Abstract: A vehicle mirror having an image display function includes an image display device, a circularly polarized light reflection layer, and a front plate formed of glass or plastic in this order. The circularly polarized light reflection layer includes a linearly polarized light reflection plate and a 1/4 wavelength plate from a side of the image display device. The linearly polarized light reflection plate and the 1/4 wavelength plate are directly in contact with each other, or only an alignment layer is included between the linearly polarized light reflection plate and the 1/4 wavelength plate. A method for producing the vehicle mirror includes forming the 1/4 wavelength plate from a composition that is directly applied to the surface of the linearly polarized light reflection plate or that is directly applied to the surface of the alignment layer directly in contact with the linearly polarized light reflection plate.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display apparatus having the following feature: although the liquid crystal display apparatus has a step between its display screen and outermost surface, the step is hardly recognized; and the liquid crystal display apparatus can achieve bright display. A liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal cell; a first polarizer arranged on a back surface side of the liquid crystal cell; a cover sheet arranged on a viewer side of the liquid crystal cell, the cover sheet having a transmission portion at a position corresponding to a display region of the liquid crystal cell; and a second polarizer arranged on a viewer side of the cover sheet to cover the transmission portion, wherein an absorption axis direction of the first polarizer and an absorption axis direction of the second polarizer are substantially perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display apparatus having the following feature: although the liquid crystal display apparatus has a step between its display screen and outermost surface, the step is hardly recognized; and the liquid crystal display apparatus can achieve bright display. A liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal cell; a first polarizer arranged on a back surface side of the liquid crystal cell; a cover sheet arranged on a viewer side of the liquid crystal cell, the cover sheet having a transmission portion at a position corresponding to a display region of the liquid crystal cell; and a second polarizer arranged on a viewer side of the cover sheet to cover the transmission portion, wherein an absorption axis direction of the first polarizer and an absorption axis direction of the second polarizer are substantially perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: Example display devices include a waveguide configured to propagate visible light under total internal reflection in a direction parallel to a major surface of the waveguide. The waveguide has formed thereon an outcoupling element configured to outcouple a portion of the visible light in a direction normal to the major surface of the waveguide. The example display devices additionally include a polarization-selective notch reflector disposed on a first side of the waveguide and configured to reflect visible light having a first polarization while transmitting the portion of the visible light having a second polarization. The example display devices further include a polarization-independent notch reflector disposed on a second side of the waveguide and configured to reflect visible light having the first polarization and the second polarization, where the polarization-independent notch reflector is configured to convert a polarization of visible light reflecting therefrom.

Abstract: A method of making an optical article having multiple light-influencing zones can include: forming an alignment coating layer having a first alignment region and a second alignment region over at least a portion of an optical element; applying at least one anisotropic material over the first alignment region and the second alignment region by an inkjet printing device; and applying at least one dichroic material and/or at least one photochromic-dichroic material over at least one of the first alignment region and the second alignment region to form a first light-influencing zone over the first alignment region and a second light-influencing zone over the second alignment region.

Abstract: A backlight module including a light guide plate, a light source, an optical film, a first prism sheet and a second prism sheet is provided. The light guide plate has a light incident surface and a light emitting surface connected to each other. The light source is disposed on a side of the light incident surface. The optical film is overlapped with the light emitting surface and has a plurality of optical microstructures facing the light emitting surface. An angle between the extending direction of the optical microstructures and the light incident surface is 90 degrees or between 45 degrees and 90 degrees. The first prism sheet and the second prism sheet are overlapped with the optical film and are positioned on a side of the optical film being far away from the light guide plate. A display apparatus adopting the backlight module is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a polarizing plate with optical compensation layers that is excellent in antireflection characteristic: in an oblique direction while maintaining an excellent antireflection characteristic in a front direction, and that has a neutral hue in the oblique direction. A polarizing plate with optical compensation layers according to the present invention is used for an organic EL panel The polarizing plate with optical compensation layers according to an embodiment of the present invention includes in the following order: a polarizer; a first optical compensation layer; and a second optical compensation layer. The first optical compensation layer shows a refractive index characteristic of nx>nz>ny and has an Re (550) of from 230 nm to 310 nm. The second optical compensation layer shows a refractive index characteristic of nx>nz>ny and satisfies a relationship of Re (450)<Re (550).

