An optical composite film includes a reflection grating film layer, a first optically-uniaxial optical film layer, and a second optically-uniaxial optical film layer. The first optically-uniaxial optical film layer includes a plate-shaped portion and a plurality of refraction portions. The plurality of refraction portions is selected from one type of camber columns and quadrangular prisms. An extraordinary light refractive index of the first optically-uniaxial optical film layer is greater than an ordinary light refractive index of the first optically-uniaxial optical film layer, and an extraordinary light refractive index of the second optically-uniaxial optical film layer is greater than an ordinary light refractive index of the second optically-uniaxial optical film layer. The ordinary light refractive index of the second optically-uniaxial optical film layer is less than the extraordinary light refractive index of the first optically-uniaxial optical film layer.

A switchable privacy display for an automotive vehicle comprises a spatial light modulator, a first switchable liquid crystal retarder and first passive retarder arranged between a first pair of polarisers and a second switchable liquid crystal retarder and second passive retarder arranged between a second pair of polarisers. A first switchable liquid crystal retarder comprises a two homeotropic alignment layers and a second switchable liquid crystal retarder comprises two homogeneous alignment layers. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss to the passenger, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance to reduce the visibility of the display to off-axis driver leaning towards the display. In a shared mode of operation, the liquid crystal layers are controlled so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified.

Provided are 3D glasses capable of reducing crosstalk when disposed on the viewer side of a liquid crystal panel that is time-divisionally driven; an optical device including the 3D glasses; and a three-dimensional image display device including the optical device. The 3D glasses include a right-eye polarizer and a left-eye polarizer, the right-eye polarizer and the left-eye polarizer each including a polarizing plate and a first λ/4 plate, at least one of the right-eye polarizer or the left-eye polarizer including a phase difference layer on or behind a back surface side of the polarizing plate, wherein a phase difference introduced by the right-eye polarizer in a thickness direction at a wavelength of 550 nm is different from a phase difference introduced by the left-eye polarizer in the thickness direction at a wavelength of 550 nm.

A polarizing plate and an optical display apparatus including the same are provided. A polarizing plate includes: a polarizer; and a pattern layer stacked on a light exit surface of the polarizer, and the pattern layer includes a second resin layer and a first resin layer sequentially stacked from the polarizer; a first patterned portion including a plurality of first optical patterns is formed at an interface between the first resin layer and the second resin layer; and a second patterned portion including a plurality of second optical patterns is formed on a lower surface of the second resin layer, the first optical patterns and the second optical patterns satisfying Relations 1 and 2.

An improvement in image quality is achieved by compensating for a phase difference occurring in tilted light to achieve an improvement in contrast while suppressing luminance irregularity when in black display. An optical compensation device includes: a first optical compensation unit configured to generate a phase difference that has a substantially equal amount and a reverse sign in light with each incidence angle within a predetermined incidence angle range on a vertical alignment type liquid crystal panel with respect to a phase difference occurring from the liquid crystal panel; and a second optical compensation unit configured to generate a phase difference in an in-plane direction. The first optical compensation unit can appropriately compensate for a phase difference occurring in tilted light passing through a liquid crystal panel and the second optical compensation unit can suppress luminance irregularity when in black display.

An improvement in contrast is achieved by suitably offsetting a phase difference produced by oblique light in a liquid-crystal panel. An optical compensation apparatus includes a negative C-plate and two O-plates, an amount of a composite phase difference between the two O-plates and the negative C-plate in a tilt-direction cross section is substantially same as an amount of a phase difference produced by light having each of incident angles in a predetermined incident-angle range in the liquid-crystal panel, and a sign of the composite phase difference is opposite to a sign of the phase difference, the tilt-direction cross section being a cross section parallel to a tilt direction of the liquid crystal in a vertical-alignment-type liquid-crystal panel.

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 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.

Provided is a liquid crystal display device having high luminance and high CR in a front direction and especially useful as a head-mounted liquid crystal display device, for example. The liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal panel; an optical element; and a backlight, arranged in this order from a viewing surface side. The optical element includes a first polarizer, a retardation layer, and a second polarizer. The first polarizer, the retardation layer, and the second polarizer are arranged in this order from the viewing surface side. The first polarizer and the second polarizer are reflection polarizers. A reflection axis of the first polarizer and a reflection axis of the second polarizer are parallel to each other. In oblique directions at azimuths of 0°, 45°, and 90° at a polar angle of 60°, a polarization state of light incident on the first polarizer is elliptical polarization.

The liquid crystal display device includes: a first polarizer having a first transmission axis; a liquid crystal panel; a second polarizer having a second transmission axis; a biaxial retarder having a slow axis parallel to the second transmission axis; a third polarizer having a third transmission axis parallel to the second transmission axis; and a backlight, a back side polarizer portion that includes the second polarizer, the biaxial retarder, and the third polarizer satisfying the following formula (1): ΔYI.sub.2=YI.sub.2′− YI.sub.2<0 (1) wherein YI.sub.2′ represents a yellowness index in observation from an oblique direction, YI.sub.2 represents a yellowness index in observation from a front direction, and ΔYI.sub.2 represents a difference between YI.sub.2′ and YI.sub.2, wherein the front direction represents a direction at a 0° polar angle and the oblique direction represents a direction at a 60° polar angle and a 45° azimuth.