Abstract: The present invention is a lengthy-shaped polarizing plate comprising a linearly-polarized light separation element, a linear light polarizing film and a protection film in this order, wherein said linearly-polarized light separation element includes a layer composed of a resin A whose inherent birefringence value is negative and has a linearly-polarized light transmission axis in a crosswise direction.

Abstract: An optical device is configured to perform both switching and attenuation of an optical beam in response to a single control signal. The optical device includes a liquid-crystal-based beam-polarizing element having polarization-conditioning regions that are controlled using a common electrode. The first polarization-conditioning region conditions the polarization of the input beam in order to separate the input beam into a primary component and a residual component. The second and third polarization-conditioning regions change the polarization of the primary component and the residual component, respectively. The primary component is directed to an output port after it has been attenuated based on its polarization state. The residual component, after passing through the third polarization-conditioning region, has its intensity further reduced based on its polarization state.

Abstract: An optical compensation film for a liquid crystal display is provided and comprises a liquid crystal layer which is disposed on a substrate and has a plurality of first stripe-structure regions with a first thickness and a plurality of second stripe-structure regions with a second thickness, wherein each of the second stripe-structure regions is contiguous to at least one of the first stripe-structure region and the second thickness is greater than the first thickness. The method for manufacturing the optical compensation film is provided.

Abstract: An optical compensation polarizing plate comprising: a first transparent protective film; a polarizer; a second transparent protective film; and an optical compensation layer in this order, wherein at least one of the first and second transparent protective films is a cellulose acylate film having a retardation value in plane Re (nm) and a retardation value in film thickness direction Rth (nm) which fulfill the following formulae (I) and (II), and Nz and Re1 defined by the following formulae (III) and (IV), of the optical compensation layer fulfill the following formulae (V) and (VI): (I) |Re|?10, (II) |Rth|?25, (III) Nz=(nx1?nz1)/(nx1?ny1), (IV) Re1=(nx1?ny1)×d1, (V) 0.4?Nz?0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus. The LCD apparatus comprises a TFT-LCD module and a corresponding phase retarder, and a light adjustment plate is disposed between the TFT-LCD module and the phase retarder and configured to reduce an optical path difference of a light emitted from the phase retarder. Alternatively, the TFT-LCD module comprises a light adjustment plate configured to reduce the optical path difference of the light emitted from the phase retarder. The present invention can mitigate crosstalk when viewing 3D images.

Abstract: A phase retardation film, a manufacturing method thereof and a manufacturing method of a roller used in the manufacturing method are provided. The phase retardation film includes a base film, a patterned resin layer and a phase retardation layer. The patterned resin layer having a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions is formed on the base film. The patterned resin layer includes a submicro-scratch structure. The angle between the direction of the submicro-scratch structure and the extending direction of the first and second regions is 45°. A liquid crystal material is disposed on the submicro-scratch structure of the patterned resin layer to form the phase retardation layer. The phase difference between a first phase retardation and a second phase retardation is 180°.

Abstract: An optical film comprising a thermoplastic resin, which is such that the slow axis direction in the film plane differs from the film tilt direction and the birefringence of a sliced section of the film that contains the tilt direction and the thickness direction in the plane varies in the thickness direction of the film.

Abstract: A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device includes: a panel on which images are implemented; a backlight device below the panel and providing light; and a polarizer including a linear-polarizing layer over the panel that linear-polarizes light from the backlight device and a circular-polarizing layer over the linear-polarizing layer that circular-polarizes the linear-polarized light.

Abstract: An optical compensation sheet for a TN-mode liquid crystal display device is provided and includes a transparent film including one or more layers, and the optical compensation sheet satisfies formulae (1) and (2). 40?Re(550)?130??(1) 100?Rth(550)?200??(2) Re(?) is an in-plane retardation value for light at a wavelength of ? nm, and Rth(?) is a retardation vale in a thickness direction for light at a wavelength of ? nm.

