JP2003131016A - Optical diffusive layer, optical diffusive sheet, optical element and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical diffusive layer in which contrast of a display screen is good while maintaining antidazzling property, an optical diffusive sheet and an optical element provided with them. SOLUTION: The optical diffusive layer consisting of a resin film layer forming a minute irregular shape on a surface, is characterized in that a value of 60 deg. glossiness (JIS-Z8741) of the minute irregular surface is different in an incident direction, and the maximum value (a) and the minimum value (b) of the glossiness satisfy the equation: (a-b)> (a+b)/2}×0.1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light diffusing layer used in a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic EL display device and a PDP for suppressing a reduction in the visibility of the screen, and more The present invention relates to a light diffusing sheet having a light diffusing layer and an optical element provided with the light diffusing sheet. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a display device to which the light diffusing sheet or the optical element is attached. The display device can be effectively applied to a flat display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in image display devices such as LCDs, the visibility of images is hindered by indoor lighting such as fluorescent lamps, incident sunlight from windows, and shadows of operators on the surface of the display device. To be Therefore, on the LCD surface, in order to improve the visibility of the image, the surface reflected light is diffused, the regular reflection of external light is suppressed, and the reflection of the external environment can be prevented (having an antiglare property). A light diffusion layer having an uneven structure is provided. As a method of forming the light diffusion layer, a method of forming a resin film layer by coating a resin in which fine particles are dispersed has become the mainstream because the structure can be easily miniaturized and the productivity is good.

However, if an attempt is made to obtain a light diffusing layer having a high surface diffusivity by enhancing the anti-glare function of the light diffusing layer, the entire surface of the light diffusing layer is strongly diffused and reflected, and the display screen becomes whitish during black display. The white blur causes a problem that the contrast of the display screen is lowered.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a light diffusing layer, a light diffusing sheet, and an optical element provided with these, while maintaining the antiglare property and having a good display screen contrast. The purpose is to Furthermore, it aims at providing the display apparatus in which the said light diffusing sheet or the optical element is mounted.

[0005]

As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that the above-mentioned object can be achieved by the following light diffusion layer, and have completed the present invention. It was

That is, the present invention provides a light diffusing layer consisting of a resin film layer having fine irregularities formed on the surface,
60 ° glossiness of the surface of the fine unevenness (JIS-Z87
The value of 41) differs depending on the incident direction, and the maximum value (a) and the minimum value (b) of the glossiness are expressed by the formula: (ab)> {(a +
b) / 2} × 0.1 is satisfied.

According to the present invention, a general light diffusing layer having a finely textured surface is isotropic in surface diffusivity with respect to external light, and has equal surface reflection with respect to external light from any direction. It behaves and has a uniform anti-glare function,
The anti-glare function of the light diffusing layer is required to strongly diffuse in the direction where the external light is strongly applied to the surface of the fine uneven surface, while it is not required to be strongly diffused in the direction where the external light is not strongly applied. As a result of finding that the contrast of the display screen decreases when the function is enhanced to increase the surface diffusivity, the glossiness value is controlled to be different depending on the incident direction, and the surface diffusivity of the light diffusing layer against the external light is controlled. It has anisotropy.

By making the surface diffusivity of the light diffusing layer have anisotropy in this way, the diffusivity with respect to the light from the upper direction where external light is likely to be strong is increased to suppress the surface reflection, that is, gloss. While it is possible to reduce the degree of diffusion, it is possible to suppress the diffusivity with respect to the reflection of external light from the lateral direction where the external light does not hit strongly. In this way, the present invention improves the antiglare property against the light from the direction where the external light is strongly applied while maintaining the contrast of the display image.

The above-mentioned 6 of the fine uneven surface of the light diffusion layer.
The maximum value (a) and the minimum value (b) of 0 ° gloss are not particularly limited as long as the above formula is satisfied, but from the viewpoint of antiglare property, the maximum value (a) of 60 ° gloss is , The minimum value (b) is preferably in the range of 40 to 70, and more preferably 30 to 53. As the difference (ab) between the maximum value (a) and the minimum value (b) of the 60 ° gloss increases, the antiglare property decreases. The difference (ab) is 10 or less, and further 6 or less. It is preferable to adjust.

In the light diffusing layer, it is preferable that the resin coating layer contains fine particles, and that the surface unevenness of the resin coating layer is formed of fine particles. Moreover, it is preferable that the resin film layer is formed of an ultraviolet curable resin.

By using fine particles, the gloss characteristics can be easily adjusted. Further, the ultraviolet curable resin can be efficiently subjected to a curing treatment by irradiation of ultraviolet rays to form a resin film layer (light diffusion layer) by a simple processing operation.

