Abstract: A phase difference plate and a liquid-crystal layer are provided between a polarizing plate and a selective reflection layer formed of cholesteric liquid crystal. A first color filter layer is provided on the polarizing plate side of the selective reflection layer. On the back side of the selective reflection layer, a second color filter layer is arranged. On the back side of the second color filter layer, a backlight is provided. When a liquid-crystal display device functions as a reflective liquid-crystal display device, light entering through the polarizing plate is reflected totally by the selective reflection layer and passes through the first color filter layer twice. When the liquid-crystal display device functions as a transmission liquid-crystal display device, light from the backlight passes through the selective reflection layer. Then, the light passes through the second and first color filter layers once and is outputted.

Abstract: A polarized light reflecting element includes a plurality of stacked cholesteric liquid crystal layers. Each cholesteric liquid crystal layer is polymerized and has a helical liquid crystal molecule array and a helical axis that extends substantially in the normal direction. The in-plane mean value &agr; of the respective helix angles of liquid crystal molecules is nearly n&pgr; (n=1, 2, 3, . . . ). The cholesteric liquid crystal layers have their liquid crystal molecules continuously oriented on the interfaces between them, and form one smooth helical structure as a whole.

Abstract: Light diffusion layer 12, which diffuses reflected light by a reflecting surface, is arranged on a reflecting type liquid crystal display device having at least 2 substrates 24 and 29, liquid crystal layer 30 inserted between these substrates, and reflecting surface 16a which reflects light via this liquid crystal layer. This light diffusion layer forms a fine particle dispersion layer or a diffraction grating layer combined of 2 types of refractive index medium with differing refractive indices, and when the refractive index of first refractive index medium 13 is nA(400) at light wave length 400 nm, and nA(700) at light wave length 700 nm, and the refractive index of second refractive index medium 14 is nB (400) at light wave length 400 nm, and nB(700) at light wave length 700 nm, then, (nA(400)/nA(700))×0.9≦(nB(400)/nB(700))≦(nA(400)/nA(700))×1.1.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element comprises a polarization plates, phase difference plates, a liquid crystal layer, and selectively reflective layers for reflecting part or whole of circularly polarized light in a specific direction. The products of the respective thicknesses of the polarization plate, phase difference plate, liquid crystal layer, and selectively reflective layer and the difference between an average refractive index in a direction perpendicular to each display plane and an average refractive index in a direction parallel to the display plane are set so that the absolute value of their sum total is 50 nm or less. Each selectively reflective layer is formed of a layer having positive refractive index anisotropy and a layer having negative refractive index anisotropy.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a display device which can realize a magnified image. A display device comprises a display panel having a predetermined effective display region PS, a display screen, and a magnifying optical system including a first inverting optical system constituted by a first lens array in which a plurality of first lenses corresponding to the display panel are arrayed and a second inverting optical system constituted by a second lens array in which a plurality of second lenses corresponding to the first lenses are arrayed. The magnifying optical system constitutes a plurality of channels for forming on the display screen a magnified erect image for a display image on the display panel through the corresponding first and second lenses. The magnifying optical system is constructed so as to form on the display screen an image of an image point on the display panel through at least three of the channels.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display element includes a polarization plate, a liquid crystal layer provided in the rear of the polarization plate, for modulating incident light in correspondence with an applied voltage, a selectively reflective layer provided behind the liquid crystal layer, for reflecting a first circular polarization component of incident light, and a back light source arranged in the rear of the selectively reflective layer, for emitting light having intensity peaks for a plurality of predetermined wavelengths. The selectively reflective layer has first reflection factors to the first polarization components of incident light falling within first small regions of visible light, including the plurality of predetermined wavelengths, and has second reflection factors to the first polarization components of incident light falling within second small regions of visible light, not including the plurality of predetermined wavelengths.

Abstract: A flat panel display device includes a polarizer, a polarized light reflection layer made of a cholesteric liquid crystal layer, a fixed retarder layer to delay an incident light phase by &lgr;/4, and a variable retarder layer to shift an incident light phase by &lgr;/2 in response to applied voltages. The fixed and variable retarder layers are held between the polarizer and the polarized light reflection layer. A retardation plate and a second polarizer are disposed behind the polarized light reflection layer to transform incident light into a circularly polarized light component of which rotation direction is the same as that of the circularly polarized light selectively reflected from the polarized light reflection layer. The flat panel display device is used as reflection type and semi-transmission type displays with high light efficiency of light utilization and high brightness as well as low power consumption.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device realizing both a wide view angle and a high-quality image display without “coloring” or “letter blurs” comprises a front substrate, a rear substrate facing to the front substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the front substrate and the rear substrate, a mirror-reflection layer disposed on the rear substrate, a single refraction layer provided on an outer surface of the front substrate, a polarizing plate provided on an outer surface of the single refraction layer, and a diffusing layer provided on an outer surface of the polarizing late to diffuse light from the single refraction layer.

