JP2007133167A - Optical compensation element and its manufacturing method, liquid crystal display, and liquid crystal projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical compensation element that optically compensates the liquid crystal layer displaying in black with higher precision and prevents a leakage of light over a wide viewing angle, and to provide a method of manufacturing the above element, and also a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal projector of a high contrast and image quality using the above optical compensation element. <P>SOLUTION: This optical compensation element manufacturing method has the step of forming an orientation layer on a support to control the orientation of the liquid crystalline compound, an optical anisotropic layer stacking step of stacking a polymerized liquid crystal compound containing a liquid crystalline compound on this orientation layer, the heating step of applying a heat treatment to this optical anisotropic layer, and an UV irradiation step of radiating an ultraviolet ray to this optical anisotropic layer. The radiation of the ultraviolet ray in the above UV irradiation step is started either at the same time as the above heating or within 1 second after the heating in the above heating step. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical compensation element, a method for manufacturing the optical compensation element, a liquid crystal display device, and a liquid crystal projector.

In recent years, the use of liquid crystal display devices has been rapidly advanced, and is used in mobile phones, personal computer monitors, televisions, liquid crystal projectors, and the like.
In general, a liquid crystal display device is in a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, a VA (Vertical Alignment) mode, an IPS (In-Plane Switching) mode, an OCB (Optically Compensatory Bend) mode, an ECB (Electrically Bending mode), or the like. A liquid crystal display device that expresses characters and images by operating a liquid crystal and electrically controlling light passing through the liquid crystal to display a difference in brightness on a screen.
As such a liquid crystal display device, a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) -LCD is generally known, and a TN mode is the main liquid crystal operation mode of the TFT-LCD. On the other hand, as the application development of liquid crystal display devices progresses in recent years, the demand for higher contrast is increasing, and research on various liquid crystal display devices has been actively conducted.
In a TN mode liquid crystal display device, nematic liquid crystal twisted by 90 ° is sealed between two glass substrates, and a pair of polarizing plates are arranged in crossed Nicols outside the two glasses. When no voltage is applied, the linearly polarized light that has passed through the polarizer on the polarizer side is twisted by 90 ° in the liquid crystal layer and passes through the polarizer on the analyzer side, resulting in white display. In addition, when the voltage is sufficiently applied, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal changes substantially perpendicular to the liquid crystal panel, and the linearly polarized light passing through the polarizer on the polarizer side passes through the liquid crystal layer without changing the polarization state. As a result, the light reaches the polarizing plate on the analyzer side and black is displayed.
A liquid crystal display device operating in this display mode has a viewing angle that causes deterioration of display characteristics due to a decrease in contrast or a gradation inversion phenomenon in which the brightness is reversed in gradation display when the display screen is viewed from an oblique direction. There is a dependency problem.
Such a problem of viewing angle dependency is caused by light leakage even if an attempt is made to display a liquid crystal display device in black, depending on the viewing angle.

Conventionally, the phase difference value of the light passing through the liquid crystal layer in the black display state and the phase difference value of the optically anisotropic layer are combined, and the liquid crystal layer in the black display state is optically compensated three-dimensionally, There has been proposed an optical compensation film that eliminates light leakage from any direction and improves the problem of viewing angle dependency.
For example, an optical compensation film comprising a transparent support such as a triacetylcellulose (TAC) film and an optically anisotropic layer provided thereon by the applicant of the present application, wherein the optically anisotropic layer has a discotic structure. An optical anisotropy layer comprising a compound having a unit, wherein the disc surface of the discotic structural unit is inclined with respect to the transparent support surface, and the disc surface and the transparent support surface of the discotic structural unit Proposed an optical compensation film having a hybrid orientation in which the angle between and the optically anisotropic layer changes in the thickness direction of the optically anisotropic layer, and the transparent support has the characteristics of an optically uniaxial negative refractive index ellipsoid. (See Patent Document 1).
According to this optical compensation film, since the discotic structural units of the optically anisotropic layer are arranged so as to be mirror-symmetrical with the liquid crystal layer in the black display state, in the TN mode liquid crystal display device, the two sheets By arranging the optical compensation film (WV film) with the liquid crystal cell sandwiched therebetween, the liquid crystal layer in the black display state is optically optically characterized as the optical characteristics of the entire laminate of the transparent support and the discotic structural unit. It is compensated and light leakage can be prevented in a wide viewing angle.

However, in this case, by using the optical compensation film, the problem of the viewing angle dependency of the liquid crystal display device has been improved and the viewing angle has been successfully expanded. The demand for liquid crystal monitors, liquid crystal projectors, and the like has increased, and higher viewing angles and higher contrast are desired for the large screen liquid crystal monitors, liquid crystal projectors, and the like. In particular, a liquid crystal projector is required to have higher contrast because light incident on a liquid crystal cell at various angles is integrated and projected on a screen by a projection lens, and the optical compensation film still has room for improvement. .
That is, in the optical compensation film, a TAC film is used for the transparent support, and it is difficult to make the thickness of the TAC film uniform and to obtain the desired optical characteristics of the TAC film with high accuracy. Therefore, it has been insufficient to optically compensate the liquid crystal layer in the black display state with higher accuracy to prevent light leakage in a wide viewing angle.
Further, conventionally, an optical film having a hybrid-aligned liquid crystal layer is disposed between two polarizing plates disposed so as to sandwich a liquid crystal cell, and the optical film is made of a plastic film having extremely low birefringence. There is known a method for improving the contrast ratio of a liquid crystal projector in which a hybrid-aligned liquid crystal layer is disposed on a base film (see Patent Document 2).
In order to accelerate the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound contained in the optically anisotropic layer when such an optically anisotropic layer that is optically compensated by forming the optical film or the like is laminated. In order to fix and stabilize the orientation direction of the liquid crystal compound contained in the polymerizable liquid crystal compound, ultraviolet irradiation is performed (see Patent Documents 2 and 3).
However, since the stabilization treatment is performed separately from the heat treatment and the ultraviolet irradiation, temperature variation occurs in the optically anisotropic layer, and the variation in the alignment direction of the liquid crystalline compound is caused by the temperature variation. As a result, there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain an optically anisotropic layer with little retardation variation. Such temperature variations also impair the uniformity of the retardation of the optically anisotropic layer, which has a problem of adversely affecting optical characteristics such as retardation.
Thus, it is insufficient to obtain a stable and good optical compensation film, and the optical compensation film as a whole is optically compensated for the liquid crystal layer in the black display state with a higher degree of accuracy. It was insufficient to prevent light leakage at the corners.

