Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent substrate, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer in order. The optically anisotropic layer comprises discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer comprises a denatured polyvinyl alcohol having a hydrocarbon group containing 10 to 100 carbon atoms or a denatured polyvinyl alcohol containing fluorine atoms. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned at an average inclined angle in the range of 50° to 90°. An orientation layer, a liquid crystal display of an STN mode and a method of alignment of discotic liquid crystal molecules are also disclosed.

Abstract: A diffusing film comprises a transparent resin in which scatterers are dispersed. The difference between the refractive index of the transparent resin and that of the scatterers is in the range of 0.04 to 1.5. The scatterers are flat particles having sizes of 0.1 to 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A long sheet polarizer which has a transmission axis neither parallel nor perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and thereby can increase a yield rate in stamping and simplify the stamping process; a method of producing a long sheet polarizer comprising a step of coating a long transparent substrate with a polymer layer, a step of subjecting the polymer layer to a rubbing treatment, and a step of adsorbing iodine or a dichroic dye to the rubbed polymer layer to bring about a state of orientation; a sheet polarizer comprising two transparent substrates and a polarization layer sandwiched between them, wherein the polarization layer comprises a polyvinyl alcohol film stretched at an oblique angle ranging from 10 to 80 degrees and a polarizing element adsorbed to the film in an oriented state; and a sheet polarizer provided with at least one transparent substrate satisfying the following relations at any of wavelengths ranging from 380 nm to 780 nm:

Abstract: A liquid crystal display of transmission type comprises a light source, a polarizing film, a liquid crystal cell and another polarizing film in this order. An optical compensatory sheet is further provided between the liquid crystal cell and the polarizing film on a light source side or between the liquid crystal cell and the polarizing film on a display side. The optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer contains a discotic compound having a discotic plane. The discotic plane is inclined from a surface of the support surface at an angle. The angle varies along a direction of depth of the optically anisotropic layer. The liquid crystal display has a difference in chromaticity (&Dgr;Cuv) of 0.05 or less. The difference is measured between an image seen frontally and an image seen rightward or leftward at a viewing angle of 60°.

Abstract: A cellulose acetate film is made of a cellulose acetate having an acetic acid content of 59.0 to 61.5%. The film is controlled to have a Re retardation value in the range of 0 to 20 nm, a Rth retardation value in the range of 30 to 70 nm, and a thickness in the range of 10 to 70 nm.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a cellulose acetate film. The film contains 100 weight parts of cellulose acetate having an acetic acid content of 59.0 to 61.5% and 0.01 to 20 weight parts of an aromatic compound having at least two aromatic rings. The cellulose acetate film has an Re retardation value measured at 550 nm (Re550) in the range of 0 to 200 nm and an Rth retardation value measured at 550 nm (Rth550) in the range of 70 to 400 nm. The cellulose acetate film further has a thickness in the range of 10 to 70 &mgr;m. The optical compensatory sheet is used in a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display giving an excellent image without defects is proposed. The liquid crystal display is equipped with an optical compensatory sheet in which a transparent support, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer formed from a liquid crystal compound are provided in this order. The orientation layer has a surface roughness of 0.1 to 2.0 nm.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent substrate, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer in order. The optically anisotropic layer comprises discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer comprises a denatured polyvinyl alcohol having a hydrocarbon group containing 10 to 100 carbon atoms or a denatured polyvinyl alcohol containing fluorine atoms. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned at an average inclined angle in the range of 50° to 90°. An orientation layer, a liquid crystal display of an STN mode and a method of alignment of discotic liquid crystal molecules are also disclosed.

