Abstract: A cellulose acylate film is provided and is excellent in increasability of an in-plane retardation and a retardation in a thickness direction, from which an additive does not bleed out, and which is excellent in surface properties. The cellulose acylate film has a thickness of 40 ?m to 180 ?m and contains no retardation increasing agent. Retardation values Re and Rth of the cellulose acylate film meet the following formulae (III) to (V): 46?Re?100??(III) Rth=a?5.9Re??(IV) 520?a?670??(V) A polarizing plate and a VA mode liquid crystal display having wide viewing angle characteristics and small changes in color, which are using the cellulose acylate film, are provided.

Abstract: Subject The main aim of the invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal compound that has a liquid crystal phase with a wide temperature range, an excellent compatibility with another polymerizable liquid crystal compound and an excellent solubility in organic solvent, and is polymerizable by heat and light even in air.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device being resistant to display unevenness without loss of responsivity and being capable of securing configurational stability is provided. A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules and a polymer compound including a structure represented by Chemical Formula 1; and a pair of substrates facing each other with the liquid crystal layer in between, where m and n each are an integer of 1 to 4 both inclusive.

Abstract: A hard coating film is provided and includes a transparent plastic substrate film, and a hard coating layer. The transparent plastic substrate film has mutually independent microscopic pits in at least one surface thereof, the microscopic pits each independently have a depth of 3 ?m or below, the microscopic pits have an average length of major diameters of from 0.5 ?m to 20 ?m, and the number of the microscopic pits is from 25 to 3,000 per mm2.

Abstract: A cellulose acylate film comprising a cellulose acylate resin satisfying the formulae (i)-(iii) and a compound capable of forming a hydrogen bond satisfying conditions (A)-(C): (A) the compound has both a hydrogen bond donor moiety and a hydrogen bond acceptor moiety in the molecule, (B) the value obtained by dividing the molecular weight of the compound by the total of the number of the hydrogen bond donor moiety and the number of the hydrogen bond acceptor moiety is from 30 to 65, (C) the number of aromatic ring structures is from 1 to 3, 0.5?A+B?2.7,??(i) 0.0?A?2.5, and??(ii) 0.1?B?2.0,??(iii) wherein A means the degree of substitution with an acetyl group, and B means a total of the degree of substitution with a propionyl group and the degree of substitution with a butyryl group.

Abstract: Films, such as optical films that comprise a microstructured surface are described. The microstructures comprise the reaction product of a polymerizable resin composition comprising certain polyalkyl nitrogen or phosphorus onium fluoroalkyl sulfonyl salts as an antistatic agent. Also described is a polymerizable resin comprising at least one di(meth)acrylate monomer comprising at least two aromatic rings, a reactive diluent; and the polyalkyl nitrogen or phosphorus onium fluoroalkyl sulfonyl salts as an antistatic agent antistatic agent.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is provided, having one or several display segments, a first display substrate, a second display substrate, a layer of liquid crystal material disposed between the first and second substrate; and layer of conductive material disposed on the substrates. The conductive layers form electrodes for applying an electric field across the liquid crystal for switching the liquid crystal material between a first optical state and a second optical state different from the first optical state. Image features of the display are further defined by the inclusion of a layer of patterned non-conductive or passive dielectric material on at least one of the substrates, the patterned material forming a mask defining image elements of the display segments.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composite is provided, which includes a liquid crystal compound and a nanoparticle. The liquid crystal compound is an optically compensated birefringence (OCB) liquid crystal compound. The nanoparticle has at least one acrylic functional group on the main chain or side chain thereof. The nanoparticle is 0.1-2 wt % by weight of the liquid crystal composite.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device which is capable of further decreasing the cost of production yet obtaining a good liquid crystal alignment, and a method of producing the same. The liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates arranged facing each other; a liquid crystal sealed between the substrates; and an ultraviolet ray-cured product for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. The ultraviolet ray-cured product is formed near the interfaces to the substrates by polymerizing a polymerizable component mixed in the liquid crystal with light. The polymerizable component contains a polyfunctional monomer having a symmetrical structure, and the ultraviolet ray-cured product has a side-chain structure.