JP-A-8-50206 JP-A-8-43624 JP-A-9-73081

  An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems and achieve the following objects. That is, the present invention uses an optical compensation element, a method for stably obtaining the optical compensation element, and the optical compensation element to optically compensate a liquid crystal layer in a black display state with higher accuracy, and to achieve a wide viewing angle. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal projector with high viewing angle, high contrast and high image quality by preventing light leakage.

Means for solving the problems are as follows. That is,
<1> An alignment film forming step for forming an alignment film for controlling the alignment of a liquid crystalline compound on a support, and an optical anisotropic method for laminating a polymerizable liquid crystal compound containing a liquid crystalline compound on the alignment film An ultraviolet ray irradiation in the ultraviolet ray irradiation step, comprising: a layer layering step, a heat treatment step for heat-treating the optically anisotropic layer, and an ultraviolet ray irradiation step for irradiating the optically anisotropic layer with ultraviolet rays. Is started either simultaneously with the heating in the heat treatment step or within 1 second after the heating.
<2> The method for producing an optical compensation element according to <1>, wherein the optically anisotropic layer is formed by a polymerization reaction of the polymerizable composition.
<3> The above-mentioned <1>, wherein the optically anisotropic layer laminating step fixes by aligning the orientation angle of the liquid crystalline compound in the polymerizable liquid crystal compound in a state inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the optically anisotropic layer. To <2>. The method for producing an optical compensation element according to any one of the above.
<4> The method for producing an optical compensation element according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the orientation angle is a hybrid orientation that changes in a thickness direction of the optically anisotropic layer.
<5> The method for producing an optical compensation element according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein the liquid crystalline compound in the optically anisotropic layer has an alignment direction oriented in a certain direction. is there.
<6> The optical compensation element according to any one of <1> to <5>, wherein the optically anisotropic layer includes two layers having different orientation directions, and is provided on one surface of the support. Is the method.
<7> The method for producing an optical compensation element according to any one of <1> to <6>, wherein the optically anisotropic layer has two layers having orthogonal orientation directions.
<8> The method for producing an optical compensation element according to any one of <1> to <7>, wherein the polymerizable liquid crystal compound includes a discotic liquid crystal compound.
<9> The method for producing an optical compensation element according to any one of <1> to <7>, wherein the polymerizable liquid crystal compound includes a rod-like liquid crystal compound.
<10> An optical compensation element manufactured by at least one of <1> to <9>.
<11> The optical compensation element according to <10>, which is used in a liquid crystal projector.
<12> A liquid crystal element having at least a pair of electrodes and liquid crystal molecules sealed between the pair of electrodes, an optical compensation element disposed on either one or both sides of the liquid crystal element, the liquid crystal element, and the optical compensation A liquid crystal display device comprising: a polarizing element disposed opposite to the element, wherein the optical compensation element is the optical compensation element according to any one of <10> to <11>.
<13> The liquid crystal display device according to <12>, wherein the liquid crystal element is a twisted nematic type.
<14> A light source, a liquid crystal display device irradiated with illumination light from the light source, and a projection optical system that forms an image of light modulated by the liquid crystal display device on a screen, the liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal projector according to any one of <12> to <13>.

The method for producing an optical compensation element of the present invention comprises an alignment film forming step for forming an alignment film for controlling the alignment of a liquid crystalline compound on a support, and a polymerizable containing a liquid crystalline compound on the alignment film. An optically anisotropic layer laminating step for laminating a liquid crystal compound, a heat treatment step for heat-treating the optically anisotropic layer, and an ultraviolet irradiation step for irradiating the optically anisotropic layer with ultraviolet rays, The method of manufacturing an optical compensation element, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation in the ultraviolet irradiation step is started at the same time as the heating in the heat treatment step or within 1 second after the heating. Since the process and the ultraviolet irradiation process are performed simultaneously and performed within a short time, the optically anisotropic layer can be cured in a state with less thermal fluctuation, so optically compensated with higher accuracy, In a wide viewing angle It is possible to manufacture the optical compensation element capable of preventing the leakage.
In addition, since the optical compensation element of the present invention is provided with an optically anisotropic layer formed of at least a polymerizable liquid crystal compound on the surface of the support, the liquid crystal layer in the black display state can be opticalized with higher accuracy. Compensation can be made to prevent light leakage over a wide viewing angle.
The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal element having at least a pair of electrodes and liquid crystal molecules injected between the pair of electrodes, and an optical compensation element disposed on either one or both sides of the liquid crystal element. The liquid crystal element and the polarizing element disposed opposite to the optical compensation element, and the optical compensation element is the optical compensation element of the present invention, so that a high viewing angle and high contrast can be achieved.
The liquid crystal projector of the present invention includes a light source, a liquid crystal display device irradiated with illumination light from the light source, and a projection optical system that forms an image of light modulated by the liquid crystal display device on a screen. Since the liquid crystal display device is the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a high viewing angle and high contrast can be achieved.

  According to the present invention, an optical compensation element, a method for stably obtaining the optical compensation element, and the optical compensation element are used to optically compensate a liquid crystal layer in a black display state with higher accuracy, and in a wide viewing angle. By preventing light leakage, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal projector that have a high viewing angle, high contrast, and high image quality.

(Manufacturing method of optical compensation element)
The method for producing the optical compensation element of the present invention is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, an alignment film forming step, an optical anisotropic layer stacking step, a heat treatment step, UV irradiation step, the ultraviolet irradiation in the ultraviolet irradiation step is started at the same time as the heating in the heat treatment step and within 1 second after the heating, and other steps appropriately selected as necessary And the like.

<Alignment film formation process>
The alignment film forming step is a step of forming an alignment film for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal compound on the support.

  The alignment film forming step is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose.For example, an alignment film forming coating solution made of polyimide resin or the like is prepared, and the alignment film forming coating solution is The alignment film is laminated by coating on a support using a bar coater, spin coater, die coater or the like. Next, the surface of the laminated alignment film is rubbed to provide an alignment function, thereby forming an alignment film having a certain alignment direction.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said rubbing process, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, the process which rubs the surface of the film | membrane which consists of the said organic compound several times in a fixed direction with paper or cloth is mentioned.
The type of the organic compound is not particularly limited, and can be determined according to the alignment state (particularly the alignment angle) of the liquid crystalline compound. For example, in order to align the liquid crystalline compound horizontally, Examples thereof include polymers for alignment films that do not lower the surface energy.
Specific examples of the alignment film polymer include modified polyvinyl alcohol (described in JP-A No. 2002-62427), acrylic acid when the liquid crystalline compound is aligned in a direction orthogonal to the rubbing treatment direction. Preferable examples include system copolymers (described in JP-A No. 2002-98836) polyimide and polyamic acid (described in JP-A No. 2002-268068).
The alignment film preferably has a reactive group for the purpose of improving adhesion to the liquid crystalline compound and the support. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said reactive group, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, what introduce | transduced the reactive group into the side chain of the repeating unit of the said polymer for alignment films, The said polymer for alignment films In which a substituent of a cyclic group is introduced.
As the alignment film that forms a chemical bond with the liquid crystalline compound and the support by the reactive group, an alignment film described in JP-A-9-152509 can also be used.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as thickness of the said alignment film, According to the objective, it can select suitably, 0.01-5 micrometers is preferable and 0.02-2 micrometers is more preferable.