Abstract: A production method of an optical film, including: a stretching step of stretching a film, wherein the film has a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a thickness direction, wherein the stretching is in either of the longitudinal direction or the width direction of the film; and a shrinking step of shrinking the film in either of the longitudinal direction or the width direction of the film, that is not the direction in which the film is stretched, wherein the film thickness in the thickness direction is increased as compared with the film thickness before at least one of the stretching step and the shrinking step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystal display device comprising a front-side polarizing element, a rear-side polarizing element, a liquid-crystal cell, a front-side retardation region, and a rear-side retardation region composed of one or more retardation layers disposed between the rear-side polarizing element and the liquid-crystal cell wherein retardation along the thickness direction of the front-side retardation region and the rear-side retardation region, Rthfront (?), and Rthrear (?), and the internal haze of the front-side retardation region and the rear-side retardation region, Hzfron and Hzrear, satisfy the following formula (1) or (2): Rthfront (?)>Rthrear(?), and Hzfront<Hzrear, ??(1) Rthfront (?)<Rthrear (?), and Hzfron>Hzrear.

Abstract: A retardation layer that includes regions causing different retardations can be manufactured easily. A retardation substrate includes a substrate and a solidified liquid crystal layer facing its main surface. The solidified liquid crystal layer includes first to third regions, and a degree of depolarization for each of the regions is less than 5.0×10?4. A difference between the maximum and minimum values of the degrees of depolarization obtained for the regions is less than 2.0×10?4.

Abstract: An optical film is provided and has retardations satisfying relations (1) to (3): 0?Re(550)?10;??(1) ?25?Rth(550)?25; and??(2) |I|+|II|+|III|+|IV|>0.5 (nm),??(3) with definitions: I=Re(450)-Re(550); II=Re(650)-Re(550); III=Rth(450)-Rth(550); and IV=Rth(650)-Rth(550), wherein Re(450), Re(550) and Re(650) are in-plane retardations measured with lights of wavelength of 450, 550 and 650 nm, respectively; and Rth(450), Rth(550) and Rth(650) are retardations in a thickness direction of the optical film, which are measured with lights of wavelength of 450, 550 and 650 nm, respectively.

Abstract: A polymer film that has: a ratio R (VT/VM) of a sound velocity in a transverse direction VT to a sound velocity in a machine direction VM of from 1.05 to 1.50; and an in-plane retardation Re(?) and a thickness-direction retardation Rth(?) satisfying formula (I): (I) 0?Re(630)?10, and |Rth(630)|25, wherein Re(?) represents an in-plane retardation at a wavelength of ? (nm); and Rth(?) represents a thickness-direction retardation at a wavelength of ? (nm).

Abstract: A compensation film for a liquid crystal film includes a first layer including splayed rod-shaped nematic liquid crystal material and a second layer disposed on a surface of the first layer and including at least one of a biaxial layer and an A-plate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer which is arranged between first and second aligning films formed on inner sides of first and second substrates, has liquid crystal molecules twist-aligned in a direction from the first aligning film toward the second aligning film when an electric field is not applied between first and second electrodes, and generates retardation of substantially ?/2 with respect to transmitted light. First and second polarizing plates are arranged on outer sides of the first and second substrates. A transmission axis or an absorption axis of the first polarizing plate is substantially matched with a direction along which the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the first aligning film are aligned when a sufficiently intensive electric field is applied.

Abstract: A vertical alignment type liquid crystal display, which has a liquid crystal layer whose retardation value is about 600 nm or more, can solve the viewing angle problems associated with the wider viewing angle. The liquid crystal display can include a vertical alignment liquid crystal cell, and first and second polarizing plates cross-Nicol disposed on respective sides of the liquid crystal cell. The liquid crystal cell has a liquid crystal layer with a retardation of about 600 nm or more. A C-plate and an A-plate are provided between the liquid crystal cell and the first polarizing plate, and two C-plates are provided between the liquid crystal cell and the second polarizing plate.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to mesogenic systems comprising a) a polymeric component, component A, obtained or obtainable from polymerization of a precursor comprising one or more mesogenic mono-reactive compounds, one or more di-reactive compounds, which optionally are also mesogenic compounds and optionally a photo-initiator and a low molecular weight component, component B, comprising one or more mono-reactive, mesogenic compounds, one or more mesogenic compounds and one or more chiral dopants, exhibiting a Blue Phase, as well as to the use of these systems in deices and to these devices.

Abstract: A flat panel display device is provided with an increased viewing angle having good dark versus light imaging contrast. The display device includes a display panel, a first optical unit, and a second optical unit. The display panel includes a liquid crystal layer that is driven in a vertical alignment mode. The first optical unit includes a negative C-plate and a first polarizer having a first absorption axis. The second optical unit includes a biaxial compensation plate having a refractive indices coefficient, (nx?nz)/(nx?ny) of more than 0.45 and less than 0.55, and a second polarizer having a second absorption axis crossing the first absorption axis. The biaxial compensation plate has a refractive indices relationship of nx>nz>ny such that dispersion of polarization states of colored light rays passed through the C-plate and the liquid crystal layer may be minimized and gathered about an extinction point, thereby improving contrast at side viewing angles.