Further, the present invention relates to a light diffusing sheet, wherein the light diffusing layer is provided on at least one surface of a transparent substrate. The present invention also relates to an optical element, wherein the light diffusing layer or the light diffusing sheet is provided on one side or both sides of the optical element. The light diffusing layer of the present invention can be used in various applications as a light diffusing sheet provided on a transparent substrate, and is used, for example, in an optical element.

Further, the present invention relates to a display device equipped with the light diffusing sheet or the optical element. The light diffusing sheet and the optical element of the present invention can be used for various purposes, and are applied to, for example, a display device.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a light diffusing sheet in which a light diffusion layer 4 composed of a resin coating layer 2 in which fine particles 3 are dispersed is formed on a transparent substrate 1, and fine particles dispersed in the resin coating layer 2. 3 is a light diffusion layer 4
An uneven shape is formed on the surface of the. Although FIG. 1 shows the case where the resin film layer 2 is a single layer, by separately forming a resin film layer containing fine particles between the resin film layer 2 and the transparent substrate 1, The light diffusion layer can also be formed by a plurality of resin film layers.

Examples of the transparent substrate 1 include transparent polymers such as polyester polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, cellulose polymers such as diacetyl cellulose and triacetyl cellulose, polycarbonate polymers, acrylic polymers such as polymethylmethacrylate. A film consisting of In addition, polystyrene, styrene-based polymers such as acrylonitrile / styrene copolymers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefins having a cyclic or norbornene structure, olefin-based polymers such as ethylene / propylene copolymers, vinyl chloride-based polymers, nylon, aromatic polyamides, etc. There is also a film made of a transparent polymer such as the amide polymer. Furthermore, imide polymers, sulfone polymers, polyether sulfone polymers, polyether ether ketone polymers, polyphenylene sulfide polymers, vinyl alcohol polymers, vinylidene chloride polymers, vinyl butyral polymers, arylate polymers, polyoxymethylene polymers A film made of a transparent polymer such as a polymer, an epoxy-based polymer or a blend of the above-mentioned polymers can also be used. In particular, those having optical little birefringence are preferably used.

The thickness of the transparent substrate 1 can be appropriately determined, but is generally about 10 to 500 μm in view of strength, workability such as handleability, and thin layer property. Especially 20-300μ
m is preferable, and 30 to 200 μm is more preferable.

Resin coating layer 2 having a finely textured surface
As long as it is formed on the transparent substrate 1, its forming method is not particularly limited, and an appropriate method can be adopted.
For example, the surface of the film used to form the resin film layer 2 may be roughened in advance by an appropriate method such as sandblasting, embossing roll, or chemical etching to give a fine uneven structure to the film surface. The method of forming the surface of the material itself forming the resin film layer 2 into a fine concavo-convex structure can be mentioned. Another example is a method in which a resin film layer is separately applied on the resin film layer 2 and a fine concavo-convex structure is provided on the surface of the resin film layer by a transfer method using a mold or the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, fine particles 3 are formed on the resin film layer 2.
And the like to give a fine concavo-convex structure. As the method for forming the fine concavo-convex structure, two or more kinds of methods may be combined to form a layer in which fine concavo-convex structure surfaces in different states are combined. The resin film layer 2
Among these forming methods, the method of providing the resin film layer 2 containing the fine particles 3 dispersed therein is preferable from the viewpoint of the formability of the surface of the fine concavo-convex structure.

A method for forming the resin film layer 2 by dispersing and containing the fine particles 3 will be described below. The resin film layer 2
As the resin forming the resin, fine particles 3 can be dispersed, and a resin having sufficient strength as a film after forming the resin film layer and having transparency can be used without particular limitation. Examples of the resin include a thermosetting resin, a thermoplastic resin, an ultraviolet curable resin, an electron beam curable resin, a two-component mixed resin, and the like. An ultraviolet curable resin that can efficiently form a light diffusion layer by a processing operation is suitable.

Examples of the ultraviolet curable resin include various resins such as polyester, acrylic, urethane, acrylurethane, amide, silicone and epoxy resins, and ultraviolet curable monomers, oligomers and polymers. Is included. The UV-curable resin preferably used is, for example, one having a UV-polymerizable functional group, and particularly one containing a component of an acrylic monomer or oligomer having two or more, particularly 3 to 6 of the functional group. . Further, an ultraviolet polymerization initiator is blended with the ultraviolet curable resin.

The resin film layer 2 may contain additives such as a leveling agent, a thixotropic agent and an antistatic agent. In forming the resin film layer, by incorporating a thixotropic agent (0.1 μm or less silica, mica, etc.), it is possible to easily form a fine concavo-convex structure on the surface of the resin film layer (light diffusion layer) by the protruding particles. You can

As the fine particles 3, those having transparency such as various metal oxides, glass, and plastic can be used without particular limitation. For example, silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, calcium oxide, tin oxide,
Inorganic oxide, cadmium oxide, inorganic fine particles that may be conductive such as antimony oxide, polymethylmethacrylate, polystyrene, polyurethane, acrylic-styrene copolymer, crosslinked or uncrosslinked from various polymers such as benzoguanamine, melamine, and polycarbonate Examples thereof include organic fine particles and silicone fine particles. Crushed silica powder or the like can be used as the inorganic fine particles such as silica, and bead particles are used as the organic fine particles. These fine particles 3 may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The average particle diameter of the fine particles is adjusted and used according to the thickness of the resin coating layer, and is usually about 1 to 10 μm, preferably 2 to 10 μm.

