Phase difference compensation element, liquid crystal display device, and projection-type image display device

Abstract

An object is to provide a phase difference compensation element capable of improving the contrast of a liquid crystal display device while solving the problems of a high cost, an increase in the lead time, an increase in the mounting space, and the durability. A phase difference compensation element includes: a phase difference imparting and reflection preventing layer; a first birefringence layer and a second birefringence layer in which an angle of a corner formed by a main axis of refractive index anisotropy and a surface of a transparent substrate is not 90 degrees; a third birefringence layer in which an angle of a corner formed by a main axis of refractive index anisotropy and the surface of the transparent substrate is 0 degrees, wherein, when segments acquired when the main axes of the first, second, and third birefringence layers are projected onto the transparent substrate are respectively denoted by a segment A, a segment B, and a segment C, relations of the following (1) and (2) are satisfied. (1) The angle of the corner formed by the segment A and the segment B is 45 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less. (2) The segment A and the segment C are approximately parallel with each other, or the segment B and the segment C are approximately parallel with each other.