Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a polarizing plate protective film and liquid crystal display device comprising same whereby the generation of egg-shaped blur in a liquid crystal display device (especially an IPS liquid crystal display device) can still be limited even under high-temperature/high-humidity conditions. For this polarizing plate protective film, if nx is the refractive index in the X-axis direction at which the birefringence in the film surface reaches a maximum and ny is the refractive index in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction in the film surface, then the birefringence under stress (nx?ny) of the film as measured at a wavelength of 589 nm when any tensile stress 5-35 MPa is applied in the X-axis direction or Y-axis direction of the film under 50 DEG C, 80% RH conditions is 0.

Abstract: A polarization separating element is configured to include a translucent substrate formed of a crystal material having birefringent properties and optically rotatory power and a polarization separating portion formed on the incidence-side surface of the translucent substrate so as to transmit a P-polarized light beam and reflect an S-polarized light beam. A reflecting element that reflects the S-polarized light beam reflected by the polarization separating portion is disposed so as to be separated approximately in parallel to the translucent substrate. A predetermined function is set such that the P-polarized light beam having passed through the polarization separating portion and been incident to the translucent substrate is converted so as to be parallel to the polarization plane of the S-polarized light beam so that the P-polarized light beam is output as the S-polarized light beam.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a polymer brush structure exhibiting birefringence, said polymer brush structure comprising a plurality of substantially parallel oriented polymers and characterized by a longitudinal z-direction having a first refractive index, nz, and a lateral x,y-direction having a second refractive index, nx,y, wherein the difference, ?n, between the first refractive index and the second refractive index is in a range of about 0.1 to about 0.6, as measured by ellipsometry and fit to a Cauchy analytical model.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1, or a polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 2: wherein R1, R2, x and y are as defined herein.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to refractive polarization converters, polarized color combiners using the refractive polarization converters, and in particular polarized color combiners using the refractive polarization converters that can be useful in small size format projectors such as pocket projectors. The disclosed refractive polarization converters include at least one birefringent prism that can separate an unpolarized light beam into divergent polarized light beams having orthogonal polarization directions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polarizer plate including at least a protective layer A, a polarizer, and a protective layer B in that order, the protective layer A including at least layers a and b respectively including a thermoplastic resin as a main component, the layer a having a flexural modulus higher than that of the layer b; and a liquid crystal display device including a light source, an incident-side polarizer plate, a liquid crystal cell, and an exit-side polarizer plate in that order, the incident-side polarizer plate and/or the exit-side polarizer plate being the polarizer plate of the present invention. According to the present invention, a polarizer plate exhibiting high tenacity and high surface hardness and a liquid crystal display device including the polarizer plate are provided.

Abstract: A reflective optical film includes a reflective light-polarizing unit including a multilayer reflective sheet composed of a plurality of polymer films stacked on top of one another. Each polymer film has a thickness, every two adjacent polymer films are two different materials, and the thicknesses of the polymer films are gradually decreased from two outmost sides of the multilayer reflective sheet to a middle of the multilayer reflective sheet. At least one of the polymer films is a birefringence material layer that conforms to the condition of NX?NY?NZ, where NX is the index of refraction of light at X direction of the multilayer reflective sheet, NY is the index of refraction of light at Y direction of the multilayer reflective sheet, and NZ is the index of refraction of light at Z direction of the multilayer reflective sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method for polarizing an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of not less than 0.1 THz and not more than 0.8 THz using a polarizer, the method comprising a step (a) of preparing the polarizer; wherein the polarizer comprises: a sapphire single crystalline layer; and a CaxCoO2 crystalline layer; the CaxCoO2 crystalline layer is stacked on the sapphire single crystalline layer; a surface of the CaxCoO2 crystalline layer has a (100) plane orientation; and the CaxCoO2 crystalline layer has a thickness of not less than 2 micrometers and not more than 20 micrometers, and a step (b) of irradiating the polarizer with the electromagnetic wave having a frequency of not less than 0.1 THz and not more than 0.8 THz to output an output wave having only a component parallel to a c-axis direction of the sapphire single crystalline layer.

