Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus includes: a liquid crystal panel having a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal layer arranged between the pair of substrates and driven by an electric field having a component parallel to the substrates; a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate arranged with the liquid crystal panel interposed therebetween; and a retardation film arranged between the first polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel or between the second polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel, in which the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate each include a polarizer and translucent protection films which interpose the polarizer, an in-plane phase difference Re1 of the protection film satisfies 0 nm?Re1?5 nm, a thickness direction phase difference Rth of the protection film satisfies 0 nm?Rth?20 nm, an in-plane phase difference Re2 of the retardation film satisfies 200 nm?Re2?300 nm, an Nz value of the retardation film satisfies 0.4<Nz?0.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell having 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 in a manner that their absorption axes are perpendicular to each other, an optically-biaxial retardation film A disposed between the first polarizing element and the liquid-crystal cell, and an optically-biaxial retardation film B disposed between the second polarizing element and the liquid-crystal cell, wherein the retardation films A and B differ from each other in the optical anisotropy, is disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided: an optical film suitable for a liquid crystal display apparatus providing a colorless neutral display in all azimuth angle directions; a liquid crystal panel employing the optical film; and a liquid crystal display apparatus employing the liquid crystal panel. An optical film includes a transparent protective film, a polarizer, and a birefringent layer having a relationship of nx>ny=nz and positive uniaxial property, in the stated order, in which the polarizer and the birefringent layer are laminated directly through one of a pressure-sensitive adhesive and an adhesive.

Abstract: A projection display includes a light source, a liquid crystal panel encapsulating a vertical alignment mode liquid crystal between a first substrate and a second substrate which are opposite to each other, the liquid crystal panel modulating light emitted from the light source, a longer axis of a molecule of the vertical alignment mode liquid crystal tilted from the normal direction of the first substrate, a projection lens projecting light modulated by the liquid crystal panel, a first polarization plate placed on an optical path from the light source to the liquid crystal panel, a second polarization plate placed on an optical path from the liquid crystal panel to the projection lens, an optical-compensation plate placed between the liquid crystal panel and the second polarization plate, and the optical-compensation plate including a plate-like base and a retardation plate formed on a surface of the plate-like base.

Abstract: A display device includes a display panel, a backlight assembly providing a light to the display panel, a receiving container receiving the backlight assembly and a heat sink member disposed between the backlight assembly and the receiving container. The display panel includes a first substrate including a pixel electrode formed on a pixel region and electrically connected to a switching device, a first alignment layer formed on the pixel electrode, a second substrate including a common electrode layer facing the first substrate, a second alignment layer formed on the common electrode layer, and a liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal composition having a nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature higher than about 80° C. Thus, black bruising of liquid crystal may be prevented and/or reduced, thereby enhancing a display quality.

Abstract: First and second polarizers are disposed in cross Nichol configuration. A liquid crystal cell is disposed between the two polarizers and establishes vertical alignment in a state of no voltage application. An even number of optical films having optical anisotropy and disposed between the liquid crystal cell and first polarizer. A retardation of the liquid crystal cell is in a range between 300 nm and 1500 nm; and each optical film satisfies nx>ny?nz, an in-plane retardation is smaller than 300 nm, a thickness direction retardation is in a ranger between 50 nm and 300 nm, an angle between an in-plane slow axis of the optical film disposed nearest to the first polarizer and an absorption axis of the first polarizer is smaller than 45°, and the slow axes of mutually adjacent optical films are perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides 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.

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: 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: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is provided. The LCD device includes an LCD panel having a first liquid crystal layer therein; a first polarizing sheet; and a first phase-difference compensation portion disposed adjacent a first surface of the LCD panel between the LCD panel and the first polarizing sheet. The first phase-difference compensation portion includes a plurality of phase-difference films having at least second and third liquid crystal layers with tilt angles that are different.

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: An identifying medium comprises a nematic liquid crystal layer for forming a latent image with gradation, and the nematic liquid crystal layer has a thickness distribution corresponding to the gradation.

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: 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: 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 homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film is provided with a liquid crystalline substance containing a side chain liquid crystalline compound having an oxetanyl group, as a constituent, aligned homeotropically on an alignment substrate while being in a liquid crystal state and fixed in the homeotropic alignment by allowing the oxetanyl group to react. Thus, the homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film can be stably produced without necessitating a complicated step such as light irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere and is excellent in alignment retainability after being fixed in the homeotropic alignment and in mechanical strength.

