Abstract: A novel optical compensation film is disclosed. The film comprises a transparent film having a ratio Re/Rth(450 nm) of Re and Rth at 450 nm of 0.4 to 0.95 times as large as Re/Rth(550 nm) at 550 nm, having Re/Rth(650 nm) at 650 nm of 1.05 to 1.93 times as large as Re/Rth(550 nm), and having Rth at 550 nm ranging from 70 nm to 400 nm, where “Re” is an in-plane retardation and “Rth” is a thickness-direction retardation; and an optically anisotropic layer having an in-plane optical anisotropy, formed of a composition comprising a liquid-crystalline compound, in which molecules of the liquid-crystalline compound are fixed in an alignment state, wherein the direction of orthogonal projection, onto a plane of the transparent film, of a mean orientation direction of molecular symmetry axes of the liquid-crystalline compound at the interface on the transparent film side is 45° with respect to the in-plane slow axis of the transparent film.

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. And 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.

Abstract: A cellulose acylate film, which has a film thickness of from 20 to 70 ?m and an elastic modulus of from 3.5 to 10 GPa in at least one direction of a film casting direction and a width direction.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal panel having excellent balance between contrast and viewing angle characteristics. A liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first polarizer; a first optical compensation layer containing a resin having an absolute value of photoelastic coefficient of 2×10?11 m2/N or less, and having a relationship of nx>ny=nz; a second optical compensation layer having a relationship of nx=ny>nz; a liquid crystal cell; a third optical compensation layer containing a resin having an absolute value of photoelastic coefficient of 2×10?11 m2/N or less, and having a relationship of nx>ny=nz; and a second polarizer, in the stated order forward a viewer side, wherein the sum ?Rth1-n of the thickness direction retardation of all the optical compensation layers and the thickness direction retardation Rthc of the liquid crystal cell satisfy the following expression (1): ?50 nm<(?Rth1-n?Rthc)<150 nm??(1).

Abstract: Provided is a phase difference control member which has a function to suppress a surface step amount and an excellent optical compensation function for the optical phase difference caused by a deflection plate. In the phase difference control member, the phase difference layer has an optical axis standing against the surface having a normal in the thickness direction of the phase difference layer and a surface step amount T of the phase difference layer is smaller than 500 nm. When the phase difference layer has refraction factors nx, ny nz in the direction of the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis, the nx, ny nz for the light of wavelength 589 nm and a coefficient P are in the relationship of P=(nz?((nx+ny/)2)) and the coefficient P and a thickness d (nm) of the phase difference layer satisfy the following expressions: 0.005?P?0.04 (Expression 1) d?2000 (Expression 2) 10?P×d?40 (Expression).

Abstract: A stretched cellulose ester film produced by stretching after film forming employing a cellulose ester including a polyester polyol obtained from (a) a glycol having an average carbon atom number of 2 to 3.5 and (b) a dibasic or an anhydrous dibasic acid having an average carbon number of 4 to 5.5, wherein the stretched cellulose ester film exhibits retardation value Ro in the range of 30 to 200 nm, and a retardation value Rt in the range of 70 to 400 nm, Ro and Rt are each defined by specific Formulas (1) and (2).

Abstract: Disclosed is an optically anisotropic film used for a liquid crystal display of a vertical alignment liquid crystal mode comprising a fatty acid cellulose aster film, a retardation value (Rt value) in the thickness direction of the fatty acid cellulose ester film is from 60 to 300 nm, and the number of luminescent points having a size exceeding 50 ?m is zero per 250 mm2, and the number of luminescent points having a size of 5 to 50 ?m is 200 or less per 250 mm2 when the fatty acid cellulose ester film is observed with two polarizing plates being provided on both surfaces of the fatty acid cellulose ester film so as to shield transmission light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vertically aligned LCD (VA-LCD) employing a bi-axial retardation compensation film, in which an in-plain refractive index (nx, ny) and a thickness refractive index (nz) of the film is nx>ny>nz. The film has a reversed wavelength dispersion in which retardation is increased in proportion to the increase of a wavelength in the range of visible rays and has a normal wavelength dispersion in which an absolute value of the thickness retardation is decreased in proportion to the increase of a wavelength in the range of visible rays. The VA-LCD cell having a retardation compensation characteristic is comprised by arranging a bi-axial retardation compensation film between the vertically aligned panel and a upper and lower polarizing plate. The VA-LCD of the present invention improves contrast characteristics on a front surface and at a tilt angle and minimizes coloring in a black state according to the tilt angle.

