Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a display device having a high contrast ratio by a simple and easy method. Another object of the present invention is to manufacture such a display device having a high contrast ratio at low cost. The present invention relates to a display device including a first substrate; a second substrate; a layer including a display element, wherein the layer including the display element is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and stacked polarizers on the outer side of the first substrate or the second substrate. The stacked polarizers are arranged to be in a parallel Nicols state and the wavelength distributions of the extinction coefficients of the stacked polarizers are different from each other.

Abstract: A negative C plate (31) is arranged to be between a polarizing plate (32) and a reflective liquid crystal panel (20). A retardation of the negative C plate (31) is set so that a combination of the negative C plate (31) and the liquid crystal panel (20) generates a phase difference of “n?/4+?/8 (n is 0, or a positive or negative integer)” for a one-way light path with respect to linearly-polarized light entering into the liquid crystal display device. This makes it possible to provide, at low cost, a liquid crystal display device whose viewing angle can be narrowed by arbitrarily setting a direction in which visibility is limited.

Abstract: According to the input device of the present invention, phase-difference plate (11) with ¼ wavelength is disposed on the top surface of upper substrate (1) of touch panel (12). As a result of passing through phase-difference plate (11), lamplight 9a that illuminates LCD element (8) goes outside as outgoing-light 9c with a phase-shift of ¼ wavelength. With the structure above, a user wearing polarized sunglasses—even if they have an absorption axis in a direction the same as that of lamplight 9a—can easily recognize the displays shown by LCD element (8) on the back surface of touch panel (12). The structure offers a user-friendly input device with good visibility of LCD element (8).

Abstract: A transparent film is disclosed. The film comprises a domain in which the Nz value in the normal direction of the film surface shows monotonous increase from 0 to 1 or monotonous decrease from 1 to 0, and having an in-plane retardation Re at a wavelength of 550 nm falling within the range from 510 to 610 nm, provided that Nz is defined as Nz=0.5+Rth(550)/Re(550), where Rth(550) and Re(550) respectively indicate a thickness-direction retardation and an in-plane retardation at a wavelength of 550 nm.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell including a pair of substrates provided with a color filter on one substrate, and a liquid crystal layer as a display medium provided between the substrates; and an optical compensation element including at least an optical compensation layer. The optical compensation element is arranged on the same side as the color filter with respect to the liquid crystal layer. The substrate provided with the color filter preferably has a haze value of 10% or less. Such a liquid crystal display apparatus allows excellent viewing angle compensation, exhibits exceptional contrast in an oblique direction, and can be reduced in thickness.

Abstract: An optical compensation film to be used in a VA mode liquid crystal display device, having retardation in plane at a wavelength of 550 nm, Re(550), falling within the range from 20 to 100 nm, and retardation along thickness direction at a wavelength of 550 nm, Rth(550), falling within the range from 60 to 120 nm, is disclosed. And a VA-mode liquid crystal display device having the optical compensation film, disposed between the liquid crystal cell and each of the pair of polarizing elements, is disclosed.

Abstract: A stereoscopic TFT-LCD with a wire grid polarizer affixed to internal surfaces substrates, applies to a LCD device having a thin polarizing film and a thin phase retardation film to display a 2D image and a 3D image, a thin film polarizing film formed by accurately processing a thin aluminum film, a polarizing film of a nano imprint lithography method that uses polymer, and a polarizing film and a liquid crystal material that form a polarizing nano material thin film by uniformly coating a polarizing nano material (TCF), wherein a 1/4 phase retardation plate is disposed at a front surface of the second transparent substrate so as to produce circularly-polarized light.

Abstract: A polarization modulator for time-multiplexed stereoscopic 3D applications rapidly switches between two polarization states in alternate subframes. The polarization modulator uses two liquid crystal devices arranged in optical series and driven such that the second device compensates a change the first device makes to an input polarization state of incident light during alternate subframes. The compensating liquid crystal devices are characterized in that, if the same voltage is applied to both of them, the second device compensates the change that the first device makes to the input polarization state, regardless of the applied voltage level. If the applied voltage is changed from one level to another and the liquid crystal material in the liquid crystal devices relaxes to the new voltage level, polarization state compensation will take place throughout the duration of the relaxation so that the slow, unpowered transition does not manifest itself as a change in polarization state.