Abstract: A circular polarizer comprising a single linear polarizer producing a linear state of polarization and at least one phase retardation film layered with the single linear polarizer. In a first embodiment, the at least one phase retardation film includes at least one uniaxial A-plate phase retardation film and at least one uniaxial C-plate phase retardation film. In a second embodiment of the invention, the circular polarizer includes a linear polarizer and at least one biaxial phase retardation film layered with the linear polarizer. In another example of the circular polarize of the second embodiment, at least one uniaxial A-plate phase retardation film and/or at least one uniaxial C-plate phase retardation film is also layer with the linear polarize and the biaxial phase retardation film.

Abstract: In a visible-light blocking member, an infrared sensor including the visible-light blocking member, and a liquid crystal display including the infrared sensor, a visible-light blocking member is a structure including amorphous germanium or a compound of amorphous germanium and has higher transmittance for a wavelength of an infrared ray region than for a wavelength of a visible light region. Accordingly, sensitivity to infrared rays may be increased by applying the visible-light blocking member to the infrared sensor.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer which is arranged between first and second aligning films formed on inner sides of first and second substrates, has liquid crystal molecules twist-aligned in a direction from the first aligning film toward the second aligning film when an electric field is not applied between first and second electrodes, and generates retardation of substantially ?/2 with respect to transmitted light. First and second polarizing plates are arranged on outer sides of the first and second substrates. A transmission axis or an absorption axis of the first polarizing plate is substantially matched with a direction along which the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the first aligning film are aligned when a sufficiently intensive electric field is applied.

Abstract: In a transflective liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal layer has horizontal alignment, and a polarizing plate having a transmission axis parallel with or orthogonal to an alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer is provided on a side opposite to the liquid crystal layer of an element substrate, and a polarizing plate having a transmission axis orthogonal to that of the polarizing plate is provided on a side opposite to the liquid crystal layer of a counter substrate. A resin layer having a first resin layer and a second resin layer being ?/2 retardation films is provided on the liquid crystal layer side of the counter substrate, and a slow axis of the first resin layer is disposed so as to be parallel with or orthogonal to the transmission axis of the polarizing plate, and a slow axis of the second resin layer crosses the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: There is provided an integrated wide viewing film including: a first film having an optical axis located in-plan; and a second film having an optical axis located in a thickness direction thereof, and inclined at a predetermined angle in an in-plane direction. The IPS-LCD employing the integrated wide viewing film can be significantly improved in a contrast ratio in a diagonal direction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device that has a higher contrast ratio in a wide viewing angle and that can be easily produced at low cost. The liquid crystal display device may include polarizers and multiple birefringent layers. A first birefringent layer (I) can have an in-plane slow axis forming an angle of about 45° with an absorption axis of the first polarizer; the second birefringent layer (I) can have an in-plane slow axis substantially orthogonal to the in-plane slow axis of the first birefringent layer (I).

Abstract: A method of producing a cellulose derivative film, the method comprising: forming a film with a solvent cast method from a dope including a cellulose derivative satisfying following conditions (a) and (b): (a) at least one among three hydroxyl groups included in a glucose unit of cellulose is substituted by a substituent of which a polarizability anisotropy ?? represented as following Expression (1) is 2.5×10?24 cm3 or higher: Expression (1): ??=?x?(?y+?z)/2, wherein ?x, ?y and ?z is as defined in the specification; and (b) when a substitution degree by a substituent of which ?? is 2.5×10?24 cm3 or higher is PA, and a substitution degree by a substituent of which ?? is lower than 2.5×10?24 cm3 is PB, the PA and PB satisfy following Expressions (3) and (4): Expression (3): 2PA+PB>3.0; and Expression (4): PA>0.2.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a manufacturing method of an Optically Compensated Bend (OCB) liquid crystal panel, which comprises: an arranging step S1 for alternately arranging a plurality of thin-film transistor (TFT) substrates and a plurality of color filter (CF) substrates, the TFT substrates and the CF substrates are coated with optical alignment material; a light irradiating step S2 for using an ultraviolet (UV) light source to irradiate the TFT substrates and the CF substrates so that alignment films of predetermined alignment directions are formed by the optical alignment material on the TFT substrates and the CF substrates; and an attaching step S3 for attaching each of the TFT substrates and an adjacent one of the CF substrates in such a way that an alignment direction of the TFT substrate is the same as that of the corresponding CF substrate and filling an OCB liquid crystal layer therebetween to form a plurality of OCB liquid crystal panels.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical film exhibiting a preferable wavelength dispersion and capable of being formed comparatively thinly. The present invention is an optical film containing the repeating unit represented by the following general formula (II). In the formula (II), A, A?, B, and B? each denote a substituent, a, a?, b, and b? denote the number of substituents of the corresponding A, A?, B, and B?. A, A?, B and B? each independently denote a halogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. R1 and R2 denote a halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and the like. X denotes —CO—, —SO2—, and the like.

