According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first polarizing element, a second polarizing element, and a light-modulating layer located between the first polarizing element and the second polarizing element, each of the first polarizing element and the second polarizing element includes a guest-host liquid crystal layer and a control electrode in an active area including at least one sub-area, the guest-host liquid crystal layer including dye having anisotropy in absorptive power for visible light, the control electrode controlling an alignment direction of the dye in the sub-area.

A pixel structure is provided. The pixel structure includes a substrate and an insulating layer on the substrate. The insulating layer includes a plane region. An electrode pattern is disposed on the insulating layer and located on the plane region. The electrode pattern includes a bottom layer and a plurality of protrusions connected to the bottom layer. The protrusions protrude from the top surface of the bottom layer towards a direction away from the substrate. The bottom layer covers the plane region. A plurality of slits are formed between the protrusions so as to expose portions of the bottom layer. A liquid-crystal display having the pixel structure is also provided.

An imaging directional backlight apparatus including a waveguide, a light source array, for providing large area directed illumination from localized light sources. The waveguide may include a stepped structure, in which the steps may further include extraction features optically hidden to guided light, propagating in a first forward direction. Returning light propagating in a second backward direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide discrete illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the waveguide. The directional backlight may be arranged to switch between at least a first wide angular luminance profile mode and a second narrow angular luminance profile mode. The directional backlight is arranged to illuminate an LCD with a bias electrode arranged to switch liquid crystal directors in black state pixels between a first wide angular contrast profile mode and a second narrow angular contrast profile mode. Performance of privacy operation for off-axis snoopers is enhanced in comparison to displays with only directional backlights or switchable contrast properties.

According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including a first source line and a second source line, a first main pixel electrode of a strip shape, a second main pixel electrode of a strip shape. The first substrate is configured such that a first distance between the first main pixel electrode and the first source line is less than a second distance between the first main pixel electrode and the second source line, and a third distance between the second main pixel electrode and the first source line is greater than a fourth distance between the second main pixel electrode and the second source line.

According to one embodiment, an optical device includes a first light-modulating element transmitting or scattering light, and a second light-modulating element transmitting or scattering the light passing through the first light-modulating element, a driving module alternately performing a first mode of making the first light-modulating element scatter the light and making the second light-modulating element transmit the light, and a second mode of making the first light-modulating element transmit the light and making the second light-modulating element scatter the light.

An optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device, each having an optically anisotropic layer obtained by curing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound (LCC) having forward wavelength dispersion and a monofunctional compound, and immobilizing an alignment state of the polymerizable LCC. The number a.sub.1 of atoms of the polymerizable LCC and the number a.sub.2 of atoms of the monofunctional compound satisfy a relationship of Expression (1): 0.2<a.sub.2/a.sub.1<0.55; the number b.sub.1 of the rings B.sup.1 contained in the polymerizable LCC and the total number b.sub.2 of the aromatic rings Ar and the rings B.sup.2 contained in the monofunctional compound satisfy a relationship of Expression (2): b.sub.2=b.sub.1×0.5 or b.sub.2=(b.sub.1+1)×0.5.

There are provided a light control apparatus, a method for manufacturing the light control apparatus, and a display apparatus including the light control apparatus. The light control apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, and a plurality of liquid crystal units between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the plurality of liquid crystal units includes a first liquid crystal unit having a droplet including a liquid crystal and a polymer and configured as a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) and a second liquid crystal unit which is disposed on or under the first liquid crystal unit and configured as a guest-host liquid crystal (GHLC) including a liquid crystal and a coloring member.

A switchable privacy display comprises a spatial light modulator, and switchable liquid crystal retarder arranged between crossed quarter-wave plates and polarisers. 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 to reduce the visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers. The display may be rotated to achieve privacy operation in landscape and portrait orientations. Further, display reflectivity may be reduced for on-axis reflections of ambient light, while reflectivity may be increased for off-axis light to achieve increased visual security. In a public mode of operation, the liquid crystal retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified. The display may also be operated to switch between day-time and night-time operation, for example for use in an automotive environment.

A display comprises a polarised output spatial light modulator, switchable liquid crystal retarder, absorbing polarizer and touch panel electrodes. The switchable liquid crystal layer is stabilised by a cured reactive mesogen material during application of an applied voltage. Light scatter in privacy mode is reduced and visual security level enhanced. Visibility of disclinations during application of applied pressure, for example from a finger on a touch screen is minimised.

There is provided a holographic projector comprising a reflective liquid crystal display device. The reflective liquid crystal display device comprises a light-modulating layer between a first substrate and a second substrate substantially parallel to the first substrate. The light-modulating layer comprises planar-aligned nematic liquid crystals having positive dielectric anisotropy. The first substrate is substantially transparent and comprises a first alignment layer arranged to impart a first pre-tilt angle θ.sub..Math. on liquid crystals proximate the first substrate, wherein θ.sub.1>5°. The second substrate is substantially reflective and comprises a second alignment layer arranged to impart a second pre-tilt angle Θ.sub.2 on liquid crystals proximate the second substrate, wherein θ.sub.2>5°. The reflective liquid crystal display device further comprises a plurality of pixels defined on the light-modulating layer having a pixel repeat distance x, wherein x≤10 μm. The distance d between inside faces of the first substrate and second substrate satisfies 0.5 μm≤d≤3 μm, and the birefringence of the liquid crystal Δη≥0.20. The holographic projector further comprises a display driver arranged to drive the reflective liquid crystal display device to display a hologram by independently-driving each pixel at a respective modulation level selected from a plurality of modulation levels having a phase modulation value.