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an optical laminated film capable of detecting a light polarization state with a simple configuration using components which are superior in productivity and have high versatility, and a polarization imaging sensor using the optical laminated film.

Abstract: A projection display unit includes: an illumination optical system including one or more light sources; a reflective liquid crystal device that generates image light by modulating light from the illumination optical system, based on an input image signal; a polarizing beam splitter disposed on an optical path between the illumination optical system and the reflective liquid crystal device; a polarization compensation device disposed on an optical path between the polarizing beam splitter and the reflective liquid crystal device, and the polarization compensation device that provides a phase difference to light incident thereon to change a polarization state of the light; and a projection optical system that projects image light generated by the reflective liquid crystal device and then being incident thereon through an optical path, the optical path passing through the polarization compensation device and the polarizing beam splitter.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes in the following order from a viewing surface side a first polarizer, a first positive A plate having an in-plane retardation of 120 nm or greater and 155 nm or smaller, a positive C plate having a thickness retardation of 80 nm or greater and 100 nm or smaller, a first substrate, a second positive A plate having an in-plane retardation of 120 nm or greater and 155 nm or smaller, a horizontally aligned liquid crystal layer, a second substrate, a viewing angle compensation layer, and a second polarizer. The device further includes between the first polarizer and the first positive A plate a positive C plate having a thickness retardation of 30 nm or greater and 80 nm or smaller.

Abstract: A wearable augmented reality head-mounted display system can be configured to pass light from the world forward a wearer wearing the head-mounted system into an eye of the wearer. The head-mounted display system can include an optical display that is configured to output light to form an image. The system may include one or more waveguides that are disposed to receiving the light from the display. A variable power reflector can be disposed on the forward side of the one or more waveguides. The reflector can be configured to have an optical power that is adjustable upon application of an electrical signal.

Abstract: A beam deflector and a three-dimensional (3D) display device including the beam deflector are provided. The beam deflector includes a first deflector configured to controllably deflect incident light having a first polarization state in a first horizontal direction; a half-wave plate configured to rotate a polarization of light transmitted by the first deflector by 90°; and a second deflector configured to controllably deflect light transmitted by the half-wave plate having the first polarization state in a second horizontal direction that is different from the first horizontal direction.

Abstract: An optical film includes a liquid crystal layer derived from a smectic phase, wherein an Nz factor of the liquid crystal layer is from 0.2 to 0.8. A display device that includes the optical film, and a method of producing an optical film is also provided.

Abstract: A spectrally-selective reflective optical film comprises at least two anisotropic layers, each of the layers having a phase retardation value and an optical axis orientation pattern within the layer; the optical axis orientation patterns exhibiting a discontinuity at the boundary of the at least two layers; and at least one substrate holding the film. At least a part of the anisotropic layers may be chiral. The materials comprising the anisotropic layers may be selected from liquid crystal polymers, azobenzene liquid crystal polymers, liquid crystals, azobenzene liquid crystals, polymer films with stressed birefringence, and combinations thereof. The materials comprising the anisotropic layers may be doped with at least one dopant from the list comprising nanorods, photorefractive nanoparticles, photovoltaic nanoparticles, lasing dyes, and combinations of thereof. The anisotropic layers may be transparent to infrared wavelengths.

Abstract: A wearable display device 1 includes a display panel 11, an eyepiece 31, and an optical element 21 that is disposed between the display panel 11 and the eyepiece 31, in which the optical element 21 includes an optically-anisotropic layer 23 that is formed of a cured layer of a composition including a liquid crystal compound 24, and the optically-anisotropic layer 23 has a liquid crystal alignment pattern AP1 in which a direction of an optical axis derived from the liquid crystal compound 24 changes while continuously rotating along at least one in-plane direction of the optically-anisotropic layer 23.