Abstract: A free-space optical hybrid is provided. The free-space optical hybrid includes a polarizing beam splitter that split the light beams S and L into horizontal polarization light beams Sx, Lx and orthogonal polarization light beams Sy, Ly, respectively, at least one birefringent crystal splits the horizontal polarization light beams Sx, Lx and orthogonal polarization light beams Sy, Ly into light beams Sxo, Sxe, Lxo, Lxe, Syo, Sye, Lyo, Lye, a light combiner that combine the light beams Sxo+Lxo, Sxo?Lxo, Sxe+jLxe, Sxe?jLxe, Syo+Lyo, Syo?Lyo, Sye+jLye, Sye?jLye and output the light beams at ports. The present invention can realize an optical hybrid in free-space by using a birefringent crystal and can split light beams of different polarization statuses in free-space well. The optical hybrid offers a compact structure and good stability.

Abstract: An ester-based polymer to be used in the present invention has at least a repeating unit represented with the general formula (I). A and B are substituents substituted on a stilbene group. R1 is a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. R2 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms. R3 to R6 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. n is an integer of 2 or more.

Abstract: Provided is an antiglare film having a hard coat property, capable of highly suppressing generation of a rainbow interference pattern and interference fringes in display images, preventing white muddiness and scintillation of a display screen, while giving high contrast in a bright room and a dark room. The antiglare film includes an antiglare layer having an uneven form on its surface and formed on one face of a transparent substrate having an in-plane birefringence and a retardation of 3000 nm or higher. The antiglare layer contains silica fine particles, organic fine particles, and a binder resin. The silica particles include particles forming agglomerates to be contained coarsely and densely in the antiglare layer. The agglomerates are distributed densely around the organic fine particles, and some agglomerates adhere to surfaces of the organic particles and/or some silica particles are impregnated in the inside of the organic particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical film composite that includes a linear, reflective polarizing film; a first polymeric substrate layer having birefringence, which is placed on the reflective polarizing film; and a second polymeric substrate layer placed beneath the reflective polarizing film, wherein the optical axis of the first polymeric substrate layer is oriented with respect to the transmission axis of the reflective polarizing film to have of 0° to 25° of an angular difference between the axes. The optical film composite can be employed in LCD devices to improve optical performance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hologram recording medium, wherein in a volume hologram, the hologram recording medium is covered with a partially patterned optical functional film on the side closer to the viewer than a hologram recording layer without the medium of air, and wherein the hologram recording medium maintains its appearance approximately unchanged irrespective of the presence or absence of the optical functional film.

Abstract: A viewer for authenticating a birefringent pattern having at least two regions having a different birefringence from each other, wherein the viewer contains a polarizing plate and at least one optically anisotropic layer laminated on the polarizing plate, a front retardation of the at least one optically anisotropic layer is 5 nm or more and the total of the front retardation of the at least one optically anisotropic layer and a maximum value of front retardation of the birefringent pattern is greater than ?/2.

Abstract: An optical multi-layer structure for a flat panel display device is provided. The optical multi-layer structure includes a first optical layer, a second optical layer, a surface strengthening layer, and an adhesive layer. The first optical layer converts a light into a first polarized light. The second optical layer is disposed on the first optical layer and converts the first polarized light into a second polarized light. The surface strengthening layer is disposed on the second optical layer. The adhesive layer is disposed between the second optical layer and the surface strengthening layer, and is in direct contact with the second optical layer and the surface strengthening layer. A flat panel display device having the optical multi-layer structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A step of forming a layered body including a resin layer (a) containing a resin A having positive intrinsic birefringence and a resin layer (b) containing a resin B having negative intrinsic birefringence, the resin layer (b) being provided on one side of the resin layer (a); a first stretching step of stretching the layered body in one direction at a temperature T1; and a second stretching step of, after the first stretching step, stretching the layered body in another direction that is approximately orthogonal to the previous stretching direction at a temperature T2 which is lower than the temperature T1 to obtain a phase difference plate are performed.

Abstract: An illuminator that illuminates a projected surface includes a laser light source that emits laser light; a polarization converter disposed downstream of the laser light source, the polarization converter having a first area that converts the polarization direction of incident laser light into a first polarization direction and outputs the resultant laser light and a second area that converts the polarization direction of incident laser light into a second polarization direction and outputs the resultant laser light; and a light diffusion section disposed downstream of the laser light source, the light diffusion section diffusing incident laser light.

