Abstract: A liquid crystalline coating solution which comprises: an azo compound represented by the following general formula (1); and a solvent to dissolve the azo compound: wherein Q1 is an aryl group which may have any substituent group; Q2 is an arylene group which may have any substituent group; R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, or a phenyl group (these groups may have any substituent groups); and M is a counter ion.

Abstract: The lyotropic liquid crystalline mixture of the present invention comprises at least a first azo compound and a second azo compound in relation of constitutional isomers wherein the first azo compound and the second azo compound are the constitutional isomers different in a binding site of at least an azo group. The first azo compound is preferably an azo compound wherein the azo group is bonded to an ortho-position of a hydroxyl group of an aminonaphthol skeleton. The second azo compound is preferably an azo compound wherein the azo group is bonded to an ortho-position of an amino group of an aminonaphthol skeleton. The lyotropic liquid crystalline mixture of the present invention may be utilized as a forming material of an optical anisotropic film, for example.

Abstract: An adhesive of the invention for polarizing plates used for forming an adhesive layer in a polarizing plate in which a polarizer and a transparent protective film is are adhering with each other via the adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive for polarizing plates is an aqueous solution containing a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin having an acetoacetyl group and a crosslinking agent, and the aqueous solution has a pH of 4.3 or less. The adhesive of the invention for polarizing plates is good in durability and long in pot life.

Abstract: A polarizer of the present invention comprises an azo compound which is represented by the following general formula (I). In the general formula (I), Q1 represents an optionally substituted aryl group, Q2 represents an optionally substituted arylene group, M represents a counter ion, l represents an integer of from 1 to 6, and m represents an integer of from 0 to 5 (l+m?6).

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel of the present invention comprises a liquid crystal cell, a first polarizing plate arranged on one of both sides of the liquid crystal cell, and a second polarizing plate arranged on the other side of the liquid crystal cell, wherein the liquid crystal cell comprises red, green and blue color filters, and a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer has a multigap structure satisfying the following relationship: dR?dG>dB. The first polarizing plate comprises a first polarizer and a first protective layer arranged on the liquid crystal cell side of the first polarizer, and in the first protective layer, the index ellipsoid thereof satisfies the following relationship: nx>ny?nz. In a liquid crystal display having the liquid crystal panel, the color shift thereof can be made smaller in oblique directions and display characteristics can be excellent.

Abstract: A polarizer of the present invention comprises an azo compound which is represented by the following general formula (I). In the general formula (I), Q1 represents an optionally substituted aryl group, Q2 represents an optionally substituted arylene group, M represents a counter ion, l represents an integer of from 1 to 6, and m represents an integer of from 0 to 5 (l+m?6).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a polarizing film, by which, even when a wide raw film is used, it is possible to obtain a polarizing film that achieves excellent optical characteristics as well as uniformity in in-plane optical characteristics. The method includes the steps of dyeing a polymer film; stretching the dyed film; and drying the film that has undergone the dyeing and stretching steps while conveying the film with rolls. In the drying step, at least two rolls are used as the rolls and the film is dried under a condition that a ratio (R/W) of a distance (R) between the adjacent rolls to an initial width (W) of the polymer film is not less than 0.5 and not more than 4.0.

Abstract: A polarizer that can be used for forming a liquid crystal display or an electroluminescent display with less display irregularities and excellent display characteristics is provided. The polarizer contains a dichroic material in a matrix, and its in-plane retardation at a measurement wavelength providing no absorption is in a range of 950 to 1350 nm. The measurement wavelength is preferably a wavelength that the dichroic material provides no absorption, and it is 1000 nm, for example.

Abstract: A method of producing a polarizing plate of the present invention comprises the steps of: bonding a protective film to at least one side of a polarizing film that is produced through at least uniaxial stretching and has an absorption axis in the uniaxial stretching direction, and removing by cutting at least one of the edges of the polarizing film that are substantially parallel to the direction of the absorption axis before the bonding the protective film. The method widen the effective width of the polarizing plate, and a large size polarizing plate was obtained.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing a polarizing film, comprising: a dyeing step and a stretching step, a plurality of films being dipped into at least one processing liquid without contacting each other.

Abstract: An adhesive of the invention for polarizing plates used for forming an adhesive layer in a polarizing plate in which a polarizer and a transparent protective film is are adhering with each other via the adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive for polarizing plates is an aqueous solution containing a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin having an acetoacetyl group and a crosslinking agent, and the aqueous solution has a pH of 4.3 or less. The adhesive of the invention for polarizing plates is good in durability and long in pot life.

