Abstract: A polarization diffraction element comprising a film including a liquid crystalline material having photosensitivity, the film having at least one hologram recorded therein, and thereby having a property as a fork-shaped polarization grating having an anisotropic structure in which an optical axis continuously rotates toward a direction of a grating vector.

Abstract: A display device has a display portion and a polarizing plate, the polarizing plate being provided on a viewing side of the display portion and having a transmission axis in a vertical direction with respect to the display portion, wherein at least one tilt orientation phase difference film is provided on a viewing side of the polarizing plate, and the tilt orientation phase difference film has such an arrangement structure that does not cause a phase difference for light emitted upward in the vertical direction, and causes a phase difference for light emitted in a lateral direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

Abstract: A display device has a display portion and a polarizing plate, the polarizing plate being provided on a viewing side of the display portion and having a transmission axis in a vertical direction with respect to the display portion, wherein at least one tilt orientation phase difference film is provided on a viewing side of the polarizing plate, and the tilt orientation phase difference film has such an arrangement structure that does not cause a phase difference for light emitted upward in the vertical direction, and causes a phase difference for light emitted in a lateral direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

Abstract: A group of optically anisotropic particles that is used in dispersing the particles in a matrix material, the group being constituted of a plurality of particles each having an independently fixed oriented state in a liquid crystal droplet.

Abstract: Provided is an optical film laminate with a thinner thickness having an optical compensation function. According to the present invention is provided an optical film laminate comprising (i) a positive C plate comprising a liquid crystal material having a photosensitive group and (ii) a positive A plate, an optically biaxial plate, or an O plate, these plate comprising a liquid crystal material having a photosensitive group; wherein the both plates are directly bonded with each other to be firmly laminated without adhesive.

Abstract: Directed to a film having a depolarizing function, in which anisotropic volumetric regions are dispersed in a translucent matrix. For the translucent matrix, a material capable of forming a film itself, a hard coating layer formed on a surface of the film or a layer of an adhesive can be employed. It is therefore possible to provide a film, having a depolarizing function, of a kind in which when the film of the present invention is mounted on a surface of a polarizing plate arranged on a surface of a liquid crystal display device or an organic electroluminescent display device, the polarized state of a display light emerging outwardly from a display screen is partially altered and, hence, even when polarizing eyeglasses are worn on, darkening of the displayed image can be prevented and, also, a considerable shading of the color tone of the image can be reduced.

Abstract: Provided is an optical film laminate with a thinner thickness having an optical compensation function. According to the present invention is provided an optical film laminate comprising (i) a positive C plate comprising a liquid crystal material having a photosensitive group and (ii) a positive A plate, an optically biaxial plate, or an O plate, these plate comprising a liquid crystal material having a photosensitive group; wherein the both plates are directly bonded with each other to be firmly laminated without adhesive.

Abstract: Provided are an electrolyte composition useful in gelling or solidifying the electrolyte of a dye-sensitized solar cell, an electrolyte formed from the electrolyte composition, and a dye-sensitized solar cell. The electrolyte composition comprises a redox pair, an ionic liquid, and a photocrosslinkable liquid crystal polymer having a functional group represented by the following chemical formula (1) to form the electrolyte. Moreover, the dye-sensitized solar cell 1 comprises a photoelectrode 10, a counter electrode 20, and the photocrosslinked electrolyte 30 sandwiched between these two sheets of electrodes. In the formula m is 0 or 1; n is 1 to 3; c is 0 or 1; X is none, O, CH2, N?N, C?C, C?C, COO, or OCO; R1 and R2 are each representing H, an alkyl group, an alkyloxy group, or a halogen.

Abstract: Directed to a film having a depolarizing function, in which anisotropic volumetric regions are dispersed in a translucent matrix. For the translucent matrix, a material capable of forming a film itself, a hard coating layer formed on a surface of the film or a layer of an adhesive can be employed. It is therefore possible to provide a film, having a depolarizing function, of a kind in which when the film of the present invention is mounted on a surface of a polarizing plate arranged on a surface of a liquid crystal display device or an organic electroluminescent display device, the polarized state of a display light emerging outwardly from a display screen is partially altered and, hence, even when polarizing eyeglasses are worn on, darkening of the displayed image can be prevented and, also, a considerable shading of the color tone of the image can be reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates primarily to a retardation film and a process for producing the retardation film, wherein a layer formed of a mixture of a photosensitive polymer and a low molecular weight compound is irradiated with linear polarized ultraviolet ray, ultraviolet ray including a perfectly polarized light component and a non-polarized light component, or a non-polarized ultraviolet ray to orient molecules thereby developing a retardation and the direction of the optical axis arbitrarily in the layer formed of a mixture.