Abstract: A novel liquid crystal comprising a first liquid compound having bent structures and a second liquid crystal compound. A liquid crystal phase formed by the first liquid crystal compound exhibits ferroelectricity or antiferroelectricity while a liquid crystal phase formed by the second liquid crystal compound exhibits neither ferroelectricity nor antiferroelectricity. A smectic liquid crystal phase formed by the first liquid crystal compound has a tilted structure while a smectic liquid crystal phase formed by the second liquid crystal compound has no tilted structure. The first liquid crystal compound is represented by the following chemical formula (m=16) and the second liquid crystal compound is represented by the following chemical formula (m=4).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical film capable of contributing to reduction in thickness, preventing uneven heating, and favorably preventing light leak in black display, and an image display apparatus using such an optical film. An optical film of the present invention includes a polarizer, a first optical compensation layer having a refractive index profile of nx>ny=nz, and a second optical compensation layer having a refractive index profile of nx>ny>nz in the stated order. In the optical film, an angle formed between an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the first optical compensation layer is +17° to +27° or ?17° to ?27°, an angle formed between the absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the second optical compensation layer is +85° to +95°, and an Nz coefficient of the second optical compensation layer is 1.2?Nz?2.

Abstract: A bifunctional polymerizable compound represented by the following formula: A-E1-E2-(E3)k-E4-B wherein A is CH2?CR1—COO-(L1)m-; B is CH2?CR2—COO-(L2)n-; each of R1 and R2 which are independent of each other, is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; each of L1 and L2 is —(CH2)P— wherein p is each independently an integer of from 2 to 8, each of m and n which are independent of each other, is 0 or 1, provided that when at least one of m and n is 1, there may be an etheric oxygen atom between the carbon-carbon linkage of —(CH2)P— or at the terminal on the side bonded to E1 or E4, and at least one hydrogen atom may be substituted by a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom or a methyl group; each of E1 and E4 is a 1,4-phenylene group; and one of E2 and E3 is a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group and the other is a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group or a 1,4-phenylene group, k is 0 or 1, provided that when k is 0, E2 is a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, and the 1,4-phenylene group and the trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group as E1 to E4 m

Abstract: A thermoplastic film having at least two thermoplastic resin layers laminated on each other, wherein at least the thermoplastic resin layer of the film surface and the thermoplastic resin layer of the film back each have a tilt structure in the thickness direction of the film, and in the plane including the tilt direction of the tilt structure and the film normal line, the sign of the angle, ? between the normal direction of the film surface and the tilt direction differs between the thermoplastic resin layer of the film surface and the thermoplastic resin layer of the film back, and wherein ? is from ?90° to 90°.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display using a ferroelectric liquid crystal, with the ferroelectric liquid crystal in the mono-stability state and the excellent alignment stability.

Abstract: An azo compound of the present invention is represented by the general formula (1): (wherein, R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydroxy group, or a polymerizable functional group selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acryloyl group, a (meth)acryloyloxy group, a (meth)acrylamide group, a vinyl group, a vinyloxy group, and a maleimide group; X1 represents single bond when R1 is a hydroxy group and represents a linking group represented by -(A1-B1)m- when R1 is a polymerizable functional group; X2 represents a single bond when R2 is a hydroxy group and represents a linking group represented by -(A2-B2)n- when R2 is a polymerizable functional group; R3 and R4 each independently represents —OR7, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or —CONR8R9; and R5 and R6 each independently represents a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a nitro group, amino group, or a hydroxy group).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a liquid crystal material. The inventive method is characterised in that it comprises the following steps consisting in: applying a first treatment to a liquid crystal mixture having a helical structure comprising a first non-photoreactive liquid crystal (A) and a second photoreactive liquid crystal (B), said first treatment modifying a handedness of the helix of the mixture; and applying a second treatment to the mixture such that the second liquid crystal (B) forms a polymer network, said second treatment being performed during all or part of the first treatment such that the liquid crystal material retains a memory of the modifications to the helix and the entire volume of the material has both a right-handed and left-handed helical structure.

