A two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer is described herein that can efficiently multiplex and distribute a light signal in two dimensions. An example of a two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer can include a waveguide, a first diffraction grating, and a second diffraction grating disposed above the first diffraction grating and arranged such that the grating direction of the first diffraction grating is perpendicular to the grating direction of the second diffraction grating. Methods of fabricating a two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer are also disclosed.

There is provided a liquid crystal composition that exhibits a sufficiently low viscosity (η), a sufficiently low rotational viscosity (γ1), and a large elastic modulus (K.sub.33) without decreasing the refractive index anisotropy (Δn) and the nematic phase-isotropic liquid phase transition temperature (T.sub.ni) and without increasing the solid phase-nematic phase transition temperature (T.sub.cn). The liquid crystal display element that uses this liquid crystal composition satisfactorily obtains a pretilt angle and has a high voltage holding ratio (VHR) and high-speed response. Thus, a liquid crystal display element that has no or less alignment defects and display defects such as image sticking, and has high display quality and high response speed is obtained.

According to an aspect, a substrate for a display apparatus includes: a first substrate; a translucent coloring layer that includes a plurality of color regions and that overlaps with the first substrate; a first translucent resin layer that overlaps with the first substrate at boundaries of the color regions; and a light shielding layer that overlaps with the first translucent resin layer on an opposite side to the first substrate side. A width of the light shielding layer in a direction parallel with the first substrate is equal to or smaller than a width of the first translucent resin layer in the parallel direction on a cross section vertical to the first substrate.

A liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal panel of a vertical alignment (VA) type; first and second TAC (triacetyl cellulose) films which sandwich the liquid crystal panel; first and second retardation plates which sandwich the first and second TAC films; and first and second polarizers which sandwich the first and second retardation plates. The first and second polarizers include first and second absorption axes, respectively, which are substantially perpendicular to each other. The first and second retardation plates include first and second slow axes, respectively, which are substantially perpendicular to each other. The first and second slow axes intersect at about 45° with the first and second absorption axes, respectively.

A liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal compound represented by Formula 1:

##STR00001##

A liquid-crystalline medium, preferably having a nematic phase and dielectric anisotropy of 0.5 or more, which has one or more compounds of formula S

##STR00001## in which

##STR00002##

denotes

##STR00003##

and the other parameters have the meanings given in the text. Also, the use of the medium in an electro-optical display, particularly in an active-matrix display based on the IPS or FFS effect. Displays of this type which contain a liquid-crystalline medium of this type. And use of the compounds of formula S for the improvement of the transmission and/or response times of a liquid-crystalline medium which comprises one or more additional mesogenic compounds.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy, large refractive index anisotropy, and low viscosity and containing as a first component, one or two or more compounds represented by general formula (I) and, as a second component, one or two or more compounds represented by general formula (II), wherein dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) at 25° C. is −2.0 or less. Also, provided is a liquid crystal display device having high contrast, fast response, and excellent display quality without causing image sticking and display defects.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition in which various characteristics of a liquid crystal display element such as a dielectric anisotropy, a viscosity, a nematic phase upper limit temperature, and γ.sub.1, and a burn-in characteristic of a display element are not deteriorated, dropping mark is unlikely to be generated during preparation, a compound represented by liquid crystal composition Formula (I) suitable for a liquid crystal display element in which a discharging amount of the liquid crystal material stable in an ODF step is realized is contained, and a compound represented by General Formula (II) is contained by equal to or more than 15%, and a liquid crystal display element using the same.

A liquid crystal display device, including: a display substrate including a first base substrate, a switching device disposed on the first base substrate, a color filter layer disposed on the switching device, and a first electrode disposed on the color filter layer; a counter display substrate including a second base substrate and a second electrode disposed on the second base substrate and facing the first electrode, wherein the counter display substrate is disposed separately from and facing the display substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the display substrate and the counter display substrate, wherein the liquid crystal layer includes at least one first liquid crystal compound represented by Formula 1 and at least one second liquid crystal compound represented by Formula 2; and a light-shielding spacer disposed between the display substrate and the counter display substrate and maintaining a thickness of the liquid crystal layer:

##STR00001##

wherein in Formula 1 and Formula 2, each of R.sub.11—*,

##STR00002##

R.sub.12—*, L.sub.11-*, L.sub.12-*, L.sub.13-*, L.sub.14-*, R.sub.21—*, *-L.sub.21-*, m, n, i, j, o is same as defined in the specification.

According to an aspect, a substrate for a display apparatus includes: a first substrate; a translucent coloring layer that includes a plurality of color regions and that overlaps with the first substrate; a first translucent resin layer that overlaps with the first substrate at boundaries of the color regions; and a light shielding layer that overlaps with the first translucent resin layer on an opposite side to the first substrate side. A width of the light shielding layer in a direction parallel with the first substrate is equal to or smaller than a width of the first translucent resin layer in the parallel direction on a cross section vertical to the first substrate.