Abstract: An optical film 10 of the present invention includes a plurality of optically anisotropic layers 13 which are laminated, wherein the optically anisotropic layer including: a photoalignment layer (A) 11, in which a liquid crystal aligning capability has been generated by means of photoirradiation; and a polymer layer (B) 12, which contains a liquid crystal compound that has a polymerizable group, and which is obtained by polymerization in a state where it has been aligned by the photoalignment layer (A) 11, wherein the photoalignment layer (A) 11 and the polymer layer (B) 12 are bonded by covalent bonding. The plurality of optically anisotropic layers 13 may be an optically anisotropic layer 13 having a function of a one-half wavelength plate, and an optically anisotropic layer 13 having a function of a one-quarter wavelength plate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) including a LCD panel, a first polarizer and a second polarizer respectively disposed at two sides of the LCD, a first a-plate and a second a-plate disposed between the polarizers and LCD panel, a biaxial compensation plate and a c-plate is provided. The biaxial compensation plate is disposed between one of the polarizers and one of the a-plates. The main axis refractive indexes nx, ny and nz of the biaxial compensation plate satisfy the formula of Nz=(nx?nz)/(nx?ny), wherein nx>ny and ?0.5<Nz<1. The first c-plate is disposed between one of the a-plates and LCD panel. The LCD of the present invention is capable of widening viewing angles and enhancing display quality.

Abstract: An adhesion promoter for enhancing the bond between adjacent layers of a multilayer structure to prevent delamination thereof is disclosed. The adhesion promoter comprises an aromatic polyimide-based UV-cured acrylate. Also disclosed are laminated structures including liquid crystal displays and bonded missile domes that utilize an adhesion promoter of the invention, and methods for fabricating such structures.

Abstract: A polymer is swollen in a first tank. The swelling temperature is in the range of ?10 to 50° C. The mixture is cooled in a first cooling vessel to the range of ?100 to ?10° C., and thereafter heated in a heating device to the range of 0 to 57° C. The polymer is cellulose acylate in which a degree of substitution of the acyl group for hydroxyl group is at least 2.87. A film obtained from the cellulose acylate has a negative value of ?Re and a positive value of ?Rth, and |?Rth| is at least 10 nm. ?Re and ?Rth are respective difference of Re and Rth at the measurement thereof with use of wavelengths between 700 nm and 400 nm. The film is used adequately as a birefringence film, a protective film for a polarizing filter in a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical compensation film comprises a liquid crystal layer application step (10) of applying a liquid crystal layer coating solution containing a liquid crystal compound to an alignment layer on a surface of a transparent substrate (4c) that is continuously transported; a liquid crystal layer drying step (11) of drying the liquid crystal layer; a cooling and curing step of curing the liquid crystal layer while cooling the liquid crystal layer to a temperature lower than a drying temperature used in the drying step; and a heating and curing step of curing the alignment layer while heating the alignment layer to a temperature higher than a cooling temperature used in the cooling and curing step. The process enables the durability and damage resistance as well as the optical characteristics of the optical compensation film to be independently controlled.