Abstract: A system, method of configuring, and application a system for introducing a relative phase retardation into orthogonally polarized components of an electromagnetic beam entered thereinto, wherein the system involves a substantially achromatic multiple element retarder system for use in wide spectral range (for example, 190-1700 nm) rotating compensator spectroscopic ellipsometer and/or polarimeter systems.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical film exhibiting a preferable wavelength dispersion and capable of being formed comparatively thinly. The present invention is an optical film containing the repeating unit represented by the following general formula (II). In the formula (II), A, A?, B, and B? each denote a substituent, a, a?, b, and b? denote the number of substituents of the corresponding A, A?, B, and B?. A, A?, B and B? each independently denote a halogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. R1 and R2 denote a halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and the like. X denotes —CO—, —SO2—, and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical phase device, method and system. The optical phase device consists of a transparent dielectric substrate, a multilayer stack of dielectrics and a buffer layer. The refractive index of the transparent dielectric substrate, the multilayer stack of dielectrics and the buffer layer are all larger than that of the external medium. For the wavelength of the incident beam, the optical phase device has a phase variation in the angular range [?, ?] and the critical angle for total reflection on the interface between the buffer layer and the external medium adjacent to the buffer layer is ?, ?<?. The optical device has both low loss and large phase variation, which leads to a large Goos-Hanchen shift. As a dispersion compensation component, it can produce larger, tunable dispersions, and different dispersion compensations can be obtained by adjusting the operating angle or parameters in the structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments include compositions and/or methods related to optical compensation films. More particularly, some embodiments can include brominated polystyrene compositions, and/or methods for their preparation, suitable for forming optical compensation films. In some embodiments, suitable brominated polystyrene compositions, and/or methods for their preparation, can include aromatic rings having one or more acyl moieties.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for contactless fingerprint detection and verification comprising illuminating a fingerprint and directing a reflected light through an imaging system using liquid crystal panels and birefringent elements to polarize the light. A plurality of polarized images are captured and used to calculate the depth of structural features on the fingertip. A means to generate a two-dimensional rolled equivalent image of the fingerprint is also provided which may then be used for verification and authentication. The invention also provides an imaging system for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A cellulose ester film has: a ratio of a sound velocity in a width direction to a sound velocity in a longitudinal direction of from 0.9 to 1.1; a moist heat dimensional change rate in the width direction of from ?0.2% to 0.2%, the moist heat dimensional change being one after the cellulose ester film is left standing at 60° C. and 90% RH for 24 hours; and a humidity dimensional change rate in the width direction of 0.38% or less.

Abstract: A birefringent pattern builder, having an optically anisotropic layer containing a polymer having unreacted reactive groups, wherein the optically anisotropic layer is produced by a method containing the steps [1] and [2] in this order: [1] coating and drying a solution containing a liquid crystalline compound having at least two kinds of reactive groups; and [2] reacting one kind of the at least two kinds of reactive groups by applying heat or irradiating ionizing radiation.

Abstract: In order to produce a beam with a zero intensity axial ray or to produce a beam that when focused will produce an image of a doughnut shaped pattern with a zero intensity central point, a beam with a uniform or Gaussian profile is directed to a plurality of transparent plates, arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the beam axis, such that for at least one pair, the plates have a composition and thickness different from each other, and chosen so that the transmitted light has a has a phase difference of half a wavelength for at least three different wavelengths. An additional plate with a center on the perpendicular of the line connecting the first two plates has a composition and thickness such that the light transmitted through that additional plate has a phase difference of a quarter wavelength with respect to the light transmitted through one of the plates of said first pair of plates, at least one wavelength.

Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with displays having polarizer structures. Polarizer structures may incorporate flexible layers of glass. The flexible glass layers may be laminated to other sheets of material in the polarizer structures using roll-to-roll lamination equipment. After the polarizer structures are cut into panels, the panels may be laminated to liquid crystal display structures, organic light-emitting-diode display structures or other display structures using sheet-to-sheet lamination tools. Ultraviolet-light-blocking material may be incorporated into a display to prevent damage to the polarizer layers in the polarizer structures. Coatings such as antireflection coatings, antistatic coating, and anti-smudge coatings may be provided on the polarizer structures. Displays may use the flexible glass layers and additional protective layers to prevent a polarizer layer from being exposed to excessive moisture.

Abstract: An optical element according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a reflective imaging element for reflecting light from an object an even number of times to cause an image of the object to be formed; a first polarizer disposed on a light-outgoing side of the reflective imaging element; and a first phase difference plate disposed between the reflective imaging element and the first polarizer.

Abstract: A fiber rotator mechanism for rotating a portion of an optical waveguide, specifically an optical fiber, about a longitudinal axis thereof comprises a motor having a tubular rotor through which the fiber extends, in use, and to which the fiber is secured, directly or indirectly. An optical fiber may be secured by means of a device which also compresses the optical fiber to induce a required birefringence, conveniently by means of a spring-loaded clamping device or a ferrule of shape memory material.

Abstract: An optical functional film which exhibits excellent optical characteristics without using an alignment film, and having the excellent adhesion property between layers. The optical functional film includes: a substrate having a property as an optically negative C-plate, and an optical functional layer formed on the substrate and having a rodlike compound. The optical functional layer is formed directly on the substrate, and the rodlike compound forms a random homogeneous alignment in the optical functional layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temporal depolarization assembly. The depolarization assembly operates to produce light that, over some period of time, is depolarized. The depolarization assembly includes first and second variable retarders. The variable retarders are operated to produce a retardance that varies in time. In addition, the modulator axis of a first one of the variable retarders is held at an angle to the modulator axis of the second one of the variable retarders. The frequency at which the retardance of the variable retarders varies is selected to be some fraction of the integration time of a sensor associated with the polarization assembly.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical film exhibiting a preferable wavelength dispersion and capable of being formed comparatively thinly. The present invention is an optical film containing the repeating unit represented by the following general formula (II). In the formula (II), A, A?, B, and B? each denote a substituent, a, a?, b, and b? denote the number of substituents of the corresponding A, A?, B, and B?. A, A?, B and B? each independently denote a halogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. R1 and R2 denote a halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and the like. X denotes —CO—, —SO2—, and the like.

Abstract: A birefringent device, which is configured to be mounted in an optical path of an optical system, has an effective area in a pupil plane. The birefringent device affects different polarization states differently and position-dependently. The birefringent device realizes a first pupil function assigned to a first polarization state and a second different pupil function assigned to a second polarization state. The pupil functions may be optimized to achieve various specific optical properties like extended depth of field.

Abstract: Provided is a film of which the slow axis in plane does not comply with TD direction nor MD direction of the film and which is excellent in adequacy of pasting with other components. The film is a long film comprising at least a first molecule expressing positive intrinsic birefringence and a second molecule expressing negative intrinsic birefringence, having a slow axis in plane in a direction which is neither parallel nor orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the long film, and the direction of the slow axis in plane being neither parallel nor orthogonal to the individual directions of alignment of the first and second molecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system for providing on-axis destructive interference of light received from an object along a predetermined system optical axis. The system comprises a receiving and guiding optical structure and a combining optical structure. The receiving and guiding optical structure is for receiving and guiding at least three beams of light received from said object, the receiving and guiding optical structure arranged to provide a relative optical path difference between the at least three beams; the combining optical structure is for combining the at least three beams. According to the invention, a polarization varying optical structure is arranged between the receiving and guiding optical structure and the combining optical structure, for varying a polarization state of the beams relative to each other in order to provide on-axis destructive interference.

Abstract: The EM polarizing structure contains a two dimensional planar variation structure, having medium nodes regularly distributed as a two dimensional planar photonic unit lattice cell array on a plane. Each of the photonic unit lattice cells has an operation axis and is identical at each lattice point, which passes a diagonal of photonic unit lattice cell. The medium nodes within each planar photonic unit lattice cell are distributed asymmetrical with respect to the operation axis direction and identical at each lattice point. The EM polarizing structure is used to modulate an input EM wave around an operation frequency of the photonic band associated with the EM wave polarizing structure. Thus a corresponding output EM wave becomes polarized. Moreover, the EM wave polarizing structure can be integrated with an EM wave emitting source. Thus an output EM wave from the device is polarized.

