Abstract: A compound represented by formula (1) or (2) and a polymer obtained by polymerizing the compound are provided: wherein Ra is one of the groups represented by Formulas (3-1) to (3-5); Rb is hydrogen, halogen, or a side chain such as —CN, —NCO, —NCS or alkyl having a carbon number of 1 to 20; A is a cyclic diyl group such as 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohexenylene, 1,4-phenylene, naphthalene-2,6-diyl, tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, fluorene-2,7-diyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-1,4-diyl or bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3,6-diyl, wherein at least one A is substituted 1,4-phenylene represented by Formula (4-1) or (4-2); Z is a single bond or a bonding group such as alkylene having a carbon number of 1 to 20; Rc is hydrogen, halogen, —CF3 or alkyl having a carbon number of 1 to 5; m is an integer of 1 to 6, and q is 0 or 1.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to liquid crystalline media comprising a dielectrically positive component, component A, consisting of dielectrically positive compounds, comprising one or more compounds of formula I and one or more compounds of formula II wherein the parameters have the meaning given in the specification and to liquid crystal displays comprising these media, especially to active matrix displays.

Abstract: An organic single-crystalline film useful as a functional film in various devices is produced by selecting a liquid crystal material having a good molecular alignment regularity, disposing the liquid crystal material between a pair of boundaries exerting a thickness regulating force and solidifying the liquid crystal material while imparting a molecular alignment order by phase transition from a liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystal material may preferably be a smectic liquid crystal material which provides a uniform molecular alignment inclusive of the direction of the molecular long axis in a smectic phase.

Abstract: The invention provides a cholesteric liquid crystal composition that includes at least one cholesteric liquid crystal precursor, and at least one non-liquid crystalline additive that is a non-liquid crystalline compound of formula I The invention also provides cholesteric liquid crystal films and optical bodies formed from cholesteric liquid crystal compositions of the invention. The invention further provides an optical display that includes a display medium, and a reflective polarizer including a cholesteric liquid crystal composition in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a class of compounds useful as chiral dopants, which compounds are available in both enantiomeric forms, in liquid-crystal formulations. Such formulations are advantageous in displays and various other products.

Abstract: A retardation plate characterized by being obtained by laminating a homeotropic liquid-crystal film formed from a homeotropic liquid-crystal polymer of the side chain type or from a homeotropic liquid-crystalline composition comprising the side chain type liquid-crystal polymer and a photopolymerizable liquid-crystal compound to a stretched film having a retardation function. In the retardation plate, the retardation in the thickness direction can be regulated to a value in a wide range.

Abstract: The LC information display contains a layer of liquid crystal situated between the front and the rear panels with functional layers, and the liquid crystal has parameters providing interference maximum or minimum of transmission or reflection at the exit of the display and/or at the boundary of at least two functional layers and/or between the LC layer and a functional layer, for at least one linearly polarized component of light, and for at least one wavelength. The disclosed invention allows optimizing transmission of light through optically anisotropic functional layers of the display, which leads to substantial increase of its effectiveness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light diffuser comprising a polymeric film wherein the film comprises a plurality of layers having void geometry in which the x/y/z size or frequency varies by at least 28% between at least two layers.

Abstract: An optical film obtained by stretching a polymer film comprising a polycarbonate resin and a styrene resin: wherein a photoelastic coefficient is 2.0×10?11 to 6.0×10?11 m2/N, and a three dimensional refractive index is controlled so that an Nz coefficient may satisfy a relationship of Nz?0.9 and a front retardation (Re) may satisfy a relationship of Re?80 nm, has characteristics of giving wide viewing angle and also outstanding durability.

Abstract: An optical film including a transparent polymer film (b) and a birefringent layer (a) formed of a polymer and laminated above the transparent polymer film (b) is provided. The birefringent layer (a) and the transparent polymer film (b) satisfy the following formula (1), the birefringent layer (a) satisfies the following formulae (2) and (3), and the polymer forming the birefringent layer (a) has a weight-average molecular weight in the range between 10,000 and 400,000 inclusive. ?n(a)>?n(b)×10??(1) 1<(nx?nz)/(nx?ny)??(2) 0.0005??n(a)?0.5??(3) This optical film can prevent the occurrence of iridescence, the occurrence of cracks, and the occurrence of variation in retardation.