Abstract: A phase difference element and a display device having the phase difference element are provided. A base film 31 of the phase difference element 30 includes, for example, a thin resin film having optical anisotropy. A slow axis AX3 of the base film 31 points in a vertical or horizontal direction, and points in a direction intersecting with a slow axis AX1 of a right-eye region 32A of the phase difference element 30 and with a slow axis AX2 of a left-eye region 32B thereof. Thus, influence due to optical anisotropy of the base film 31 is exerted on each light being transmitted by the base film 31, so that the influence is not extremely greatly exerted on only one of light corresponding to a right eye and light corresponding to a left eye, the respective light being transmitted by the base film 31.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display polarizing plate that can reliably exhibit optical properties and be bonded to a liquid crystal cell without causing degradation of the optical properties. The liquid crystal display polarizing plate includes: a retardation film which has a substrate including a cellulose derivative and a retardation layer formed directly on the substrate and containing the cellulose derivative and a rod-like compound having refractive index anisotropy; a polarizer bonded to the retardation layer of the retardation film and including polyvinyl alcohol; and a polarizing plate protection film bonded to the polarizer.

Abstract: Provided are a liquid crystal display device and television receiving apparatus having further improved use efficiency of light emitted from a light source while suppressing increase in costs. A liquid crystal display device 1 of the invention includes a liquid crystal display panel (40), two polarizing layers (first polarizing layer (50), second polarizing layer (52)) disposed so that the two polarizing layers sandwich the liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight device (10) (light source). Between the backlight device (10) and the first polarizing layer (50) (rear polarizing layer) that is one of the two polarizing layers disposed closer to the backlight device (10), an optical sheet assembly (20) is provided, which optical sheet assembly includes a lens sheet (22) for converging light emitted from the backlight. Furthermore, the first polarizing layer (50) and the optical sheet assembly (20) sandwich a ?/2 sheet (30) (?/2 layer).

Abstract: A polyamic acid-type photo-alignment layer in a heating process only below approximately 140° C., and an optically anisotropic substance in which various polymerizable liquid crystal compositions are uniformly oriented by use of the layer are provided. An optically anisotropic substance obtained by applying a polyamic acid varnish which is a composition including a polyamic acid having a divalent azobenzene group in the principal chain or its derivative, or a composition including a mixture of both this polyamic acid or its derivative and other polyamic acids or its derivative as a polymer component, to a supporting substrate, by drying the resultant layer at a temperature range of approximately 50° C. to approximately 140° C., by carrying out alignment treatment by irradiation of the layer with light, applying a polymerizable liquid crystal composition to a alignment layer formed by means of the treatment, and polymerizing the composition.

Abstract: A backlight module includes a reflection sheet and a film structure disposed above the reflection sheet with a gap therebetween. A light source is disposed in the gap between the reflection sheet and the film structure so as to provide light. The film structure includes a first region for reflecting light incident thereupon from the light source and the reflection sheet, and a plurality of second regions for transmitting at least partially light incident thereupon from the light source and the reflection sheet.

Abstract: Provided is a cellulose ester film including a polycondensed ester which is obtained from a mixture containing an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, an aliphatic diol having an average carbon atom number of from 2.0 to 3.0 and a monocarboxylic acid, and both terminals of which are a monocarboxylic acid ester derivative.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal film and a polarizing plate on a backlight source side. A transflective liquid crystal display device includes an uniaxially anisotropic film (a quarter wave plate) and a polarizing plate on a visual confirmation side. The liquid crystal film has the nematic hybrid orientation, in which a polymeric liquid crystal substance formed in a liquid state is fixed. The optical axis of the anisotropic film is disposed to be orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to that of the liquid crystal film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is provided which has a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates, in which liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned with respect to the substrates when no voltage is applied between the substrates and the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a plurality of directions to be almost parallel to the substrates by applying a voltage between the substrates. In the liquid crystal layer, when the voltage is applied, a proportion of a region where the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a direction of 0 degrees to 180 degrees is different from a proportion of a region where the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a direction of 180 degrees to 360 degrees with the angle being defined counterclockwise with the right direction on a screen being 0 degrees.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal panel which has a liquid crystal device containing liquid crystal operating in twist nematic mode and a micro-lens array disposed adjacent to the liquid crystal device; a first optical compensating plate disposed on the incident side of the liquid crystal panel to optically compensate the liquid crystal device; and a second optical compensating plate disposed on the exit side of the liquid crystal panel to optically compensate the liquid crystal device. A first retardation of the first optical compensating plate in system optical axis direction is larger than a second retardation of the second optical compensating plate in the system optical axis direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus a digital ink-jet printer are presented. A radiation-curable ink is continuously applies to successive locations on a substrate along a print line extending across the substrate. Concurrently with the continuous application of the radiation-curable ink along the print line, first curing radiation of a predetermined first intensity is continuously applied to the applied ink on the successive locations on the substrate along said print line, with a certain time delay, constant for all the locations on the substrate, between the applications of ink and to the first curing radiation. Second curing radiation of a predetermined second intensity is applied to the locations on the substrate a certain time period, constant for all the locations on the substrate, after the application of the first curing radiation to said locations.

