Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited

Akiko Shimizu

Koji Higashi

Takahiro Hishinuma

Takanobu Noguchi

Toshihiro Ohnishi

Taiichi Sakaya

Masato Kuwabara

Toshiya Kuroda

Tadashi Shindo

Makoto Namioka

Kayoko Ueda

Toyokazu Okada

Kazuaki Sakakura

The objective of the present invention is to provide a laminated phase retarder film that is superior in evenness, exhibits a biaxial optical property as a whole, and makes it possible to set the biaxial optical property over a wide range. This object is achieved by a laminated phase retarder film comprising a transparent resin film as a substrate and at least one coat layer having a refractive-index anisotropy laminated on at least one surface of the substrate, wherein a in-plane retardation value (R) is not less than 20 nm, a retardation value (R') in the film-thickness direction, which is calculated from a retardation value (R) measured by inclining by 40 degrees around the slow axis of the film and the in-plane retardation value (R), is greater than 40 nm.

Laminated phase retarder film and a liquid crystal display using the same

A normally white mode twisted nematic liquid crystal display devices having significantly improved viewing angle characteristics of display contrast and gray scale inversion comprising an about 90&deg; twisted nematic liquid crystal cell and a first and a second light polarizing film separately disposed on two sides of said liquid crystal cell, a first and a second optical compensation layer which each comprises at least one optical compensation layer and has almost no refractive index anisotropy in-plane of the optical compensation layer A and has a characteristic wherein a refractive index in the thickness direction of the optical compensation layer A is lower than that in-plane of the optical compensation layer A, and a first and second optical compensation layer B, which each comprises at least one optical compensation layer and has optically positive refractive index anisotropy and has a characteristic wherein a principal optic axis of the optical compensation layer B is tilted 20 to 70&deg; from the normal direction of the optical compensation layer B, wherein said liquid crystal cell, said light polarizing films and said optical compensation layers A and B are laminated in the following order: said first light polarizing film, said first optical compensation layer A, said first optical compensation layer B, said liquid crystal cell, said second optical compensation layer B, said second optical compensation layer A and said second light polarizing film.

Normally white mode twisted nematic liquid crystal display device having improved viewing angle characteristics

A phase retarder film is provided wherein at least one oblique evaporation layer comprising an inorganic dielectric mainly containing TiO.sub.2 is formed on at least one surface of a transparent polymer film with an intermediate layer between, the evaporation layer having positive refractive index anisotropy and a principal optic axis tilted 20 degrees to 70 degrees from a normal direction to said transparent polymer film. The phase retarder film is suitable for improving viewing angle characteristics of the TN-LCD.

Phase retarder film containing TiO.sub.2

A phase retarder film comprising a layer of polyvinyl alcohol or a derivative thereof and a water-swellable layered inorganic compound, wherein the in-plane retardation value is smaller than the retardation value in the thickness direction, sometimes causes durability failures, that is, the layer is peeled off from a transparent resin substrate in high temperature and high humidity environment. Therefore, the present invention provides a phase retarder film which is superior in durability. With respect to a phase retarder film comprising at least one layer containing at least one organic clay compound which can be dispersed in an organic solvent, wherein the in-plane retardation value is smaller than the retardation value in the thickness direction, the durability is remarkably improved.

Phase retarder and liquid crystal display device using the same

As a phase retarder film in which at least one oblique evaporation layer of an inorganic dielectric having positive refractive index anisotropy and having its principal optic axis tilted 20 degrees to 70 degrees from the direction of the normal to the film is formed on at least one surface of a transparent polymer film with an intermediate layer between, a large area film is easily and inexpensivly obtained.

Phase retarder film

Disclosed is a phase retarder film made of a thermoplastic resin having an in-plane retardation of 50 to 300 nm and a ratio of the in-plane retardation to the retardation normal to the plane of not less than 0.5, but not more than 1.8, a process for the production thereof and a laminate phase retarder film using said phase retarder film above.

A microlens-array containing a mesh-like sheet and an optically-transparent resin formed at apertures of the mesh-like sheet, wherein the resin formed at each aperture has a concave lens shape; and method for production thereof. A liquid crystal display device using the aforementioned microlens-array.

Microlens-array, production method thereof, and liquid crystal display

By using an optically anisotropic film having the optical axis substantially parallel to the normal line of the film and comprising a polymer of a liquid crystal oligomerhaving positive anisotropy of refractive index and showing nematic or smectic phase, or by lamining the optically anisotropic film and a transparent or semitransparent polymer film, or by combining the optically anisotropic film with a uniaxially oriented retardation film, it is possible to obtain a composite retardation plate with a large viewing angle, and this retardation plate can be applied to a liquid crystal display device.

Optically anisotropic material, process for producing it, and

A phase retarder film made of a thermoplastic resin having an in-plane retardation of 50 to 300 nm and a ratio of the in-plane retardation to the retardation normal to the plane of not less than 0.5 but not more than 1.8, a process for the production thereof and a laminate phase retarder film using said phase retarder film above.

Process for making a phase retarder film

A phase retarder including a layered inorganic compound-containing sheet or layered inorganic compound-containing film, the inorganic compound being selected from the group consisting of a clay mineral, a chalcogen compound, a zirconium phosphate compound, an oxyacid salt of a transition metal, a layered polysilicate, a metal oxyhalogenide, and an intercalary decoration thereof intercalated with ions or molecules between crystalline layer units, the inorganic compound having a mean particle size of 5000 nm or less and a stratified structure with a plurality of crystalline layer units wherein the phase retarder has a refractive index in the plane of the phase retarder that is different from a refractive index in the thickness direction of the phase retarder.

Layered inorganic compound-containing phase retarder

A liquid crystal device with a compensator made of a layered inorganic compound sheet or film in which a refractive index in the plane and a refractive index in the thickness direction are different from each other. The layered inorganic compound may be smectite group minerals. The layered inorganic compound has a mean particle size of 500 nm or less. The phase retarder is employed in a liquid crystal device.

Liquid crystal device with phase retarder having layered inorganic

A phase retarder and a process for producing the same are disclosed. The phase retarder is obtained by shrinking a uniaxially stretched thermoplastic high polymer film in the direction perpendicular to the stretching direction at a lengthwise shrink of at least 2%. The phase retarder has a ratio of a retardation value (R.sub.30) measured on the phase retarder being inclined at a angle of 30.degree. with respect to the orientation axis as an axis of rotation to a retardation value (R.sub.0) measured on the phase retarder being held horizontally, each measured with a polarizing microscope, (R.sub.30 /R.sub.0) of not more than 1.10, and preferably not more than 1.07. A liquid crystal display fitted with the phase retarder exhibits broad viewing angle characteristics while achieving a satisfactory B/W display level.

Growing community of inventors

Ibaraki, Japan

Akiko Shimizu