Abstract: An anti-glare film is obtained by forming a resin layer having a low refraction index on an anti-glare layer is obtained by coating a transparent plastic film with a liquid composition containing a polymer, a curable resin precursor, and a solvent, evaporating the solvent, forming a phase separation structure by spinodal decomposition, and curing the precursor with light irradiation. The anti-glare film has an uneven surface structure in the anti-glare layer, isotropically transmits and scatters an incident light to show the maximum value of the scattered light intensity at a scattering angle of 0.–10°, and has a total light transmittance of 70–100%. The film prevents dazzle or blur of images on a display surface, and reflection of a surrounding scenery, and improves contrast with reducing whitening of the display, even in a high definition display apparatus.

Abstract: A retarder and circular polarizer are disclosed. They comprise at least two adjacent layers respectively formed of a composition comprising a liquid-crystalline compound, in which the liquid-crystalline molecules are fixed in an alignment state disposed on or above a substrate wherein no alignment layer is substantially disposed between the two layers. As one embodiment of the present invention, the retarder wherein the lower layer is formed of a composition comprising a liquid-crystalline compound and a non-crystalline polymer is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to multireactive polymerizable mesogenic compounds of formula I R1—MG—R2 I wherein R1, R2 and MG have the meaning given in claim 1, to a polymerizable mesogenic composition comprising at least two components, at least one which is a compound of formula I, to a linear or crosslinked polymer obtainable by polymerization of one or more compounds of formula I or of a polymerizable composition comprising one or more compounds of formula I and to the use of a compound of formula I, or a polymerizable composition or polymer obtainable thereof, in optical elements such as polarizers, optical retardation or compensation films, alignment layers, colour filters or holographic elements, in liquid crystal displays such as PDLC, polymer gel or polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT) displays, in adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetics, diagnostics or liquid crystal pigments, for decorative and security applications, and for nonlinear optics or optical info

Abstract: Liquid crystal films with excellent heat resistance and mechanical strength are provided.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystal molecules. Three principal refractive indices of the optically anisotropic layer are different from each other.

Abstract: Nematic liquid crystal mixtures with weak zenithal anchoring energy for bistable display devices, comprising at least 40% by weight of compounds with strong molecular polarisability and strong dipole moment.

Abstract: A polymer film is used as an optical compensatory sheet or a support thereof. The polymer film contains a rod-like compound. The rod-like compound in the form of a solution gives an ultraviolet absorption spectrum. In the spectrum, the wavelength of ?max at the maximum absorption peak is shorter than 250 nm. The spectrum of the rod-like compound is measured when the rod-like compound is in the form of solution. The polymer film has an Rth retardation value of Rth450 measured at the wavelength of 450 nm in the range of 30 to 160 nm. The polymer film also has an Rth retardation value of Rth590 measured at the wavelength of 590 nm in the range of 50 to 200 nm. The values of the Rth450 and Rth590 satisfy the condition of Rth590-Rth450?2 nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alignment layer comprising a polymerized liquid crystal material with homeotrophic orientation, to methods of its preparation, to polymerizable liquid crystal compositions and liquid crystal polymers used for the preparation of the alignment layer, to liquid crystal devices comprising the alignment layer, and to a method of controlling the electrooptical steepness of a liquid crystal display comprising at least one alignment layer by varying the surface anchoring energy of the alignment layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical retardation film comprising two layers of an anisotropic polymer adjacent to each other or adjacent to both sides of a substrate, characterized in that each layer exhibits a tilted structure with an optical symmetry axis having a tilt angle ? relative to the plane of the layer, to a means to produce substantially linear polarized light comprising such an optical retardation film and to a liquid crystal display comprising such an optical retardation film.

Abstract: An optical compensation film comprising a cellulose ester film is disclosed. In the film, (a) each of photoelastic coefficient C(md) in a mechanical direction and photoelastic coefficient C(td) in the transverse direction of the cellulose ester film is 1×10?9 to 1×10?13 Pa?1 and C(md)<C(td), (b) retardation R0 within the plane of the cellulose film defined by Formula (I) is 20 to 70 nm, (c) retardation Rt of the cellulose ester film in a thickness direction, defined by Formula (II) is 70 to 400 nm, and (d) both of a dimensional variation ratio S(md) in the mechanical direction and a dimensional variation ratio S(td) in the transverse direction of the cellulose ester film prior to and after being allowed to stand at ambient conditions of 80° C. and 90 percent relative humidity for 50 hours are ?1 to 1 percent, |S(md)|>|S(td)|, and C(td)×|S(td)|<C(md)×|S(md)|.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multilayer film comprising a substrate bearing an aligned liquid crystal layer wherein the aligned liquid crystal layer contains an azolium salt represented by formula (I): wherein the subscripts represent the ring positions and each X is independently N or C—R; each Z is independently N, N—R, C—(R)(R), O, S, SO2, SO, C?O, C?S, or C?NR; each R group is independently hydrogen or a substituent; and Y is a charge balancing anion, which may be a separate moiety or part of an X, Z, or R; provided two or more X, Z and R groups may form a ring; provided the salt may be part of an oligomer or polymer. Such a film provides a predetermined increase in pre-tilt angle for use in liquid crystal devices.