  The type of the alignment film is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the alignment film made of an organic compound (polymer) subjected to rubbing treatment, the alignment film having a micro group, Langmuir-Bro Alignment film in which organic compounds such as ω-triconic acid, dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride, methyl stearylate are accumulated by jet method (LB film), alignment film in which inorganic compounds are obliquely deposited, electric field, magnetic field, light irradiation, etc. An alignment film in which an alignment function is generated by the above-described method is preferable, and an alignment film made of the rubbed organic compound is preferable.

―Support―
The support is not particularly limited as long as it is transparent enough to transmit 50% or more of the wavelength of light used, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, white plate glass, blue plate glass, Examples thereof include quartz glass, alkali-free glass, sapphire glass, and organic polymer film.
The organic polymer film is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include polyarylate, polyester, polycarbonate, polyolefin, polyether, polysulfine, polysulfone, One type or a combination of two or more types selected from a polymer group such as polyether sulfone type and cellulose ester type may be mentioned. Specific examples of the organic polymer film preferably include a polycarbonate copolymer, a polyester copolymer, a polyester carbonate copolymer, and a polyarylate copolymer, and more preferably a polycarbonate copolymer. The polycarbonate copolymer is preferably a polycarbonate copolymer having a fluorene skeleton, and is obtained by reacting a bisphenol with a carbonate ester-forming compound such as phosgene or diphenyl carbonate from the viewpoint of transparency, heat resistance, and productivity. Polycarbonate copolymers are particularly preferred. As content of the fluorene skeleton which the said polycarbonate copolymer has, 1-99 mol% is preferable. As the polycarbonate copolymer, it is also possible to use repeating units described in WO 00/26705 pamphlet.
As the material for the support, glass made of the above-mentioned various inorganic materials can be suitably used from the viewpoint of surface smoothness and transparency.
The thickness of the support is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, it is preferably 0.1 μm or more, and the upper limit of the thickness is from the viewpoint of built-in handling properties and mechanical strength. Therefore, 0.3 to 3 mm is preferable, and 0.5 to 1.5 mm is more preferable.

<Optical anisotropic layer lamination process>
The optically anisotropic layer laminating step is a step of laminating a polymerizable liquid crystal compound containing a liquid crystalline compound on the alignment film formed in the alignment film forming process.
The optically anisotropic layer stacking step is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, the coating liquid containing the polymerizable liquid crystal compound, the polymerization initiator, etc. in a solvent is used for the alignment. The process etc. which are formed by apply | coating on a film | membrane are mentioned.
The method for applying the coating solution onto the alignment film is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, extrusion coating method, direct gravure coating method, reverse gravure coating method, die coating method And known methods such as spin coating.

  The optically anisotropic layer is an optically anisotropic layer that includes at least a polymerizable liquid crystal compound, and further includes other configurations appropriately selected as necessary.

The polymerizable liquid crystal compound is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, it is preferable to use a polymerizable liquid crystal compound in which the alignment state can be fixed, rod-like, disc-like, banana-like A polymerizable liquid crystal compound including a liquid crystal compound is more preferable, and a polymerizable liquid crystal compound including a discotic liquid crystal compound is particularly preferable.
Further, the polymerizable liquid crystal compound can contain other components appropriately selected as necessary.

In the present invention, the compound (molecule) constituting the liquid crystal state has an eigen axis due to the molecular shape, that is, in the major axis direction if it is a rod-like molecule such as a rod, and in the normal direction of the plate if it is a plate-like molecule. When the natural axis is set, the average direction of the natural axes of the molecules constituting the liquid crystal state included in the observed minute region is substantially aligned. The molecules constituting the liquid crystal state are said to be in the aligned state. Further, according to the present invention, when in this orientation state, the average direction of the natural axis of the molecules constituting the liquid crystal state of the microscopic region of interest and the stacking direction of the optical compensation element (interface between the optically anisotropic layer and the support) The angle formed with the normal direction) is referred to as an orientation angle, and a component obtained by projecting the average direction of the natural axis onto the interface is referred to as an orientation direction.
The alignment state has a state in which the alignment angle of the liquid crystalline compound is inclined, that is, the alignment angle is not uniformly parallel or perpendicular to the thickness direction of the optically anisotropic layer. More preferred are those having a hybrid orientation in which the orientation angle continuously changes in the thickness direction between the upper surface and the lower surface of the optically anisotropic layer.
The orientation angle in the hybrid orientation is preferably adjusted so as to continuously change in the range of 20 ° ± 20 ° to 65 ° ± 25 ° from the orientation film side to the air interface side.
As the alignment state determined by the alignment angle and the alignment direction of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound, it is preferable that the alignment angle and the alignment method are adjusted so that the liquid crystal layer in a black display state and a mirror surface target.
Here, an ellipsometer (M-150, manufactured by JASCO Corporation) is used for the alignment angle near the alignment film side of the liquid crystalline compound in the optically anisotropic layer, the alignment angle on the air interface side, and the average alignment angle. Thus, the retardation is an estimated value calculated from the refractive index ellipsoid model by measuring the retardation from multiple directions, assuming a refractive index ellipsoid model from the measured retardation.
In addition, as a method of calculating the orientation angle from the retardation, it is also possible to calculate by an approach described in Design Concepts of Discrete Negative Birefringence Compensation Films SID98 DIGEST. The measurement direction of the retardation in calculating the orientation angle is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the retardation in the normal direction of the optically anisotropic layer (Re0 ), Retardation in the −40 ° direction with respect to the normal direction (Re-40), and retardation in the + 40 ° direction (Re40).
The measurements of Re0, Re-40, and Re40 are values obtained by changing the observation angle in each of the measurement directions using the ellipsometer.