The method for producing the light diffusing sheet is not particularly limited, and an appropriate method can be adopted. For example, a resin containing the fine particles 3 (for example, an ultraviolet curable resin: a coating liquid) is applied onto the transparent substrate 1, dried, and then cured to form an uneven shape whose surface has the glossiness. This is performed by forming the light diffusion layer 4 by the resin film layer 2 so as to exhibit. The coating liquid may be diluted with a general solvent such as toluene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, isopropyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol, or can be directly coated without dilution. .

The coating method of the above-mentioned coating liquid is not particularly limited as long as it is a coating method which causes a difference in glossiness of the surface of the fine unevenness of the obtained light diffusion layer and causes anisotropy in diffusivity. However, as a coating method, it is preferable to adopt a bar coater method using a Mayer bar or the like or a microgravure coater method.

In the formation of the light diffusion layer 4, the average particle diameter of the fine particles 3 contained in the coating liquid, the ratio thereof and the thickness of the resin coating layer 2 are appropriately adjusted so that the surface has a fine uneven structure.

The ratio of the fine particles 3 contained in the coating liquid is not particularly limited, but is 6 to 2 relative to 100 parts by weight of the resin.
The amount of 0 parts by weight is preferable in terms of antiglare property and contrast of displayed image. The thickness of the resin film layer 2 is not particularly limited, but is about 2 to 10 μm, particularly 3 to 10 μm.
It is preferably m.

A low refractive index layer having an antireflection function can be provided on the uneven surface of the resin coating layer 2 forming the light diffusion layer 4. The material of the low refractive index layer is the resin film layer 2
Is not particularly limited as long as it has a lower refractive index than
For example, a low refractive index material such as fluorine-containing polysiloxane can be used. The thickness of the low refractive index layer is not particularly limited, but is about 0.05 to 0.3 μm, particularly 0.1 to
It is preferably 0.3 μm. The low refractive index layer can impart an antireflection function, and can effectively suppress irregular reflection on the image surface of a display or the like.

An optical element can be bonded to the transparent substrate 1 of the light diffusing sheet shown in FIG. 1 (not shown).

The optical element may be a polarizer.
The polarizer is not particularly limited, and various kinds can be used.
Examples of the polarizer include a hydrophilic polymer film such as a polyvinyl alcohol film, a partially formalized polyvinyl alcohol film, an ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer partially saponified film, and a dichromatic dye such as iodine or a dichroic dye. Examples include polyene-oriented films such as those obtained by adsorbing a volatile substance and uniaxially stretched, polyvinyl alcohol dehydrated products, polyvinyl chloride dehydrochlorinated products, and the like. Among these, a polarizer composed of a polyvinyl alcohol film and a dichroic substance such as iodine is preferable. The thickness of these polarizers is not particularly limited, but generally 5 to 8
It is about 0 μm.

A polarizer obtained by dying a polyvinyl alcohol film with iodine and uniaxially stretching is prepared by, for example, immersing polyvinyl alcohol in an aqueous solution of iodine, dyeing it, and stretching it to 3 to 7 times its original length. You can If necessary, it may be immersed in an aqueous solution of boric acid, potassium iodide, or the like. If necessary, the polyvinyl alcohol film may be immersed in water and washed with water before dyeing. By washing the polyvinyl alcohol-based film with water, it is possible to wash the stains and antiblocking agent on the surface of the polyvinyl alcohol-based film, and by swelling the polyvinyl alcohol-based film, the effect of preventing unevenness such as uneven dyeing is also obtained. is there. Stretching may be performed after dyeing with iodine, stretching while dyeing, or stretching and then dyeing with iodine. It can be stretched in an aqueous solution of boric acid or potassium iodide, or in a water bath.

The above-mentioned polarizer is usually used as a polarizing plate with a transparent protective film provided on one side or both sides. The transparent protective film is preferably one having excellent transparency, mechanical strength, thermal stability, moisture shielding property, isotropy and the like. As the transparent protective film, the same material as that of the transparent substrate exemplified above is used. As the transparent protective film, a transparent protective film made of the same polymer material on the front and back sides may be used, or a transparent protective film made of different polymer materials may be used. When the light diffusing sheet is provided on one side or both sides of a polarizer (polarizing plate), the transparent substrate of the light diffusing sheet can also serve as the transparent protective film of the polarizer.