Abstract: The anti-reflection film includes an anti-reflection layer composed of multilayer thin-films having different refractive indexes on one principal surface of a transparent film substrate. The moisture permeability of the anti-reflection film is 15 to 1000 g/m2·24 h. The surface of the anti-reflection layer has an indentation elastic modulus of 20 to 100 GPa, and an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of 3 nm or less. The arithmetic mean roughness Ra of the surface of the anti-reflection layer is preferably 1.5 nm or less. The thin-films constituting the anti-reflection layer can be deposited by, for example, a sputtering method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium which contains at least two polymerisable compounds or reactive mesogens (RM) and at least one compound selected from the group of compounds of the formula IIA, IIB and IIC, in which R2A, R2B, R2C, L1-6, ring B, Z2, Z2, p, q and v have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, and to the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the VA, PSA, PS-VA, PALC, FFS, PS-FFS, IPS or PS-IPS effect, especially for the use in LC displays of the PS (polymer stabilised) or PSA (polymer sustained alignment) type.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic layered body including a first optically anisotropic layer and a second optically anisotropic layer, wherein each of refractive indices of the second optically anisotropic layer, in-plane retardations of the first optically anisotropic layer, thickness direction retardations of the second optically anisotropic layer, in-plane retardations of the optically anisotropic layered body, NZ factors of the optically anisotropic layered body, and thickness direction retardations Rth of the optically anisotropic layered body satisfies specific relationships.

Abstract: A display device and a method for adjusting a chromaticity of a display beam are provided. A display device includes a light source module, a viewing angle switching module and a display module. The light source module includes a light source used for providing a light beam, and an illumination beam is formed by the light beam through the light source module, wherein the chromaticity of the light beam falls within a first region in the CIE 1931 xy chromaticity coordinates. The first region is a region enclosed by four coordinate points, and values of the four coordinate points of the first region are (0.2535, 0.2160), (0.2656, 0.2590), (0.2795, 0.2590), and (0.2674, 0.2160), respectively. The viewing angle switching module and the display module are located on the transmission path of the illumination beam.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display device has a first substrate having a first electrode that reflects light; a second substrate having a second electrode that transmits light; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, including a nematic liquid crystal material having negative dielectric anisotropy ?? and a chiral agent, having nearly vertical alignment when no voltage is applied, and having twist alignment or hybrid alignment when white voltage is applied; and a polarizing layer provided on the observer side of the second substrate and at least one retarder layer disposed between the polarizing layer and the second substrate, wherein the reflective liquid crystal display device has a drive circuit that applies black voltage or white voltage across the liquid crystal layer at a frame rate of 1 fps or less, and when applying white voltage across the liquid crystal layer over a plurality of frames, the drive circuit applies the white display voltage whose polarity i

Abstract: A beam deflector and a holographic three-dimensional image display apparatus employing the same are provided. The beam deflector deflects light through two stages by a first beam deflector that deflects the light in a first moving direction making an angle with a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, such that the deflected light is oriented to a first location, and a second beam deflector that deflects the light incident from the first beam deflector such that the light is deflected in a second moving direction making an angle with the horizontal direction and the vertical direction at the first location and is oriented to a second location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polarizing article that includes in order: (a) a substrate; (b) a first orientation facility having a first orientation direction; (c) a first polarized layer, that includes a first dichroic fixed-tint dye and a first liquid-crystal material, and which has a first polarization axis; (d) a second orientation facility having a second orientation direction; and (e) a second polarized layer that includes a second dichroic fixed-tint dye and a second liquid-crystal material, and which has a second polarization axis. The first and second polarization axes are oriented relative to each other at an angle of greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°. The electromagnetic absorption spectra of the first and second dichroic fixed-tint dyes are different from each other.

Abstract: This liquid crystal display unit includes a pair of polarizers, a liquid crystal display device provided between the pair of polarizers, and an optical compensation device provided between, of the pair of polarizers, at least one polarizer and the liquid crystal display device. The optical compensation device includes an underlayer including a plurality of structures that each include first and second surfaces having different inclination angles from each other, and a multilayered film formed on the underlayer and including a plurality of first and second refractive index films that are alternately stacked one on top of another repeatedly. An array pitch of the plurality of structures in the underlayer is smaller than a wavelength of visible light.

Abstract: A polarization independent optical phase modulator includes two substrates, two electrode layers, two alignment layers, and a liquid crystal layer. Each of alignment layers has first and second alignment regions each having a predetermined width in a transverse direction, which is not greater than a half of the wavelength of an incident light. In the liquid crystal layer, two adjacent ones of liquid crystal elements in the transverse direction are aligned respectively by two adjacent ones of the first and second alignment regions in two predetermined orientations which are orthogonal to each other, thereby permitting phase modulation of the incident light to be independent of the polarization of the incident light.