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 display device of an in-plane switching mode comprises at least optically anisotropic members (A) and (B) and a liquid crystal cell disposed between a pair of polarizers having absorption axes disposed approximately perpendicularly to each other, wherein nzA>nyA and nxB>nzB (nxA, nxB: refractive indices (n) in the direction of the in-plane slow axis; nyA, nyB: n in the in-plane direction perpendicular to the above direction; nzA, nzB: n in the direction of thickness, each at 550 nm); the in-plane slow axes of (A) and (B) are approximately parallel or perpendicular to each other; and the in-plane slow axis of (A) is approximately parallel or perpendicular to the absorption axis of a polarizer closer to (A). The antireflection property, scratch resistance and durability are excellent, the angle of field is wide, and uniform display of images with great contrast can be achieved at any angle of observation.

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 main object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable biaxial retardation film without the problems of peeling off of the retardation layer from the base material or the like generated in the case of forming the retardation layer, capable of enlarging the range of the thickness direction and in-plane direction retardation values to be obtained, easily obtaining optional thickness direction and in-plane direction retardation values even for a small amount, a method for producing the same, an optical functional film using the retardation layer, a polarizing film and a display device. In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an optically biaxial retardation film, comprising a polymer film containing a material having refractive index anisotropy, wherein the material having refractive index anisotropy has a concentration gradient in a thickness direction of the polymer film, is provided.

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: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first insulative substrate, a second insulative substrate, a first polarizer disposed on an outer surface side of the first insulative substrate, a second polarizer disposed on an outer surface side of the second insulative substrate, and a first retardation plate and a second retardation plate, which are stacked between the second insulative substrate and the second polarizer. When a retardation in the thickness direction, which is defined by ((nx+ny)/2?nz)*d, is Rth, the first retardation plate has a negative first retardation Rth1, the second retardation plate has a positive second retardation Rth2, and a contribution degree of the second retardation Rth2, which is defined by |Rth2|*100/(|Rth1+|Rth2|), is 40%±3%.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display comprises two parallel spaced substrates and a liquid crystal layer with negative dielectric anisotropy interposed between the substrates. The ratio d/p, the cell gap d between the substrates to the pitch p of the liquid crystal layer, is equal to or less than 0.3, and the retardation value ?n*d may be in the range of 0.25-0.4. In absence of electric field, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged vertically to the substrates, and when the sufficient electric field is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are parallel to the substrates and twisted by 90° from one substrate to the other.

Abstract: A TFT array panel on which both pixel electrodes and common electrodes are formed and a color filter panel is disposed opposing the array panel, and liquid crystals are interposed therebetween. The liquid crystals are aligned parallel to the two panels and driven by parallel electric field formed between the pixel electrodes and reference electrodes. Polarization films are arranged outsides the two panels, and a quasi-A plate compensation film is arranged between the color filter panel and the polarization film.

Abstract: Self-compensating, quasi-homeotropic liquid crystal devices overcome the contrast reducing effects of smaller pretilt angles. The devices exhibit extremely high contrast ratio but at the same time suppress fringe field-induced disclination lines in high pixel density and small pixel size quasi-homeotropic displays. The surface pretilt and cell twist angles are set at values that, in combination, contribute to establishing a cuspate singularity in the contrast ratio for normally incident light in response to a drive signal switching the liquid crystal device to the OFF director field state that provides nearly 0% optical efficiency. The OFF director field state corresponds to a subthreshold drive level that provides for the liquid crystal device self-compensation for in-plane optical retardation.

