Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device comprising at least: a backlight; a polarizer; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 210 to 300 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a second optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a third optically anisotropic layer with negative optical anisotropy; a liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates; a fourth optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 210 to 300 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the second optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure.

Abstract: A transmissive liquid crystal display device comprises at least a backlight, a polarizer, a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm, a second optically anisotropic layer with negative retardation, a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates, a third optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 130 to 210 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the first optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure, and is less in display characteristic variation, bright in display, high in contrast, and less in viewing angle dependence.

Abstract: A circular polarizer includes at least an optically anisotropic element, a transmissive protection film and a polarizing element sandwiched therebetween. The optically anisotropic element has a liquid crystal layer aligned on a cellulose triacetate film and a retardation of approximately ¼ wavelength in the visible light region. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal film with a fixed twisted nematic alignment. The circular polarizer is suppressed in thickness by simplifying the layer structure without causing defects, such as peeling off the layers, even under elevated temperature and humidity condition and makes it possible to set arbitrarily the angle of the alignment axis direction of the optically anisotropic element including a liquid crystal layer with a fixed twisted alignment with respect to the absorption axis of the polarizing element, so that the optically anisotropic element and polarizing element both in the form of an elongate film can be laminated continuously to one another.

Abstract: A homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film is provided with a liquid crystalline substance containing a side chain liquid crystalline compound having an oxetanyl group, as a constituent, aligned homeotropically on an alignment substrate while being in a liquid crystal state and fixed in the homeotropic alignment by allowing the oxetanyl group to react. Thus, the homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film can be stably produced without necessitating a complicated step such as light irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere and is excellent in alignment retainability after being fixed in the homeotropic alignment and in mechanical strength.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display has a first substrate having a transparent electrode, a second substrate having a transflective electrode, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, a first optical anisotropic element arranged on the first substrate, and a second optical anisotropic element arranged on the second substrate and having a liquid crystal film. An angle within the range of 0 to 30 degrees is formed by a tilt direction defined by a projection direction of a director of a liquid crystalline polymer molecule on a surface of the liquid crystal film to which an angle of the director of the liquid crystalline polymer molecule is smaller and a pre-tilt direction defined by a projection direction of a director of a liquid crystalline molecule on an interface between liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer and a surface of the first substrate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal cell, a liquid crystalline substance layer, a pair of polarizers, and an optical compensation element. The twist angle of the liquid crystal cell is set to 180 to 270 degrees. The optical compensation element has a twisted structure twisted in the opposite direction to that of the liquid crystal cell. The difference in the absolute values of the twist angles between the liquid crystal cell and the optical compensation element is from 40 to 100 degrees. The difference in retardation at a wavelength ?=550 nm between the liquid crystal cell and the optical compensation element is from 100 to 250 nm. When the absolute values of the differences in retardation at wavelengths ? of 400 nm and 550 nm between the liquid crystal cell and the optical compensation element are represented by ?R(400) and ?R(550), respectively, and the ratio D therebetween is represented by D=?R(400)/?R(550), D is within the range of 0.5 to 1.0.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display has a liquid crystal cell having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates each provided with an electrode. A first polarizer is disposed on a viewer's side of the cell. At least one optical retardation compensator is disposed between the polarizer and the cell. A transflector is disposed behind the viewer's side of the liquid crystal layer. A circular polarizer is provided behind the viewer's side of the transflector. The circular polarizer comprises a second polarizer and an optical anisotropic element having a phase difference of approximately ¼ wavelength in the visible light region. The optical anisotropic element has a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybid orientation structure and a stretched film.

Abstract: A circular polarizer comprises at least a polarizer and an optical anisotropic element having an optical retardation of about ¼ wavelength in a visible light region, wherein the optical anisotropic element comprises at least a 50 &mgr;m or less thick liquid crystal film (A) obtained by fixing a liquid crystal substance exhibiting an optically positive uniaxiality, in a nematic hybrid orientation with an average tilt angle of 5 to 35 degrees, formed when the substance is in a liquid crystal state, thereby providing a favorable circular polarization characteristics with a decreased thickness. The use of this circular polarizer makes it possible to produce a transflective type liquid crystal device which is capable of providing bright display images of high contrast and is less dependent on the viewing angle.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal cell, polarizers disposed on both sides of the liquid crystal cell, and an optical compensation element disposed on at least one side of the liquid crystal cell between the liquid crystal cell and the polarizers, wherein the twist angle of the liquid crystal layer in the liquid crystal cell is set to from 180 to 270 degrees; the optical compensating element has a twisted structure twisted in the opposite direction to that of the liquid crystal layer; the difference in the absolute values of the twist angles between the liquid crystal cell and the optical compensation element is from 40 to 100 degrees; the difference in retardation at a wavelength &lgr;=550 nm between the liquid crystal cell and the optical compensation element is from 100 to 250 nm; and the ratio of the absolute values of the differences in retardation at wavelengths &lgr; of 400 nm and 550 nm between the liquid crystal cell and the optical compensation element is within the ra

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display comprises a first substrate having a transparent electrode, a second substrate having a transflective electrode on which a region having a reflection function is formed and a region having a transmission function is formed, a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates, a first optical anisotropic element arranged on the surface of the first substrate opposite to the surface contacting the liquid crystal layer, a polarizer arranged on the first optical anisotropic element, a second optical anisotropic element arranged on the surface opposite to the surface of the second substrate contacting the liquid crystal layer, and a polarizer arranged on the lower surface of the second optical anisotropic element wherein said second optical anisotropic element comprises at least one sheet of liquid crystal film obtained by fixing a nematic hybrid orientation formed by a liquid crystalline polymer exhibiting an optically positive un

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display providing a bright displayed image of high contrast in the transmission mode with less dependence on the viewing angle by combining a polarizer with an optically anisotropic element having a liquid crystal film in which a twisted nematic alignment stricture is secured to produce a circular polarizer and disposing the circular polarizer on the rear side of a transflector in the transflective liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A circular polarizer having excellent circular polarization characteristics and a liquid crystal display device equipped with the circular polarizer. The circular polarizer is comprised of at least a polarizer and an optical anisotropic element having a phase difference of approximately ¼ wavelength in the visible light region and characterized in that the optical anisotropic element is comprised of at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid orientation structure.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display providing a bright displayed image of high contrast in the transmission mode with less dependence on the viewing angle by combining a polarizer with an optically anisotropic element having a liquid crystal film in which a twisted nematic alignment stricture is secured to produce a circular polarizer and disposing the circular polarizer on the rear side of a transflector in the transflective liquid crystal display.