Abstract: A process for producing a polarizing film including a step of stretching a raw film, wherein the ratio (L/W) of stretching distance (L) to width of initial raw film (W) is from 0.5 to 30.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polarizing member constituted by, at least, a cholesteric liquid-crystal layer (1), a quarter-wave plate (2), and an optical rotatory layer (3). By the polarizing member according to the present invention, the plane of polarization of light linearly polarized by a combination of the cholesteric liquid-crystal layer and the quarter-wave plate are rotated by the optical rotatory layer so that the linearly polarized light is supplied to an absorption type polarizer (4) with good coincidence between the plane of polarization of the linearly polarized light and the axis of polarization of the absorption type polarizer. Thus, there can be obtained a liquid-crystal display device which has luminance improved by prevention of absorption loss and is excellent in display quality.

Abstract: A high-brightness polarizing plate of the present invention comprises a polarizing plate that comprises a polarizer and a protective film prepared on one or both sides of the polarizer, a brightness enhancement film and an adhesive layer through which the polarizing plate and the brightness enhancement film are laminated with the protective film interposed between them, wherein the protective film has an in-plane retardation Re of 0 to 10 nm and a thickness-direction retardation Rth of ?30 to 10 nm, wherein Re=(nx?ny)d and Rth={(nx+ny)/(2?nz)}d. The high-brightness polarizing plate has a small color shift, and can be applied to various image displays such as liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: A polarizing member is constituted by an absorption type polarizing film, and one polymer material layer or two or more polymer material layers provided on one or both of opposite surfaces of the absorption type polarizing film, wherein each polymer material layer does not have any extraordinary refractive index area with a length not smaller than 20 ?m and does not have two or more extraordinary refractive index areas with a length of from 0.5 to 20 ?m in a region of 50 ?m-radius. An optical member is constituted by a laminate at least having the polarizing member, and a reflection type polarizing plate. A liquid-crystal display device is constituted by either of the polarizing member and the optical member, and a liquid-crystal cell, wherein either of the polarizing member and the optical member is provided on one or both of opposite sides of the liquid-crystal cell.

Abstract: A polarizing member is constituted by an absorption type polarizing film, and one polymer material layer or two or more polymer material layers provided on one or both of opposite surfaces of the absorption type polarizing film, wherein each polymer material layer does not have any extra ordinary refractive index area with a length not smaller than 20 ?m and does not have two or more extraordinary refractive index areas with a length of from 0.5 to 20 ?m in a region of 50 ?m-radius. An optical member is constituted by a laminate at least having the polarizing member, and a reflection type polarizing plate. A liquid-crystal display device is constituted by either of the polarizing member and the optical member, and a liquid-crystal cell, wherein either of the polarizing member and the optical member is provided on one or both of opposite sides of the liquid-crystal cell.

Abstract: A polarizer that can be used for forming a liquid crystal display or an electroluminescent display with less display irregularities and excellent display characteristics is provided. The polarizer contains a dichroic material in a matrix, and its in-plane retardation at a measurement wavelength providing no absorption is in a range of 950 to 1350 nm. The measurement wavelength is preferably a wavelength that the dichroic material provides no absorption, and it is 1000 nm, for example.

Abstract: An adhesive for polarizing plate used in order to provide a transparent protective film on at least one surface of a polarizer, comprising a crosslinking agent in the range of more than 30 parts by weight and 46 parts by weight or less relative to 100 parts by weight of a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin having an acetoacetyl group, is excellent in water resistance.

Abstract: A touch type liquid-crystal display device has a liquid-crystal display panel having flexibility, a touch panel provided to adhere closely to a back side, opposite to a visual side, of the liquid-crystal display panel, and electrodes disposed to be opposite to each other through a gap. The electrodes are capable of coming into partial contact with each other by a pressing force to thereby detect an input position.

Abstract: A polarizing film is provided that prevents display unevenness and can form a liquid crystal display and an electroluminescence display that exhibit excellent display characteristics. The polarizing film is produced in the following manner. That is, a hydrophilic polymer film is conveyed by means of a guide roll so as to be impregnated in an aqueous solvent in a swelling bath and is allowed to swell. In this swelling step, at least a first guide roll is arranged in the swelling bath, and when the polymer film is impregnated in and allowed to travel in the aqueous solvent, the polymer film is brought into contact with the first guide roll within a time up to when swelling reaches a saturation state. Further, the polymer film is dyed using a dichroic substance and stretched.