Abstract: The present application relates to a device for testing optical properties and a method for testing optical properties using the same. The device of the present application has inexpensive manufacturing and maintenance costs, is capable of testing a wide range of plane directional phase differences, and provides the method for testing optical properties with improved identification efficiency of the phase retardation axis.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a polarizing plate having excellent appearance properties and including a polarizer, an optical rotatory layer, and a brightness enhancement film, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal display device including the polarizing plate, are described. The method includes forming an optical rotatory layer, which has a film thickness of 1 to 10 ?m and rotates a polarization axis of linearly polarized light, on a temporary support to manufacture a temporary support with an optical rotatory layer; bonding the optical rotatory layer of the temporary support with an optical rotatory layer and polarizer through a curable adhesive layer, and curing the curable adhesive layer to form a first bonding layer having a storage elastic modulus of 2 to 1500 MPa; peeling off the temporary support from the laminate; and bonding the optical rotatory layer of the laminate and a brightness enhancement film through a second bonding layer.

Abstract: To obtain projection images with high contrast when selective light irradiation is performed forward of its own vehicle. A lamp unit for a vehicular lamp system performing selective light irradiation to the surroundings of the own vehicle includes: a light source; an optical shutter part that modulates light emitted from the light source; and an optical system that projects the light transmitted through the optical shutter part. The optical shutter part includes: polarizers; a liquid crystal element disposed between the polarizers and where the initial alignment of liquid crystal molecules is horizontally aligned and causes an alignment change in the in-plane direction upon electric field application; a first optical plate which is a positive A-plate disposed between the polarizers closer to the light source and the liquid crystal element; and a second optical plate which is a positive C-plate disposed between the first optical plate and the liquid crystal element.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a pixel array including one or more pixels. Two or more independently controllable electrodes are electrically coupled to each pixel. A common ground reference electrode is electrically coupled to all pixels of the pixel array. Each pixel includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal molecules may be oriented in a first direction based on a first function of voltages applied by the two or more independently controllable electrodes for the pixel, and oriented in a second direction based on a second function of the voltages applied by the two or more independently controllable electrodes for the pixel. In this way, both phase modulation and polarization modulation may be introduced to light illuminating the pixel array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production method and to a device for document security applications including various latent images on each side. The invention comprises: depositing, according to an established pattern, at least one layer of metallized material, forming a holographic element on at least one part of one of the surfaces of a confinement substrate; defining different regions on the surface of the substrate; inducing different alignment directions for orienting a liquid crystal according to the previously defined regions; doping the liquid crystal with at least one dichroic dye; placing the liquid crystal over at least one confinement substrate, covering the holographic element; adding a second confinement substrate, forming a sandwich-type structure; and polymerizing the liquid crystal, forming a sheet.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel includes substrates, a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, a spacer provided on an opposite surface of one of the substrates, and an alignment film provided on an opposite surface of another substrate. The display surface is curved around a curved axis or formed to be bendable around the curved axis, and the spacer directly or indirectly abuts on the alignment film provided on the opposite surface of the other substrate. The alignment film is a horizontal alignment film that contains a polymer having an alkylene chain structure having two or more carbon atoms in a main chain and allows liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer to be aligned horizontally to the alignment film, and in the alignment film provided on the opposite surface of the other substrate, the polymer is aligned such that the alkylene chain structure extends parallel to the curved axis.

Abstract: A flexible display device includes a display panel configured to display an image, and a polarizing plate on the display panel. The flexible display device includes a folding area and a non-folding area. A first thickness of the polarizing plate in the folding area is greater than a second thickness of the polarizing plate in the non-folding area.

Abstract: Example display devices include a waveguide configured to propagate visible light under total internal reflection in a direction parallel to a major surface of the waveguide. The waveguide has formed thereon an outcoupling element configured to outcouple a portion of the visible light in a direction normal to the major surface of the waveguide. The example display devices additionally include a polarization-selective notch reflector disposed on a first side of the waveguide and configured to reflect visible light having a first polarization while transmitting the portion of the visible light having a second polarization. The example display devices further include a polarization-independent notch reflector disposed on a second side of the waveguide and configured to reflect visible light having the first polarization and the second polarization, where the polarization-independent notch reflector is configured to convert a polarization of visible light reflecting therefrom.

Abstract: A display device includes a display panel having a display surface and a lighting device that supplies light to the display panel. The lighting device includes a light source, and an optical member having at least a light exit surface through which the light emitted by the light source exits toward the display surface of the display panel. The optical member includes a light refraction portion that imparts an anisotropic refraction effect to at least light rays exiting through an edge section of the light exit surface to be oriented toward a center side of the display surface. The display device further includes a low refraction index layer interposed between the display panel and the optical member, and the low refraction index layer has a refraction index lower than at least a refraction index of the optical member.