Abstract: An antireflective member with stability and a low reflectance at low cost may be provided by performing an antireflective treatment to a substrate in a molding process of the substrate. A roughened surface with a continuous pattern in a fine pyramidal shape is formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, the roughened surface is a diffraction surface with zeroth-order diffraction to visible light, and the pattern of the roughened surface is transferred from a mold at a transfer rate of not less than 70%.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparation of optical compensation films using a polymer stabilization technique so as to enable continuous roll-to-roll production. The films can be applied for reflective liquid crystal displays. They are prepared by photo-polymerizing a mixture comprising a reactive monomer (or mixture of monomers), a small amount of photoinitiator and liquid crystal. The concentration of the reactive monomer (mesogenic or non-mesogenic) in the reactive mixtures can be as low as 5% or as high as 99% by weight. The materials that can function as the optical compensation films in the present invention include, but are not limited to, mixtures of liquid crystal and reactive mesogenic monomers (rod-like, bent-shaped, and disc-like mesogenic monomers) containing polymerizable groups (monofunctionaly or multifunctional) selected from acrylate, methacrylate, vinyls, butadiene, vinyl ethers, or epoxide.

Abstract: A novel liquid crystalline compound has the formula: Z1-(CH2)n-L1-P1-L2-P2-L3-P3-L4-(CH2)m-Z2 ??(1) wherein Z1 and Z2 are each independently a group represented by any one of formulas (2), (3) and (4) below, L1, L2, L3, and L4 each independently indicate direct bond or are a group represented by any of —O—, —O—CO—, or —CO—O—, P1 and P2 are each independently a group represented by formula (5) below, and P3 indicates direct bond or is a group represented by formula (5) below, n and m are each independently an integer of 0 to 8; wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, or halogen and provides an optical film with an excellent capability of retaining the aligned liquid crystal orientation which has been fixed and in mechanical strength.

Abstract: An anisotropic polymer film with improved alignments prepared by coating onto a substrate with a structured surface. The polymer films thereby obtained are useful in optical and electrooptical devices for decorative and security applications.

Abstract: A multilayer compensator comprising one or more polymeric A layers and one or more polymeric B layers, wherein said A layers comprise a polymer having an out-of-plane birefringence not more negative than ?0.01, said B layers comprise an amorphous polymer having an out-of-plane birefringence more negative than ?0.01, and the overall in-plane retardation (Rin) of said multilayer compensator is greater than 20 nm and the out-of-plane retardation (Rth) of said multilayer compensator is more negative than ?20 nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optically variable marking comprising a semiopaque substrate with a first surface that is covered with an optically variable layer that is for example a liquid crystal polymer layer or a layer comprising pearlescent pigments, and a second surface that is partially covered with a metal layer in the shape of a pattern, to methods of its preparation and to its use for decorative or security applications.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystal molecules and monomers having four or more double bonds. The monomers are polymerized to form a polymer in the optically anisotropic layer.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compositions contain no functional group the synthesis of which is difficult, such as (meth)acrylate and epoxy group and comprise (A) an oxetane compound having an optically active portion, (B) a side chain liquid crystalline polymeric substance having an oxetanyl group, and (C) a photo cation generator and/or a thermal cation generator. The use of the composition can provide a cholesteric-aligned liquid crystal film with excellent alignment retention properties after being fixed in the liquid crystal state and mechanical strength, without employing any complicated step such as photo irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A plastic film screen protector that prevents interference patterns from arising when the film touches the screen is described. The advantages are accomplished by the film having a slightly roughened surface so that the majority of the film facing an electronic device screen does not substantially touch the screen. These physical aberrations prevent Newton ring interference patterns and spots caused by refractive index differences between air and the film material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (1) defined in the specification and a liquid crystal composition comprising the compound. The invention further provides a polymer obtained by polymerization of compound or composition above, and further the present invention provides a film, an optical anisotropic material, A ¼ or ½ wavelength functional plate, an optical compensation element, an optical element and a liquid crystal display element employing the polymer.

