A waveplate is provided. The waveplate includes a first liquid crystal (“LC”) layer including LC molecules that are in-plane switchable by an external field to switch the waveplate between states of different phase retardances. The waveplate includes a second LC layer and a third LC layer sandwiching the first LC layer. Azimuthal angles of effective refractive index ellipsoids of the second LC layer and the third LC layer are different.

A switchable optical assembly comprises a switchable waveplate configured to be electrically activated and deactivated to selectively alter the polarization state of light incident thereon. The switchable waveplate comprises first and second surfaces and a first liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second surfaces. The first liquid crystal layer comprises a plurality of liquid crystal molecules that are rotated about respective axes parallel to a central axis, where the rotation varies with an azimuthal angle about the central axis. The switchable waveplate additionally comprises a plurality of electrodes to apply an electrical signal across said first liquid crystal layer.

A display device includes a display panel, a polarizing plate disposed above the display panel, where the polarizing plate includes a linear polarizing layer and a retardation layer, a window member disposed above the polarizing plate, where the window includes a window and a protective layer disposed above the window, the protective layer has a retardation of about 100 nm or less or about 5000 nm or greater, an optical member disposed below the display panel, a support member disposed below the optical member, where a through-hole is defined through the support member, and an electronic module disposed to correspond to the through-hole.

A device for modulation of light (16) having a wavelength, comprising: a first substrate (10) with a first face (81) and a second opposite face (82), and comprising a first electrode (11); a second substrate (20) adjacent to the second face (82) and defining a gap between the first and second substrate (10, 20), the second substrate (20) comprising a second electrode (21); a responsive liquid crystal layer (15) disposed in the gap, wherein the responsive liquid crystal layer (15) has a flexoelectro-optic chiral nematic phase, and is birefringent with an optic axis that tilts in response to an applied electric field between the first and second electrode (11, 21); and a minor adjacent to the second substrate (20), the minor configured to reflect incident circular polarised light while preserving its handedness.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device of a transverse electric field mode that may inhibit internal reflection and realize proper black display to which coloring does not occur. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device including a first linear polarizer, a first λ/4 retardation layer, a first substrate, a second λ/4 retardation layer configured with a different material from the first λ/4 retardation layer, a liquid crystal layer that contains liquid crystals which are horizontally aligned in a case where no voltage is applied, plural electrode pairs that generate a transverse electric field in the liquid crystal layer by a voltage being applied, a second substrate, a second linear polarizer, and a backlight. In a case where a color of light emitted from the backlight is expressed by using chromaticity coordinates (x, y) of an XYZ color system, both of x and y are 0.32 or greater. The plural electrode pairs include a red electrode pair arranged in a red sub-pixel, a green electrode pair arranged in a green sub-pixel, and a blue electrode pair arranged in a blue sub-pixel. A white display applied voltage of the blue electrode pair is different from the white display applied voltage of the red electrode pair and the white display applied voltage of the green electrode pair.

Provided is a horizontal electric field mode liquid crystal display device in which light leak and tint change at the time of black display are reduced in case of being seen from an oblique direction. The liquid crystal display device is an IPS mode liquid crystal display device including at least a first polarizer, a first optical compensation layer, a liquid crystal cell, and a second polarizer in this order, in which the first optical compensation layer satisfies a predetermined relational expression, a total thickness-direction retardation Rth total(550) present between the liquid crystal layer and the second polarizer in the liquid crystal cell satisfies a predetermined relational expression, and a slow axis of the first optical compensation layer is parallel to an absorption axis of a polarizer layer.

An optical composite film layer, comprising a first uniaxial optical film layer, a second uniaxial optical film layer, and a first grating film layer. The first uniaxial optical film layer comprises a platy portion and multiple refraction portions disposed on one side of the platy portion, and the multiple refraction portions are selected from one of cambered columns or quadrangular columns; the second uniaxial optical film layer is laminated on one side, close to the refraction portions, of the platy portion, the multiple refraction portions are received in the second uniaxial optical film layer, and the extraordinary light refractive index of the first uniaxial optical film layer is greater than the ordinary light refractive index of the second uniaxial optical film layer; and the first grating film layer is disposed on one side, far away from the first uniaxial optical film layer, of the second uniaxial optical film layer.

A curved display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, the liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules, a first alignment layer including reactive mesogens which are polymerized with each other, the first alignment layer being disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and a second alignment layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate, where the reactive mesogens have a functional group having charges.

Systems and methods for providing a polarization recycling structure for use in applications, such as display systems that include a liquid crystal display assembly. The polarization recycling structure may include a first spatially varying polarizer spaced apart from a second spatially varying polarizer. The first spatially varying polarizer may include a lens array that receives light from a light source and focuses light of a first polarization state and passes light of a second polarization state. The second spatially varying polarizer receive light from the first spatially varying polarizer, passes the focused light of the first polarization state, and transforms the light of the second polarization state into the first polarization state, thereby providing only light of the first polarization state at the output of the polarization recycling structure. The polarization recycling structures improve the efficiency of lighting subsystems, thereby reducing power consumption, cost, space requirements, and providing other advantages.

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.