The polymerizable liquid crystal compound including the rod-like liquid crystal compound is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, the alignment state of the rod-like liquid crystal compound can be fixed using a polymer binder. Examples thereof include polymerizable liquid crystal compounds and polymerizable liquid crystal compounds having a polymerizable group that can fix the alignment state of the liquid crystal compound by polymerization. Among these, preferred are the polymerizable liquid crystal compounds having a polymerizable group.
The rod-like liquid crystalline compound is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, azomethines, azoxys, cyanobiphenyls, cyanophenyl esters, benzoates, phenyl cyclohexanecarboxylate Examples thereof include esters, cyanophenylcyclohexanes, cyano-substituted phenylpyrimidines, alkoxy-substituted phenylpyrimidines, phenyldioxanes, tolanes and alkenylcyclohexylbenzonitriles.
Examples of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound containing the rod-like liquid crystal compound include a polymer liquid crystal compound obtained by polymerizing a rod-like liquid crystal compound having a low molecular polymerizable group represented by the following structural formula (1).

ただし、前記構造式（１）において、Ｑ^１及びＱ^２は、それぞれ重合性基を表し、Ｌ^１、Ｌ^２、Ｌ^３及びＬ^４は、それぞれ単結合または二価の連結基を表すが、Ｌ^２及びＬ^３の少なくとも一方は、−Ｏ−ＣＯ−Ｏ−を表す。また、Ａ^１及びＡ^２は、それぞれ独立に、炭素原子数２〜２０のスペーサー基を表す。また、Ｍは、メソゲン基を表す。

However, in the structural formula (1), Q ¹ and Q ² each represent a polymerizable group, and L ¹ , L ² , L ³ and L ⁴ each represent a single bond or a divalent linking group, At least one of L ² and L ³ represents —O—CO—O—. A ¹ and A ² each independently represent a spacer group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. M represents a mesogenic group.

The polymerizable liquid crystal compound including the discotic liquid crystalline compound is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, the alignment state of the discotic liquid crystalline compound can be fixed using a polymer binder. Polymerizable liquid crystal compounds having a polymerizable group capable of fixing the alignment state of the discotic liquid crystalline compound by polymerization, and the like. Among these, the polymerizable liquid crystal compound having a polymerizable group is mentioned. Preferably mentioned.
Examples of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound having a polymerizable group include a structure in which a linking group is introduced between a discotic core and a polymerizable group. Specific examples of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound include compounds represented by the following structural formula (2) as described in JP-A-8-050206.

ただし、前記構造式（２）において、Ｄは円盤状コアを表し、Ｌは二価の連結基を表し、Ｐは重合性基を表す。また、ｎは４〜１２の整数である。また、複数の二価の連結基Ｌと重合性基Ｐとの組合せとしては、異なる二価の連結基と重合性基との組合せでもよいが、同一の組合せが好ましい。前記円盤状コアＤとしては、２種以上を併用することも可能である。

In the structural formula (2), D represents a discotic core, L represents a divalent linking group, and P represents a polymerizable group. Moreover, n is an integer of 4-12. Further, the combination of a plurality of divalent linking groups L and the polymerizable group P may be a combination of different divalent linking groups and a polymerizable group, but the same combination is preferable. As the disk-shaped core D, two or more kinds can be used in combination.

前記構造式（２）において、二価の連結基Ｌとしては、特に制限はなく、目的に応じて適宜選択することができ、例えば、アルキレン基、アルケニレン基、アリーレン基、−ＣＯ−、−ＮＨ−、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、これらの組合せなどが好ましく、アルキレン基、アルケニレン基、アリーレン基、−ＣＯ−、−ＮＨ−、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、これらの中から選ばれる二価の基を少なくとも二つ組合せた二価の連結基がより好ましく、アルキレン基、アルケニレン基、アリーレン基、−ＣＯ−、−Ｏ−、これらの中から選ばれる二価の基を少なくとも二つ組合せた二価の連結基が特に好ましい。
前記アルキレン基の炭素原子数としては、１〜１２が好ましい。前記アルケニレン基の炭素原子数としては、２〜１２が好ましい。前記アリーレン基の炭素原子数としては、６〜１０が好ましい。また、前記アルキレン基、前記アルケニレン基、前記アリーレン基としては、アルキル基、ハロゲン原子、シアノ、アルコキシ基、アシルオキシ基などの置換基を有していてもよい。
前記二価の連結基Ｌの具体例としては、−ＡＬ−ＣＯ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−、−ＡＬ−ＣＯ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−、−ＡＬ−ＣＯ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−、−ＡＬ−ＣＯ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＣＯ−、−ＣＯ−ＡＲ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−、−ＣＯ−ＡＲ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−、−ＣＯ−ＡＲ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＣＯ−、−ＣＯ−ＮＨ−ＡＬ−、−ＮＨ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−、−ＮＨ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＣＯ−、−Ｏ−ＡＬ−、−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−、−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＣＯ−、−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＣＯ−ＮＨ−ＡＬ−、−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｓ−ＡＬ−、−Ｏ−ＣＯ−ＡＬ−ＡＲ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＣＯ−、−Ｏ−ＣＯ−ＡＲ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−ＣＯ−、−Ｏ−ＣＯ−ＡＲ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＣＯ−、−Ｏ−ＣＯ−ＡＲ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＣＯ−、−Ｏ−ＣＯ−ＡＲ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＣＯ−、−Ｓ−ＡＬ−、−Ｓ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−ＡＬ−Ｏ−ＣＯ−、−Ｓ−ＡＬ−Ｓ−ＡＬ−、−Ｓ−ＡＲ−ＡＬ−などが挙げられる。
ただし、前記二価の連結基Ｌの具体例において、左側が前記円盤状コアＤに結合し、右側が重合性基Ｐに結合する。またＡＬはアルキレン基、アルケニレン基を表し、ＡＲはアリーレン基を表す。 In the structural formula (2), specific examples of the disk-shaped core D include disk-shaped cores represented by the following structural formulas (D1) to (D15).

