving in IPS mode.

Abstract: An optical film in which a retardation film is laminated on one side of a polarizing plate, in which a transparent protective film is laminated on both sides of a polarizer, so that an absorbing axis of the polarizing plate and a slow axis of the retardation film may be perpendicular or may be parallel to each other, wherein a value Nz represented by Nz=(nx1?nz1)/(nx1?ny1) satisfies a range of 0.4 through 0.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal panel having an improved contrast ratio in an oblique direction and an improved color shift in an oblique direction. Further, there is provided a liquid crystal panel with excellent display uniformity. The liquid crystal panel of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell; a first polarizer arranged on one side of the liquid crystal cell; a second polarizer arranged on the other side of the liquid crystal cell; a first optical element and a second optical element arranged between the first polarizer and the liquid crystal cell; and a third optical element arranged between the second polarizer and the liquid crystal cell, in which: the first optical element has substantially optically negative uniaxial property; the second optical element satisfies the following expressions (1) and (2) and is arranged between the first optical element and the liquid crystal cell; and the third optical element has substantially optical isotropy.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell; a first polarizer arranged on one side of the liquid crystal cell; a second polarizer arranged on another side of the liquid crystal cell; a positive A plate and a positive C plate arranged between the liquid crystal cell and the first polarizer; and an isotropic optical element arranged between the liquid crystal cell and the second polarizer, wherein the positive A plate is arranged between the first polarizer and the positive C plate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell; a first polarizer arranged on one side of the liquid crystal cell; a second polarizer arranged on another side of the liquid crystal cell; a negative biaxial optical element and a positive C plate arranged between the liquid crystal cell and the first polarizer; and an isotropic optical element arranged between the liquid crystal cell and the second polarizer. Here, the negative biaxial optical element is arranged between the first polarizer and the positive C plate.

Abstract: An optical film in which a polarizing plate and a retardation film are laminated so that an absorbing axis of the polarizing plate and a slow axis of the retardation film may be perpendicular or may be parallel to each other, wherein a value Nz represented by Nz=(nx1?nz1)/(nx1?ny1) satisfies a range of 0.4 through 0.6, and an in-plane retardation Re1=(nx1?ny1)×d1 is 200 through 350 nm, where, a direction of the retardation film in which an in-plane refractive index within the film surface concerned gives a maximum is defined as X-axis, a direction perpendicular to X axis is defined as Y-axis, a thickness direction of the film is defined as Z-axis, refractive indexes in axial direction are defined as nx1, ny1, nz1, respectively, and a thickness of the film is defined as d1 (nm), may realize an easily viewable display with high contrast ratio in a wide range when applied to a display system, preferably used for a liquid crystal display operating in IPS mode.

Abstract: An optical film of the invention comprises a polarizing plate obtained by laminating a transparent protective film on at least one surface of a polarizer and a retardation film laminated on one surface of the polarizing plate so that the absorption axis of the polarizing plate and the slow axis of the retardation film are perpendicular to or in parallel with each other, wherein the retardation film satisfies a relation of nx>nz>ny, and the transparent protective film is disposed at least on the retardation film side and is a cellulose-based film with retardation in the thickness direction, which is expressed by (Rth)=(nx?nz)×d, in the range of 0 to 10 nm, where in each of the films, a refractive index of a slow axis direction, a refractive index of a fast axis direction and a refractive index in the thickness direction at a wavelength of 590 nm are represented by nx, ny and nz, respectively, that a film thickness is represented d (nm) and that the slow axis direction is defined as a direction in which a

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel having improved contrast ratio in an oblique direction and good display evenness without causing shift or unevenness in retardation values due to shrinkage stress of a polarizer or heat of backlight is provided. A liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell; a polarizer arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal cell; a first optical element arranged between one polarizer and the liquid crystal cell; and a second optical element arranged between the other polarizer and the liquid crystal cell, wherein: the first optical element comprises a retardation film containing a norbornene-based resin and satisfying the following expressions (1) and (2); and the second optical element has substantially optical isotropy: 240nm?Re[590]?350nm??(1) 0.20?Rth[590]/Re[590]?0.80??(2).

Abstract: A retardation film which hardly causes shift or unevenness in retardation values and which has a refractive index profile of nx>nz>ny (that is, 0<Rth[590]/Re[590]<1) is provided. A retardation film according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a stretched polymer film containing a styrene-based resin and a polycarbonate-based resin, which satisfies the following expressions (1) and (2): 100 nm?Re[590]?350 nm ??(1) 0.2?Rth[590]/Re[590]?0.