Abstract: A display device includes an image display panel, and a viewing angle switching element, in which the viewing angle switching element includes first and second linear polarizers arranged to face each other, and a viewing angle control cell and an optical compensation sheet arranged in a laminated manner between the first and second linear polarizers, the viewing angle control cell includes a single domain vertical alignment liquid crystal cell, an angle formed between an in-plane fast axis of the optical compensation sheet and the absorption axis or the reflection axis of the first linear polarizer is 30° to 60°, and a pretilt azimuth of the vertically aligned liquid crystal of the viewing angle control cell is at an angle of 30° to 60° from the absorption axis or the reflection axis of the first linear polarizer.

Abstract: An interlayer comprising a first polymer layer, a polarization rotary optical film and optionally a second polymer layer, and multiple layer panels formed from such interlayers. The panels may exhibit desirable optical properties, including, for example, less image “ghosting,” when used as part of a heads-up-display (HUD) display panel for use in automotive and aircraft applications.

Abstract: A viewing angle switchable display module includes an organic light-emitting display (OLED) panel, a viewing angle switchable device disposed on the OLED panel, and a quarter wave plate disposed between the OLED panel and the viewing angle switchable device. The viewing angle switchable device includes an absorptive polarizer, a reflective polarizer, and an electrically controlled viewing angle switching element. A transmission axis of the reflective polarizer is parallel to a transmission axis of the absorptive polarizer. The electrically controlled viewing angle switching element is disposed between the absorptive polarizer and the reflective polarizer and includes two conductive layers and a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can be durable and have high performance. The WGP can comprise an array of wires 13 on a substrate 11. An overcoat layer 32 can be located at distal ends of the array of wires 13 and can span channels 15 between the wires 13. A conformal-coat layer 61 can coat sides 13s and distal ends 13d of the wires 13 between the wires 13 and the overcoat layer 32. The overcoat layer can comprise aluminum oxide. An antireflection layer 33 can be located over the overcoat layer 32.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a light source and a liquid crystal panel, wherein the liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate on the light source, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, a color conversion layer between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and including a light emitting element configured to receive a first visible light from the light source and emit a second visible light, a first polarizing layer between the liquid crystal layer and the color conversion layer, and a first phase difference layer between the liquid crystal layer and the first polarizing layer.

Abstract: Provided is a shaped article having excellent jet blackness and also, by transmitting light with specific wavelength, can display a specific color. The shaped article is a shaped article for which the L* value of reflected light is 35 or less and the total light transmittance is 1% or less, wherein, in a wavelength range of 380 nm or more to 780 nm or less, the wavelength at which the maximum value of light transmittance is exhibited is in a range of 380 nm or more to less than 680 nm, and the expressions T??0.1% and 0%?T??T?/2 are satisfied, or, in a wavelength range of 380 nm or more to 780 nm or less, the wavelength at which the maximum value of light transmittance is exhibited is in a range of 680 nm or more to 780 nm or less, and the expressions T??10% and 0%?T??T?/2 are satisfied.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a polarizer including a first retardation layer and a second retardation layer having different retardation values with respect to each other, a polarization layer disposed on the first retardation layer, a first compensation layer disposed between the first retardation layer and the second retardation layer, and a second compensation layer disposed below the second retardation layer.

Abstract: Provided are a transparent screen having high transparency in which a hot spot caused by transmitted light can be reduced; and an image display system in which visibility of a screen is excellent and a hot spot is reduced by using the transparent screen. The transparent screen includes, in this order: a first ?/4 plate; a reflecting layer that has a structure obtained by immobilizing a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase and reflects a part of incidence light; and a polarizing film that has an absorption axis in a thickness direction.

Abstract: A privacy display comprises a polarised output spatial light modulator, reflective polariser, plural polar control retarders and a polariser. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance. Further, display reflectivity is reduced for on-axis reflections of ambient light, while reflectivity is increased for off-axis light. The visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers is reduced by means of luminance reduction and increased frontal reflectivity to ambient light. In a public mode of operation, the liquid crystal retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified.