Abstract: A wide viewing angle transflective liquid crystal display includes a retardation film and pixels positioned between first and second substrates, each pixel including a transmissive region and a reflective region. The retardation film has a phase retardation that compensates the phase retardation of a liquid crystal layer in the transmissive region for normal incident light to achieve a dark state when no data voltage is applied to the pixel. The retardation film and a liquid crystal layer in the reflective region has a phase retardation in a range between 0.22? and 0.28? with respect to normal incident light to achieve a dark state when no data voltage is applied to the pixel, ? being the wavelength of the incident light.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided and includes: a liquid crystal cell; a pair of polarizing plates disposed in cross-Nicol arrangement and sandwiching the liquid crystal cell. One of the pair of the polarizing plates has a protective film A for polarizer, disposed on the liquid crystal cell side, and the other of the pair has a protective film B for polarizer, disposed on a liquid crystal cell side. ReA(?) and RthA(?) of the protective film A, RthB(?) of the protective film B and ?nd(?) of the liquid crystal cell satisfy expressions (I) and (II) at a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm: 0.74×(?nd(?)?RthB(?))?RthA(?)?0.97×(?nd(?)?RthB(?))??(I) 0.018×?2/(?nd(?)?RthB(?))+0.032×??ReA(?)?0.036×?2/(?nd(?)?RthB(?))+0.032×???(II).

Abstract: A novel liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device comprises a first polarizing film, a first retardation area with an Re of 70 to 330 nm and a value of Nz of not less than 0 to less than 0.5 and a slow axis perpendicular to a transmission axis of the first polarizing film; a second retardation region with an Re of not greater than 50 nm and an Rth of 10 to 140 nm; and a liquid crystal cell comprising a liquid crystal layer with a slow axis in a black state parallel to the transmission axis of the first polarizing film; and a second polarizing film in this order.

Abstract: There are provided a method of producing a polarizing plate with an optical compensation layer having excellent adhesiveness between a polarizer-protective film and a polarizer without deterioration of the optical compensation layer. The method of producing a polarizing plate with an optical compensation layer includes: laminating an optical compensation layer on one side of a polarizer-protective film via a photo-curing adhesive layer; irradiating UV light toward the other side of the polarizer-protective film by a metal halide lamp or an ultrahigh pressure mercury lamp; and laminating a polarizer on the side of the polarizer-protective film on which the optical compensation layer is not formed.

Abstract: A method of improving the viewing angle of a vertically-aligned liquid crystal display device is presented. The method involves designing a uniaxial compensation film to provide a retardation value of 200 nm or less for light having a wavelength of about 550 nm. Using this uniaxial compensation film, a display device can be built by obtaining a liquid crystal panel with liquid crystal molecules contained between glass substrates, coupling the uniaxial compensation film to at least one of the glass substrates, and coupling a polarization film and electrodes to the compensation film. Preferably, the uniaxial compensation film has a thickness less than or equal to 50 microns. Where there are multiple compensation films, the total thickness and the total retardation values should be considered.

Abstract: An optical film is provided and includes a transparent polymer film. The optical film satisfies specific relations of retardation values and has a glass transition temperature of 120° C. or higher.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for manufacturing a polarizing plate protecting film comprising the steps of providing a film formation composition containing cellulose resin having a total acyl substitution degree of from 2.5 to 2.9, a plasticizer and a hindered amine or hindered phenol compound, heat-melting the film formation composition to obtain a melt, extruding the melt to be in the form of sheet, and cooling the extruded sheet to form a film, wherein the cellulose resin contains an alkaline earth metal in an amount of from 1 to 50 ppm and a residual sulfuric acid (in terms of sulfur content) in an amount of from 0.1 to 45 ppm, based on the weight of cellulose resin.