Abstract: A retardation film mainly used in a liquid crystal display and a process for producing the retardation film are provided. By using the retardation film having a birefringence, a coloring phenomenon and gray scale inversion can be reduced and viewing angle characteristics of a TN liquid crystal display can be improved.

Abstract: A retardation film mainly used in a liquid crystal display and a process for producing the retardation film are provided. By using the retardation film having a birefringence, a coloring phenomenon and gray scale inversion can be reduced and viewing angle characteristics of a TN liquid crystal display can be improved.

Abstract: The invention relates primarily to a retardation film and a process for producing the retardation film, wherein a layer formed of a mixture of a photosensitive polymer and a low molecular weight compound is irradiated with linear polarized ultraviolet ray, ultraviolet ray including a perfectly polarized light component and a non-polarized light component, or a non-polarized ultraviolet ray to orient molecules thereby developing a retardation and the direction of the optical axis arbitrarily in the layer formed of a mixure.

Abstract: The invention relates primarily to a retardation film and a process for producing the retardation film, wherein a layer formed of a mixture of a photosensitive polymer and a low molecular weight compound is irradiated with linear polarized ultraviolet ray, ultraviolet ray including a perfectly polarized light component and a non-polarized light component, or a non-polarized ultraviolet ray to orient molecules thereby developing a retardation and the direction of the optical axis arbitrarily in the layer formed of a mixure.

Abstract: An alignment layer is obtained by applying a polymer having a mesogen structure onto a substrate and irradiating this applied polymer with ultraviolet light. According to the invention, there can be provided an alignment layer capable of conferring alignment functions on liquid crystals by a non-rubbing treating means in a simple optical alignment device without generating fine dusts or causing an electric discharge by static electricity, as well as a liquid crystal display using the same.

Abstract: The invention relates primarily to a retardation film and a process for producing the retardation film, wherein a layer formed of a mixture of a photosensitive polymer and a low molecular weight compound is irradiated with linear polarized ultraviolet ray, ultraviolet ray including a perfectly polarized light component and a non-polarized light component, or a non-polarized ultraviolet ray to orient molecules thereby developing a retardation and the direction of the optical axis arbitrarily in the layer formed of a mixure.

Abstract: A light guide member (2) includes a first light guide section (2A), which is a non-scattering light guide region, and a second light guide section (2B) which is a scattering light guide section and is made of material of the same composition as that of the first light guide section (2A), but mixed with scattering particles. Therefore, while the concentration of the scattering particles in the second light guide section (2A) is retained as high as possible, the gradient of the light scattering power can be increased to thereby allow a light exit surface to exhibit a high brightness and uniformity in luminance over the entire surface thereof. Also, the first light guide section (2A) and the second light guide section (2B) are formed by bonding them in the thicknesswise direction by the effect of a cohesive strength exhibited by material themselves therefore.

Abstract: A dampening solution composition for lithographic printing, which comprises (a) water, and (b) a compound (A) represented by the following formula (I). ##STR1## wherein R represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group or an isopropyl group, and n represents an integer of 1 to 4, is disclosed.

Abstract: An additive for a lithographic dampening solution is disclosed, which comprises:(a) a compound represented by the following formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group or an isopropyl group, and n represents an integer of 1 to 4; and(b) an alcohol having an HLB of 7.0 to 15.0 which is selected from the group consisting of primary or tertiary alkoxyalcohols having an alkoxy group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, primary or tertiary alkanols, saturated straight-chain polyhydric alcohols containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and diethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers. A dampening solution for lithographic printing comprising water and the additive is also disclosed.

Abstract: Green ceramic tapes are prepared which comprise a finely divided ceramic powder and a water-compatible polyurethane resin binder. The green tapes are prepared by casting a water-based slip containing the ceramic powder and the water-compatible polyurethane resin binder in the form of the tape and then drying the formed tape. The drying is preferably conducted in two stages, in the first of which a relatively humid atmosphere is maintained.