Abstract: The application relates to a single-polarizer reflective bistable twisted nematic (BTN) liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer of thickness d, birefringence ?n and retardation ?nd, said liquid crystal layer being situated between two substrates and between a polarizer and a reflector, said liquid crystal layer in the absence of an applied electric field having two stable uniformly twisted textures, the twists of the two stable textures differing by an angle being equal mainly to 180°, and at least one compensation layer positioned between said polarizer and said reflector, said compensation layer being composed of at least one birefringent film, said birefringent film having an optical anisotropy defined by three characteristic refractive indices nx, ny, nz, along three corresponding axis x, y, z of index ellipsoid, x and y being situated inside the substrates plane, nx and ny being called in plane indices, with nx?ny, x being called slow axis, and z being perpendicular to the substra

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a first optical compensating member disposed without a birefringent medium sandwiched between a liquid-crystal layer and the first optical compensating member. The first optical compensating member is constructed so that when a refractive index thereof in a slow-axis direction in a plane parallel to the substrate is taken as n1, a refractive index in a fast-axis direction in the plane parallel to the substrate is taken as n2, and a refractive index in a thickness direction is taken as n3, the first optical compensating member satisfies n1˜n3>n2 and a slow axis thereof in the plane parallel to the substrate is substantially vertical to an optical axis of the liquid-crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel of the present invention includes in the following order toward a viewer side: a first polarizer; a first optical compensation layer having a refractive index ellipsoid of nx>ny>nz and an in-plane retardation Re1 of 90 to 300 nm; a liquid crystal cell; a second optical compensation layer having a refractive index ellipsoid of nx>ny>nz and an in-plane retardation Re2 of 90 to 300 nm; and a second polarizer, wherein a total thickness direction retardation ?Rth1 to n of all the optical compensation layers and a thickness direction retardation Rthc of the liquid crystal cell satisfy the following Expression (1): ?160 nm<(?Rth1 to n?Rthc)<50 nm??(1).

Abstract: An optical compensation film according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: non-liquid crystal polymers arranged in a tilt alignment, wherein the optical compensation film satisfies the following expressions (1) and (2): 3 [nm]?(nx?ny)×d;??(1) and 5°<?,??(2) where, when an X-axis and a Y-axis, which are plane direction axes of a three-dimensional coordinate system, are perpendicular to each other and an axis vertical to the X-axis and the Y-axis in a thickness direction is defined as a Z-axis, nx and ny indicate a maximum refractive index and a minimum refractive index in an XY-plane of the optical compensation film, respectively, d indicates a film thickness [nm], and ? indicates an angle formed between a direction for providing the minimum refractive index ny and a direction for providing a maximum refractive index nb in a YZ-plane of the optical compensation film.

Abstract: A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (1), ?10 nm??Re1??Re2?10 nm, is satisfied when a slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially perpendicular to a slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (2), ?10 nm??Re1+?Re2?10 nm, is satisfied when the slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially parallel to the slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, wherein an in-plane retardation value Re of the film as a whole satisfies 30 nm?Re?500 nm, where ?Re1 denotes a value calculated from “Re1 (at a temperature of 50° C.)?Re1 (at a temperature of 25° C.)” concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ?Re2 denotes a value calculated from “Re2 (at a temperature of 50° C.)?Re2 (at a temperature of 25° C.)” concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystals having negative dielectric anisotropy are interposed between upper substrate and lower substrate that have been vertically oriented on the surface, the orientation of the liquid crystals being almost vertical with no applied voltage, almost horizontal when a predetermined voltage is applied, and tilted when a smaller voltage than the predetermined voltage is applied; a first polarizer and a second polarizer disposed on both sides of the liquid crystal panel such that the absorption axes of the polarizers are perpendicular to each other; a first retardation film disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the first polarizer; and a second retardation film disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the second polarizer, wherein the polarizer comprises a polarizing film and a pair of protective films having the polarizing film in between, and wherein at least one of the protective films is a cellulose acylate film sat

Abstract: A single-layer birefringent crystal trim retarder includes a birefringent crystal cut such that its optic axis is at a high oblique angle and such that it provides low in-plane retardance values even when the birefringent crystal is relatively thick. To compensate for the inherent high +C-plate retardance of this high-tilt O-plate, the single-layer birefringent crystal is coupled with a ?C-plate thin-film retarder to provide a trim retarder having an overall A/?C-plate retarder functionality. This full-function trim retarder is practical to fabricate, is thickness and azimuthal angle tolerant, and is suitable for low sensitivity angular clocking requirements of LCoS panel compensation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polarizing plate comprising at least first and second polarizing elements and satisfying (1) kx1>ky1=kz1, (2) kz2>ky2 and (3) (kx1?ky1)×d1>(kz2?ky2)×d2, wherein an x-axis and a y-axis are in-plane axes crossing perpendicularly to each other, and a z-axis is the axis crossing perpendicularly to the x-y axis plane; kx1, ky1 and kz1 each are the absorption coefficient in the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis directions, respectively, of the first polarizing element; ky2 and kz2 each are the absorption coefficient in the y-axis and z-axis directions, respectively, of the second polarizing element; and d1 and d2 each are the thickness (unit: nm) of the first and second polarizing elements, respectively.