Abstract: A structure of a reflective display panel including a silicon substrate, a liquid crystal layer and a stacked compensation film layer is provided. The liquid crystal layer disposed on the silicon substrate has a first phase retardation which is within a first retardation range. The stacked compensation film layer disposed on the liquid crystal layer has a second phase retardation which is within a second retardation range. The stacked compensation film layer is selected according to an optical characteristic of the liquid crystal layer so as to increase a contrast of the reflective display panel.

Abstract: An optical film having a desired wavelength dispersion characteristic, a low photoelastic coefficient and a desired Nz coefficient. The optical film is formed from a copolymer and meets the following conditions (i) to (v): (i) the thickness (d) is 20 to 80 ?m; (ii) the following formulas (1) and (2) are satisfied: 0.6<R(450)/R(550)<1??(1) 1.01<R(650)/R(550)<1.40??(2) (R(450), R(550) and R(650) are retardations within the plane of the film at respective wavelengths); (iii) R(550) is 120 to 160 nm; (iv) the birefringence (?n) is not less than 1.5×10?3; and (v) the Nz coefficient represented by the following formula (4) is 1.18 to 2.40: Nz=(nx?nz)/(nx?ny)??(4) (nx, ny and nz are 3-dimensional birefringences of the film).

Abstract: The present invention provides an LCD device that has a higher contrast ratio in a wide viewing angle and that can be easily produced at low cost. The present invention is a liquid crystal display device, including in the following order: a first polarizer; a first birefringent layer; a first quarter-wave plate; a liquid crystal cell; a second quarter-wave plate; a second birefringent layer; and a second polarizer having an absorption axis orthogonal to an absorption axis of the first polarizer, wherein the first birefringent layer satisfies Nz>0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cellulose acylate film comprising a cellulose acylate satisfying relations of 2.0?A+B?2.45, (II): and 0.8?A?1.4, and (III): 0.6?B?1.65 where “A” represents a degree of acetyl substitution of hydroxy in a glucose unit of cellulose acylate; and “B” represents a degree of with C3 or longer acyl substitution of hydroxy in a glucose unit of cellulose acylate; and satisfying relations of 50 nm?Re(590)?70 nm, 100 nm?Rth(590)?120 nm, and (VI): 1.4?Rth(590)/Re(590)?2.6.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of dielectrically negative, polar compounds which comprises at least one compound of the formula I in which the parameters have the meanings indicated in claim 1, to the use thereof in an electro-optical display, particularly in an active-matrix display based on the VA, ECB, PALC, FFS or IPS effect, and to displays of this type.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal layer squeezed between first and second transparent substrates and vertically aligned at a retardation of 300 nm or larger to 940 nm or smaller; two or three viewing angle compensators disposed on the first transparent substrate on the side opposite to the liquid crystal layer, each of the viewing angle compensators having a retardation of 90 nm or larger to 350 nm or smaller in a thickness direction and a retardation of 5 nm or larger to 30 nm or smaller in an in-plane direction; a first polarizer disposed on the two or three viewing angle compensator; and a second polarizer disposed on the second transparent substrate and crossed-Nichol disposed relative to the first polarizer, wherein an in-plane slow axis of each viewing angle compensator is disposed perpendicular to an absorption axis of the first polarizer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a retardation film including a polymer resin; and an optically anisotropic compound having a silicon group, and a polarizing plate including the retardation film. Also, disclosed is a liquid crystal display including the retardation film and/or the polarizing plate.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell and at least three optically-anisotropic layers disposed on each side of the liquid crystal cell, wherein they are combined so that the ?nd value of the liquid-crystal cell and the optical characteristics of the optically-anisotropic layers can satisfy predetermined relationships, is disclosed.