In addition, the surface of the transparent protective film to which the polarizer is not adhered may be a hard coat layer or may have been treated for the purpose of preventing sticking. The hard coat treatment is carried out for the purpose of preventing scratches on the surface of the polarizing plate. For example, a transparent protective film is used to form a cured film excellent in hardness and sliding characteristics with an appropriate ultraviolet curable resin such as acrylic or silicone. It can be formed by a method of adding to the surface of the. Further, the sticking prevention treatment is performed for the purpose of preventing adhesion with an adjacent layer. In addition,
The hard coat layer, the sticking prevention layer and the like can be provided on the transparent protective film itself, or can be separately provided as an optical layer separately from the transparent protective film.

As an optical element, in practical use, an optical film in which another optical element (optical layer) is laminated on the polarizing plate can be used. Although the optical layer is not particularly limited, for example, a reflection plate, a semi-transmission plate, a phase difference plate (1 /
One or two or more optical layers which may be used for forming a liquid crystal display device such as a viewing angle compensation film, etc. can be used. In particular, a reflective polarizing plate or a semi-transmissive polarizing plate in which a reflecting plate or a semi-transmissive reflecting plate is further laminated on a polarizing plate, an elliptically polarizing plate or a circular polarizing plate in which a retardation plate is further laminated on a polarizing plate, a polarizing plate A wide viewing angle polarizing plate in which a viewing angle compensation film is further laminated on the plate, or a polarizing plate in which a brightness improving film is further laminated on the polarizing plate is preferable.

The reflective polarizing plate is a polarizing plate provided with a reflective layer, and is for forming a liquid crystal display device of the type that reflects incident light from the viewing side (display side) to display. Further, there is an advantage that it is possible to omit the incorporation of a light source such as a backlight and to easily reduce the thickness of the liquid crystal display device. The reflective polarizing plate can be formed by an appropriate method such as a method in which a reflective layer made of a metal or the like is attached to one surface of the polarizing plate through the transparent protective film or the like, if necessary.

Specific examples of the reflection type polarizing plate include a transparent protective film which is mat-treated if necessary, and one side of which is provided with a foil or a vapor deposition film made of a reflective metal such as aluminum to form a reflection layer. can give.

The reflection plate may be used as a reflection sheet in which a reflection layer is provided on an appropriate film according to the transparent film instead of the method of directly applying it to the transparent protective film of the polarizing plate. Since the reflective layer is usually made of a metal, the use state in which the reflective surface is covered with a transparent protective film, a polarizing plate, or the like prevents the reduction of the reflectance due to oxidation, and thus the initial reflectance is maintained for a long time. It is more preferable from the viewpoint of avoiding the additional provision of the protective layer.

The semi-transmissive polarizing plate can be obtained by using a semi-transmissive reflective layer such as a half mirror which reflects and transmits light by the reflective layer. The semi-transmissive polarizing plate is usually provided on the back side of the liquid crystal cell, and when the liquid crystal display device is used in a relatively bright atmosphere,
An image is displayed by reflecting incident light from the viewing side (display side), and in a relatively dark atmosphere, an image is displayed using a built-in light source such as a backlight built into the back side of the semi-transmissive polarizing plate. It is possible to form a liquid crystal display device of the type that displays That is, the semi-transmissive polarizing plate is useful for forming a liquid crystal display device of a type that can save energy for using a light source such as a backlight in a bright atmosphere and can be used with a built-in light source in a relatively dark atmosphere. Is.

An elliptically polarizing plate or a circularly polarizing plate in which a retardation plate is further laminated on a polarizing plate will be described. A phase difference plate or the like is used when changing linearly polarized light to elliptically polarized light or circularly polarized light, changing elliptically polarized light or circularly polarized light to linearly polarized light, or changing the polarization direction of linearly polarized light. In particular, a so-called ¼ wavelength plate (also called a λ / 4 plate) is used as a retardation plate that changes linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light or changes circularly polarized light into linearly polarized light. A half-wave plate (also called a λ / 2 plate) is usually used to change the polarization direction of linearly polarized light.

The elliptically polarizing plate compensates (prevents) coloring (blue or yellow) generated by the birefringence of the liquid crystal layer of a super twisted nematic (STN) type liquid crystal display device, and is used for black and white display without the coloring. Used effectively. Further, the one in which the three-dimensional refractive index is controlled is preferable because it can also compensate (prevent) coloring that occurs when the screen of the liquid crystal display device is viewed obliquely. The circularly polarizing plate is effectively used, for example, when adjusting the color tone of an image of a reflective liquid crystal display device in which an image is displayed in color, and also has a function of preventing reflection. Specific examples of the above-mentioned retarder include polycarbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polypropylene and other polyolefins, polyarylate, and a birefringent film obtained by stretching a film made of a suitable polymer such as polyamide. And an alignment film of a liquid crystal polymer, a film in which an alignment layer of a liquid crystal polymer is supported by a film, and the like. The retardation plate may be one having an appropriate retardation according to the purpose of use, such as various wavelength plates or one for the purpose of compensating for the viewing angle and the like due to birefringence of the liquid crystal layer, and may be two or more kinds. It may be one in which retardation plates are laminated to control optical properties such as retardation.