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 display includes a lower panel, an upper panel facing the lower panel and including a plurality of red color filters, green color filters, and blue color filters, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the lower and upper panels. The liquid crystal layer has first, second and third cell-gap portions corresponding to the red, green and blue filters, respectively, and the first second and third cell-gap portions have cell gaps Dr, Dg and Db, respectively. A first compensation film is disposed on an outer surface of one of the lower panel or the upper panel. A lower polarizer is on the outer surface of the lower panel and an upper polarizer is on the outer surface of the upper panel. The cell gaps Dr, Dg and Db may satisfy the equation 0 ?m?Dg?Db and Dr?Dg?0.5 ?m.

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 biaxial plate is 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: An optical film having an inner portion exhibiting an N value defined by the following equation smaller than an N value at a surface of the optical film: N=(nx+ny)/2?nz wherein nx represents an in-plane refractive index in a slow axis direction of the optical film, ny represents an in-plane refractive index in a fast axis direction of the optical film, and nz represent a refractive index in a thickness direction of the optical film.

Abstract: A LCD device includes a LC cell including a homogeneously-oriented LC layer and a pair of transparent substrates. A pair of polarizing films sandwiching therebetween the LC cell. A protective layer of the light-emitting-side polarizing film has an optical isotropy, and protective layer of the light-incident-side polarizing film has an thickness-wise retardation of 20 to 90 nm. A biaxial optical anisotropic film is interposed between the light-emitting-side polarizing film and the LC cell, and a second optical anisotropic film for cancelling the wavelength dispersion caused by the biaxial optical anisotropic film is interposed between the light-incident-side polarizing film and the LC cell. The biaxial optical anisotropic film has three-dimensional refractive indexes ns, nf and nz that satisfy therebetween (ns?nz)/(ns?nf)?0.5%.

Abstract: A cellulose acylate film comprising at least one retardation raising agent having specific rod-like polarizability anisotropy or specific plane polarizability anisotropy, and specific distance between terminals of a molecule in a specific amount; a process for producing the same; and a polarizing plate and liquid crystal display using the same.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device, in which a liquid crystal layer is held between a pair of substrates, includes a plurality of pixels and a retardation layer. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a transmissive display area and a reflective display area. The retardation layer is arranged at a position that at least overlaps the reflective display areas and on an inner surface side of the pair of substrates. The retardation layer is formed so as to extend over the reflective display areas of at least two adjacent pixels among the plurality of pixels. The retardation layer has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is located on one of the two adjacent pixels. The second end portion is opposite the first end portion and located on the other pixel of the two adjacent pixels.

Abstract: A contrast compensator for improving the panel contrast of liquid crystal (LC) microdisplays having a high-order waveplate configured as an O-plate and supporting a thin film transistor layer is provided. The contrast compensator includes a counter high-order waveplate configured as an O-plate, which has a birefringence opposite in sign to a birefringence of the thin film transistor substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complex birefringent medium, which has the so-called inverse wavelength dispersibility, that is, a wavelength dispersibility capable of giving an optimum phase difference to a light of a wide visible wavelength range, has a wide viewing angle, can be produced by a convenient method and is excellent in a degree of adjusting freedom of inverse wavelength dispersibility and in mass productivity, a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates sandwiching therebetween a liquid crystal layer, and first and second polarizers. The first polarizer and the second polarizer are disposed such that an optical absorption axis of the first polarizer and an optical absorption axis of the second polarizer cross each other perpendicularly. There is disposed an optically biaxial retardation film having refractive indices nx, ny and nz respectively in x-, y- and z-directions, wherein the optically biaxial retardation film provides an in-plane retardation having a magnitude defined by |nx-ny| • d, with d representing a thickness of the optically biaxial retardation film, and further wherein the in-plane retardation of the optically biaxial retardation film has a value of 20 nm or more but does not exceed 80 nm.