In the structural formula (2), the divalent linking group L is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, an alkylene group, an alkenylene group, an arylene group, —CO—, —NH -, -O-, -S-, combinations thereof and the like are preferable, alkylene group, alkenylene group, arylene group, -CO-, -NH-, -O-, -S-, and a divalent group selected from these More preferable is a divalent linking group in which at least two of the above groups are combined, and an alkylene group, alkenylene group, arylene group, -CO-, -O-, or at least two divalent groups selected from these are combined. A divalent linking group is particularly preferred.
The number of carbon atoms of the alkylene group is preferably 1-12. The number of carbon atoms of the alkenylene group is preferably 2-12. The number of carbon atoms of the arylene group is preferably 6-10. In addition, the alkylene group, the alkenylene group, and the arylene group may have a substituent such as an alkyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano, an alkoxy group, or an acyloxy group.
Specific examples of the divalent linking group L include -AL-CO-O-AL-, -AL-CO-O-AL-O-, -AL-CO-O-AL-O-AL-,- AL-CO-O-AL-O-CO-, -CO-AR-O-AL-, -CO-AR-O-AL-O-, -CO-AR-O-AL-O-CO-,- CO-NH-AL-, -NH-AL-O-, -NH-AL-O-CO-, -O-AL-, -O-AL-O-, -O-AL-O-CO-,- O-AL-O-CO-NH-AL-, -O-AL-S-AL-, -O-CO-AL-AR-O-AL-O-CO-, -O-CO-AR-O- AL-CO-, -O-CO-AR-O-AL-O-CO-, -O-CO-AR-O-AL-O-AL-O-CO-, -O-CO-AR-O- AL-O-AL-O-AL-OC -, - S-AL -, - S-AL-O -, - S-AL-O-CO -, - S-AL-S-AL -, - such as S-AR-AL- the like.
However, in the specific example of the divalent linking group L, the left side is bonded to the discotic core D, and the right side is bonded to the polymerizable group P. AL represents an alkylene group or an alkenylene group, and AR represents an arylene group.

ただし、前記重合性基の具体例（Ｐ１）〜（Ｐ１８）において、ｎは、４〜１２の整数を表し、前記円盤状コアＤの種類により決定される値である。 In the structural formula (2), the polymerizable group P is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the type of polymerization reaction. For example, an unsaturated polymerizable group or an epoxy group is preferable, and an ethylenic group is preferable. An unsaturated polymerizable group is more preferable. Specific examples of the polymerizable group P include polymerizable groups represented by the following structural formulas (P1) to (P18).

However, in specific examples (P1) to (P18) of the polymerizable group, n represents an integer of 4 to 12, and is a value determined by the type of the discotic core D.

  The other components contained in the polymerizable liquid crystal compound are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, a polymerization initiator that initiates a polymerization reaction of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound, the polymerizable property Examples thereof include a solvent for preparing a liquid crystal compound coating solution.

The polymerization initiator is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Among these, the said photoinitiator is mentioned suitably.
Specific examples of the photopolymerization initiator include α-carbonyl compounds (described in US Pat. Nos. 2,367,661 and 2,367,670), acyloin ethers (described in US Pat. No. 2,448,828), α-hydrocarbon substituted aromatic acyloin compounds ( Of U.S. Pat. No. 2,722,512), a polynuclear quinone compound (described in U.S. Pat. Examples thereof include compounds (described in JP-A-60-105667 and US Pat. No. 4,239,850), oxadiazole compounds (described in US Pat. No. 4,221,970), and the like.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as content in the said polymerizable liquid crystal compound of the said photoinitiator, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, solid content in the coating liquid of the said polymeric liquid crystal compound is 0.01. -20% by weight is preferable, and 0.5-5% by weight is more preferable.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a light irradiation means used for the said photopolymerization reaction, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, an ultraviolet-ray etc. are mentioned suitably. As irradiation energy of the said light irradiation means, 20-50 mJ / cm < ² > is preferable and 100-800 mJ / cm < ² > is more preferable. In order to promote the photopolymerization reaction, light irradiation may be performed under heating conditions.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said solvent, According to the objective, it can select suitably, An organic solvent is mentioned suitably. Specific examples of the organic solvent include N, N-dimethylformamide, N, N-dimethylacetamide, amides such as N-methylpyrrolidone, sulfoxides such as dimethyl sulfoxide, heterocyclic compounds such as pyridine, carbonization such as benzene and hexane. Alkyl halides such as hydrogen, chloroform and dichloromethane, esters such as methyl acetate and butyl acetate, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone, ketoesters such as methyl acetoacetate and ethyl acetoacetate, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, Preferred examples include ethers such as diethylene glycol diethyl ether and dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, and cellosolves such as methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, and butyl cellosolve. Among these, amides, Ether, ketones more preferable. As the organic solvent, two or more of these may be used in combination.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a polymerization method of the said polymeric liquid crystal compound, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, the method of Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 8-27284 and Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 10-278123 is used. It is also possible.

<Heat treatment process>
The heat treatment step is performed to promote the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound contained in the optically anisotropic layer.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said heat processing process, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, in the environment of temperature 50-250 degreeC, Preferably it is 100-200 degreeC, 10 to 180 second, Preferably 30 to Examples include a method of processing for 120 seconds.
When the temperature is less than 50 ° C., the heat treatment effect is not sufficiently obtained, and the polymerization reaction may not be promoted. When the temperature exceeds 250 ° C., the optically anisotropic layer is deteriorated or destroyed by heat. Sometimes.
When the treatment time is less than 10 seconds, a sufficient heat treatment effect may not be obtained, and the polymerization reaction may not be promoted. When the treatment time exceeds 180 seconds, the optically anisotropic layer is deteriorated due to heat, the process time. There is a concern that productivity will decrease due to an increase in production.

  As a heat treatment method used in the heat treatment step, a heat treatment method using a hot plate is preferable from the viewpoint of performing ultraviolet irradiation almost simultaneously with the heat treatment.

<Ultraviolet irradiation process>
The ultraviolet irradiation step is performed at the same place without moving the laminate of the optically anisotropic layer from the place where the heat treatment step is performed at the same time as the heating in the heat treatment step or within 1 second after the heating. , Irradiating the optically anisotropic layer with ultraviolet rays to cure the optically anisotropic layer. The reason for irradiating ultraviolet rays at the same time as heating is to prevent the liquid crystal orientation from being disturbed by thermal fluctuations applied to the optically anisotropic layer before the photopolymerization step. It is because it can superpose | polymerize, without producing alignment disorder by irradiating.

The ultraviolet ray is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, an electron beam, ultraviolet ray, visible ray, infrared ray (heat ray) and the like can be appropriately selected and used as necessary. In general, ultraviolet rays are preferred. Examples of ultraviolet light sources include low-pressure mercury lamps (sterilization lamps, fluorescent chemical lamps, black lights), high-pressure discharge lamps (high-pressure mercury lamps, metal halide lamps), and short arc discharge lamps (extra-high pressure mercury lamps, xenon lamps, mercury xenon). Lamp).
By irradiation with the ultraviolet rays, the polymerizable liquid crystal compound contained in the optically anisotropic layer can be polymerized to fix the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules, and the stability of the liquid crystal molecule alignment can be obtained. Further, by performing the ultraviolet irradiation step at the same time as the heat treatment step and within 1 second after the heat treatment step, after the heat treatment step, a place different from the heat treatment step or after the heat treatment step, 1 Compared with the case of performing the ultraviolet irradiation step by ultraviolet irradiation after a lapse of seconds, the thickness of the optically anisotropic layer and the uniformity of the liquid crystal molecules in the layer are improved, and a layer having a uniform retardation characteristic can be obtained.