Abstract: A liquid crystal lens, a method of controlling a liquid crystal lens and liquid crystal glasses are provided. The liquid crystal lens includes a liquid crystal layer; and an electrode structure. The electrode structure includes: a first sector region; a second sector region; at least two first annular sector electrodes in the first sector region; and at least two second annular sector electrodes in the second sector region. The electrode structure is configured to: in response to voltages applied to the at least two first annular sector electrodes, configure the liquid crystal molecules as a first Fresnel element; and in response to voltages applied to the at least two second annular sector electrodes, configure the liquid crystal molecules as a second Fresnel element, the second Fresnel element being different from the first Fresnel element.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes a drive component, connected to the display component and configured to display each picture with two frame images in sequence; the two frame images include a first frame image and a second frame image; drive voltages of adjacent two sub-pixels on each frame image include a high drive voltage and a low drive voltage, and the drive voltages of each sub-pixel in the first frame image and in the second frame image include a high drive voltage and a low drive voltage; and a backlight control component, connected to the drive component; wherein the backlight control component is configured to determine a backlight brightness adjusting signal of each backlight subarea according to the drive voltages of a first frame image region and a second frame image region corresponding to each backlight subarea.

Abstract: A phase difference film including: a phase difference thin film including at least two non-liquid crystal polymers, wherein the phase difference thin film satisfies refractive indexes of nx?ny>nz and has a thickness direction phase difference per unit thickness of greater than or equal to about 80 nm/?m, wherein nx denotes a refractive index of the phase difference thin film at a slow axis thereof, ny denotes a refractive index of the phase difference thin film at a fast axis thereof, and nz denotes a refractive index of the phase difference thin film in a direction perpendicular to the slow axis and the fast axis thereof, and wherein an average light transmittance in a wavelength region of about 360 nm to about 740 nm is greater than or equal to about 88%, and a display device including the same.

Abstract: An optical low-pass filter includes a stack of N (N?3) optical anisotropic layers each configured to separate an incident ray into a plurality of rays, wherein the following condition is satisfied: Ds?0.50 Da, where Da [?m] is a total value of ray separation widths of the first to (N?1)th optical anisotropic layers among the N optical anisotropic layers, and Ds [?m] is a distance between a ray having a maximum phase difference and a ray having a minimum phase difference among the rays separated by the first to (N?1)th optical anisotropic layers.

Abstract: A laminate is capable of forming an orientation film formed by orienting a rod-like liquid crystal compound or a disk-like liquid crystal compound having a horizontal orientation ability or a vertical orientation ability with respect to a surface of the laminate, on the surface, by using an orientation restraining force of the surface, the laminate including: a cholesteric liquid crystal layer. An optical film sequentially includes: a support; a cholesteric liquid crystal layer; and an orientation film.

Abstract: There is provided a polarizing plate excellent in durability. A polarizing plate 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a polarizer 10; and a pair of protective films 21, 22 respectively arranged on both main surfaces of the polarizer 10, wherein the polarizing plate 100 has a polarizer void portion 30 formed by positioning of an end surface 10a of the polarizer 10 inward in a plane direction relative to each of end surfaces 21a, 22a of the protective films 21, 22.

Abstract: Provided are: a retardation-increasing agent that has excellent compatibility and, when incorporated into a resin film, is capable of not only adjusting the thickness-direction phase difference toward a positive direction but also imparting the film with high retardation; a cellulose-based resin composition comprising the retardation-increasing agent; and a film that is obtained from the cellulose-based resin composition and has excellent optical properties. The retardation-increasing agent comprises a compound represented by the following Formula (1) or (2): (wherein, R1 to R10 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like); or (wherein, R21 to R28 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like).

Abstract: An object is to provide a phase difference compensation element capable of improving the contrast of a liquid crystal display device while solving the problems of a high cost, an increase in the lead time, an increase in the mounting space, and the durability. A phase difference compensation element includes: a phase difference imparting and reflection preventing layer; a first birefringence layer and a second birefringence layer in which an angle of a corner formed by a main axis of refractive index anisotropy and a surface of a transparent substrate is not 90 degrees; a third birefringence layer in which an angle of a corner formed by a main axis of refractive index anisotropy and the surface of the transparent substrate is 0 degrees, wherein, when segments acquired when the main axes of the first, second, and third birefringence layers are projected onto the transparent substrate are respectively denoted by a segment A, a segment B, and a segment C, relations of the following (1) and (2) are satisfied.