Abstract: An optical element laminate is provided which, while an increase in thickness of a liquid crystal display device is suppressed, improves insufficient rigidity of an optical element and, in addition, which does not degrade display characteristics of the liquid crystal display device. The optical element laminate includes a plate-shaped support member having a first primary surface and a second primary surface and an optical element which is laminated on at least one of the first primary surface and the second primary surface of the support member and, in addition, which has a film shape or a sheet shape. The periphery of the laminated optical element is at least bonded to facing two sides of the support member, the optical element and the support member are placed in close contact with each other, and a thickness t of the support member, a length L of the support member, and a tensile force F of the optical element satisfy the relational expression of 0?F?1.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions of display cell structure and electrode protecting layers for improving the performance of display devices. The composition comprises a polar oligomeric or polymeric material having a glass transition temperature below about 100° C., and the resulting display cells or electrode protecting layer have an average crosslinking density of below about 1 crosslink point per 80 Dalton molecular weight.

Abstract: An optical film has a transparent film including light output portions distributed over one of opposite surfaces of the transparent film so as to make the total luminous transmittance and the haze of the optical film be set in a range of from 75 to 92% and in a range of from 4 to 20% respectively, the light output portions being constituted by concave or convex portions having optical path changing slopes each inclined at an inclination angle of from 35 to 48 degrees with respect to a film plane of the transparent film. A liquid-crystal display device has an optical film defined above, and a liquid-crystal display panel, wherein the optical film is disposed on one of opposite surfaces of the liquid-crystal display panel so that a surface of the film in which the light output portions of the optical film are provided faces outward.

Abstract: To provide a wavelength conversion member having good surface accuracy and dimensional accuracy even when processed in various shapes, and a method for manufacturing the same. A method for manufacturing a wavelength conversion member, including the steps of: subjecting a preform made of a powder mixture containing a glass powder and an inorganic phosphor powder to heat treatment, thereby obtaining a sintered powder product; and re-press molding the sintered powder product with a die.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical sheet for use in a liquid crystal display. The optical sheet of the present invention allows for ease of handling, reduces defective proportions and manufacturing costs, improves throughput, and prevents the deterioration of luminance attributable to the damage of the optical sheet.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display which can give mono-domain alignment of the ferroelectric liquid crystal without forming alignment defects. The liquid crystal display has a UV curable liquid crystal side substrate having a first substrate, an electrode layer formed on the first substrate, a first alignment layer formed on the electrode layer, and a UV curable liquid crystal layer with a UV curable liquid crystal fixed and formed on the first alignment layer; and a counter substrate having a second substrate, an electrode layer formed on the second substrate, and a second alignment layer formed on the electrode layer. The UV curable liquid crystal layer of the UV curable liquid crystal side substrate and the second alignment layer of the counter substrate are disposed so as to face each other such that a ferroelectric liquid crystal is sandwiched between the UV curable liquid crystal side substrate and the counter substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a birefringent film includes stretching a polymer film in a widthwise direction while at the same time shrinking the same in a lengthwise direction so as to satisfy the relational expression: (1/STD)1/2?SMD<1, in which the length in the widthwise direction and the length in the lengthwise direction, of the polymer film before being stretched are respectively designated as 1, and STD represents a change ratio of the length in the widthwise direction of the polymer film due to stretching and SMD represents a change ratio of the length in the lengthwise direction of the polymer film due to shrinking, and make the stretched polymer film have an Nz coefficient of 0.9-1.1.

Abstract: The invention concerns a film, in particular a stamping film, laminating film or sticker film, which has at least one anisotropic polymer layer of an at least partially oriented liquid crystal material. The anisotropic polymer layer has one or more first regions which form a first security feature and in which the anisotropic polymer layer has properties which linearly polarise or which rotate the direction of rotation, and one or more second regions which form a second security element and in which the anisotropic polymer layer has circularly polarising properties. The first security feature is visualised when viewed through a first polariser and the second security feature is visualised when viewed through a second polariser responsive to a different polarisation state from that of the first polariser.