Abstract: There is provided an integrated wide viewing film including: a first film having an optical axis located in-plan; and a second film having an optical axis located in a thickness direction thereof, and inclined at a 5predetermined angle in an in-plane direction. The IPS-LCD employing the integrated wide viewing film can be significantly improved in a contrast ratio in a diagonal direction.

Abstract: A novel optical compensation film is disclosed. The optical compensation film has Re/Rth(450 nm), a ratio of Re to Rth measured at 450 nm, 0.4 to 0.95 times as large as Re/Rth(550 nm) at 550 nm, and having Re/Rth(650 nm) at 650 nm 1.05 to 1.9 times as large as Re/Rth(550 nm) at 550 nm. In the formulae, Re is in-plane retardation defined as Re={(nx?ny)×d1}; Rth is depth retardation defined as Rth=[{(nx+ny)/2?nz}×d1]; d1(nm) is a thickness of the film, nx, ny and nz are respectively mean refractive indices in the directions of x-axis, y-axis and z-axis orthogonal to each other; nx and ny are in-plane main mean refractive indices in parallel with the surface of said optical compensation film (where, ny<nx); and nz is a depth main mean refractive index.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic film comprising a liquid crystal compound forming a nematic phase or smectic A phase, the liquid crystalline phase satisfying the following inequality: ?n(450 nm)/?n(550 nm)<1.0 in which each ?n (?) represents an intrinsic birefringence at a wavelength of ?, wherein the optically anisotropic film (A) has an absolute in-plane retardation (Re) of 40 nm or less and a retardation in the thickness direction (Rth) of ?10 nm or less.

Abstract: A composite retardation plate for use in a Twisted Nematic liquid crystal display device, at least includes: a first retardation film; and a second retardation film stacked on the first retardation film, the first retardation film being such that the first retardation film has a refractive index anisotropy which varies in thickness of the first retardation film so as to compensate for sequential variations in refractive index anisotropy of a liquid crystal layer included in the Twisted Nematic liquid crystal display device, the sequential variations being caused by a region which is approximately regarded as a region in which liquid crystal molecules hybridly orient during voltage application, and the second retardation film having a refractive index anisotropy for compensating for a residual refractive index anisotropy which remains after the compensation performed by the first retardation film.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell; a first polarizing plate placed on one side of the liquid crystal cell; a second polarizing plate and a third polarizing plate placed on another side of the liquid crystal cell in the stated order from a side of the liquid crystal cell; a first retardation plate placed between the liquid crystal cell and the first polarizing plate; and a second retardation plate placed between the liquid crystal cell and the second polarizing plate, in which: refractive index ellipsoids of the first retardation plate and the second retardation plate exhibit a relationship of nx>ny>nz; and a transmittance (T2) of the second polarizing plate is larger than a transmittance (T1) of the first polarizing plate, and a transmittance (T3) of the third polarizing plate is equal to or larger than the transmittance (T1) of the first polarizing plate.

Abstract: An IPS (In Plane Switching) mode type liquid crystal display apparatus having polarizing plates on both sides of a liquid crystal cell, wherein the polarizing plate protective film used between a liquid crystal cell and polarizer on a backlight light-source side is a cellulose ester film having a thickness of 20-50 ?m and a retardation value of 0 nm?Ro?2 nm and ?5 nm?Rt?5 nm, and this cellulose ester film is characterized by temperature variation ?Rt(t) lying in the range 0 nm??Rt(t)?7 nm and humidity variation ?Rt(h) lying in the range 0 nm??Rt(h)?20 nm.

Abstract: The invention provides: an optical element that includes a birefringence functional layer constituted of a polymerizable liquid crystal material, in which the birefringence functional layer is formed directly or indirectly on a substrate, and in a post-process carried out thereafter, alignment and characteristics of the birefringence functional layer are not disturbed, with the result that a high quality birefringence control function can be exerted; a liquid crystal display device provided with the optical element; a method of evaluating a birefringence functional layer that is not disturbed in the alignment and physical properties by the post-process; and a method of producing the optical element.

