An optical sheet 10 of the present invention includes a laminate including a polarizing layer 4 containing at least one kind of a light absorbing agent and having a polarizing function, and a protective layer 1 laminated on the polarizing layer 4, in which in the polarizing layer 4, a value of a* is 0 or more and 30 or less and a value of b* is 0 or more and 30 or less in an L*a*b* color system defined by JIS Z 8781-4, and in the optical sheet 10, a size of a Q Blue value defined by Australian Standard Australia/New Zealand Standard 1067-2016 is 0.70 or more. Thus, even when the optical sheet is toned to brown, blue light can be distinguished with excellent distinguishability.

The present application relates to a device for regulating the passage of energy from an outside space into an inside space, to compounds, windows and uses of the devices and compounds.

An azo compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof, Wherein A.sup.1 represents a naphthyl group which may have a substituent; A.sup.2, A.sup.3, and A.sup.4 each independently represent a phenyl group which may have a substituent or a naphthyl group which may have a substituent; R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1-4 alkoxy group, or a substituted or unsubstituted amino group; m represents an integer of 0 to 5; M represents a hydrogen atom or ion, a metal ion, or an ammonium ion; n represents 1 or 2; k represents 0 or 1; and each hydrogen atom on ring a and ring b may be substituted with the substituent R.sup.1 or substituent SO.sub.3M.

##STR00001##

An azo compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof, Wherein A.sup.1 represents a naphthyl group which may have a substituent; A.sup.2, A.sup.3, and A.sup.4 each independently represent a phenyl group which may have a substituent or a naphthyl group which may have a substituent; R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1-4 alkoxy group, or a substituted or unsubstituted amino group; m represents an integer of 0 to 5; M represents a hydrogen atom or ion, a metal ion, or an ammonium ion; n represents 1 or 2; k represents 0 or 1; and each hydrogen atom on ring a and ring b may be substituted with the substituent R.sup.1 or substituent SO.sub.3M.

##STR00001##

An object of the invention is to provide an anisotropic light absorption film having both a high alignment degree and high light resistance, and a laminate provided using the anisotropic light absorption film. An anisotropic light absorption film according to the embodiment of the invention is formed from a composition having a first dichroic azo dye, a second dichroic azo dye, and a compound represented by Formula (I) or a polymer thereof, the first dichroic azo dye has a solution absorption maximum wavelength of 400 nm or greater and less than 550 nm, the second dichroic azo dye has a solution absorption maximum wavelength of 550 nm or greater and 750 nm or less, and the film has an arrangement structure of the first dichroic azo dye or an arrangement structure of the second dichroic azo dye therein.

An object of the invention is to provide an anisotropic light absorption film having both a high alignment degree and high light resistance, and a laminate provided using the anisotropic light absorption film. An anisotropic light absorption film according to the embodiment of the invention is formed from a composition having a first dichroic azo dye, a second dichroic azo dye, and a compound represented by Formula (I) or a polymer thereof, the first dichroic azo dye has a solution absorption maximum wavelength of 400 nm or greater and less than 550 nm, the second dichroic azo dye has a solution absorption maximum wavelength of 550 nm or greater and 750 nm or less, and the film has an arrangement structure of the first dichroic azo dye or an arrangement structure of the second dichroic azo dye therein.

A device for regulating the passage of energy from an outside space into an inside space includes a switching layer, where the switching layer comprises one or more compounds of the formula: ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Ar.sup.1 and X are defined herein.

A device for regulating the passage of energy from an outside space into an inside space includes a switching layer, where the switching layer comprises one or more compounds of the formula: ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Ar.sup.1 and X are defined herein.

A dichroic dye compound has an excellent alignment property when used in a light absorption anisotropic film, and has excellent solubility. A coloring composition contains the dichroic dye compound having a structure represented by Formula (1). In Formula (1), A and B represent a crosslinkable group, a and b are 0 or 1, and a+b is not less than 1. L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 represent a monovalent substituent, a single bond, or a divalent linking group. Each of Ar.sub.1 to Ar.sub.3 represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group. R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 represent a monovalent substituent. k represents an integer of 1 to 4. n1, n2, and n3 represent an integer of 0 to 4. In a case where k is 1, n1+n2+n3 is not less than 0, and in a case where k is not less than 2, n1+n2+n3 is not less than 1.

##STR00001##

A dichroic dye compound has an excellent alignment property when used in a light absorption anisotropic film, and has excellent solubility. A coloring composition contains the dichroic dye compound having a structure represented by Formula (1). In Formula (1), A and B represent a crosslinkable group, a and b are 0 or 1, and a+b is not less than 1. L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 represent a monovalent substituent, a single bond, or a divalent linking group. Each of Ar.sub.1 to Ar.sub.3 represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group. R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 represent a monovalent substituent. k represents an integer of 1 to 4. n1, n2, and n3 represent an integer of 0 to 4. In a case where k is 1, n1+n2+n3 is not less than 0, and in a case where k is not less than 2, n1+n2+n3 is not less than 1.

##STR00001##