Abstract: A film having a high transmittance and matt property is disclosed which has, on a transparent support 1, a hard coat layer 2 incorporated therein particles 4 of a particle size of 1.0 to 10 ?m that is larger than the layer thickness thereof, and a low-refractive-index layer 3 having a refractive index of 1.45 or less and covering said hard coat layer, wherein a haze value is 1.0% or more, and a total transmittance of light is 93.5% or more. The film having a high transmittance can prevent occurrence of unevenness of display due to thermal expansion of a light-tuning film and occurrence of unevenness of brightness peculiar to the light-tuning film.

Abstract: A phase difference plate which comprises one sheet of polymer film containing a compound having a rod-shaped molecular structure and exhibiting a maximum absorption wavelength (?max) of less than 250 nm in an ultraviolet spectrum of its solution and which exhibits a retardation value as measured at a wavelength of 450 nm (Re450) of 60 to 135 nm and a retardation value as measured at a wave length of 590 nm (Re590) of 100 to 170 nm, where the relationship: Re590?Re450?2 nm is satisfied. The phase difference plate functions as a ?/4 plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a birefringent optical film having a high orientation for easily obtaining a desired retardation value and also a small photoelastic coefficient. The birefringent optical film includes at least two kinds of polymer materials. A total of products of Cn and Wn satisfies a numerical formula (1): ?(Cn×Wn)?20×10?8 cm2/N??(1) where Cn and Wn denote respectively a photoelastic coefficient and a volume fraction of each polymer material, and at least one of the polymer materials of the film has a photoelastic coefficient value of at least 60×10?8 cm2/N, while at least one of the remaining polymer materials has a negative value of photoelastic coefficient.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic sheet comprises an optically anisotropic layer, an orientation layer and a transparent support in this order. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer is subjected to rubbing treatment. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with the orientation layer. An average inclined angle of discotic planes of the discotic liquid crystal molecules is in the range of 50° to 90°. An average direction of optical axes of the discotic liquid crystal molecules is essentially parallel to a rubbing direction of the orientation layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a series of new chemical compounds, lyotropic liquid crystal systems, materials, blends, mixtures, namely acenaphtho[1,2-b]quinoxaline sulfoderivatives of the general structural formula: wherein n is an integer in the range of 1 to 4; m is an integer in the range of 0 to 4; z is an integer in the range of 0 to 6, and m+z+n?10; X and Y are individually selected from the group consisting of CH3, C2H5, OCH3, OC2H5, Cl, Br, OH, OCOCH3NH2, NHCOCH3, NO2, F, CF3, CN, OCN, SCN, COOH, and CONH2; M is a counterion; and j is the number of counterions in the molecule.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to liquid crystal displays of the flexoelectric type operating in the uniformly lying helix mode and in particular to the orientation of the cholesteric liquid crystalline media, which have a short pitch, in these displays by making the system non-symmetric. The media comprise a bimesogenic component, component A and a chiral component, component B. The display comprises one substrate on which the liquid crystal is oriented homogeneously and preferably a second substrate on which the liquid crystal is oriented homeotropically.

Abstract: A polarizing plate used in a vertical alignment mode liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal cell is disclosed, wherein the polarizing plate comprises a polarizing film and a mixed fatty acid cellulose ester film with optical biaxiality provided between the polarizing film and the liquid crystal cell, and wherein the mixed fatty acid cellulose ester film has a retardation in plane R0 of from 31 to 120 nm, and a retardation in the thickness direction Rt of from 60 to 300 nm, in which R0 is represented by the following formula (1) and Rt is represented by the following formula (2): R0=(nx?ny)×d??formula (1) Rt={(nx+ny)/2?nz}×d??formula (2)

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymerizable liquid crystal material containing at least one polymerizable surface-active compound, its use for the preparation of anisotropic polymer films, and the use of the liquid crystal material and the polymer films in optical and electrooptical devices, and for decorative and security applications.

