Abstract: A gas barrier film, an apparatus comprising the gas barrier film, and a process for producing the gas barrier film are provided. The gas barrier film comprises a plastic film having an oligomer content of not more than 1% by weight, an organic layer provided on the plastic film, and an inorganic layer provided on the organic layer. The organic layer has a thickness that is larger than a maximum difference in elevation on the surface of the plastic film. The gas barrier film having the above construction has excellent gas barrier properties.

Abstract: A robot control system has a portable operating device TP and a robot control device RC. The portable operating device TP is actuated by a rechargeable secondary battery and used to operate a robot R. The robot control device RC is capable of wireless communication with the portable operating device TP and performs automatic operation of the robot R based on teaching data provided by the portable operating device TP. The robot control system causes an emergency stop of the robot R when the wireless communication between the portable operating device TP and the robot control device RC is interrupted. The robot control system further includes a charging device CU, a connection monitoring section 12, and an automatic operation continuing section 11. The charging device CU charges the secondary battery by electrically connecting the portable operating device TP to the robot control device RC.

Abstract: There are provided a gas barrier film having excellent gas barrier properties, an apparatus comprising the gas barrier film, and a process for producing the gas barrier film. A gas barrier film 1 comprises a plastic film 2 having an oligomer content of not more than 1% by weight, an organic layer 3 provided on the plastic film 2, and an inorganic layer 4 provided on the organic layer 3, the organic layer 3 having a thickness that is larger than a maximum difference in elevation on the surface of the plastic film 2. The gas barrier film 1 having the above construction has excellent gas barrier properties.

Abstract: The invention provides: an optical element that includes a birefringence functional layer constituted of a polymerizable liquid crystal material, in which the birefringence functional layer is formed directly or indirectly on a substrate, and in a post-process carried out thereafter, alignment and characteristics of the birefringence functional layer are not disturbed, with the result that a high quality birefringence control function can be exerted; a liquid crystal display device provided with the optical element; a method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer that is not disturbed in the alignment and physical properties by the post-process; and a method of producing the optical element.

Abstract: The invention provides a retardation-controlling optical member that includes a retardation layer obtained by aligning and fixing crosslinkable liquid crystal molecules and columnar structures disposed on the retardation layer. When a liquid crystal cell is formed by use of the retardation-controlling optical member, the columnar structures are effectively inhibited from subsiding in the retardation layer to locally make the cell gap smaller even when pressure is externally applied in a thickness direction of the liquid crystal cell. A sum total of lower bottom areas of columnar structures disposed on a retardation layer is made larger sufficiently compared to a total area of, in particular, an effective display region of a retardation layer surface where the columnar structures are disposed, whereby pressure applied from a thickness direction is dispersed.

Abstract: A robot control system has a portable operating device TP and a robot control device RC. The portable operating device TP is actuated by a rechargeable secondary battery and used to operate a robot R. The robot control device RC is capable of wireless communication with the portable operating device TP and performs automatic operation of the robot R based on teaching data provided by the portable operating device TP. The robot control system causes an emergency stop of the robot R when the wireless communication between the portable operating device TP and the robot control device RC is interrupted. The robot control system further includes a charging device CU, a connection monitoring section 12, and an automatic operation continuing section 11. The charging device CU charges the secondary battery by electrically connecting the portable operating device TP to the robot control device RC.

Abstract: The invention provides: an optical element that includes a birefringence functional layer constituted of a polymerizable liquid crystal material, in which the birefringence functional layer is formed directly or indirectly on a substrate, and in a post-process carried out thereafter, alignment and characteristics of the birefringence functional layer are not disturbed, with the result that a high quality birefringence control function can be exerted; a liquid crystal display device provided with the optical element; a method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer that is not disturbed in the alignment and physical properties by the post-process; and a method of producing the optical element.

Abstract: The invention provides: an optical element that includes a birefringence functional layer constituted of a polymerizable liquid crystal material, in which the birefringence functional layer is formed directly or indirectly on a substrate, and in a post-process carried out thereafter, alignment and characteristics of the birefringence functional layer are not disturbed, with the result that a high quality birefringence control function can be exerted; a liquid crystal display device provided with the optical element; a method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer that is not disturbed in the alignment and physical properties by the post-process; and a method of producing the optical element.