Abstract: A grating trim retarder fabricated from a form-birefringent multi-layer dielectric stack including at least one anti-reflection coating and supported on a transparent substrate is provided. The form-birefringent dielectric stack includes an axially-inhomogeneous element in the form of a ?C-plate grating and a transversely-inhomogeneous element in the form of an A-plate grating. Each of the ?C-plate and the A-plate gratings are fabricated with dimensions to form a zeroth order sub-wavelength grating structure. Fabricating the grating trim retarder with anti-reflection coatings and/or a segment where the ?C-plate and A-plate grating overlap enables the in-plane and out-of-plane retardances to be tailored independently according to the desired application.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell comprising a liquid-crystal layer that aligns vertically to the substrate thereof in the black state, first and second polarizing elements that are disposed to sandwich the liquid-crystal cell therebetween so that their absorption axes are orthogonal to each other, a retardation film A and a retardation film B, wherein the retardation films A and B are equivalent to each other in terms of retardation in plane at a wavelength of 548 nm, Re(548), and retardation along thickness direction at a wavelength of 548 nm, Rth(548) thereof, but differ from each other in terms of the wavelength dispersion characteristics of retardation in plane Re and/or retardation along thickness direction Rth thereof in a visible light region, is disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal element comprising a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer which fills in between the pair of substrates and can form a chiral smectic C phase in homeotropic orientation, and an electrode which generates, at least, an electric field (parallel electric field) in directions parallel to a principal face of the substrate for the liquid crystal layer is provided, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises, at least, a chiral compound of the following general formula (1-I) or a chiral compound of the following general formula (2-I) and a chiral compound of the following general formula (2 -II) in a base liquid crystal material which can provide a phase sequence of an isotropic liquid phase, a nematic phase, a smectic A phase and a smectic C phase from a higher temperature side, wherein R1, A2, Z1, Z2, m and 1 in formula (1-I), X, R1, R2, and * in formula (2-I), and X, R3, R4, R5, and * in formula (2-II) are defined in the specification.

Abstract: A cellulose acylate film comprising a cellulose acylate resin satisfying the formulae (i)-(iii) and a compound capable of forming a hydrogen bond satisfying conditions (A)-(C): (A) the compound has both a hydrogen bond donor moiety and a hydrogen bond acceptor moiety in the molecule, (B) the value obtained by dividing the molecular weight of the compound by the total of the number of the hydrogen bond donor moiety and the number of the hydrogen bond acceptor moiety is from 30 to 65, (C) the number of aromatic ring structures is from 1 to 3, 0.5?A+B?2.7, ??(i) 0.0?A?2.5, and ??(ii) 0.1?B?2.0, ??(iii) wherein A means the degree of substitution with an acetyl group, and B means a total of the degree of substitution with a propionyl group and the degree of substitution with a butyryl group.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a backlight; a liquid crystal cell; a first polarizing plate provided between the liquid crystal cell and the backlight; a second polarizing plate provided in opposite side to the first polarizing plate with respect to the liquid crystal cell; a first retardation film provided between the first polarizing plate and the liquid crystal cell; and a second retardation film provided between the second polarizing plate and the liquid crystal cell, wherein a relationship represented by the following formula (1) is satisfied: 1×10?6/° C.?EC2max?EC1max?50×10?6/° C.??(1) in which EC1max represents a maximal linear thermal expansion coefficient of the first retardation film, and EC2max represents a maximal linear thermal expansion coefficient of the second retardation film.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a reflective liquid crystal display apparatus which includes a polarization beam splitter having a polarization split film used as both a polarizer and an analyzer; a reflective liquid crystal display device; a quarter wave plate; and a projection optical system; where the absolute value of phase difference of diffracted light generated by the reflective liquid crystal display device in a black display state is reduced by the phase difference of the quarter wave plate, and thus the amount of stray light of the diffracted light guided from the polarizing beam splitter to the projection optical system decreases.

Abstract: Provided are a laminated optical film capable of enhancing a contrast ratio in an oblique direction remarkably while enhancing viewing angle characteristics when being used in a liquid crystal display apparatus or the like, and a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the laminated optical film. The laminated optical film of the present invention includes a polarizer, a first optical compensation layer, and a second optical compensation layer in the stated order, in which the first optical compensation layer has a refractive index profile of nx>nz>ny and is placed so that a slow axis direction thereof is substantially parallel to or substantially perpendicular to an absorption axis direction of the polarizer, and the second optical compensation layer converts linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light or circularly polarized light into linearly polarized light in a visible light region.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a reflective liquid crystal display apparatus which includes a polarization beam splitter having a polarization split film used as both a polarizer and an analyzer; a reflective liquid crystal display device; a quarter wave plate; and a projection optical system; where the absolute value of phase difference of diffracted light generated by the reflective liquid crystal display device in a black display state is reduced by the phase difference of the quarter wave plate, and thus the amount of stray light of the diffracted light guided from the polarizing beam splitter to the projection optical system decreases.