Abstract: A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in accordance with the invention preferably comprise a homogeneous mixture of a nematic liquid crystal and a multifunctional pentaacrylate monomer, in combination with photoinitiator, coinitiator and cross-linking agent. Optionally, a surfactant such as octanoic acid may also be added. The PDLC material is exposed to coherent light to produce an interference pattern inside the material. Photopolymerization of the new PDLC material produces a hologram of clearly separated liquid crystal domains and cured polymer domains. Volume transmission gratings made with the new PDLC material can be electrically switched between nearly 100% diffraction efficiency and nearly 0% diffraction efficiency. By increasing the frequency of the switching voltage, switching voltages in the range of 50 Vrms can be achieved.

Abstract: In the transparent film of optical application or the support for photographic material produced by a solution film forming method, the polymer resin film on which any coating unevenness does not occur even when a functional layer is coated on the film surface and the manufacturing method for the film are proposed. To be concrete, a polymer resin film produced by the solution film forming method characterized by that the pitch a [cm] of the periodic thickness unevenness of web longitudinal direction and a thickness unevenness factor d [%] satisfy formula (1) described below. d?0.46a3?0.91a2+0.60a+1.01??(1) (on the premise that 0.2<a<3) The manufacturing method using said formula is also proposed.

Abstract: An electro-optically active polymer gel material comprising a high molecular weight alignment polymer adapted to be homogeneously dispersed throughout a liquid crystal to control the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules and/or confer mechanical stability is provided. The electro-optically active polymer gel comprises a homogenous gel in which the polymer strands of the gel are provided in low concentration and are well solvated by the small molecule liquid crystal without producing unacceptable slowing of its electrooptic response. During formation of the gel, a desired orientation is locked into the gel by physical or chemical cross-linking of the polymer chains. The electro-optically active polymer is then utilized to direct the orientation in the liquid crystal gel in the “field off” state of a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A glassy chiral-nematic liquid crystal composition includes a compound having the structural formula wherein each N represents a nematic group connected to the 1, 3, 5-benzenetricarbonyl central moiety by a carboxylic ester linkage and Ch represents a chiral group connected to the central moiety by a carboxylic ester linkage. An optical device is formed from at least one of the glassy chiral-nematic liquid crystal compositions.

Abstract: An organic single-crystalline film useful as a functional film in various devices is produced by selecting a liquid crystal material having a good molecular alignment regularity, disposing the liquid crystal material between a pair of boundaries exerting a thickness regulating force and solidifying the liquid crystal material while imparting a molecular alignment order by phase transition from a liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystal material may preferably be a smectic liquid crystal material which provides a uniform molecular alignment inclusive of the direction of the molecular long axis in a smectic phase.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cellulose ester film comprising a polymer prepared by polymerizing at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from vinyl esters, vinyl esters having a functional group, acrylic esters, and acrylic esters having a functional group, wherein the polymer has a weight average molecular weight of not more than 5,000.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical compensator for liquid crystal displays comprising a first polymeric layer having an out-of-plane birefringence not more negative than ?0.005 and a second polymeric layer having an out-of-plane birefringence more negative than ?0.005. The invention also provides an LC display and a process for making such compensators.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a laminated composite including an optical layer having a light reflectivity, and a latent image formation layer containing a liquid crystalline polymer material and provided on one of major surfaces of the optical layer, wherein the latent image formation layer includes at least one oriented portion in an orientation state and at least one non-oriented portion in a non-orientation state, and the oriented and non-oriented portions constitute a latent image which is unrecognizable by a direct visual observation and recognizable by a visual observation through a polarizing member. Also, according to the present invention, there is provided an information recording medium and a member of imparting a forgery-preventing characteristic including such a latent image formation layer.

Abstract: An anisotropic polymer film comprising a polymeriZed chiral liquid crystal material with helically twisted structure and having areas with different helical twist sense is useful for decorative or security applications.

Abstract: This invention provides a reversibly thermochromic ultraviolet ray-hardening type ink having good color change sensitivity and excellent light resistance and fastness, and a reversibly thermochromic laminate produced using the same. The present invention also provides a reversibly thermochromic laminate produced by forming a reversibly thermochromic layer on a support using the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical compensation film for Liquid Crystal Displays comprising an amorphous polymer layer disposed on a substrate wherein said amorphous polymer layer has an out-of-plane birefringence ?nth(?) at a wavelength ? that satisfies both conditions (1) and (2): Condition (1) ?nth(?) is more negative than ?0.005 throughout the range of 370 nm<?<700 nm; Condition (2) ?nth(?1) is more negative than ?nth(?2), for ?1<?2 throughout the range of 370 nm<?<700 nm.