Abstract: A diffusing film comprises a transparent resin in which scatterers are dispersed. The difference between the refractive index of the transparent resin and that of the scatterers is in the range of 0.04 to 1.5. The scatterers are flat particles having sizes of 0.1 to 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A polarizing plate comprises a light-scattering polarizing element and a light-absorbing polarizing element. The elements are so arranged that the polarizing transmission axis of the light-scattering polarizing element is essentially parallel to the polarizing transmission axis of the light-absorbing polarizing element. The light-scattering polarizing element has a polarizing layer comprising an optically isotropic continuous phase and an optically anisotropic discontinuous phase.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent substrate, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer in order. The optically anisotropic layer comprises discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer comprises a denatured polyvinyl alcohol having a hydrocarbon group containing 10 to 100 carbon atoms or a denatured polyvinyl alcohol containing fluorine atoms. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned at an average inclined angle in the range of 50° to 90°. An orientation layer, a liquid crystal display of an STN mode and a method of alignment of discotic liquid crystal molecules are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ellipsoidal polarizing plate comprises two optically anisotropic layers, a polarizing membrane and a transparent protective film. Each of the optically anisotropic layers has a direction giving the maximum refractive index and a plane of the layer. The first optically anisotropic layer has an angle of 5° to 85° between the direction giving the maximum refractive index and the plane. The second optically anisotropic layer is optically positive and uniaxial. The second optically anisotropic layer has an angle of 0° to 5° between the direction giving the maximum refractive index and the layer plane.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent substrate, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer in order. The optically anisotropic layer comprises discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer comprises a polymer having a hydrocarbon side chain containing 10 or more carbon atoms or a fluoropolymer. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned at an average inclined angle in the range of 50° to 90°. A liquid crystal display of an STN mode and a method of alignment of discotic liquid crystal molecules are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystal molecules and monomers having four or more double bonds. The monomers are polymerized to form a polymer in the optically anisotropic layer.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises an optically anisotropic layer formed of discotic liquid crystal molecules provided on a transparent substrate. The liquid crystal molecules are horizontally aligned in the optically anisotropic layer. An average inclined angle between discotic planes of the discotic liquid crystal molecules and a surface of the transparent substrate is less than 5°. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are fixed in the optically anisotropic layer while keeping the horizontal alignment.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display giving an excellent image without defects is proposed. The liquid crystal display is equipped with an optical compensatory sheet in which a transparent support, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer formed from a liquid crystal compound are provided in this order. The orientation layer has a surface roughness of 0.1 to 2.0 nm.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display has a bend orientation cell or HAN mode cell and further is provided with an optical compensatory sheet. The optical compensatory sheet shows the minimum of absolute values of retardation values in a direction inclined from the normal of the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optically anisotropic element to be used for improvement of visual angle characteristics for display contrast and display color of TN type liquid crystal display element, and to a method for manufacturing the same. The optically anisotropic element has a liquid crystal display element, which comprises a liquid crystal cell, in which a twist nematic liquid crystal is squeezed between two electrode substrates and two polarizing elements disposed on both sides thereof, said optically anisotropic element being disposed between said liquid crystal cell and said polarizing element, whereby it has sheet-like structure and exhibits negative uniaxial property and is arranged in such manner that its optical axis is neither perpendicular nor in parallel to sheet surface, for example, it is inclined at an angle of 10.degree. to 40.degree. from a direction perpendicular to sheet surface.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet is composed of a transparent support, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer. The orientation layer is a crosslinked polymer layer a surface of which has been subjected to rubbing treatment, and the optically anisotropic layer is made of a discotic liquid crystalline compound. A liquid crystal display is composed of a liquid crystal cell, a polarizing sheet arranged on each side of the cell, and the optical compensatory sheet provided between at least one side of the liquid crystal cell and the polarizing sheet. A color liquid crystal display has also the optical compensatory sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical compensatory sheet which comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer provided thereon, wherein the optically anisotropic layer comprises a compound having a discotic structure unit in its molecule and has negative birefringence, and the discotic structure unit has a plane inclined from a plane of the transparent support at an angle varying along a direction of depth of the anisotropic layer. A liquid crystal display and a color liquid crystal display provided with the optical compensatory sheet are also disclosed.