Abstract: An optical film laminate that has predefined slit lines for enhancing both product accuracy and manufacturing speed in liquid-crystal display element manufacturing to radically improve manufacturing yield. The optical film laminate formed as a continuous web with the predefined slit lines for use in a continuous manufacturing system by laminating optically functional film sheets to liquid-crystal panels. The optical film laminate having defect-free regions having a predefined length corresponding to the dimension of a liquid-crystal panel and defective regions having a predefined length different from the defect-free region, based on the detected position of defects. The optical film laminate having a carrier film releasably laminated to an adhesive layer, wherein defect-free normal polarizing sheets and a defective polarizing sheets are formed on the carrier film by forming slit lines corresponding to above regions along the transverse direction of the optical film laminate.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and an assembly process for the manufacture of liquid crystal displays. The assembly process is especially advantageous because it can be easily scalable to roll-to-roll continuous manufacturing of liquid crystal displays. The invention is directed to a photoalignable top-sealing composition for top-sealing a liquid crystal display cell.

Abstract: The new organic electroluminescent display device has a carrier-transporting layer and/or an organic luminous layer composed of a nematic liquid crystal or a liquid crystal dispersing a carrier-transporting low-molecule therein. When the organic luminous layer is to be bestowed with faculty as a liquid crystal, it is made of a nematic liquid crystal. Both the carrier-transporting layer and the organic luminous layer may be bestowed with faculty as a liquid crystal. Since the liquid crystal is incorporated in the carrier-transporting layer and/or the organic luminous layer, the display device can be driven as a liquid crystal display device in a dark place by charging with a voltage lower than a light emission initiating potential. Of course, it is driven as an electroluminescent display device when it is charged with a voltage higher than the light emission initiating potential. Use of an electroluminescent liquid crystal as a organic luminous layer enables omission of a carrier-transporting layer.

Abstract: A novel optically-anisotropic film is disclosed. The film is formed of a composition comprising at least one discotic liquid-crystal compound having a ratio, ?1, which is a ratio of birefringence at 400 nm to birefringence at 550 nm in a liquid-crystal state, of less than 1.25, in which the molecules of the liquid-crystal compound are fixed in an alignment state at a mean tilt angle ranging from 35 to 85°, wherein its in-plane retardation Re, as measured in a direction normal to a plane of the optically-anisotropic film for 550 nm wavelength light, falls within the range from 60 nm to 220 nm.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal optical modulation element which is excellent in durability against blue laser and which can maintain the characteristics for a long period of time. A liquid crystal optical modulation element to modulate a laser beam having a wavelength of at most 500 nm, which comprises a layer of a polymer liquid crystal composition sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, characterized in that each of the pair of transparent substrates has an alignment film on the surface which faces the other transparent substrate, and the polymer liquid crystal composition is a polymer liquid crystal containing a hindered amine compound and a hindered phenol compound.

Abstract: A cyclic olefin-based polymer containing a repeating unit represented by formula (1), an optical material containing the cyclic olefin-based polymer, a polarizing plate containing the optical material, and a liquid crystal display device containing the polarizing plate: in which R1 represents a substituent; L represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, and forms an alcohol together with the —OH group; p represents an integer of 0 or 1; q represents an integer of from 0 to 3; r represents an integer of from 1 to 4; and R1 and L may be combined with each other to form a 5- to 7-membered ring.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable liquid crystal monomer capable of achieving hybrid alignment on an alignment processed surface and at least one of a photopolymerization initiator represented by the following general formula (1) and a photopolymerization initiator represented by the following general formula (2): wherein R1 to R6 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Abstract: A negative birefringence film prepared from a poly(aryletherimide) which is the reaction product of a dianhydride and a diamine, where the dianhydride is 4,4?-[4,4?-(p-phenyleneoxy)isopropylidene]bis(phthalic anhydride) (BisADA), bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)ether dianhydride (ODPA), 4,4?-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)biphenyl dianhydride (BPEDA), 1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyloxy)phenyl dianhydride (BPQDA), 3,3?,4,4?-tetracarboxylicbiphenyl dianhydride (BPDA), or 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA), alone or a mixture with one or more of: 3,3?,4,4?-tetracarboxylicbiphenyl dianhydride (BPDA), 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA); and where the diamine is 1,4-bis(2-trifluoromethyl-4-aminophenoxy)-2,5-di(t-butyl)benzene (BTBDA), 3,3?-dimethyl-4,4?-diamino biphenyl (OTOL), or mixtures thereof and wherein when a mixture of dianhydrides is present, they are present in a molar amount of between 99 to 1 (99:1) and 1 to 99 (1:99), and the film has