Abstract: An optical sheet suitable for linear polarized light to pass through is provided. The optical sheet includes a substrate and a retardation film. The retardation film herein is located on the substrate and has a plurality of optical axes with different extending directions. The linear polarized light after passing through the retardation film is converted into a plurality of linear polarized light with different polarization directions, wherein the retardation film substantially has a phase retardation of ?/2 at anywhere of the area where the linear polarized light passes through and ? is the wavelength of the linear polarized light. Besides, the present invention also provides a display apparatus, a fabricating method of an optical sheet and a fabricating method of a display apparatus.

Abstract: A polarization converting system and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The polarization converting system includes a polarization splitting unit splitting incident unpolarized light into two orthogonal polarizations and a polarization converting unit converting incident light into specific polarized light. The polarization converting unit has first and second regions that correspond to the polarization splitting unit and are different in a polarization converting extent from each other.

Abstract: A novel optical compensation sheet is disclosed. The sheet comprising a polymer layer formed by coating and, drying a solution comprising a polymer compound and a solvent composition comprising 20% by weight or more of water; and an optically anisotropic layer formed on the surface of the polymer layer by hardening a liquid crystal layer comprising at least one liquid-crystalline compound under irradiation of ionizing radiation at a film surface temperature from 70 to 160° C.; wherein a frontal retardation (Re) value of the optically anisotropic layer is not zero, and the optically anisotropic layer gives substantially equal retardation values for light of a wavelength ? nm coming respectively in a direction rotated by +40° and in a direction rotated by ?40° with respect to a normal direction of a layer plane using an in-plane slow axis as a tilt axis (a rotation axis).

Abstract: A polyester film for protecting a polarizing plate is provided wherein the polyester film includes a polyester substrate film, and an anti-static layer provided on at least one surface of the polyester substrate film, the anti-static layer coated with an anti-static coating solution comprising a conductive polymer resin, a polyurethane resin, a cross linking agent and a fluoro resin wherein the anti-static coating solution comprises, on a basis of 100 parts by weight of the conductive polymer resin, about 100 to about 1,000 parts of the polyurethane resin, about 100 to about 2000 parts of the cross linking agent and about 30 to about 300 parts of the fluoro resin.

Abstract: A phase difference plate is manufactured by a method including a step of forming a multilayer body by co-extruding or co-casting a resin A having a positive intrinsic birefringence value and a resin B having a negative intrinsic birefringence value, the multilayer body including a layer “a” containing the resin A and a layer “b” containing the resin B; a step of stretching the multilayer body at a temperature T1 in one direction; and a step of subsequently stretching the multilayer body at temperature T2 lower than the temperature T1 in a direction that is approximately orthogonal to the previous stretching direction. The resulting phase difference plate has specific in-plane retardation Rea of the layer “a”, retardation Rta in the thickness direction thereof, in-plane retardation Reb of the layer “b”, and retardation Rtb in the thickness direction thereof.

Abstract: A birefringent diffuser includes a first optical material and a first birefringent material. The first optical material and the first birefringent material are combined to form a planar layer. The planar layer has an internal pattern of the materials presenting a substantially uniform index of refraction for incident light which is substantially normal to the planar layer and exhibiting a varying index of refraction for at least a portion of light which is trapped in guided modes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a glass composition and articles made from the composition that are both polarizing and photorefractive. The glass has, for example, a composition consisting essentially of, in weight percent (“wt. %”) of 70-73 SiO2, 13-17% B2O3, 8-10% Na2O, 2-4% Al2O3, 0.005-0.1% CuO, <0.4% Cl, 0.1-0.5% Ag, 0.1-0.3% Br. In another embodiment the composition consists essentially of 70-77% SiO2, 13-18% B2O3, 8-10% Na2O, 2-4% Al2O3, 0.005-0.1% CuO, <0.4% Cl, 0.1-0.5% Ag, 0.1-0.3% Br. The glass can be used make articles or elements that can exhibits both the photorefractive effect and the polarizing effect within a single element or article, and can be used to make a variety of optical elements including Bragg gratings, filtering elements, and beam shaping elements and light collection elements for use in display, security, defense, metrology, imaging and communications applications.