Abstract: The invention provides a retardation-controlling optical member that includes a retardation layer obtained by aligning and fixing crosslinkable liquid crystal molecules and columnar structures disposed on the retardation layer. When a liquid crystal cell is formed by use of the retardation-controlling optical member, the columnar structures are effectively inhibited from subsiding in the retardation layer to locally make the cell gap smaller even when pressure is externally applied in a thickness direction of the liquid crystal cell. A sum total of lower bottom areas of columnar structures disposed on a retardation layer is made larger sufficiently compared to a total area of, in particular, an effective display region of a retardation layer surface where the columnar structures are disposed, whereby pressure applied from a thickness direction is dispersed.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an optical element that can be incorporated in a liquid crystal display device, is provided with a birefringent layer obtained by aligning and polymerizing polymerizable liquid crystal molecules, and, while sufficiently reflecting an actual condition of a liquid crystal display device, can reduce fear that a thickness of a driving liquid crystal layer unexpectedly varies. An optical element includes a light-transmitting base material and a birefringent layer comprising of aligned and polymerized liquid crystal molecules and having a value of indentation depth of 6% or less relative to a thickness of the birefringent layer, wherein said value is measured under conditions where a cylindrical indenter having a diameter of 30 (?m) is applied at a load of 10 mN/sec up to the maximum load of 400 mN.

Abstract: The invention provides a retardation control element capable of inhibiting a retardation defect that becomes a cause of light leakage and color shift of a liquid crystal display device from occurring, a method of producing the same, and a liquid crystal display device including such a retardation control element. A method of producing a retardation control element includes: a first step of filtering liquid crystal ink containing crosslinkable liquid crystal molecules with a filter material having a maximum pore diameter in the range of 0.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an optical element that can be incorporated in a liquid crystal display device, is provided with a birefringent layer obtained by aligning and polymerizing polymerizable liquid crystal molecules, and, while sufficiently reflecting an actual condition of a liquid crystal display device, can reduce fear that a thickness of a driving liquid crystal layer unexpectedly varies. An optical element includes a light-transmitting base material and a birefringent layer comprising of aligned and polymerized liquid crystal molecules and having a value of indentation depth of 6% or less relative to a thickness of the birefringent layer, wherein said value is measured under conditions where a cylindrical indenter having a diameter of 30 (?m) is applied at a load of 10 mN/sec up to the maximum load of 400 mN.

Abstract: The invention provides: an optical element that includes a birefringence functional layer constituted of a polymerizable liquid crystal material, in which the birefringence functional layer is formed directly or indirectly on a substrate, and in a post-process carried out thereafter, alignment and characteristics of the birefringence functional layer are not disturbed, with the result that a high quality birefringence control function can be exerted; a liquid crystal display device provided with the optical element; a method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer that is not disturbed in the alignment and physical properties by the post-process; and a method of producing the optical element.

Abstract: An optical filter including at least a coloring matter layer that includes a coloring matter having an absorption maximum wavelength in a wavelength region of 800 to 1100 nm and a coloring matter having an absorption maximum in a wavelength region of 570 to 610 nm contained in an identical layer. The coloring matter layer does not substantially contain two or more ionic coloring matter compounds different from each other in cation part. The optical filter can be disposed on the viewing side of a display. By virtue of the above construction, the optical filter and display, even when a plurality of coloring matters are present as a mixture in an identical coloring matter layer, can realize suppression of interaction between coloring matters and do not cause any change in spectral characteristics even under use for a long period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical filter possessing excellent near infrared shielding properties. The optical filter has a laminate structure comprising at least a transparent substrate and a near infrared absorptive layer, which is formed of an acrylic resin containing a near infrared absorptive colorant capable of absorbing a near infrared radiation, stacked on top of each other. The acrylic resin has a birefringence value of 0 (zero) to 15 nm.