<Annealing process>
The annealing treatment step is performed to stabilize the optically anisotropic layer by heating after the optically anisotropic layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays under heating and the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is performed. . This is effective when a plurality of the optically anisotropic layers are stacked adjacent to each other.
In the optically anisotropic layer in which two or more optically anisotropic layers are stacked adjacent to each other, an alignment film forming coating solution is applied onto the first optically anisotropic layer already stacked to form the next alignment film. Furthermore, the following optically anisotropic layer is laminated thereon. In the annealing treatment, the coating liquid reacts with the first optical anisotropic layer during the next alignment film coating, and the surface of the first optical anisotropic layer is changed to change the alignment film forming coating liquid. This is a process for preventing surface roughness from occurring during application.
In particular, when a polyimide having excellent orientation is used for the next alignment film, the alignment film forming coating solution contains a solvent NMP (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) having excellent solubility. . Since the NMP is highly soluble, when the alignment film forming coating solution is applied to the upper surface of the first optical anisotropic layer, it penetrates into the first optical anisotropic layer, There is a negative effect that the surface of the anisotropic layer is roughened and eventually destroyed. The annealing treatment is performed in order to prevent such adverse effects and obtain a good coating. Therefore, the annealing treatment is suitable when the alignment film is directly formed on the optically anisotropic layer.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said annealing treatment process, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, the method of 0.1 to 30 minutes etc. in the temperature of 150-300 degreeC environment etc. are mentioned. The temperature is preferably 170 to 250 ° C., and the treatment time is preferably 1 to 15 minutes.
If the temperature is less than 150 ° C., the annealing effect may not be sufficiently obtained, and if it exceeds 300 ° C., the optically anisotropic layer may be deteriorated or broken by heat.
If the treatment time is less than 0.1 minutes, a sufficient annealing effect may not be obtained. If the treatment time exceeds 300 ° C., the optically anisotropic layer is deteriorated by heat, and the productivity is lowered by increasing the process time. There are concerns.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as an apparatus used for the said annealing treatment process, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, a heating apparatus, a drying apparatus, etc. are mentioned.

<Other processes>
The other steps are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, an additional optically anisotropic layer lamination step, an antireflection layer lamination step, an annealing treatment step, an oxygen blocking layer lamination step And a peeling prevention layer laminating step.

-Additional optical anisotropic layer lamination process-
The function of the additional optically anisotropic layer can be added, for example, to eliminate the influence of the incident angle of light or the influence of the liquid crystal at the center of the cell in the TN liquid crystal cell.
Note that the order of the additional optically anisotropic layer lamination step is not particularly defined, but when an inorganic optically anisotropic layer made of an inorganic material is provided by vapor deposition described later, the support is first formed on the support in view of handling properties. A step of providing an inorganic optically anisotropic layer made of an inorganic material is preferably performed.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a raw material of the said structural birefringent layer, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, various raw materials, such as an organic material and an inorganic material, are mentioned.
As the organic material, for example, a material in which birefringence is generated by stretching a plastic film and orienting molecules is known. In this case, the material used as the support may have a function as a birefringent layer. For example, a film obtained by stretching a film of triacetyl cellulose is well known as a support for an optical compensation film.
Examples of the inorganic material include a plurality of layers in which a plurality of inorganic materials having different refractive indexes are periodically stacked with the normal direction of the support being a stacking direction, and the refractive index in the stacking direction is periodically changed. Preferably, a structure in which the period of the refractive index change is shorter than the wavelength of light in the visible light region is preferable. Among these, those in which the periodic structure laminate is composed of two layers of two kinds of inorganic materials are particularly preferred.
The structure of the structural birefringent layer is not particularly limited as long as it is formed of an inorganic material and has the optical characteristics of a negative uniaxial refractive index ellipsoid, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, from a periodic structure laminate of a plurality of layers in which a plurality of inorganic materials having different refractive indexes are periodically laminated with the normal direction of the support being a lamination direction, and the refractive index in the lamination direction is periodically changed The structure in which the period of the refractive index change is shorter than the wavelength of light in the visible light region is preferable, and among these, the structure in which the periodic structure laminate is composed of two layers of two inorganic materials is particularly preferable. It is mentioned in.

Such a structural birefringent layer is equivalent to a medium having a uniform refractive index in the stacking direction of the multilayer film, that is, the normal direction of the support. Due to the occurrence of anisotropy called, it has the optical characteristics of a negative refractive index ellipsoid that is not uniaxially inclined.
The period of the periodic structure laminate is not particularly limited as long as it is shorter than the wavelength of light in the visible light region, and can be appropriately selected from the visible light region according to the purpose. The visible light region means a wavelength region of 400 to 700 nm, unless otherwise specified. Therefore, it is preferable that the period of the periodic structure is appropriately selected within a range of 400 to 700 nm.
Further, as the refractive index in the visible light region of the periodic structure laminate, when the periodic structure laminate is composed of a plurality of layers, the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the refractive index is preferably 0.5 or more. When it consists of two types of layers, the refractive index difference of each layer is preferably 0.5 or more.
Here, the refractive index is a value measured at a wavelength of 550 nm, unless otherwise specified.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as the number of layers in the multilayer film of the said structural birefringent layer, According to the objective, it can select suitably.

The material of the periodic structure laminate constituting the structural birefringent layer is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. A combination of a plurality of materials appropriately selected from oxide films is preferable. A combination of SiO ₂ layer and TiO ₂ layer is more preferable.
Therefore, the retardation of the structural birefringent layer can be prepared with high accuracy and ease by appropriately selecting the material of the periodic structure laminate, the film thickness, the number of layers, the period of the refractive index change, and the like. Is possible.

  As the retardation of these additional optically anisotropic layers, the retardation Rth represented by the following formula 1 is preferably 40 to 200 nm, and more preferably 50 to 150 nm.

