Abstract: A phase shift plate comprising a transparent substrate; an orientation layer that is formed on one surface of the substrate and that includes anisotropic polymers with orientation direction patterns arranged periodically along a primary surface of the substrate; and a liquid crystal layer that includes liquid crystals that are periodically oriented according to the orientation direction of the orientation layer. The transparent substrate is formed by a cyclic olefin copolymer made of a norbornene and ethylene copolymer.

Abstract: An optical sheet comprises a continuous phase comprising a transparent material and a dispersed phase dispersed in the continuous phase, and has a first surface and a second surface. At least one of the first surface and the second surface forms a prismatic surface of a prism portion constituting portion of the sheet, and the prism portion has a plurality of prism units, each having a triangular cross-section, formed regularly in a longitudinal and/or width direction of the sheet.

Abstract: The reflective liquid crystal display device comprises a polarizing plate disposed forwardly of a liquid crystal cell, a relector which is disposed on backside of the liquid crystal cell and reflects an incident light, and a light-scattering sheet which is disposed forwardly of the reflector and scatters the incident light isotopically. The light-scattering sheet can be prepared with the use of a spinodal decomposition method of coating a mixture liquid containing a plurality of polymers varying in refractive index on a transparent support and evaporating or removing a solvent to form a light-scattering layer having a droplet phase structure. The light-scattering layer includes a light-scattering layer showing a maximum intensity of the scattered-light at scattering angles of 3 to 40°, and a light-scattering layer showing maximums intensity of the scattered-light respectively at smaller angles of 2 to 2° and larger angle &thgr;b.

Abstract: A light-scattering sheet having a phase separation structure comprised of a plurality of solid components varying in refractive index is used to construct a liquid crystal display device. In a first embodiment, the light-scattering sheet is disposed in a defined position within a reflecting LCD device. Thus, in a reflecting LCD device comprising a liquid crystal cell constituted of a transparent front electrode plate having a substrate carrying a transparent conductive layer, a back electrode plate having a substrate carrying a conductive layer and a liquid crystal and, as disposed forwardly of the liquid crystal cell, a polarizer, the light-scattering sheet is interposed (i) between the polarizer and the front electrode plate or (ii) between the back electrode plate and a reflector disposed behind the back electrode plate. Alternatively, (iii) the substrate sheet may be constituted of the light-scattering sheet.

Abstract: A light-scattering sheet of the present invention can be produced by applying a liquid mixture comprising polymers varying in refractive index (e.g., cellulose acetate), evaporating a solvent, and forming a bicontinuous phase structure due to spinodal decomposition. In the sheet, incident light can be scattered isotropically, and the transmitted and scattered light may have a maximum intensity of a scattered light at a scattering angle of 2 to 40°. Therefore, the transmitted light can be scattered with high directionality. A reflective liquid crystal display unit has a liquid crystal cell with a liquid crystal sealed therein, a reflector for reflecting incident light disposed behind the liquid crystal cell, a light-scattering sheet disposed forwardly of the reflecting means and a polarizing plate disposed forwardly of the liquid crystal cell. The light-scattering sheet realizes a reflective liquid crystal display unit capable of assuring a high quality image.

Abstract: The reflective liquid crystal display device comprises a polarizing plate 1 disposed forwardly of the liquid crystal cell 6, a reflecting means 5 which is disposed on backside of the liquid crystal cell and reflects an incident light, and a light-scattering sheet 2 which is disposed forwardly of reflecting means and scatters the incident light isotopically. The light-scattering sheet can be prepared with the use of spinodal decomposition method comprising by coating a mixture liquid containing a plurality of polymers varying in refractive index on a transparent support and evaporating or removing a solvent to form a light-scattering layer having a droplet phase structure. The light-scattering layer includes a light-scattering layer showing a maximum intensity of the scattered-light at scattering angle of 3 to 40°, and a light-scattering layer showing maximums intensity of the scattered-light respectively at smaller angle of 2 to 20° and larger angle &thgr;b.

Abstract: The reflective liquid crystal display device comprises a polarizing plate 11 disposed forwardly of the liquid crystal cell 16, a reflecting means 15 disposed on backside of the liquid crystal cell, and a light-scattering sheet 12 disposed forwardly of reflecting means. The light-scattering sheet can be prepared by phase-separating a plurality of resins varying in refractive index due to spinodal decomposition and forming a light-scattering layer scattering an incident light isotropically. The light-scattering layer has a ratio of a linearly transmitted light to an incident light of 0.1 to 15% and has a phase separation structure having an average interphase distance of 3 to 15 &mgr;m. The light-scattering layer expresses a light-scattering intensity profile having substantially flat area at scattering angle &thgr; of 3 to 12° from a scattering center.

Abstract: A light-scattering sheet of the present invention can be produced by applying a liquid mixture comprising a plurality of polymers varying in refractive index (e.g., cellulose acetate), evaporating a solvent, and forming a bicontinuous phase structure due to spinodal decomposition. In the sheet, an incident light can be scattered isotropically, and the transmitted and scattered light may have a maximum intensity of a scattered light at a scattering angle of 2 to 40°. Therefore, the transmitted light can be scattered with high directionality. A reflective liquid crystal display unit comprises a liquid crystal cell 6 having a liquid crystal sealed therein, a reflecting means 5 for reflecting an incident light disposed behind the liquid crystal cell, a light-scattering sheet 2 disposed forwardly of the reflecting means and a polarizing plate disposed forwardly of the liquid crystal cell.