Abstract: A light modulating material comprising at least one kind of dichroic dye having a substituent represented by the following Formula (1) and at least one kind of host liquid crystal between a pair of electrodes, and changing the transmittance of incident light. In the formula (1), Het is oxygen atom or sulfur atom; B1 and B2 each independently represent an arylene group, a heteroarylene group or a bivalent cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon group; Q1 represents a bivalent linking group; C1 represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an acyl group, or an acyloxy group; j represents 0 or 1; p, q and r each independently represent an integer from 0 to 5; n represents an integer from 1 to 3; (p+r)×n is an integer from 3 to 10.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transflective film comprising a polymer film having an in-plane phase retardation value of about 30 nm or less and a transflective layer made of an inorganic compound, wherein the transflective layer is coated on the polymer film and a reflectance of the transflective film is from about 10% to about 95%. When an absorption-type polarizer is laminated to the polymer film side of the transflective film, a transflective polarizer is provided. When a reflection-type polarizer is laminated to the transflective layer side of the transflective film, a transflective polarizer used in a system improving luminance is provided. Using these transflective polarizers, a polarizing light source device and a transflective liquid crystal display device are provided.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal optical modulation element which is excellent in durability against blue laser and which can maintain the characteristics for a long period of time. A liquid crystal optical modulation element to modulate a laser beam having a wavelength of at most 500 nm, which comprises a layer of a polymer liquid crystal composition sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, characterized in that each of the pair of transparent substrates has an alignment film on the surface which faces the other transparent substrate, and the polymer liquid crystal composition is a polymer liquid crystal containing a hindered amine compound and a hindered phenol compound.

Abstract: An object is to provide an optical film in which retardation variation is less even after a long period of duration of use, to provide an optical compensating film in which transparency and flatness are not deteriorated in a stretching process by using the foregoing film as a support, and to provide a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display exhibiting reduced visibility variation caused by heat generation of an optical LED backlight, and excellent color reproducibility. Disclosed is a manufacturing method of an optical film formed by melt-casting a composition containing a cellulose resin and a plasticizer, wherein the cellulose resin has a residual sulfuric acid content of 0.1-50 ppm, and the composition contains a polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 500-30000 prepared via polymerization of ethylenic unsaturated monomers, or an acrylic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 500-30000.

Abstract: A composition comprising a polymerizable compound of the formula (1) and a rod-shaped polymerizable liquid crystal compound: P2-E2-X2-B2-A2-(G2)t-Y-(G1)s-A1-B1-X1-E1-P1??(1) (in the formula (1), Y represents a di-valent group, s and t represent each independently an integer of 0 or 1, G1 and G2 when s and t are 1 represent each independently —CR1R2—, R1 and R2 represent each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen atom or hydrogen atom, A1 and A2 represent each independently a di-valent cyclic hydrocarbon group, di-valent heterocyclic group, methylenephenylene group, oxyphenylene group or thiophenylene group, B1 and B2 represent each independently a di-valent group, X1 and X2 represent each independently a di-valent group, E1 and E2 represent each independently an alkylene group having 2 to 25 carbon atoms, and P1 and P2 represent a hydrogen atom or polymerizable group, at least one of P1 and P2 being a polymerizable group.).

Abstract: The present invention provides a vertical alignment film having a polymerizable liquid crystal compound having negative dielectric constant anisotropy, where the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is vertically aligned against the surface of the substrate, and then the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is fixed to form the vertical alignment film.

Abstract: A method for producing a stretched film comprising supplying a film composed of a thermoplastic resin along a direction D1 that is different from a taking-up direction D2 of a post-stretch film, and obliquely stretching the film while transferring the film with the edges thereof being gripped by gripping devices, to produce the stretched film having an orientation angle ? being within 45±5° with respect to the taking-up direction. The stretching is performed so that an angle ?L (°) and a stretching speed V (mm/min) satisfy the following formulae (1) and (2): ??20°??L???3° . . . (1) 1000 mm/min<V<2500 mm/min . . .

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polymerizable compounds, to processes and intermediates for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in liquid-crystal (LC) media and LC displays, especially in LC displays of the PS (polymer-stabilized) and PSA (polymer-sustained alignment) type.