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

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle, in which compensation films are disposed between a liquid crystal display panel and polarizers to change a polarized state of light, which is incident on the liquid crystal display panel and output therefrom through the polarizers, thereby preventing light from being leaked in a diagonal direction of the liquid crystal display device in a normally black mode.

Abstract: A high-brightness polarizing plate of the present invention comprises a polarizing plate that comprises a polarizer and a protective film prepared on one or both sides of the polarizer, a brightness enhancement film and an adhesive layer through which the polarizing plate and the brightness enhancement film are laminated with the protective film interposed between them, wherein the protective film has an in-plane retardation Re of 0 to 10 nm and a thickness-direction retardation Rth of ?30 to 10 nm, wherein Re=(nx?ny)d and Rth={(nx+ny)/(2?nz)}d. The high-brightness polarizing plate has a small color shift, and can be applied to various image displays such as liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle in which compensation films are provided between a liquid crystal display panel and each polarizer so as to change polarized states of input and output light of the liquid crystal display panel via the polarizers, thereby preventing light leakage in a diagonal direction of the liquid crystal display device in a normally black mode.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a cellulose ester film satisfying the relationships, Nx>Ny>Nz, and 0.8?Rt/R0?3.5, the method comprising casting a cellulose ester dope containing a solvent of a good solvent and a poor solvent on a support to form a web; peeling the web from the support; transporting the peeled web (step D0); holding the edges in the transverse direction of the web (step A); stretching the resulting web in the transverse direction while applying a tension; reducing the tension in the transverse direction of the web; and drying the stretched web, wherein the residual solvent content of the web is 5 to 90% by weight at the beginning in the step A, and the residual poor solvent content in the residual solvent content of the web is from 15 to 95% by weight at the terminal point in the Step D0.

Abstract: There is provide a polarizing plate provided with optical compensation layers capable of performing viewing angle compensation with respect to a liquid crystal cell, providing broadband circular polarization, contributing to thickness reduction, preventing uneven display due to heat, and favorably preventing light leak in black display, and an image display apparatus using the same.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display panel having a high contrast ratio in a front direction. A liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell; a first polarizing plate placed on one side of the liquid crystal cell; a second polarizing plate placed on the other side of the liquid crystal cell; and a retardation layer placed between the liquid crystal cell and the second polarizing plate. A refractive index ellipsoid of the retardation layer exhibits a relationship of n?ny>nz; and a light transmittance (T2) of the second polarizing plate is larger than a light transmittance (T1) of the first polarizing plate.

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: A liquid crystal display of a vertical alignment (VA) mode using a circular polarization plate is provided which can reduce light leak as observed along an oblique direction and achieve a high contrast ratio. The VA mode uses a liquid crystal layer of vertical alignment in an initial alignment state. A film having generally isotropic optical characteristics in an omnidirection is used as a protective film, on a liquid crystal cell side, of first and second polarization plates disposed outside the liquid crystal cell, and first and fourth retardation films have an Nz coefficient smaller than 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device in which increase in manufacturing costs is minimized and the utilization rate of illumination light emitted by a backlight source is also improved. A pixel electrode is formed at the intersection of each signal line and each gate line on the liquid-crystal-layer side of a first transparent substrate. A color filter is provided for each pixel electrode on the liquid-crystal-layer side of a second transparent substrate. A dichroic half mirror is provided for each of the color filters.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes: a thin film transistor array substrate; a color filter array substrate opposite the thin film transistor array substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter array substrate, wherein the color filter array substrate includes: a black matrix partitioning sub pixels; a plurality of color filters at respective sub pixels; and a spacer-integrated planarizing layer arranged on the color filters and the black matrix, wherein the spacer-integrated planarizing layer includes a planarized surface at each of the sub pixels and a spacer pattern integrated with the planarized surface and protruding at the black matrix to maintain a cell gap between the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter array substrate, wherein the spacer-integrated planarizing layer includes a liquid crystalline material.

