The present application relates to a device for regulating the passage of light through a light-transmitting area which comprises a switching layer comprising a liquid-crystalline medium comprising at least one dichroic dye, where the parameters degree of light transmission and degree of anisotropy of the device are selected in a certain manner.

A display device includes a plurality of pixels; a first substrate including a pixel electrode disposed in a pixel of the plurality of pixels, a second substrate facing the first substrate and including a color adjusting pattern, which is disposed in the pixel of the plurality of pixels, and a common electrode, which is disposed on the color adjusting patterns, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and including a liquid crystal and a dichroic dye, wherein the plurality of pixels include a first-color pixel, which is configured to display a first color, and a second-color pixel, which is configured to display a second color different from the first color, and the color adjusting pattern includes a first color adjusting pattern, which is disposed in the first-color pixel, and a second color adjusting pattern, which is disposed in the second-color pixel.

The present invention pertains to: a liquid crystal composition for controlling light that contains, as a dichroic dye, an anthraquinone compound having a specific structure; and a light-controlling element that contains a cured product of said liquid crystal composition for controlling light and exhibits excellent contrast, light-blocking performance, lightfastness, and heat tolerance during current supply. More specifically, the present invention pertains to: a liquid crystal composition for controlling light that contains a compound represented by formula (A) (in the formula, R1 represents a C4-12 alkyl group or a C4-12 alkoxy group, and each R2 independently represents a C6-12 alkyl group), a liquid crystal material, a photocurable compound, and a photoinitiator; and a light-controlling element that is formed by sandwiching a photocured product of said composition between a pair of substrates. ##STR00001##

A light valve that is operable in and electrically switchable between an optically clear and transparent state and an opaque state, wherein one or more polymerisable mesogenic compounds provided in a layer containing a liquid-crystalline medium that comprises one or more mesogenic compounds, one or more chiral compounds, one or more dichroic dyes and the one or more polymerisable mesogenic compounds are subjected to photopolymerisation. Further, a liquid-crystalline medium used in the method, a light valve obtained or respectively obtainable by carrying out the method, and the use of the light valve in mobile devices.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel anthraquinone compound, and to provide: a dichroic dye constituted of the novel anthraquinone compound; a liquid crystal composition which contains the dichroic dye; and preferably a dimming element having excellent contrast and light resistance and containing said composition. The present invention discloses an anthraquinone compound represented by formula A below (wherein R.sub.1 represents a C3-16 branched alkyl group, and R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-8 straight-chain or branched alkyl group, or a C1-8 straight-chain or branched alkoxy group). In addition, the present invention discloses a liquid crystal composition including the anthraquinone compound and a liquid crystal material, and a dimming element containing said composition. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a polymerizable composition containing: a) a polymerizable compound having one or two or more polymerizable groups and satisfying formula (I)

Re(450 nm)/Re(550 nm)<1.0; and(I)

b) an organic solvent having a solubility parameter (SP value) of 8.50 to 11.00 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.0.5, a boiling point of 75 to 180 C., and an evaporation rate index of 20 to 700. The present invention also provides an optically anisotropic body, a retardation film, an antireflective film, and a liquid crystal display device that are produced using the polymerizable composition of the present invention. The polymerizable composition of the present invention is useful because it is excellent in solubility and has high storage stability that prevents the occurrence of precipitation of crystals. When the composition is polymerized to produce a film-shaped polymer, uneven application is less likely to occur while the liquid crystal alignment is maintained.

An anthraquinone compound represented by formula (1) (In the formula, R.sub.1 and R.sub.4 represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-12 alkyl group, a C1-12 alkoxy group, a halogen atom, CO.sub.2R.sub.9, OCOR.sub.9, COR.sub.9, a cyano group, or a trifluoromethyl group. R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-4 alkoxy group, a halogen atom, CO.sub.2R.sub.9, OCOR.sub.9, COR.sub.9, a cyano group, or a trifluoromethyl group, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-8 alkyl group. R.sub.9 represents a C1-12 alkyl group, a substituent represented by formula (a) (in the formula, R.sub.10 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-8 alkyl group, or a C1-8 alkoxy group), or a substituent represented by formula (b) (in the formula, R.sub.11 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-8 alkyl group)).

##STR00001##

A color display device includes a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels includes a first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode, opposing to each other, a polymer layer between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, a first coloring material dispersed in the polymer layer, liquid crystals provided in the polymer layer, and a second coloring material dispersed in the liquid crystals. The first coloring material and the second coloring material presents different colors, and each of the first coloring material and the second coloring material includes at least one of a red coloring material, a green coloring material, a blue coloring material, a yellow coloring material, a cyan coloring material, and a magenta coloring material.

A color display device includes a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels includes a first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode, opposing to each other, a polymer layer between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, a first coloring material dispersed in the polymer layer, liquid crystals provided in the polymer layer, and a second coloring material dispersed in the liquid crystals. The first coloring material and the second coloring material presents different colors, and each of the first coloring material and the second coloring material includes at least one of a red coloring material, a green coloring material, a blue coloring material, a yellow coloring material, a cyan coloring material, and a magenta coloring material.

An anthraquinone compound which is suitable for forming a color filter used for a liquid crystal display device, a composition containing a resin and the anthraquinone compound, an article having a polymer layer formed from the composition and a color filter formed from the composition are developed.