Abstract: A color liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal layer of nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy and including a chiral material, which is interposed between two substrates disposed substantially in parallel, each provided with a transparent electrode and an aligning layer. The twist angle of the liquid crystal layer of liquid crystal molecules determined by the aligning layer of each of the substrates is 160.degree.-300.degree.. A pair of polarizing plates are disposed outside the liquid crystal layer. A driving circuit applies a driving voltage across the transparent electrodes. A birefringent plate is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and an upper polarizing plate and the product .DELTA.n.sub.1 .multidot.d.sub.1 of the refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n.sub.1 of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer and the thickness d.sub.1 of the liquid crystal layer is 1.2 .mu.m-2.5 .mu.m. The birefringent plate is formed to have a relation of n.sub.X .gtoreq.n.sub.Z .

Abstract: A normally white super-twist nematic liquid crystal display is disclosed. Between a polarizer layer and an analyzer layer, the display includes a super-twist nematic liquid crystal cell having first and second substrates and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates. The display further includes at least one positively birefringent A-plate compensator layer disposed between the polarizer layer and the super-twist nematic liquid crystal cell and at least one positively birefringent A-plate compensator layer disposed between the analyzer layer and the super-twist nematic liquid crystal cell to reduce chromaticity shifts of the display at wide viewing angles and over temperature variations.

Abstract: A liquid crystal projector having a high contrast ratio has an optical system including, for each color, a liquid crystal display device, a drive device for driving the liquid crystal display device and a polarization device, and a light source. The liquid crystal display device has active devices connected to reflective electrodes. Driving voltages applied to pixels have different polarities in every row. The liquid crystal layer is aligned at an angle from 75.degree. to 105.degree. to the direction of an electric field between electrodes. An optical rotator is provided between the liquid crystal display device and the polarization device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel comprises first and second substrates each having a transparent electrode and an orientation plane, a nematic liquid crystal material disposed between the first and second substrates, a polarizer disposed over the first substrate and the nematic liquid crystal material, and a simplex polymer film comprised of a single optically anisotropic substance disposed between the first substrate and the polarizer. The nematic liquid crystal material has a positive anisotropy of refractive index, a retardation of 0.55 .mu.m to 1.75 .mu.m, and molecules twisted at a high degree with a twist angle of 180.degree. to 270.degree.. The simplex polymer film has a retardation of 20 nm to 200 nm.

Abstract: A reflection type color liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a polarizing plate 1 having an absorbing axis 18, a birefringent plate 3, a liquid crystal layer 6 and a reflection layer 8 wherein the absorbing axis 18, a first orientation 14, a second orientation 15, a first optical anisotropic axis 16 and a second anisotropic axis 17 are set so as to form predetermined crossing angles .theta..sub.1, .theta..sub.2, .theta..sub.3, .theta..sub.4, and selected voltage values of at least three values are applied to the liquid crystal layer 6 from a multiplex driving circuit 10.Without using a color filter, a very bright chromatic color (white or black) is displayed at the time of an OFF waveform even in multiplex driving, and development of colors of very bright red, blue and green can be obtained with a selection voltage or an intermediate voltage between the selection voltage and a non-selection voltage.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having improved and broadened viewing angle characteristics. The device includes a liquid crystal cell of the twisted nematic type for driving sandwiched by a pair of upper and lower polarizing plates in which at least one compensating film is inserted between the liquid crystal cell and the upper polarizing plate or between the liquid crystal cell and the lower polarizing plate. Alternatively, two compensating films are respectively inserted between the liquid crystal cell and the upper polarizing plate and between the liquid crystal cell and the lower polarizing plate. The compensating film consists essentially of a liquid crystalline polymer showing optically a positive uniaxiality, the liquid crystalline polymer being fixed in a nematic hybrid orientational order.

Abstract: An optical compensation arrangement using tilted-optical-axis compensation films with negative birefringence for low-twist-angle nematic liquid crystal cells to achieve better viewing angle characteristics than a regular 90.degree.-twist TN cell, with similar high contrast ratio and brightness as the regular TN cell near normal incidence at a comparable operating voltage.