Abstract: An IPS-mode liquid-crystal display apparatus for controlling transmission and cutoff of light by applying a cross-directional electric field to liquid-crystal molecules horizontally oriented reduces diagonal luminance rise and coloring at the time of black display by a simple configuration. A configuration is used in which an optical phase compensation member for canceling the double refraction property of a polarization-plate support base material is provided between the liquid-crystal-layer-side support base material of a lower polarizer and a liquid-crystal layer. Or, a configuration is used in which the optical phase compensation for canceling double refraction property of the polarization-plate support base material is provided between the liquid-crystal-layer-side support base material and the liquid-crystal layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display that prevents false colors and has a wide viewing angle, display screen contrast that does not decline, and excellent productivity.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention is composed of a ?/4 plate 1, a ?/2 plate 2, and a polarizing plate 3 which are provided in this order from the side of a liquid crystal layer 10. Here, an angle formed between an absorption axis of the polarizing plate 3 and an absorption axis of the ?/2 plate 2 is about 45°, an in-plane retardation of the ?/2 plate 2 is set to a value obtained by adding ?/4 to an in-plane retardation of a retardation plate 1, desirably, the ?/4 plate 1, and an optical axis of the ?/4 plate 1 and an optical axis of the ?/2 plate 2 are orthogonal to each other. In this configuration, the optical axis of the ?/4 plate 1 is placed at 150°, the optical axis of the ?/2 plate 2 is placed at 60°, and the absorption axis of the polarizing plate 3 is placed at 15°.

Abstract: A retardation layer capable of effectively restraining the display quality deterioration without generating a bright and dark pattern in the display image even when a retardation layer is disposed in between a liquid crystal cell and a polarizing plate. The retardation layer includes a plurality of minute units (domains) having molecular structure of cholesteric structure. Moreover, in the retardation layer, the helical pitch of the molecular structure is adjusted such that the selective reflected wavelength of the selected reflected light deriving from the molecular structure is shorter than the wavelength of the incident light on the retardation layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of liquid crystal display devices and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device operating in vertically aligned mode (VA-mode) in which liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric anisotropy are aligned generally perpendicularly to a panel surface of the liquid crystal display. A liquid crystal display according to the invention comprises a liquid crystal cell (6) of a vertical alignment mode, at least one polarizer (2, 10) arranged on each side of the liquid crystal cell, and at least one compensating structure (3, 7) disposed between the liquid crystal cell and at least one of the polarizers. The polarizers have transmission axes (11, 18) which are perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical compensation film includes coating one or more first layers and one or more second layers onto a carrier substrate, and stretching the first layers and second layers simultaneously. The one or more first layers include a polymer having an out-of-plane birefringence (?nth) not more negative than ?0.005 and not more positive than +0.005, and the one or more second layers include a polymer having an out-of-plane birefringence more negative than ?0.005 or more positive than +0.005. The overall in-plane retardation (Rin) of the optical compensation film is greater than 20 nm and the out-of-plane retardation (Rth) of the optical compensation film is more negative than ?20 nm or more positive than +20 nm.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a reflective liquid crystal panel (20) having a liquid crystal panel polarization plate (22), a polarization plate (32) provided on a front surface side of the polarization plate (22) with its absorption axis in parallel with an absorption axis of the polarization plate (22), and a negative C plate (31) provided between the liquid crystal panel polarization plate (22) and the polarization plate (32). The negative C plate (31) sets a direction in which viewing limitation is carried out. Thus, it is possible to provide the liquid crystal display device in which a viewing angle can be narrowed by freely setting, in the reflective liquid crystal panel, the direction in which the viewing limitation should be carried out.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal panel exhibiting a high contrast ratio and a liquid crystal display apparatus including the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel of the present invention includes a first polarizer, a first optical compensation layer, a liquid crystal cell, a second optical compensation layer, and a second polarizer in the stated order from a viewer side. The first optical compensation layer and the second optical compensation layer have a refractive index profile of nx>ny>nz, and a light transmittance (T2) of the second polarizer is larger than a light transmittance (T1) of the first polarizer.

Abstract: Optical compensation layers are provided which have an optically compensating function imparted thereto upon coating fluid application or upon coating fluid application and subsequent uniaxial stretching and which have a small wavelength dependence of retardation.