Abstract: A retardation layer includes plurality of regions different in retardation. A retardation plate includes a substrate and a solidified liquid crystal layer supported by the substrate. The solidified liquid crystal layer is a continuous film made of a same material, and has biaxial optical anisotropy. The solidified liquid crystal layer includes plurality of regions, the regions being different in an in-plane retardation and a thickness direction retardation.

Abstract: To provide a retardation film in which the retardation condition is adjusted to achieve a liquid crystal display without coloration over a wide viewing angle range and having a high contrast ratio, and a method of designing the same, as well as a polarizing film and a liquid crystal display using the same. A liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal cell and polarizing films in a Cross-Nicol relationship with each other on both sides of the liquid crystal cell; wherein at least one polarizing film includes a retardation film having reverse wavelength dispersion property; and the liquid crystal display further includes a retardation film having a wavelength dispersion property substantially the same as a liquid crystal layer configuring the liquid crystal cell.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a twisted nematic liquid crystal panel and first and second retardation films disposed on the top and bottom sides of the twisted nematic liquid crystal panel. A retardation compensation range angle between an axis of the first retardation film and an axis of the second retardation film is smaller than a twist range angle between a first twist axis representing the average of twist angles of lower liquid crystals and a second twist axis representing the average of twist angles of upper liquid crystals in a plan view of the liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a producing method for a lengthwise optical laminate exhibiting high contrast ratio and adaptable to a large-sized display. The present invention provides a producing method for a lengthwise optical laminate, which comprises a step 1 of coating and drying a coating solution comprising a birefringent material and a solvent on a surface of a lengthwise base material to form a birefringent film such that a birefringence index (Anxz[590]) in the thickness direction at a wavelength of 590 nm is 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal panel that can provide a neutral display that is free from coloring in every direction. The liquid crystal panel includes a first polarizer 14a, a second polarizer 14b, and a liquid crystal cell 13. The first polarizer 14a is arranged on the visible side of the liquid crystal cell 13 and the second polarizer 14b is arranged on the backlight side of the liquid crystal cell 13. The liquid crystal panel further includes a first retardation layer 11 and a second retardation layer 12. A refractive index ellipsoid of the first retardation layer 11 has a relationship of nx=ny>nz, and a refractive index ellipsoid of the second retardation layer 12 has a relationship of nx>ny?nz. The first retardation layer 11 and the second retardation layer 12 are arranged between the liquid crystal cell 13 and the second polarizer 14b.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cellulose ester film which rarely causes the attachment of foreign matters to the surface of a conveying roll or the failure of film transfer induced by the attachment of the foreign matters, which is free of the partial deformation caused by foreign matters on the conveying roll, exhibits high durability after saponification treatment, has good close adhesion to a polarizer, and has excellent processing suitability in the processing into a polarizer. Also disclosed is a method for producing the cellulose ester film by a melt-casting process. Further disclosed are; a protective film for a polarizing plate, which has high film strength; a polarizing plate having high durability; and a liquid crystal display having high image quality; each comprising the cellulose ester film. The cellulose ester film comprises a cellulose ester, a compound represented by the general formula (1) and a compound represented by the general formula (2).

Abstract: Optical filter which is adapted to prevent the reflection of external light and improve a signal level of a signal sent from a display device by preventing attenuation thereof, and which is further adapted to prevent a change in hue of an image and to improve the hue, contrast and brightness of an image, thereby enhancing visibility. First, a liquid crystal display device (1) outputs light which is linearly polarized light. First linearly polarizing plate (2) is mounted in the filter in such a manner as to be adjusted to an axis of polarization of the linearly polarized light. Namely, the light outputted from the liquid crystal display device (1) passes through the first linearly polarizing plate (2) without being changed. The light passing through the first linearly polarizing plate (2) is then changed by a first quarter-wave phase difference plate (11) into circularly polarized light so that the phase difference between extraordinary light and ordinary light is (1/4) of the wavelength.