Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display device comprising (1) a liquid crystal cell wherein a liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal component having positive dielectric anisotropy is sandwiched between a pair of substrates having at least one electrode, (2) a pair of polarizers arranged to sandwich the liquid crystal layer therebetween and (3) a birefringence layer provided between the liquid crystal layer and the polarizer on at least one side of the liquid crystal layer, wherein the angle formed between the maximum refractive index direction in the birefringence layer face and the direction of transmission axis or absorption axis of polarizer adjacent to the birefringence layer is not more than 5.degree..

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, comprising:(a) a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of light permeable substrates, an alignment of a liquid crystal of said liquid crystal layer being substantially horizontal relative to said substrates in the absence of applied voltage, said liquid crystal layer having a twisted structure with a twist angle along a direction of a thickness thereof such that an adequate display is provided without substantially reducing the time dimensional driving;(b) a pair of polarization means disposed on both outsides of said liquid crystal layer; and(c) at least one birefringent medium layer disposed between one side of said liquid crystal layer and the polarization means on said one side of said liquid crystal layer; an optical axis of said birefringent medium layer being inclined toward a polarization axis of the adjacent polarization means, the alignment direction of said liquid crystal on a surface of another side of said liquid crystal layer making an angle from 0.degree.

Abstract: A liquid crystal element comprising opposed substrates, a liquid crystal nipped between said opposed substrates, and an aligning film formed on the surface of at least one of said substrates to effect substantially horizontal alignment of the liquid crystal molecules relative to said surface, which liquid crystal element is characterized by the fact that the molecules forming said aligning film are substantially aligned in themselves.