Abstract: An optical element covering member capable of improving insufficiency in rigidity of the optical element while an increase in thickness of a liquid crystal display device or deterioration of display characteristics of the liquid crystal display device is reduced, a backlight provided with the optical element covering member, and a liquid crystal display device are provided. The optical element covering member includes at least one optical element, a support medium for supporting the at least one optical element, and a covering member for covering the at least one optical element and the support medium. The at least one optical element and the support medium constitute a stack.

Abstract: An optical film, which contains a cellulose acylate, at least one compound of formula (I) in an amount of 0.01 to 20 mass parts, and at least one cyclic compound having at least three substituents in an amount of 0.01 to 20 mass parts, to 100 mass parts of the cellulose acylate: wherein R1 to R7, R9 and R10 each independently is a hydrogen atom or a substituent; at least one of R1 to R5 is an electron-donating group; R8 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkinyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an acylamino group, an alkylcarbonyloxy group, a cyano group, or a halogen atom; and an optical compensation sheet, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal display device, each of which uses the optical film.

Abstract: Disclosed are digitally-switchable bandpass filters combining non-tunable retarder stacks with switchable liquid crystal cells. The disclosed filter embodiments function like a filter wheel with no moving parts that may provide faster switching, better image registration, compact size, and lower electrical power consumption. These benefits are attractive in portable handheld devices, such as bio-hazard sensors or glucose monitors.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of an in-plane switching mode comprises at least an optically anisotropic member and a liquid crystal cell disposed between a pair of polarizers having absorption axes disposed approximately perpendicularly to each other, wherein nz>nx>ny (nx: a refractive index (n) in the direction of the in-plane slow axis; ny: n in the in-plane direction perpendicular to the above direction; nz: n in the direction of thickness, each at 550 nm); the optically anisotropic member comprises a layer comprising a material having a negative value of intrinsic birefringence; and the in-plane slow axis of the optically anisotropic member is approximately parallel or perpendicular to the absorption axis of a polarizer closer to the member. 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: Disclosed are a negative C-type compensation film and a method of preparing the same. The negative C-type compensation film includes a) a base layer, and b) a polymer layer comprising polyarylate prepared by a method comprising the step of copolymerizing divalent phenols, divalent aromatic carboxylic acid halides, and allyl bisphenol derivatives, the base layer and the polymer layer being sequentially layered. The compensation film is capable of being used for the negative C-type compensation film without a stretching process, significantly reduces the thickness of the compensation film, and has significantly improved interlayer adhesion force in a multilayer structure.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal display apparatus which can contribute to the reduction in thickness, realize a high contrast while enhancing viewing angle characteristics, suppress a color shift, and satisfactorily prevent the light leakage in a black display. A liquid crystal panel of the present invention includes a liquid crystal cell having a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules that are vertically aligned in an absence of a voltage; a first optical compensation layer having a relationship of Nz=1 to 2.5 and a relationship of Re1(380)<Re1(550)<Re1(780); a second optical compensation layer having a relationship of nx=ny>nz and a relationship of Re2(380)>Re2(550)>Re2(780); a first polarizer; a third optical compensation layer having a relationship of Nz=1 to 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-plane switching (IPS) mode liquid crystal display. More particularly, the IPS mode liquid crystal display according to the present invention comprises 1) a first polarizing plate; 2) a liquid crystal cell; 3) a retardation film comprising a positive biaxial acryl-based film and a negative C plate; and 4) a second polarizing plate. Accordingly, a contrast property can be improved at a front side of the IPS mode liquid crystal display and at an inclining angle.

Abstract: A wide viewing angle polarizer having: a polarizing film; and a phase retarder adhesively laminated on at least one surface of the polarizing film through an adhesive layer, the phase retarder being made of a composite phase retarder constituted by a laminate in which a retardation layer B of a cholesteric liquid crystal-oriented solidified layer in a selective reflection wavelength range of not larger than 350 nm is supported by a retardation layer A of a thermoplastic resin exhibiting positive birefringence, the composite phase retarder being formed so that the laminate has Re of not smaller than 10 nm and Rth?Re of not smaller than 50 nm when Re and Rth are defined as Re=(nx?ny)X d and Rth=(nx?nz)X d respectively in which nx and ny are in-plane main refractive indices, nz is a thicknesswise refractive index, and d is a layer thickness.