A phase difference film and a circularly polarizing film each achieve suppressed coloration when viewed from the front direction, a smaller difference in tint between views from the front direction and the oblique direction, and suppressed image unevenness, where the film is applied to an image display panel, in particular, an organic EL panel; as well as an image display device including the circularly polarizing film. The phase difference film includes optically anisotropic layers A and B, in which a retardation RthA of layer A in the thickness direction at a wavelength of 550 nm is larger than 0, layer A exhibits predetermined optical properties, a retardation RthB of layer B in the thickness direction at a wavelength of 550 nm is smaller than 0, layer B satisfies predetermined optical properties, and the angle formed between a slow axis of the optically anisotropic layers A and B is 90°±10°.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical laminate in which optically anisotropic layers exhibiting reverse wavelength dispersibility have excellent moisture-heat resistance, and the adhesiveness between a first optically anisotropic layer and a second optically anisotropic layer is excellent; and a polarizing plate and an image display device, each using the optical laminate. The optical laminate according to an embodiment of the present invention is an optical laminate having a first optically anisotropic layer and a second optically anisotropic layer, in which both of the first optically anisotropic layer and the second optically anisotropic layer are directly laminated and consist of a liquid crystal layer, at least one of the first optically anisotropic layer or the second optically anisotropic layer exhibits reverse wavelength dispersibility, a photo-alignment polymer having a photo-alignment group and a fluorine atom or a silicon atom is present on a surface of the second optically anisotropic layer on a side in contact with the first optically anisotropic layer, and an element ratio of fluorine or silicon on the surface of the second optically anisotropic layer on the side in contact with the first optically anisotropic layer is 0.05% to 15.00% by atom.

The present disclosure provides an optical assembly, a liquid crystal display device, and an electronic equipment. The optical assembly includes: a linear polarizer, a half-wave plate, and a quarter-wave plate stacked in sequence. An absorption axis of the linear polarizer is substantially perpendicular to a first direction, and the first direction is parallel to a surface of the linear polarizer; an angle between an in-plane slow axis of the half-wave plate and the first direction is in a range of 100° to 110°; an angle between an in-plane slow axis of the quarter-wave plate and the first direction is in a range of 160° to 170°.

A polarizing plate for IPS mode and an optical display apparatus including the same are provided. A polarizing plate includes: a polarizer; a first protective layer on an upper surface of the polarizer; and a second protective layer on a lower surface of the polarizer, wherein, assuming an axis of the polarizer having a high index of refraction in an in-plane direction of the polarizer is a reference axis (0°), an angle of an axis of the first protective layer having a low index of refraction in the in-plane direction thereof is in a range of about −5° to +5°, the first protective layer has an in-plane retardation Re of about 5,000 nm or more at a wavelength of 550 nm, the second protective layer includes a positive C plate layer, and the second protective layer satisfies at least one of Relations 1 and 2.

A liquid crystal display panel includes: a first base, a second base disposed opposite to the first base, a liquid crystal layer and a first optical compensation layer that are disposed between the first base and the second base, and a second optical compensation layer disposed on a side of the first base away from the liquid crystal layer or on a side of the second base away from the liquid crystal layer. An orthogonal projection of an optic axis of the first optical compensation layer on the first base is parallel to orthogonal projections of optic axes of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer on the first base. An orthogonal projection of an optic axis of the second optical compensation layer on the first base is perpendicular to the orthogonal projection of the optic axis of the first optical compensation layer on the first base.

An image display device which suppresses destruction of an image display panel due to static electricity carried by a phase difference film, and has excellent adhesiveness between the phase difference film and the image display panel even in a moisture-heat environment, and a circularly polarizing plate with a photosensitive adhesive. The image display device includes a circularly polarizing plate having a linear polarizer and a phase difference film, and an image display panel in this order from a viewing side, in which the phase difference film and the image display panel are bonded by a pressure-sensitive adhesive, the phase difference film has an optically anisotropic layer obtained by polymerizing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing at least one kind of polymerizable liquid crystal compound having a predetermined structure, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive contains a polymer having an acid value of 1 to 30 mgKOH/g and an antistatic agent.

The present application discloses stretched films comprising regioselectively substituted cellulose esters and a component A: (I), (II), (III), or (IV), wherein A, B, C, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.8, R9, m, n, and k are defined herein. The films exhibit negative birefringence and improved wavelength dispersion.

##STR00001##

Disclosed herein are a retardation film for IPS mode, a polarizing plate including the same, and a liquid crystal display including the same. The retardation film for IPS mode has an out-of-plane retardation at a wavelength of 450 nm (Rth (450) of about −80 nm to 0 nm, an out-of-plane retardation at a wavelength of 550 nm (Rth (550) of about −60 nm to 10 nm, an out-of-plane retardation at a wavelength of 650 nm (Rth (650) of about −60 nm to 10 nm, and an in-plane retardation (Re) at a wavelength of 550 nm of about 0 nm to 10 nm.

An optical film includes a polarization film including a polymer resin and a dichroic dye, and a phase delay layer disposed on the polarization film and including a liquid crystal.

Provided is an optical element including: a liquid crystal cell including a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate; and a quarter-wave film. The liquid crystal layer contains liquid crystal molecules twist-aligned. The liquid crystal cell includes electrodes. The electrodes are disposed to enable switching between a first state and a second state by application of voltage to the liquid crystal layer. The switching between the first state and the second state controls a polarization state of light incident on the liquid crystal cell. Circularly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal cell is converted to first linearly polarized light in the first state while converted to second linearly polarized light in the second state. Linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal cell is converted to first circularly polarized light in the first state while converted to second circularly polarized light in the second state.