An alignment film is given a 2-layer structure comprising a photoalignment film that is photoalignable and a low-resistivity alignment film whose resistivity is smaller than that of the photoalignment film. The photoalignment film is formed by a polyimide whose precursor is polyamide acid alkyl ester, the number molecular weight of the photoalignment film is large, and the stability of alignment of the photoalignment film by photoalignment is excellent. The low-resistivity alignment film is formed by a polyimide whose precursor is polyamide acid, the number molecular weight of the low-resistivity alignment film is small, and the resistivity of the low-resistivity alignment film is small. The 2-layer structure alignment film can be maintaining an excellent photoalignment characteristic, so DC afterimages can be controlled.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal alignment composition comprising first liquid crystal alignment polymer; second liquid crystal alignment polymer; and a cross-linking agent compound, a method for preparing a liquid crystal alignment film using the same, a liquid crystal alignment film and a liquid crystal display using the same.

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.

A method for aligning molecular orientations of liquid crystals and/or polymeric materials into spatially variant patterns uses metamasks. When non-polarized or circularly polarized light is transmitted through or reflected by the metamasks, spatially varied polarization direction and intensity patterns of light can be generated. By projecting the optical patterns of the metamasks onto substrates coated with photoalignment materials, spatially variant molecular orientations encoded in the polarization and intensity patterns are induced in the photoalignment materials, and transfer into the liquid crystals. Possible designs for the metamask use nanostructures of metallic materials (e.g., rectangular nanocuboids of metallic materials arrayed on a transparent substrate).

A polarized light irradiation apparatus includes: a light source unit including a light source, and emitting parallel light derived from the light source; a polarizing plate for polarizing the parallel light emitted from the light source unit to output polarized light; a polarizing plate holder for holding the polarizing plate; a mask holder for holding a mask having a light transmissive part and a light shielding part; a work stage for holding a work that is irradiated with light that has been polarized by the polarizing plate and has passed the mask; a polarization direction changer for changing a direction of a polarization axis of light for irradiating the work held by the work stage; and an irradiation location changer for changing a location of the polarized light that irradiates the work.

A transmittance-variable film and a use thereof, where the transmittance-variable film can control pretilt of a liquid crystal interface by applying a liquid crystal alignment film containing splay oriented liquid crystal molecules, and can vertically and horizontally orient a liquid crystal layer or a liquid crystal interface according to an average tilt angle of the liquid crystal alignment film to ensure uniformity of driving and fast response speed. In addition, by applying a liquid crystal alignment film, the transmittance-variable film can be implemented in various modes with a simple coating-drying-curing method excluding the rubbing process by controlling an arrangement of liquid crystal molecules in a liquid crystal alignment film other than the pretilt control method using the conventional rubbing method.

The present invention provides a polarization-independent terahertz wave control element, and provides a method for manufacturing a polarization-independent terahertz wave control element. The present invention provides a terahertz wave control element comprising: (A) a first flat plate having (A1) a first substrate, (A2) a first electrode formed on the first substrate, and (A3) a first liquid crystal alignment film formed on the first electrode; (B) a second flat plate having (B1) a second substrate, (B2) a second electrode formed on the second substrate, and (B3) a second liquid crystal alignment film formed on the second electrode; and (C) a liquid crystal present in a space formed by disposing (A) the first flat plate and (B) the second flat plate parallel to each other with a predetermined distance therebetween so that the first and second liquid crystal alignment films face each other, wherein (D1) the terahertz wave control element has a first portion in which the liquid crystal is aligned in a first direction parallel to (A) the first flat plate and (B) the second flat plate, and a second portion in which the liquid crystal is aligned in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and parallel to (A) the first flat plate and (B) the second flat plate when no voltage is applied, (D2) the first portion has a first width, the second portion has a second width, the first and second portions are disposed adjacent to each other and alternately disposed in a predetermined cycle, (D3) when voltage is applied, the liquid crystal in each of the first portion and the second portion is aligned in a direction orthogonal to (A) the first substrate and (B) the second substrate, and (E) a phase change in which a terahertz wave transmitted through the terahertz wave control element is independent of the state of polarization.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical laminate in which an optically anisotropic layer provided as an upper layer has good liquid crystal alignment properties, and a polarizing plate and an image display device using the optical laminate. An optical laminate of the present invention is an optical laminate including: a first optically anisotropic layer; and a second optically anisotropic layer, in which the first and second optically anisotropic layers are directly laminated, each of the first and second optically anisotropic layers consists of a liquid crystal layer, and a photo-alignment polymer having a photo-alignment group and at least one type of polar group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a ketone group is present in a surface of the second optically anisotropic layer on a side in contact with the first optically anisotropic layer.

This liquid crystal display device has a plurality of pixels. Each pixel in the plurality of pixels includes first to fourth alignment regions; these first to fourth alignment regions are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the pixels, and the difference between any two alignment orientations in the first to fourth alignment regions is approximately equal to an integer multiple of 90 degrees. Of the pre-tilt angles defined by a first alignment film and a second alignment film in each of the first to fourth alignment regions, one pre-tilt angle is less than 90 degrees and the other pre-tilt angle is substantially 90 degrees. The optical alignment film is formed using a polymer having an optical alignment group in the side chain, and the content of the optical alignment group in the side chain of the polymer is less than 1.1 mmol/g.

In a liquid crystal device, a first pixel area is provided in a pixel area of a first substrate, and a second pixel area is provided between the first pixel area and a seal material. The first pixel area has a first pixel electrode to which an image signal is applied, the image signal having a potential alternately switching between a positive polarity and a negative polarity with reference to a first central potential. The second pixel area includes a second pixel electrode to which a first driving potential is applied, the first driving potential having a potential alternately switching between a positive polarity and a negative polarity with reference to a second central potential, the first central potential and the second central potential having a potential difference set therebetween. Therefore, ionic impurities can be efficiently swept from the first pixel area to the second pixel area.