Abstract: A projection image display apparatus includes: light source; polarization/separation element having a polarization/separation plane through which one polarized light passes and which reflects the other orthogonal to the one; an image display element for modulating the incident light into image light and reflecting the image light; and a retardation plate disposed between the polarization/separation element and the image display element: the retardation plate has refractive indices different between two orthogonal directions in an optical surface thereof, and gives phase difference larger than ?/4 to polarized light entering the optical surface and having a wavelength ?; and supposing z axis be a normal to a light entering/exiting surface of the polarization/separation element, y axis be perpendicular to z axis and a normal to the polarization/separation plane, and x axis be perpendicular to z- and y-axes, the first retardation plate has optic axis within xz plane and tilted to x axis.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display device including: a substrate (13) including a polarizing layer (11) on a light-input side; a substrate (14) including a polarizing layer (12) on another side, the polarizing layers having absorption axes substantially perpendicular; a liquid crystal layer (15) in which a liquid-crystal-molecule is aligned to be substantially horizontal to the substrates. In a case where an absorption axis of the polarizing layer (11) and an optical axis of the liquid crystal layer are substantially perpendicular, the optical compensating members (17 and 18) may be provided between the polarizing layer (11) and the liquid crystal layer; the absorption axis of the polarizing layer (11) and a slow axis of the optical compensating members are substantially perpendicular; each pixel satisfies nx?ny?nz; thickness-direction retardation for pixels of one color is different from other colors; and the thickness-direction retardation for red pixels is larger than 0 nm.

Abstract: A cellulose-film modifier, having a compound represented by the following Formula (1): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or aromatic acyl group; R2, R3 and R4 each represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or aromatic group; and at least one of R2, R3 and R4 represents an aliphatic group bonding via its secondary carbon; a cellulose composition, an optical cellulose film, a polarizing plate-protecting film, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: The viewing angle of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) apparatus is expanded by means of a sampled light redirecting layer, In one embodiment, the sampled light redirecting layer is formed as a compensation layer disposed between a top polarizing plate and the rest of a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The compensation layer includes at least two optical path changing patterns disposed in interleaved manner. The two optical path changing patterns have different refractive indexes. As a result of the different refractive indices and shapes of the at least two different optical path changing patterns some of the light rays sampled out of the output of the rest of a liquid crystal display panel are directed in a first direction by means of reflection or refraction and some are directed in a different second direction, thereby improving a side visibility of the display apparatus.

Abstract: An image display device includes: an optical modulator; and an optical compensation element configured to cancel out phase difference generated within the optical modulator; wherein the optical compensation element is installed in a state in which the brightness of a projected image corresponding to a region having relatively great phase difference within the optical modulator becomes a minimal value, at the minimum driving voltage to be applied to the optical modulator.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus has a liquid crystal display device, a surface light source, and a view angle limiting device arranged between the surface light source and the liquid crystal display device. The view angle limiting device includes first and second transparent plates facing each other with a gap therebetween, a plurality of first ½ retardation layers having a predetermined shape formed to be spaced apart from each other on one of the facing inner surfaces of the first and second transparent plates, a plurality of second ½ retardation layers formed on the other inner surface at regions corresponding to the regions between the first ½ retardation layers, and a polarizing film provided at the outer surface of one of the first and second transparent plates that faces the surface light source.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an optically anisotropic compensation panel with spectrally controllable dispersion of refractive indices. The compensation panel comprises at least one optically anisotropic layer based on an ordered guest-host system. The guest-host system comprises an anisotropic host matrix including an organic compound transparent to electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range, and guest component having guest particles. In another aspect the present invention provides a method of producing an optically anisotropic compensation panel disclosed. And in yet another embodiment the present invention provides a liquid crystal display with the compensation panel disclosed.

Abstract: A simple matrix type dot-matrix liquid crystal display element includes a first and a second transparent substrate disposed opposite to each other, first and second transparent electrodes disposed on the opposed face of the first and the second transparent substrate, respectively, a first and a second vertical alignment film disposed on the opposed side of the first and the second transparent substrate to cover the first and the second electrodes, respectively, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the opposed side of the first and the second transparent substrate and having ??<0 and ?nd>450 nm, and a first and a second viewing angle compensation plate disposed on the unopposed side of the first and the second transparent substrate, respectively, wherein in the first transparent electrode, openings extending in a predefined direction are aligned.