Abstract: A reflecting type liquid crystal display device having, a first substrate provided on one main surface thereof with a first electrode comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes arrayed in a matrix form and a wiring interposed between these pixel electrodes, the first substrate being disposed on an observation side, a second substrate provided on one main surface thereof with a second electrode and disposed to face the first substrate in such a manner that the surface bearing the second electrode faces to the surface bearing the first electrode, a liquid crystal composition layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a white reflecting layer formed on a region of the surface of the first substrate where the first electrode is not formed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a first substrate supporting a plurality of pixels, each having an electrode, a second substrate having an electrode and arranged such that the electrode of the first substrate opposes the electrode of the second substrate, a nematic liquid crystal composition layer held between the first and second substrates, and aligning films for aligning liquid crystal molecules of the nematic liquid crystal composition in one direction on surfaces of the first and second substrates, wherein the electrode of the first substrate in each pixel includes a plurality of conductive layers each having a width of 50 .mu.m or less, and a distance between the conductive layers being 50 .mu.

Abstract: A reflecting type liquid crystal display device having, a first substrate provided on one main surface thereof with a first electrode comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes arrayed in a matrix form and a wiring interposed between these pixel electrodes, the first substrate being disposed on an observation side, a second substrate provided on one main surface thereof with a second electrode and disposed to face the first substrate in such a manner that the surface bearing the second electrode faces to the surface bearing the first electrode, a liquid crystal composition layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a white reflecting layer formed on a region of the surface of the first substrate where the first electrode is not formed.

Abstract: A reflecting type liquid crystal display device having, a first substrate provided on one main surface thereof with a first electrode comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes arrayed in a matrix form and a wiring interposed between these pixel electrodes, the first substrate being disposed on an observation side, a second substrate provided on one main surface thereof with a second electrode and disposed to face the first substrate in such a manner that the surface bearing the second electrode faces to the surface bearing the first electrode, a liquid crystal composition layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a white reflecting layer formed on a region of the surface of the first substrate where the first electrode is not formed.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device in which a twisted nematic liquid crystal layer of positive dielectric anisotropy is sandwiched between two substrates fitted with electrodes and liquid crystal molecule orientation films, and in which the angle of intersection of the liquid crystal molecular alignment directions on the surfaces of the two substrates is .theta. (0.degree.<.theta.<90.degree.) and the cell twist angle is .phi. which is determined to give a uniform twist alignment to the liquid crystal layer by the tilt orientation on the two substrates, the liquid crystal molecule orientation films have a twist angle .omega. which is +.theta.+180.degree. or +.theta.-180.degree. when .phi. is +.theta., and which is -.theta.+180.degree. or -.theta.-180.degree. when .phi. is -.theta., in the state when a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer is less than a threshold voltage.

Abstract: Between the substrates with electrodes arranged to face each other, there is held a neamtic liquid crystal layer having a molecular arrangement capable of obtaining two or more directions of the tilt direction when an electric field is applied. The electrode structure is formed by a region having the conductive sections the width of which is 50 .mu.m or less in the widest part and the non-conductive sections the width of which is 50 .mu.m or less in the widest part per pixel. Between the substrates arranged to face each other, the conductive sections and non-conductive sections are opposed to each other at least per pixel in a part of the region in the pixel, and given the width of the narrowest part of the non-conductive sections as S, and the distance between the electrodes of the substrates arranged to face each other as D, the relationship of D.gtoreq.S/2 is satisfied.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device having a voltage-driven liquid crystal cell sandwiched between two spaced polarizers, the cell comprises a liquid crystal layer having a twisted molecular alignment with no applied voltage and also having an optical rotary power with respect to visible rays. In the vicinity of the cell or in close contact therewith, there is disposed an optically anisotropic layer having an optical rotary power smaller than that of the cell.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved liquid crystal cell wherein liquid crystal material is sealed between opposing transparent substrates and particles of particulate material are disposed on the transparent substrate thereby defining a uniform substrate interval and wherein the particulate material is disposed in a plurality of areas of less than 100 mm.sup.2 with void areas defined between the areas of particulate material.