A display apparatus including a backlight module, first and second electrically-controlled elements, electrically-controlled first and second polarizers, a half-wave plate, and a display panel is provided. An included angle between first and second alignment directions of first and second alignment layers of the first electrically-controlled element is between 75 degrees and 105 degrees. An included angle between third and fourth alignment directions of third and fourth alignment layers of the second electrically-controlled element is between 165 degrees and 195 degrees. The half-wave plate is disposed between the second polarizer and the second electrically-controlled element. The display panel is disposed on the second electrically-controlled element. An included angle between an extending direction of prism structures of each of two optical brightness enhancement films of the backlight module and a viewing angle control direction of the display apparatus is less than 45 degrees. A method of driving the display apparatus is provided.

According to one embodiment, a display device includes an illumination device, a display panel, a first polarizer attached to the display panel, a second polarizer attached to the display panel, and a transmissive diffraction grating provided in a location between the illumination device and the first polarizer or in a location facing the second polarizer. The diffraction grating includes a third substrate, a fourth substrate, and a second liquid crystal layer provided between the third substrate and the fourth substrate, containing a plurality of liquid crystal molecules, and cured in a state where alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules are fixed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a light deflection device having a simple structure suitable for reducing the size and weight where a deflection angle can be increased. The object can be achieved with a light deflection device including: a light deflection element that deflects incident light in one direct to be emitted; a driving unit that drives the light deflection element; and a diffraction element that is disposed on a light emission side of the light deflection element in which a periodic structure pitch gradually changes from a center of deflection from the light deflection element toward an outside.

A liquid crystal display includes a first panel including a first electrode, which includes side electrodes in edge areas of a pixel, a central electrode connected to the side electrodes and disposed in a central area of the pixel, and fine branches, some of which are connected to the side electrode, a second panel in which a cutout, which corresponds to the first electrode and divides the fine branches, the central electrode and the side electrode into domains is defined, and which includes a second electrode, which is separated by the cutout and corresponds to each of the domains, where second slit patterns, which are provided by partially cutting out ends of the fine branches, separate the side electrodes and the fine branches from each other, and extend in parallel to a longitudinal direction of the side electrodes are defined in the first panel.

A liquid crystal display device comprises: a first substrate; an organic layer disposed on the first substrate; a pixel electrode disposed on the organic layer; a plurality of slits defined in the pixel electrode and configured to exposed a surface of the organic layer; a liquid crystal alignment film disposed on a surface of the pixel electrode and on the surface of the organic layer exposed by the plurality of slits; and a plurality of liquid crystal molecules disposed on the liquid crystal alignment film, wherein the liquid crystal alignment film includes a first region overlapping the plurality of slits and a second region overlapping the pixel electrode, wherein the second region has a surface energy different from a surface energy of the first region.

The invention relates to a light modulation element, preferably exploiting the flexoelectric effect comprising a cholesteric liquid crystalline medium sandwiched between two substrates (1), each provided with an electrode structure (2), wherein at least one of the substrates is provided with a photoresist pattern consisting of periodic substantially parallel stripes (3) which is additionally provided with an alignment layer (4). The invention is further related to a method of production of said light modulation element and to the use of said light modulation element in various types of optical and electro-optical devices, such as electro-optical displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), non-linear optic (NLO) devices, and optical information storage devices.

In a liquid crystal device, an electrode is provided between a pixel area of a first substrate and a seal material, and an AC signal is applied to the electrode where a potential with respect to a common potential applied to a common electrode as a reference potential is alternately switched between a positive polarity and a negative polarity. For the AC signal, a length of a positive polarity period where a polarity becomes positive with respect to the common potential and a length of a negative polarity period where a polarity becomes negative with respect to the common potential are different. When anionic impurities of a liquid crystal layer are focused, a positive polarity period length is greater than a negative polarity period length. When cationic impurities of the liquid crystal layer are focused, a negative polarity period length is greater than a positive polarity period length.

A liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules; a first alignment film in contact with a front surface of the liquid crystal layer; and a second alignment film in contact with a rear surface of the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal panel being curved in the shape of a cylindrical surface. The first alignment film includes a plurality of first strip portions extending along a first direction and causing the liquid crystal molecules to be aligned. The second alignment film includes a plurality of second strip portions extending along a second direction and causing the liquid crystal molecules to be aligned. The first direction is a peripheral direction of the cylindrical surface. The second direction is a direction which crosses the peripheral direction.

A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal panel; an illuminating device; and a light control member that is disposed on a light emission side of the liquid crystal panel. The light control member diffuses light that is emitted from the liquid crystal panel in an anisotropic manner in a first azimuth angle direction viewed from a normal direction of the liquid crystal panel to control an emission direction of the light. A pixel includes a first region in which a director of liquid crystal molecules is in a first direction, and a second region in which the director of the liquid crystal molecules is in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation in the first direction. A second azimuth angle direction in which light-diffusibility of the light control member is relatively strong, and the first direction approximately match each other.

The invention relates to a light modulation element comprising a cholesteric liquid crystalline medium sandwiched between two substrates, each provided with an electrode structure, wherein at least one of the substrates is additionally provided with an alignment layer which is provided with a photoresist pattern consisting of periodic substantially parallel stripes. The invention is further related to a method of production of said light modulation element and to the use of said light modulation element in various types of optical and electro-optical devices, such as electro-optical displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), non-linear optic (NLO) devices, and optical information storage devices.