Alignment films include a copolymer of a specific vertical alignment monomer and at least one of a specific anthracene-based monomer and a specific benzyl-based monomer.

According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical element includes a substrate, a plurality of structures, a first liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules having alignment directions fixed, and a second liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules having alignment directions fixed. In an area overlapping a groove, a first director of the first liquid crystal layer extends along the groove, and a second director of the second liquid crystal layer is uniformly aligned with the first director of the second surface side, on the third surface side, and turns in planar view.

A liquid crystal display device includes a first polarizer, a liquid crystal cell, and a second polarizer in this order from a viewing side, in which a first light absorption anisotropic layer is disposed on the viewing side of the liquid crystal cell, a second light absorption anisotropic layer is disposed on a non-viewing side of the liquid crystal cell, the first and second polarizers each have an absorption axis in a film surface, the absorption axis of the first polarizer is orthogonal to the absorption axis of the second polarizer, an angle θ1 between a transmittance central axis of the first anisotropic layer and a normal line of the film is in a range of 0° to 45°, and an angle θ2 between a transmittance central axis of the second anisotropic layer and a normal line of the film is in a range of 0° to 45°.

An object is to provide a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal layer in which an alignment film is repeatedly used and a liquid crystal compound in a liquid crystal layer can be sufficiently aligned. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal layer includes: an alignment film forming step of forming an alignment film on a support; a liquid crystal alignment layer alignment step of laminating a first liquid crystal composition including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound on the alignment film and aligning the first liquid crystal composition; a liquid crystal alignment layer forming step of polymerizing the aligned first liquid crystal composition to form a liquid crystal alignment layer; a liquid crystal layer alignment step of laminating a second liquid crystal composition including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound on a surface of the liquid crystal alignment layer opposite to the alignment film and aligning the second liquid crystal composition; a liquid crystal layer forming step of polymerizing the aligned second liquid crystal composition to form a liquid crystal layer; and a liquid crystal layer separation step of separating the formed liquid crystal layer from the liquid crystal alignment layer, in which the liquid crystal layer alignment step to the liquid crystal layer separation step are repeated to repeatedly prepare the liquid crystal layer.

An optical device includes a liquid crystal layer having a first plurality of liquid crystal molecules arranged in a first pattern and a second plurality of liquid crystal molecules arranged in a second pattern. The first and the second pattern are separated from each other by a distance of about 20 nm and about 100 nm along a longitudinal or a transverse axis of the liquid crystal layer. The first and the second plurality of liquid crystal molecules are configured as first and second grating structures that can redirect light of visible or infrared wavelengths.

Methods, materials, systems, and devices for stabilizing photoalignment patterns in liquid crystal diffractive waveplates (LCDWs) against radiation, mechanical, and electrical influences by creating a polymer network within the bulk of LCDW such as the polymer network does not affect the LC orientation pattern in the bulk of the DW and does not result in residual retardation and light scattering while being able to fast switching and relaxation with no haze at application of electric fields.

A flexible optical element adopting liquid crystals (LCs) as the materials for realizing electrically tunable optics is foldable. A method for manufacturing the flexible element includes patterned photo-polymerization. The LC optics can include a pair of LC layers with orthogonally aligned LC directors for polarizer-free properties, flexible polymeric alignment layers, flexible substrates, and a module for controlling the electric field. The lens power of the LC optics can be changed by controlling the distribution of electric field across the optical zone. Lens power control can be provided using combinations of electrode configurations, drive signals and anchoring strengths in the alignment layers.

Optical film stacks are described. More particularly, optical film stacks including a half-wave retardation layer are described. Achromatic half-wave retardation layers, including achromatic half-wave layers formed from a quarter-wave and a three-quarters-wave retardation layer, are described. Film stacks including reflective polarizers tuned to reduce wavelength dispersion of the half-wave retardation layer are also described.

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.

Optical film stacks are described. More particularly, optical film stacks including a half-wave retardation layer are described. Achromatic half-wave retardation layers, including achromatic half-wave layers formed from a quarter-wave and a three-quarters-wave retardation layer, are described. Film stacks including reflective polarizers tuned to reduce wavelength dispersion of the half-wave retardation layer are also described.