Abstract: A normally white (NW) twisted nematic liquid crystal display (LCD) outputs improved viewing characteristics which are defined by high contrast ratios and/or reduced inversion. The display includes a pair of negative tilted retarders (#2 and #6) located on one side of the liquid crystal layer (#10), each of the tilted retarders including a tilt or incline angle which varies throughout the thickness of the layer. Additionally, one or two negative uniaxial or biaxial retarders (#4 and #7) are provided on the same side of the liquid crystal layer as the tilted retarders. As a result of the particular orientations, alignments, and retardation values described in the different embodiments, the display exhibits improved contrast and reduced inversion.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by first and second substrates, wherein a transparent film is adhered on at least one of the first and second substrates by an intervening adhesive layer, such that the adhesive layer fills defects formed on a surface of the substrate with a material having a refractive index close to the refractive index of the substrate. Further, a liquid crystal projector having an improved cooling efficiency is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a liquid crystal achromatic polarization rotator switch, and an achromatic shutter using the rotator switch. The rotator switch requires input light of a fixed orientation and switches between rotating the polarization by zero degrees and by a fixed angle, .beta.. The achromatic shutter uses an achromatic 90-degree rotator switch positioned between a pair of polarizers. A first embodiment of the rotator switch comprises one planar-aligned rotatable smectic liquid crystal half-wave retarder in series with one passive half-wave retarder. The smectic liquid crystal cell has fixed retardance and is driven between two orientations for off- and on-states. A second embodiment of the rotator switch utilizes two variable birefringence liquid crystal cells. The variable birefringence cells having fixed orientation and variable retardance. In the off-state both retarders have zero retardance and in the on-state they have half-wave retardance.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates, and an optical member having a planar extension in parallel with the substrates and a non-uniform optical anisotropy along the planar extension. As a result, it is possible to realize a liquid crystal device capable of irregularity-free optical modulation, particularly a liquid crystal display device capable of providing display images with improved contrast and viewing angle characteristic.

Abstract: A color STN-LCD having preferable display quality and decreased manufacturing cost uses a liquid crystal display apparatus which includes a liquid crystal layer having a twist angle in a range from 200.degree. and less than 360.degree., a retardation of the liquid crystal layer in a range of 0.80 .mu.m.about.0.90 .mu.m, an azimuth of transmittance axis of the upper polarizer in a range of 30.degree..about.70.degree., an azimuth of the transmittance axis of the lower polarizer in a range of 60.degree..about.90.degree., an azimuth of the slow axis of the upper phase plate in a range of 150.degree..about.190.degree., an azimuth of the slow axis of the lower phase plate in a range of 30.degree..about.80.degree., a retardation of the upper phase plate at a wave length of 550 nm in a range of 200 nm.about.300 nm, and a retardation of the lower phase plate at a wave length of 550 nm in a range of 500 nm.about.620 nm.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel including a guest-host type liquid crystal layer and a reflecting plate. A polarized light rotating member is arranged between the liquid crystal layer and the reflecting plate for rotating a vibrating plane of an incident polarized light to reduce a dispersion of states of polarization of light regarding wavelength. The polarized light rotating member preferably comprises first and second superimposed linear phase plates. The .DELTA.nd of the first linear phase plates located on the side of the liquid crystal layer from the second phase plate is approximately .lambda..sub.0 /2 and the .alpha.nd of the second linear phase plate is approximately .lambda..sub.0 /4.

Abstract: A TN type liquid crystal cell is interposed between a pair of polarization plates. First and second retardation films each having slow axes orthogonal to each other are disposed between one of the polarization plates and the liquid crystal cell. The product .DELTA.n.sub.1 .times.d.sub.1 of the refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n.sub.1 and the thickness d.sub.1 of the first retardation film on the side of one of the polarization plates is set to a value greater than the product .DELTA.n.sub.2 .times.d.sub.2 of the refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n.sub.2 and the thickness d.sub.2 of the second retardation film. The viewing angle of the liquid crystal display panel in the left-right direction is expanded by this arrangement.

Abstract: This invention provides polarization-independent optical filters that are Fabry-Perot filters. The inventive filters incorporate a phase modulator within the FP cavity and two quarter-wave plates, one on either side of the phase modulator, in the cavity. The quarter-wave plates are perpendicular to each other and oriented at .+-.45.degree. with respect to the optic axis of the phase modulator. A variety of phase modulators including those that incorporate nematic and smectic liquid crystal optical modulators can be employed in these FP filters. The filters of this invention are particularly useful in fiber optic systems and in telecommunications applications at 1550 nm.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a tilted retarder. The tilted retarder has an optical axis which is aligned at an angle of from about 5.degree. to 15.degree. with respect to normal. Thus, because the optical axis of the liquid crystal layer is aligned at an angle to one side of normal and the optical axis of the tilted retarder(s) is at an angle to the other side of normal, the retardation effects substantially cancel one another out. Tilted retarder(s) may be used in combination with negatively birefringent retarders according to certain embodiments of this invention in twisted nematic normally white displays.

Abstract: A normally white liquid crystal display is provided with a positively birefringent uniaxial retardation film having a retardation value of from about 100-200 nm. The retardation film is provided on one side of the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal being sandwiched between a pair of orientation or buffing films which orient the liquid crystal molecules adjacent thereto in predetermined directions. The optical axis of the retardation film is rotated from about 2.degree.-20.degree., most preferably from about 6.degree.-10.degree. relative to the buffing direction on the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer. This rotation of the retardation film optical axis allows for the high contrast ratio viewing zone of the display to be shifted vertically into either the positive or negative vertical viewing region depending upon the direction of rotation of the retardation film optical axis.