The elliptically polarizing plate and the reflection type elliptically polarizing plate are obtained by laminating the polarizing plate or the reflection type polarizing plate and the retardation plate in an appropriate combination. Such an elliptically polarizing plate or the like can be formed by sequentially stacking them separately in the manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device so as to form a combination of a (reflection type) polarizing plate and a retardation plate. An optical film such as a polarizing plate is excellent in quality stability and stacking workability, and has an advantage that manufacturing efficiency of a liquid crystal display device can be improved.

The viewing angle compensating film is a film for widening the viewing angle so that the image can be seen relatively clearly even when the screen of the liquid crystal display device is viewed from a slightly oblique direction rather than perpendicular to the screen. Such a viewing angle compensating retardation plate includes, for example, a retardation film, an alignment film such as a liquid crystal polymer, or a transparent substrate on which an alignment layer such as a liquid crystal polymer is supported. A normal retardation film is a polymer film having birefringence that is uniaxially stretched in its plane direction, while a retardation plate used as a viewing angle compensation film is biaxially stretched in its plane direction. A polymer film having birefringence, a biaxially oriented film such as a polymer having birefringence in which the refractive index in the thickness direction is uniaxially stretched in the plane direction and also controlled in the thickness direction and the birefringence is controlled, Used. Examples of the obliquely oriented film include those obtained by adhering a heat-shrinkable film to a polymer film and subjecting the polymer film to stretching treatment and / or shrinking treatment under the action of the shrinkage force caused by heating, and those obtained by obliquely orienting a liquid crystal polymer. Can be mentioned. The raw material polymer of the retardation plate is the same as the polymer explained in the previous retardation plate, which prevents coloration due to the change of the viewing angle due to the phase difference due to the liquid crystal cell and enlarges the viewing angle for good viewing. An appropriate one can be used for the purpose such as.

From the standpoint of achieving a wide viewing angle for good visibility, an optically anisotropic layer composed of a liquid crystal polymer alignment layer, particularly a discotic liquid crystal polymer tilted alignment layer, was supported by a triacetyl cellulose film. An optical compensation retardation plate can be preferably used.

The polarizing plate in which the polarizing plate and the brightness enhancement film are bonded together is usually used by being provided on the back side of the liquid crystal cell. The brightness enhancement film has a property of reflecting linearly polarized light of a predetermined polarization axis or circularly polarized light of a predetermined direction when natural light is incident due to reflection from the backlight of a liquid crystal display device or the back side, and transmits other light. The polarizing plate in which the brightness enhancement film and the polarizing plate are laminated, receives light from a light source such as a backlight to obtain transmitted light in a predetermined polarization state and reflects light other than the predetermined polarization state without transmitting it. It The light reflected on the surface of the brightness enhancement film is further inverted through a reflection layer or the like provided on the back side thereof and re-incident on the brightness enhancement film, and part or all of the light is transmitted as light in a predetermined polarization state to achieve brightness. The brightness can be improved by increasing the amount of light transmitted through the improvement film and by increasing the amount of light that can be used for liquid crystal display image display and the like by supplying polarized light that is difficult to be absorbed by the polarizer. That is,
When light is incident from the back side of the liquid crystal cell through the polarizer without using the brightness enhancement film, almost all light with a polarization direction that does not match the polarization axis of the polarizer will enter the polarizer. It is absorbed and does not pass through the polarizer. That is, although depending on the characteristics of the polarizer used, about 50% of light is absorbed by the polarizer, and the amount of light that can be used for liquid crystal image display and the like is reduced accordingly, and the image becomes dark. The brightness enhancement film causes light having a polarization direction that is absorbed by the polarizer to be reflected once by the brightness enhancement film without being incident on the polarizer, and then inverted through a reflection layer or the like provided behind it. The light-increasing film is made to pass only the polarized light whose polarization direction reflected and inverted between the two is such that it can pass through the polarizer. Since the light is supplied to the polarizer, light from a backlight or the like can be efficiently used for displaying an image on the liquid crystal display device, and the screen can be brightened.

The above-mentioned brightness enhancement film is, for example, a multilayer thin film of a dielectric material or a multilayer laminate of thin film films having different refractive index anisotropies, transmits linearly polarized light of a predetermined polarization axis and reflects other light. Which exhibits the properties of, such as an alignment film of a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer or a film in which the alignment liquid crystal layer is supported on a film substrate, reflects either left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light and transmits other light. Appropriate materials such as those exhibiting characteristics can be used.