Abstract: An optical film containing a polymer having at least a repeating unit represented by following general formula (I): The optical film is excellent in heat resistance, transparency and processability because it contains a polymer having a naphthyl group in a molecular structure. In addition, when a retardation film is produced by drawing the optical film, a composition ratio of the polymer can be adjusted in a specific range so that the retardation film exhibits inverse wavelength dispersion properties such that higher retardation value is offered in measuring by light with longer wavelength. The retardation film having such properties is extremely useful for improving display properties of a liquid crystal display device. The optical film is also used in the production of a polarizing plate.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. A method of manufacturing an antiglare film comprising: forming a film by applying a coating liquid to a transparent substrate; and forming an antiglare layer by curing the film by irradiating the film with ionizing radiation, wherein the coating liquid includes a binder matrix forming material including an ionizing radiation-curable material, particle A and particle B, wherein difference in refractive index between either or both of particle A and particle B, and a cured binder matrix is equal to or more than 0.03, and wherein difference between average refractive index of particle A and particle B calculated based on respective weight of particle A and particle B and refractive index of a binder matrix is equal to or less than 0.03.

Abstract: A process for producing a cellulose-ester-resin-containing protective film for polarizers through film formation by melt casting. The protective film diminishes long-period optical unevenness and suffers no unevenness even after long-term storage. Also provided are a protective film for polarizers, a polarizer employing the film, and a liquid-crystal display. The process for producing a protective film for polarizers is a process for producing by the melt casting method a polarizer-protective film containing a cellulose ester resin.

Abstract: An optical film comprising at least one compound represented by formula (1) is disclosed. In the formula, Y11, Y12 and Y13 each independently represent methine or a nitrogen atom; R11, R12 and R13 each independently represent formula (A), (B) or (C) or a hydrogen atom, provided that at least two of R11, R12 and R13 each independently represent formula (A), (B) or (C). In three formulae, L12, L22 and L32 each represent a 5-membered heterocyclic group.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal composition capable of inexpensively and easily forming a phase difference layer excellent in mechanical strength such as hardness and in substrate adhesion properties, a color filter using the same, and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the color filter. Specifically, provided are a liquid crystal composition, a color filter 1 provided with a phase difference layer 4 produced by applying the liquid crystal composition onto a transparent substrate 2 and immobilizing, and a liquid crystal display apparatus 11 using the color filter 1 as a display side substrate 12.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparation of a liquid crystal film having uniaxial alignment, comprising steps of: elevating temperature of a substrate coated with a nanostructure formed of liquid crystal molecules to a value sufficient to alter the nanostructure into a liquid phase; and decreasing the temperature to another value sufficient to again alter the liquid phase into a liquid crystal phase in the presence of a magnetic field to horizontally align the nanostructure of liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: A plastic substrate according to the present invention is used in optical instruments. The plastic substrate includes a composite substrate 10 in which fibers 11 are embedded in a resin matrix 12. The fibers are arranged in at least one predetermined direction within a plane of the composite substrate. The composite substrate substantially transmits visible radiation and has a predefined retardation that is associated with the predetermined direction in which the fibers are arranged.

Abstract: An optical film comprising a layer consisting mainly of an organic compound and a layer containing inorganic fine particles wherein a content of the organic compound having a molecular weight of 1000 or less is 30% by mass or less based on a content of the inorganic fine particles. The optical film exhibits a low haze and a high contrast when being assembled into a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A polarizing-plate-protecting film is provided, including a polyester film, such as a polyethylene terephthalate film, and an adhesion-facilitating layer formed on one surface of the polyester film, made of a hydrophilic cellulosic resin such as acetyl cellulose. On the other surface of the polyester film, a variety of functional layers, such as a hard coat layer, an anti-glaring layer, and an antireflection layer, are layered. The hard coat layer is a layer formed by curing, with an electron beam, an ionizing-radiation-curable resin into which an ultraviolet light absorber has been incorporated. A polyvinyl alcoholic polarizing film is laminated to the adhesion-facilitating layer of the polarizing-plate-protecting film with a water-based adhesive layer to form a polarizing plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to chiral compounds, methods of their preparation, and to their use in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices, and in decorative, security, cosmetic or diagnostic applications.