Abstract: A color liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal cell having liquid crystal molecules twisted by 90.degree., two polarization plates, a reflector and two retardation plates. The product .DELTA.n.d of the refractive anisotropy .DELTA.n and the LC layer thickness d of the liquid crystal cell, the retardations of the retardation plates, the directions of the transmission axes of the polarization plates and the phase delay axes of the retardation plates are set in such a way that the color of outgoing light changes to red, green, blue, black or white in accordance with an applied voltage. The transmission axis of one of the polarization plates is set in a direction of 110.degree. to 130.degree. in an opposite direction to the twist angle of the liquid crystal molecules and the transmission axis of the other of the polarization plates is set in a direction of 127.degree. to 140.degree. in an opposite direction to this twist angle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical compensatory sheet which comprises a layer in the condition of a mono-domain of discotic nematic phase or a monoaxial columnar phase. Further, a process for preparation of the optical compensatory sheet and a liquid crystal display provided with the optical compensatory sheet are disclosed.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to display white and black colors simultaneously in addition to a color display, in a birefringence control type liquid crystal display device using a high polymer film in optical compensation plate. In the birefringence control type liquid crystal display device using a high polymer film in the optical compensation plate, the product d.DELTA.n of a cell gap d and a refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n of the liquid crystal cell is set in a range of 1700 nm to 1950 nm, the difference (d.DELTA.n-d.sub.R n.sub.R) of the d.DELTA.n of the liquid crystal cell and the product d.sub.R .DELTA.n.sub.R of a refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n.sub.R and a film thickness d.sub.R of the phase difference plate is set in a range of 750 nm to 850 nm, the crossing angle of the orientation direction of the upper side of the liquid crystal layer and the slow axis of the phase difference plate is set in a range of 80.degree. to 100.degree.

Abstract: A color liquid crystal display device including a transparent first substrate having an inner surface and at least one transparent electrode formed thereon, and an insulating second substrate having an inner surface arranged to oppose the inner surface of the first substrate and at least one electrode formed on the inner surface of the second substrate. A liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates and has a predetermined initial aligned state. A polarizing member is arranged on a first substrate side of the liquid crystal layer, and at least one retardation plate is provided for coloring light which emerges from the liquid crystal display. The retardation plate is arranged between the liquid crystal layer and the polarizing member such that an optical axis of the retardation plate with respect to a transmission axis of the polarizing member is not parallel to or perpendicular to the transmission axis.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display comprising a lamination of a polarizing plate, a liquid crystal layer, a compensator and a reflector in the mentioned order, the refractive anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer and the refractive anionotropy of the compensator is opposite in sense to each other, and assuming that the liquid crystal layer is sliced in the absence of applied voltage or in the presence of a given applied voltage in the thickness direction into N sub-layers such that the liquid crystal molecule long axis bearing therein can be regarded to be substantially fixed, the liquid crystal molecule long axis orientation of the 1-st sub-layer being represented by a tilt angle .theta..sub.1,i and a twist angle .phi..sub.1,i, and also assuming that the compensator consists of N sub-layers, the optic axis bearing of the 1-st sub-layer being represented by a tilt angle .theta..sub.2,i and a twist angle .phi..sub.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of obtaining a wide viewing angle without coloration caused by a viewing angle. A liquid crystal display cell is disposed between a pair of polarizers, and between the liquid crystal display cell and the pair of polarizers, first optical compensation plates are disposed at the side of the liquid crystal display cell, and second optical compensation plates are disposed at the side of the polarizer. The first optical compensation plates have a refractive index anisotropy in the plane, and the refractive index thereof in the thickness direction is nearly equal to the refractive index of a minimum value in the plane, whereas the second optical compensation plates have no refractive index anisotropy in the plane, the refractive index in the thickness direction is greater than the refractive index in the plane, and a positive phase difference is expressed by inclination from the normal direction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell having a compensation layer of (polymer) material deposited from the gaseous phase. To obtain a smaller angle dependence, the birefringence of the compensation layer is rendered complementary to that associated with a given voltage across the liquid crystal cell by giving the optical axis of the compensation layer an angle to the direction transverse to the cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical compensatory sheet which comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer provided thereon, wherein the optically anisotropic layer comprises a compound having a discotic structure unit in its molecule and has negative birefringence, and the discotic structure unit has a plane inclined from a plane of the transparent support at an angle varying along a direction of depth of the anisotropic layer. A liquid crystal display and a color liquid crystal display provided with the optical compensatory sheet are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical compensation sheet for improving the visual characteristics of a liquid crystal display device is disclosed with a liquid crystal display device using such a sheet. The optical compensation sheet contains at least one photopolymerization substance that is sterically or structurally isomerized by light, and has negative uniaxiality, with the optic axis of the sheet intersecting the surface of the sheet. Application of this optical compensation sheet to a TN liquid crystal display device allows it the visual angle property to be improved, thereby providing a high definition liquid crystal display device.