Abstract: A stereo projection optical system includes an image engine configured for providing light superimposed spatial information, a color selector positioned to receive a light output of the image engine, a transmission-type light modulator positioned to receive an emergent light of the color selector. The color selector is configured for selectively modifying the polarization of the light output according to the wavelength of the light output. The transmission-type light modulator alternates between a dark state and a bright state. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the stereo projection optical system according to the present invention provides advantages in that its structure can be simplified with the reduction of its size by synthesizing lift and right image signals by displaying the stereoscopic image signal using a single projector.

Abstract: A retardation film is manufactured by stretching a thermoplastic resin film while adjusting stretching ratio ? [%], temperature ? [° C.], and stretching speed ? [%/min] so that the following formulas (1) and (2) are satisfied when the thermoplastic resin film is stretched at the stretching ratio ? [%], the temperature ? [° C.], and the stretching speed ? [%/min], therefore, stretching unevenness can be prevented: Z>X ??(1) (X×100/k)×0.2<(Y?X)×100/k ??(2) here X represents yield stress [MPa] in a stress-strain curve, Y represents stress [MPa] in the stress-strain curve when the film is further stretched from the yield stress by k [%] which is the amount of strain until the yield stress, and Z represents stress [MPa] in the stress-strain curve when the film is stretched to ? [%].

Abstract: A laminated polarizing film that is capable of enhancing a viewing angle of a liquid crystal display device, particularly in an IPS mode, is provided. The laminated polarizing film can be obtained by adhering a phase retardation film and a polarizing film by a roll-to-roll process.

Abstract: An optical functional film which exhibits excellent optical characteristics without using an alignment film, and having the excellent adhesion property between layers. The optical functional film includes: a substrate having a property as an optically negative C-plate, and an optical functional layer formed on the substrate and having a rodlike compound. The optical functional layer is formed directly on the substrate, and the rodlike compound forms a random homogeneous alignment in the optical functional layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to use of metamaterials for creating spectral selectors of electromagnetic radiation. Planar metamaterial films patterned on the sub-wavelength scale can be used in polarization filters instead of natural and synthesized bulk crystals. Characteristics and the quality factor of metamaterial filters is controlled by the geometry of the pattern. Various types of metamaterials and filter configurations are proposed.

Abstract: A reflective film includes interior layers arranged to selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference, the layers extending from a first zone to a second zone of the film. The film has a first thickness and the interior layers provide a first reflective characteristic in the first zone; the film has a second thickness and the interior layers provide a second reflective characteristic in the second zone. The difference between the first and second reflective characteristics is not substantially attributable to any difference between the first and second thicknesses, which difference may be zero. Rather, the difference in the reflective characteristics is substantially attributable to reduced birefringence of at least some of the interior layers in one zone relative to the other zone. The film may also incorporate absorbing agents to assist in the manufacture or processing of the film. Related methods and articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical film comprising a thermoplastic resin, which is such that the slow axis direction in the film plane differs from the film tilt direction and the birefringence of a sliced section of the film that contains the tilt direction and the thickness direction in the plane varies in the thickness direction of the film.

Abstract: The present invention provides at low cost a display device with superior visibility and high contrast ratio even in a bright room environment through a reduction in the undesired reflection, not only of the incident outside light from the normal direction, but also of the outside incident light from an oblique direction. The present invention is a circularly polarizing plate including a polarizer and a ?/4 plate, and the aforementioned circularly polarizing plate includes an anti-reflective layer, the aforementioned polarizer, a birefringent layer, and the aforementioned ?/4 plate which are laminated in this order, the NZ coefficient of the aforementioned birefringent layer satisfies NZ<0.1, the in-plane fast axis of the aforementioned birefringent layer is orthogonal to the absorption axis of the aforementioned polarizer, the NZ coefficient of the aforementioned ?/4 plate satisfies NZ>0.