Therefore, in the brightness enhancement film of the type which transmits the linearly polarized light of the above-mentioned predetermined polarization axis, the transmitted light is directly incident on the polarizing plate with the polarization axis aligned, thereby suppressing the absorption loss by the polarizing plate. It can be efficiently transmitted. On the other hand, with a brightness enhancement film that drops circularly polarized light like a cholesteric liquid crystal layer, it is possible to make it enter the polarizer as it is, but from the viewpoint of suppressing absorption loss, the circularly polarized light is linearly polarized through a retardation plate. It is preferable that the light is incident on the polarizing plate. By using a ¼ wavelength plate as the retardation plate, circularly polarized light can be converted into linearly polarized light.

The retardation plate functioning as a quarter-wave plate in a wide wavelength range such as a visible light region is, for example, a retardation layer functioning as a quarter-wave plate and another retardation film for light-color light having a wavelength of 550 nm. It can be obtained by a method of superposing a retardation layer exhibiting characteristics, for example, a retardation layer functioning as a half-wave plate. Therefore, the retardation plate disposed between the polarizing plate and the brightness enhancement film may be composed of one layer or two or more retardation layers.

As for the cholesteric liquid crystal layer,
Two layers or three layers with different reflection wavelengths
By arranging the layers so as to overlap each other, it is possible to obtain an element that reflects circularly polarized light in a wide wavelength range such as a visible light region, and based on that, it is possible to obtain transmitted circularly polarized light in a wide wavelength range.

Further, the polarizing plate may be formed by laminating a polarizing plate and two or three or more optical layers, like the above-mentioned polarization separation type polarizing plate. Therefore, it may be a reflective elliptical polarizing plate or a semi-transmissive elliptical polarizing plate in which the above reflective polarizing plate or semi-transmissive polarizing plate is combined with a retardation plate.

Laminating a light diffusing sheet on the optical element,
Further, various optical layers can be laminated on the polarizing plate by a method of sequentially laminating them separately in the manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device or the like. There is an advantage that it is excellent in assembling work and can improve the manufacturing process of liquid crystal display devices and the like. Appropriate adhesion means such as an adhesive layer may be used for lamination. In adhering the above-mentioned polarizing plate and other optical films, the optical axes thereof can be set at an appropriate arrangement angle according to the intended retardation characteristics and the like.

At least one polarizing plate or at least one polarizing plate is used.
At least one surface of an optical element such as a laminated optical film is provided with the light diffusing sheet,
An adhesive layer for adhering to another member such as a liquid crystal cell may be provided on the surface on which the light diffusing sheet is not provided. The pressure-sensitive adhesive that forms the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is not particularly limited, but for example, an acrylic polymer, a silicone-based polymer, polyester, polyurethane, polyamide, polyether, or a fluorine-based or rubber-based polymer as a base polymer is appropriately selected. Can be used. In particular, an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive, which has excellent optical transparency, exhibits appropriate wettability, cohesiveness and adhesiveness, and has excellent weather resistance and heat resistance, can be preferably used.

In addition to the above, prevention of foaming phenomenon or peeling phenomenon due to moisture absorption, deterioration of optical characteristics due to thermal expansion difference, prevention of warpage of liquid crystal cells, and further formation of a liquid crystal display device of high quality and excellent durability, etc. From this point of view, an adhesive layer having a low moisture absorption rate and excellent heat resistance is preferable.

The adhesive layer is made of, for example, natural or synthetic resins, in particular, tackifying resins, fillers, pigments, colorants, and oxidizers made of glass fibers, glass beads, metal powder, other inorganic powders, and the like. It may contain an additive such as an inhibitor that is added to the adhesive layer. Further, it may be an adhesive layer containing fine particles and exhibiting light diffusion property.

The adhesive layer may be attached to an optical element such as a polarizing plate or an optical film by an appropriate method. As an example thereof, a pressure-sensitive adhesive solution of about 10 to 40% by weight in which a base polymer or a composition thereof is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent composed of a single solvent or a mixture of appropriate solvents such as toluene and ethyl acetate is prepared, A method in which it is directly attached on the optical element by an appropriate development method such as a casting method or a coating method, or a method in which an adhesive layer is formed on the separator and transferred to the optical element in accordance with the above, etc. can give. The adhesive layer may be provided as a layer in which layers having different compositions or types are stacked. The thickness of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can be appropriately determined depending on the purpose of use, adhesive strength, etc., and is generally 1 to 500 μm, preferably 5 to 200 μm, and particularly 10 to 100 μm.
Is preferred.

The exposed surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is temporarily covered with a separator for the purpose of preventing its contamination or the like until it is put into practical use. As a result, it is possible to prevent contact with the adhesive layer in the usual handling state. As a separator,
Except for the above thickness conditions, for example, a plastic film, rubber sheet, paper, cloth, non-woven fabric, net, foamed sheet or metal foil, or an appropriate thin sheet such as a laminated body thereof may be used if necessary, such as silicone-based or long-chain alkyl-based. It is possible to use an appropriate one according to the prior art, such as one coated with an appropriate release agent such as fluorine-based or molybdenum sulfide.