Abstract: The present invention provides a LCD device providing wide viewing angle display and having an improved transmittance and contrast ratio. The present invention is a liquid crystal display device including: a first substrate; a liquid crystal layer; and a second substrate in this order toward a display face, wherein each of the first and second substrates includes a polarizer and a transparent electrode, the first substrate includes a reflector, the liquid crystal layer contains a liquid crystal material with negative dielectric anisotropy, at least one of the first and second substrates includes a ?/4 retarder including a dielectric material, the ?/4 retarder is arranged to overlap with the reflector when viewed from the display face, and the ?/4 retarder is arranged on a liquid crystal side of the transparent electrode.

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: An input device which includes a light-transmissive touch panel, a phase difference plate disposed on the opposite side to an input operation surface of the touch panel, a ¼ wavelength plate disposed on the side of the input operation surface of the touch panel, and a polarizing plate on the touch panel side, which is disposed on the ¼ wavelength plate toward the input operation surface of the touch panel, wherein a ratio R1 (450 nm)/R1 (590 nm) of the phase difference value R1 (450 nm) for the phase difference plate at a wavelength of 450 nm to the phase difference value R1 (590 nm) for the phase difference plate at a wavelength of 590 nm is greater than a ratio R0 (450 nm)/R0 (590 nm) of the phase differences value R0 (450 nm) for the ¼ wavelength plate at a wavelength of 450 nm to the phase difference value R0 (590 nm) for the ¼ wavelength plate at a wavelength of 590 nm, the phase difference value R1 (590 nm) for the phase difference plate at a wavelength of 590 nm is smaller than the phase difference val

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal panel capable of realizing excellent display performance using a circular polarizing plate therein, and a liquid crystal display device and a terminal device using the same, with respect to a semi-transmission type liquid crystal display device in a horizontal electric field mode (In-Plane Switching: IPS). A viewer-side circular polarizing plate and a backside circular polarizing plate are disposed outside of a viewer-side substrate and a backside substrate respectively, and a viewer-side compensation plate and a backside compensation plate are disposed between the respective polarizing plates and substrates to reduce a refractive index anisotropy of a liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first polarizer located on one side of a first substrate, a second polarizer located on the opposite side of a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer formed of liquid crystal molecules and between the first and the second substrates so that the liquid crystal molecules may be aligned in parallel to the first or the second substrate and to which an electric field is applied in parallel to the first substrate, and a lighting device. The first or the second polarizer includes a polarization layer and supporting materials located on both sides of the polarization layer, reducing light leakage and a color shift in a black display state when viewed from the oblique direction.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device according to this invention comprises: a first substrate having a first polarization layer on a light incident side; a second substrate having a second polarization layer on a light outgoing side; a first birefringent medium disposed between the first polarization layer and the liquid crystal layer; a second birefringent medium disposed between the second polarization layer and the liquid crystal layer; a pixel electrode and a common electrode arranged on one of the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein an absorbing axis of the first polarization layer and an absorbing axis of the second polarization layer form an angle of from 88 degrees to 92 degrees; wherein the liquid crystal layer has a property that an in-plane refractive index anisotropy is induced in the liquid crystal layer by an electric field produced by the pixel electrode and the common electrode.

Abstract: A control and display unit for differentiated colored marking of texts or symbols provided with a monochrome LC-display and a backlight of the LC-display. A film, which is provided with a microstructure on at least one side, is arranged between the backlight and the LC-display.