<Formula 1>
Rth = {(nx + ny) / 2−nz} × d
However, in Equation 1, nx, ny, and nz represent refractive indexes in the X, Y, and Z axis directions orthogonal to each other in the structural birefringent layer, where the normal direction of the support is the Z axis. Represent each. D represents the thickness of the optically anisotropic layer.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as the number of layers in the multilayer film of the said structural birefringent layer, According to the objective, it can select suitably.
The thickness of the structural birefringent layer is preferably one that satisfies the retardation, specifically 20 to 300 μm, more preferably 40 to 200 μm, and 50 to 150 μm. Is particularly preferred.
The support itself may have the function of the additional optically anisotropic layer. In the case where a material such as triacetyl cellulose stretched on the support is used and the function is achieved only by the retardation, the structural birefringent layer may not be provided. On the other hand, when an optically isotropic material such as glass is used for the support, the structural birefringent layer can be preferably used. In this case, the thickness in the case of the optically anisotropic layer other than the structural birefringence may have a function as a protective film or a support, and can be determined appropriately in consideration of these functions.
In addition, a layer in which layers having different refractive indexes as described above are alternately stacked can be given a function as an antireflection layer by appropriately selecting each layer configuration from the viewpoint of optical film thickness. In the case of this antireflection layer, not only an inorganic material but also an organic material or a material obtained by adding an inorganic material to an organic material is used as a material constituting a layer having a different refractive index as long as the optical film thickness design condition is satisfied. be able to.

―Antireflection layer lamination process―
The antireflection layer laminating step is a step of laminating a layer having a certain optical thickness on the surface of the support, the structural birefringent layer, the optically anisotropic layer, or the like.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a formation method of the layer which has the said optical thickness, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, it arrange | positions and arrange | positions a layer so that the thickness may be set to the substance of refractive index n. Direction. The formation method is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a deposition method capable of precisely controlling the thickness (in addition to vacuum deposition, ion-assisted deposition, ion plating deposition, ion It is preferable to stack by CVD method (including beam sputter deposition).
The antireflection layer has a function of suppressing deterioration of optical characteristics when a plurality of optically anisotropic layers are stacked to constitute an optical compensation element.
That is, an element having optical compensation performance can be obtained by a combination of the support and each optically anisotropic layer.At this time, in consideration of the refractive index of the material constituting each layer, in the case of the support, It is 1.45 for quartz glass and 1.76 for sapphire.
In addition, as described above, a structural birefringent layer composed of a plurality of layers having a difference in refractive index is laminated so as to have a refractive index of 0.5 or more, and an optically anisotropic layer generally has a refractive index of an organic compound. Therefore, it is inevitable that a difference in refractive index is generated in each layer when configuring these optical compensation elements.
This difference in refractive index causes light from the light source to be reflected between the layers, reducing the amount of light emitted from the element, and because strong light is projected onto the element placed near the light source. Problems such as deterioration in image quality obtained by the generation of reflected light occur. By laminating the antireflection layer on the optical compensation element, reflection of light due to this refractive index difference can be suppressed, and an excellent optical compensation element can be obtained. By providing the antireflection layer between two layers having a maximum difference in refractive index, the effect is further exhibited. Moreover, the reflection of the light can be further suppressed by stacking on the outermost layer that becomes the air interface of the optical compensation element.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a structure of the said reflection preventing layer, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, a single layer may be sufficient as the laminated body of a some layer.
The material of the antireflection layer is not particularly limited as long as it reduces the reflectance and increases the transmittance, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. In terms of durability, an inorganic compound, A well-known AR film (Anti Reflection Coat Film) etc. are mentioned.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular about the material of the said reflection preventing layer, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, the material quoted by the structural birefringence layer can be used.
In the case of use in the projector of the present invention, when the light from the light source is divided and controlled for each of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue, the above λ is set according to the wavelength to be controlled. Can be set. In this case, the wavelength region requiring the antireflection effect is narrowed to the individual wavelength region from the entire visible region, so that the design of the antireflection structure is facilitated.

―Specific example of optical compensation element manufacturing method―
Specific examples of the method for manufacturing the optical compensation element include the following manufacturing methods.
First, a polyamic acid solution is coated on a support made of alkali-free glass of a predetermined size, heated, and an alignment film is laminated. The surface of the alignment film thus laminated is rubbed with a cloth in one direction to give an alignment function.

Next, a solution of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is applied onto the alignment film using a bar coater, a spin coater, a die coater, or the like to produce a laminate in which an optically anisotropic layer is laminated on a support.
Next, as shown in FIG. 15, the stacked body 416 is placed on a transport device 410 having transport rollers and the like so that the optically anisotropic layer 415 is on the front side, and transported in the arrow method. When the transported laminated body 416 enters the detection area of the positioning sensor 408, the positioning sensor 408 detects the position and size of the stacked body 416 and informs the control unit (not shown) of the transport apparatus of the information. To communicate. The transport device 410 stops by placing the stacked body 416 at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the heating plate 405 below the ultraviolet irradiator 401.
When the laminated body 416 is placed on the heating plate 405, the laminated body 416 is installed so as to be movable up and down by a guided cylinder 403, has the heating plate 405 and a cartridge heater 407, is supplied with power from a power cord 404, and is connected to a thermocouple. The heat treatment device 402 whose superheat temperature is controlled by 406 is operated, and the heating plate 405 is heated for 2 minutes so that the temperature of the back surface of the laminated body 416 on the support 414 side becomes 130 ° C. At substantially the same time as the heating, light having a wavelength of 365 nm is irradiated from an ultraviolet irradiator 401 so that the irradiation energy is 300 mJ / cm ^2, and the polymerizable liquid crystal compound contained in the optically anisotropic layer is polymerized to produce a liquid crystal. An optically anisotropic layer in which the alignment state of the molecules is fixed and the liquid crystal molecular alignment is stable is obtained. After the light irradiation, the stacked body 415 is transported by the transport device 410 in the arrow direction.
After the fixing, the laminated body 416 is annealed for 10 minutes under a temperature of 220 ° C. using an annealing apparatus. By this annealing treatment, the solvent resistance of the optically anisotropic layer in the laminate 416 is improved.

Further, an alignment film is laminated on the optically anisotropic layer of the laminate 416 by the same production method as the alignment film, and then the same method as the production method of the optically anisotropic layer on the alignment film. Thus, a second optically anisotropic layer can be obtained. In this case, it is preferable that the alignment directions of the first and second alignment films are arranged so as to be different by 90 °.
Finally, the antireflection layer is formed by coating, vapor deposition, or sputtering on the support with a material for forming an antireflection layer made of an organic material or an inorganic material on the optically anisotropic layer 415 and on the back surface of the support 414. An optical compensation element can also be produced.

―Structure of optical compensation element―
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a structure of the said optical compensation element, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, the optical compensation element of the 1st-8th structure shown below is mentioned suitably.
In the following structure examples, the inorganic optically anisotropic layer may have a function of the support or may be unnecessary from the viewpoint of functional design, and may not necessarily be laminated.
In addition, the viewing angle may be compensated by sandwiching the liquid crystal cell between two discotic liquid crystal layers, but the effect of interface reflection due to the difference in refractive index is lower in one sheet than in two sheets. Therefore, it is known that it is desirable to have two layers for adjusting the phase difference on one substrate in order to obtain a higher-definition contrast ratio improving effect.