In the present invention, each layer such as the polarizer, transparent protective film, optical layer, etc. forming the above-mentioned optical element, and each layer such as the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, for example, salicylic acid ester compounds, benzophenol compounds, benzotriazole compounds, etc. Alternatively, it may be one having an ultraviolet absorbing ability by a method such as a method of treating with an ultraviolet absorber such as a cyanoacrylate compound or a nickel complex salt compound.

The optical element provided with the light diffusion sheet of the present invention can be preferably used for forming various devices such as a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device can be formed in a conventional manner. That is, a liquid crystal display device is generally formed by appropriately assembling a liquid crystal cell, an optical element, and a component such as an illumination system, if necessary, and incorporating a drive circuit. There is no particular limitation except that an element is used, and the method can be applied conventionally. The liquid crystal cell may be of any type such as TN type, STN type, and π type.

It is possible to form an appropriate liquid crystal display device such as a liquid crystal display device in which the above-mentioned optical element is arranged on one side or both sides of a liquid crystal cell, or a device using a backlight or a reflector in an illumination system. In that case, the optical element according to the present invention can be installed on one side or both sides of the liquid crystal cell. When optical elements are provided on both sides, they may be the same or different. further,
When forming a liquid crystal display device, appropriate components such as a diffusion plate, an anti-glare layer, an antireflection film, a protective plate, a prism array, a lens array sheet, a light diffusion plate, and a backlight are formed in one layer or two layers at appropriate positions. The above can be arranged.

Next, an organic electroluminescence device (organic EL display device) will be described. Generally, in an organic EL display device, a transparent electrode, an organic light emitting layer, and a metal electrode are sequentially laminated on a transparent substrate to form a light emitting body (organic electroluminescent light emitting body). Here, the organic light emitting layer is a laminate of various organic thin films, for example, a laminate of a hole injection layer made of a triphenylamine derivative or the like and a light emitting layer made of a fluorescent organic solid such as anthracene, Alternatively, a structure having various combinations such as a laminated body of such a light emitting layer and an electron injection layer formed of a perylene derivative, or a laminated body of these hole injection layer, light emitting layer, and electron injection layer is known. Has been.

In the organic EL display device, holes and electrons are injected into the organic light emitting layer by applying a voltage to the transparent electrode and the metal electrode, and energy generated by the recombination of these holes and electrons is fluorescent. It emits light based on the principle that a substance is excited and the excited fluorescent substance emits light when returning to the ground state. The mechanism of recombination in the middle is similar to that of a general diode, and as can be expected from this, the current and the emission intensity show a strong nonlinearity with rectification with respect to the applied voltage.

In the organic EL display device, at least one of the electrodes must be transparent in order to extract light emitted from the organic light emitting layer.
A transparent electrode formed of a transparent conductor such as O) is used as an anode. On the other hand, it is important to use a substance having a small work function for the cathode in order to facilitate electron injection and increase the luminous efficiency, and a metal electrode such as Mg-Ag or Al-Li is usually used.

In the organic EL display device having such a structure, the organic light emitting layer is formed of an extremely thin film having a thickness of about 10 nm. For this reason, the organic light emitting layer transmits light almost completely like the transparent electrode. As a result, when entering from the surface of the transparent substrate during non-light emission, the light transmitted through the transparent electrode and the organic light emitting layer and reflected by the metal electrode goes out to the surface side of the transparent substrate again, when viewed from the outside, The display surface of the organic EL display device looks like a mirror surface.

In an organic EL display device including an organic electroluminescent light-emitting body having a transparent electrode on the front surface side of an organic light-emitting layer which emits light when a voltage is applied and a metal electrode on the back surface side of the organic light-emitting layer, A polarizing plate can be provided on the surface side of the electrode, and a retardation plate can be provided between the transparent electrode and the polarizing plate.

Since the retardation plate and the polarizing plate have a function of polarizing the light incident from the outside and reflected by the metal electrode, there is an effect that the mirror surface of the metal electrode is not visually recognized from the outside by the polarization action. Especially, the phase difference plate is 1/4.
The mirror surface of the metal electrode can be completely shielded by using a wave plate and adjusting the angle between the polarization directions of the polarizing plate and the retardation plate to π / 4.

That is, as for the external light incident on the organic EL display device, only the linearly polarized light component is transmitted by the polarizing plate. This linearly polarized light is generally elliptically polarized by the retardation plate, but it is circularly polarized when the retardation plate is a 1/4 wavelength plate and the polarization direction between the polarizing plate and the retardation plate is π / 4. .