Abstract: Disclosed is a copolymer for liquid crystal alignment having a photoreactive group, a mesogen group, a thermosetting group, and a crosslinking group, a liquid crystal aligning layer including the copolymer for liquid crystal alignment, and a liquid crystal display including the liquid crystal aligning layer. Since the liquid crystal aligning layer has excellent thermal stability and no residual image, the liquid crystal aligning layer is usefully applied to the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of polarizing films; a liquid crystal cell that is sandwiched between the pair of polarizing films; a retardation layer (A) of 70 ?m or less in thickness, which is disposed between the liquid crystal cell and one of the pair of polarizing films; and a retardation layer (B) of 70 ?m or less in thickness, which is disposed between the liquid crystal cell and the other of the pair of polarizing films, wherein the retardation layers (A) and (B) satisfy following formulae (1) to (3): RthU>RthD??Formula (1): ?20 nm?RthD?20 nm??Formula (2): 20 nm<RthU?60 nm??Formula (3): wherein RthU and RthD represent a retardation in a thickness direction at a wavelength of 550 nm of the retardation layer (A) and the retardation layer (B), respectively.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell including a pair of substrates provided with a color filter on one substrate, and a liquid crystal layer as a display medium provided between the substrates; and an optical compensation element including at least an optical compensation layer. The optical compensation element is arranged on the opposite side against the color filter with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Such a liquid crystal display apparatus allows excellent viewing angle compensation, exhibits exceptional contrast in an oblique direction, and can be reduced in thickness.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical film that is manufactured by using longitudinal and uniaxial stretching of an unstretched cycloolefin copolymer film and has an in-plane retardation of 100 to 150 nm and a thickness retardation of 0 to ?30 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm, a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display including the same, and a method of manufacturing the optical film. The method includes longitudinally and uniaxially stretching the unstretched film while a ratio of a width to a length of a stretched portion of the film is controlled.

Abstract: An optical compensation film comprising a light absorbing layer capable of absorbing at least light of wavelength ? nm in the visible light region is disclosed. The light absorbing layer has absorption anisotropy, light absorption coefficient kz(?) in the direction normal to the surface of layer (in the direction of z-axis), with respect to light of wavelength ? nm in the visible light region, being larger than in-plane (x-y plane) light absorption coefficients kx(?) and ky(?); and the light absorbing layer has the larger degree of absorption anisotropy at the light of longer wavelength. A liquid crystal display device employing the film is also disclosed.

Abstract: A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a display and a diffractive optical element (DOE). The display is used to show an image. When a user looks at the image within a first viewing angle range, he can see a first observed image, and when he looks at the image within a second viewing angle range, he can see a second observed image. The diffractive optical element is disposed in the lighting direction of the display to diffract the light constructing the first observed image to the second viewing angle range, thereby converting the first observed image into a third observed image and converting the second observed image into a fourth observed image at the same time.

Abstract: A transflective LCD unit includes an array of pixels each including a reflective area and a transmissive area. The LC layer has an effective retardation of ?/4 in the reflective area, and an effective retardation of ?/2 in the transmissive area. A retardation film disposed in the reflective area provides a retardation of ?/2 to the light passed thereby. An angle of ? between the optical axis of the retardation film and the polarized direction of the light is in a range of 0 degree<?<22.5 degrees.

Abstract: A display including a display panel and a switchable retarder is provided. The switchable retarder disposed on a light path of a polarized image having a first polarization provided by the display panel and includes a first substrate, first electrode stripes, second electrode stripes, and a retardation medium. The first electrode stripes and the second electrode stripes are disposed between the display panel and the first substrate, and are electrically independent from each other. A retardation region is defined by each first electrode stripe and one second electrode stripe. The retardation medium is located at a side of the first electrode stripes and at a side of the second electrode stripes, and is controlled by an electric field in the corresponding retardation region such that each retardation region provides a retardation. Accordingly, the polarized image having the first polarization is transformed into the polarized image having a second polarization.

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 supported by the substrate. The solidified liquid crystal layer includes first to third regions. The first to third regions re arranged on the substrate and different in degree of orientation of mesogens.

Abstract: A vertical alignment mode liquid crystal display device having an improved viewing angle characteristic is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device uses a liquid crystal having a negative anisotropic dielectric constant, and orientations of the liquid crystal are vertical to substrates when no voltage is applied, almost horizontal when a predetermined voltage is applied, and oblique when an intermediate voltage is applied. At least one of the substrates includes a structure as domain regulating means, and inclined surfaces of the structure operate to regulate azimuths of the oblique orientations of the liquid crystal when the intermediate voltage is applied.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having one surface on which a first electrode is provided, a second substrate which is provided with a second electrode, and a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the first and second substrates. Negative dielectric anisotropy homeotropic aligning films are formed on mutually faced surfaces of the first and second electrodes, respectively. A pair of polarizing plates are arranged on a side of the other surface opposite to the one surface of each substrate. A pair of optical compensation layers are arranged respectively between the other surfaces of the substrates and the polarizing plates, and give a retardation having a value which is substantially ¼ of a wavelength ? of transmitted visible light to the transmitted visible light.