A privacy display comprises a polarised output spatial light modulator, reflective polariser, plural polar control retarders and a polariser. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance. Further, display reflectivity is reduced for on-axis reflections of ambient light, while reflectivity is increased for off-axis light. The visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers is reduced by means of luminance reduction and increased frontal reflectivity to ambient light. In a public mode of operation, the liquid crystal retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified.

A viewing angle control device including at least one liquid crystal panel, at least one compensation film and polarizers is provided. Each of the at least one liquid crystal panel includes two transparent conductive layers and liquid crystal molecules. The polarizers include at least one first polarizer and a second polarizer. The at least one first polarizer is located between the at least one compensation film and the at least one liquid crystal panel. The second polarizer is located at a side of the at least one liquid crystal panel, the at least one compensation film and the at least one first polarizer. When there is no potential difference between the transparent conductive layers, an optical axis of each of the liquid crystal molecules is parallel or vertical to a transmission axis of the at least one first polarizer. A viewing angle controllable display apparatus is also provided.

A privacy display comprises a spatial light modulator and a compensated switchable liquid crystal retarder arranged between first and second polarizers arranged in series with the spatial light modulator. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance. The visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers is reduced by means of luminance reduction over a wide polar field. In a wide angle mode of operation, the switchable liquid crystal retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance is substantially unmodified.

A privacy display comprises a spatial light modulator and a passive retarder arranged between first and second polarisers arranged in series with the spatial light modulator. On-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss, and off-axis light has reduced luminance. The visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers is reduced by means of luminance reduction over a wide polar field of view. Off-axis visibility of the display in an automotive vehicle can be reduced.

A privacy display comprises a spatial light modulator and a compensated switchable liquid crystal retarder arranged between first and second polarisers arranged in series with the spatial light modulator. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance. The visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers is reduced by means of luminance reduction over a wide polar field. In a wide angle mode of operation, the switchable liquid crystal retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance is substantially unmodified.

A method for producing a polarizing film includes (1) preparing a laminate (a) which includes a carrier film and a polarizer with a thickness of 10 m or less formed on one surface of the carrier film and contains a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin; (2) peeling off the carrier film from the laminate (a); and (3) applying a liquid material to a side of the laminate (a) from which the carrier film has been peeled off and then solidifying or curing the liquid material to form a transparent resin layer with a thickness of 0.2 m or more, wherein the liquid material contains a resin component or a curable component capable of forming a resin layer. This production method enables the achievement of a polarizing film which is able to have satisfactory durability in a heated environment even in cases where a thin polarizer is used therefor.

A viewing angle control device including at least one liquid crystal panel, at least one compensation film and polarizers is provided. Each of the at least one liquid crystal panel includes two transparent conductive layers and liquid crystal molecules. The polarizers include at least one first polarizer and a second polarizer. The at least one first polarizer is located between the at least one compensation film and the at least one liquid crystal panel. The second polarizer is located at a side of the at least one liquid crystal panel, the at least one compensation film and the at least one first polarizer. When there is no potential difference between the transparent conductive layers, an optical axis of each of the liquid crystal molecules is parallel or vertical to a transmission axis of the at least one first polarizer. A viewing angle controllable display apparatus is also provided.

A wearable display system includes an eyepiece stack having a world side and a user side opposite the world side. During use, a user positioned on the user side views displayed images delivered by the wearable display system via the eyepiece stack which augment the user's field of view of the user's environment. The system also includes an optical attenuator arranged on the world side of the of the eyepiece stack, the optical attenuator having a layer of a birefringent material having a plurality of domains each having a principal optic axis oriented in a corresponding direction different from the direction of other domains. Each domain of the optical attenuator reduces transmission of visible light incident on the optical attenuator for a corresponding different range of angles of incidence.

A liquid crystal device includes a liquid crystal panel and an anti-dust translucent substrate fixed to a first surface of the liquid crystal panel. The translucent substrate includes a first phase difference compensation element having a first optical axis and integrally formed on a first surface of the translucent substrate, and a second phase difference compensation element having a second optical axis is opposed to the first phase difference compensation element. The second phase difference compensation element is placed such that an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal layer is located in an angular position between the extending direction of the first optical axis and the extending direction of the second optical axis.

A wearable display system includes an eyepiece stack having a world side and a user side opposite the world side. During use, a user positioned on the user side views displayed images delivered by the wearable display system via the eyepiece stack which augment the user's field of view of the user's environment. The system also includes an optical attenuator arranged on the world side of the of the eyepiece stack, the optical attenuator having a layer of a birefringent material having a plurality of domains each having a principal optic axis oriented in a corresponding direction different from the direction of other domains. Each domain of the optical attenuator reduces transmission of visible light incident on the optical attenuator for a corresponding different range of angles of incidence.