This circularly polarized light passes through the transparent substrate, the transparent electrode, and the organic thin film, is reflected by the metal electrode, passes through the organic thin film, the transparent electrode, and the transparent substrate again, and becomes linearly polarized light again on the retardation plate. . Since this linearly polarized light is orthogonal to the polarization direction of the polarizing plate, it cannot pass through the polarizing plate. as a result,
The mirror surface of the metal electrode can be completely shielded.

[0065]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 100 parts by weight of an ultraviolet curable acrylic resin oligomer,
A coating liquid was prepared by mixing 14 parts by weight of silica having an average particle diameter of 4 μm, 7 parts by weight of a benzophenone-based photopolymerization initiator, and a solvent (toluene) which was weighed so that its solid content was 30% by weight. This coating solution is applied to one side of a triacetyl cellulose film by a bar coater, dried at 120 ° C. for 5 minutes, and then cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays to form a resin film layer having a thickness of about 4 μm on the surface of the fine concavo-convex structure. A light diffusing sheet having

Example 2 100 parts by weight of an ultraviolet curable acrylic resin oligomer,
A coating solution was prepared by mixing 17 parts by weight of polystyrene beads having an average particle diameter of 3 μm, 5 parts by weight of a benzophenone-based photopolymerization initiator and a solvent (toluene) which was weighed so that its solid content was 40% by weight. . This coating solution is applied to one side of a triacetyl cellulose film with a micro gravure coater, dried at 120 ° C. for 5 minutes, and then cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays to form a fine uneven structure surface having a thickness of about 3 μm. A light diffusing sheet having a resin film layer was produced.

Comparative Example 1 A light diffusing sheet was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the prepared coating liquid was applied by a die coater.

The surface of the light diffusing layer of the light diffusing sheets obtained in the above Examples and Comparative Examples was measured by a gloss meter (manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd., goniophotometer UGV) in accordance with JIS-Z8741.
-5DP) was used to measure 60 ° gloss. Regarding the glossiness, the maximum value (a) and the minimum value (b) were measured by changing the direction of light incidence. From these measured values, the difference (ab) between the maximum value (a) and the minimum value (b) of glossiness, {(a + b) /
A value of 2} × 0.1 was calculated. The results are shown in Table 1.

The light diffusing sheets obtained in the examples and comparative examples were attached to the surface of a liquid crystal display element (polarizing plate), and installed in a room with a brightness of 1000 lux, which was illuminated by a fluorescent lamp from above. Then, the antiglare function of the reflected light of the fluorescent lamp reflected on the surface and the contrast of the displayed image were visually evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0071]

[Table 1] The coating liquid is applied by the bar coater in Example 1 and by the micro gravure coater in Example 2, and the glossiness of the fine uneven surface of the obtained light diffusing layer varies depending on the incident direction. Anisotropy is observed in diffusivity, and both the antiglare function and the contrast of the displayed image are good. On the other hand, in Comparative Example 1, only the necessary amount is coated with the coating liquid by a die coater that does not apply external force, and the glossiness of the surface of the fine unevenness of the obtained light diffusion layer has almost no difference depending on the incident direction. . For this reason, the surface diffusivity is isotropic with respect to the external light, and the display screen is blurred during black display, resulting in reduced contrast.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a cross-sectional view of a light diffusing sheet of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: transparent substrate 2: Resin film layer 3: Fine particles 4: Light diffusion layer

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Iida Shomori             1-2 1-2 Shimohozumi, Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture Nitto             Electric Works Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H042 BA02 BA03 BA11 BA20                 2H091 FA32X FA32Z FA37X FA37Z                       FB02 FB11                 4F100 AA20 AJ06 AK01A AK25                       AR00B BA02 BA07 DD01A                       DE01A DE01H GB90 JB14A                       JN01B JN30 JN30A YY00A                 5G435 AA02 FF04 FF06 GG43

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A light diffusing layer comprising a resin coating layer having fine irregularities formed on the surface thereof, wherein the value of 60 ° glossiness (JIS-Z8741) of the surface of the fine irregularities differs depending on the incident direction, The maximum value (a) and the minimum value (b) of the degrees are expressed by the formula: (ab)> {(a + b) / 2} × 0.
1. A light diffusing layer satisfying 1. 2. The light diffusion layer according to claim 1, wherein the resin film layer contains fine particles, and the surface unevenness of the resin film layer is formed by fine particles. 3. The light diffusion layer according to claim 1, wherein the resin film layer is formed of an ultraviolet curable resin. 4. A light diffusing sheet, wherein the light diffusing layer according to claim 1 is provided on at least one surface of a transparent substrate. 5. An optical element, wherein the light diffusion layer according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or the light diffusion sheet according to claim 4 is provided on one side or both sides of an optical element. 6. A display device equipped with the light diffusing sheet according to claim 4 or the optical element according to claim 5.