(Optical compensation element having the first structure)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an optical compensation element according to the first structure.
The optical compensation element according to the first structure includes the inorganic optically anisotropic layer on one surface of the support, and the two optically anisotropic layers having different orientation directions on the other surface. It becomes. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical compensation element 10 according to the first structure has an alignment film 4A, an optical anisotropic layer 3A, an alignment film 4B, an optical anisotropy on one surface of the support 1. The layer 3B and the antireflection layer 5B are laminated so that the antireflection layer 5B is disposed on the outermost surface, and the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 and the antireflection layer 5A are provided on the other surface of the support 1. The antireflection layer 5A is laminated so as to be disposed on the outermost surface.
The inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 is a periodic structure laminate of a TiO ₂ layer 2A and a SiO ₂ layer 2B, and each layer has a thickness of about 15 nm. The inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 can also have an antireflection function by using such a periodic structure laminate having an adjusted optical film thickness.
Moreover, it is preferable that the directions of rubbing treatment of the alignment film 4A and the alignment film 4B differ by 90 °. By providing the alignment film 4A and the alignment film 4B, the alignment directions of the liquid crystalline compounds contained in the polymerizable liquid crystal compounds in the second anisotropic layers 3A and 3B are aligned in directions different by 90 °. Is possible.

(Optical compensation element having the second structure)
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element according to the second structure.
The optical compensation element according to the second structure includes the inorganic optically anisotropic layer and the second anisotropic layer in this order on at least one surface of the support.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the optical compensation element 20 according to the second structure has an inorganic optically anisotropic layer 22, an alignment film 24, an optically anisotropic layer 23 on one surface of a support 21. The antireflection layer 25B is laminated in this order so that the antireflection layer 25B is disposed on the outermost surface, and the antireflection layer 25A is laminated on the other surface of the support 21.
The structure of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 22 can be the same as that of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 in the optical compensation element 10 according to the first structure.
In addition, two optical compensation elements 20 according to the second structure can be stacked. In this case, it is preferable that the direction of rubbing treatment of the alignment film in each optical compensation element is different by 90 °.
As shown in the optical compensation element 20 according to the second structure, the mode of disposing each layer on one surface of the support depends on the material constituting each layer and the combination, but generally has good handling, Manufacturing is also easy.

(Optical compensation element of the third structure)
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element according to the third structure.
The optical compensation element according to the third structure is formed by providing two second anisotropic layers having different orientation directions on one surface of the support.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the optical compensation element 30 according to the third structure has an inorganic optically anisotropic layer 32, an alignment film 34A, an optically anisotropic layer 33A, The alignment film 34B, the optically anisotropic layer 33B, and the antireflection layer 35B are laminated in this order so that the antireflection layer 35B is disposed on the outermost surface, and the antireflection layer is formed on the other surface of the support 31. 35A is laminated.
The structure of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 32 can be the same structure as that of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 in the optical compensation element 10 according to the first structure.
Further, it is preferable that the rubbing treatment directions of the alignment film 34A and the alignment film 34B are different by 90 °. By providing such alignment films 34A and 34B, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal compound contained in the polymerizable liquid crystal compound in the second anisotropic layers 33A and 33B can be aligned in a direction different by 90 °. Become.

(Fourth structure optical compensation element)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element according to the fourth structure.
The optical compensation element according to the fourth structure is provided with two second anisotropic layers having different orientation directions through the support.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the optical compensation element 40 according to the fourth structure has an inorganic optical anisotropic layer 42, an alignment film 44A, an optical anisotropic layer 43A, The antireflection layer 45B is laminated in this order so that the antireflection layer 45B is disposed on the outermost surface, and the orientation film 44B, the optically anisotropic layer 43B, the protective layer 46A, the reflection layer are formed on the other surface of the support 41. The prevention layers 45A are laminated so as to be arranged in this order.
The structure of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 42 can be the same structure as that of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 in the optical compensation element 10 according to the first structure.
Further, it is preferable that the rubbing treatment directions of the alignment film 44A and the alignment film 44B are different by 90 °. By providing such alignment films 44A and 44B, the alignment direction of the liquid crystalline compound contained in the polymerizable liquid crystal compound in the second anisotropic layers 43A and 43B can be aligned in a direction different by 90 °. It becomes.

(5th structure optical compensation element)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element according to the fifth structure.
The optical compensation element according to the fifth structure comprises the inorganic optically anisotropic layer and the second anisotropic layer on at least one surface of the support.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the optical compensation element 50 according to the fifth structure has an alignment film 54, an optical anisotropic layer 53, an inorganic optical anisotropic layer 52, The antireflection layer 55B is laminated in this order so that the antireflection layer 55B is disposed on the outermost surface, and the antireflection layer 55A is laminated on the other surface of the support 51.
The structure of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 52 can be the same structure as that of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 in the optical compensation element 10 according to the first structure.
It is also possible to use two optical compensation elements 50 according to the fifth structure in a stacked manner. In this case, it is preferable that the direction of rubbing treatment of the alignment film in each optical compensation element is different by 90 °.

(Optical compensation element of sixth structure)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element according to the sixth structure.
The optical compensation element according to the sixth structure includes the two second anisotropic layers having different orientation directions. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the optical compensation element 60 according to the sixth structure has an alignment film 64A, an optical anisotropic layer 63A, an alignment film 64B, an optical anisotropy on one surface of a support 61. The layer 63B, the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 62, and the antireflection layer 65B are laminated in this order so that the antireflection layer 65B is disposed on the outermost surface, and the antireflection layer 65A is provided on the other surface of the support 61. It is a layered product.
The inorganic optically anisotropic layer 62 may have the same structure as the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 in the optical compensation element 10 according to the first structure.
In addition, it is preferable that the rubbing treatment directions of the alignment film 64A and the alignment film 64B differ by 90 °. By providing the alignment film 64A and the alignment film 64B, the alignment direction of the liquid crystalline compound contained in the polymerizable liquid crystal compound in the optically anisotropic layer 63A and the optically anisotropic layer 63B is different by 90 °. It can be oriented.

(7th structure optical compensation element)
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element according to the seventh structure.
The optical compensation element according to the seventh structure is provided with the two optically anisotropic layers having different orientation directions via the support.
That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the optical compensation element 70 according to the seventh structure has an alignment film 74A, an optically anisotropic layer 73A, an inorganic optically anisotropic layer 72, The antireflection layer 75B is laminated in this order so that the antireflection layer 75B is disposed on the outermost surface, and the orientation film 74B, the optical anisotropic layer 73B, and the inorganic optical anisotropy are formed on the other surface of the support 71. The layer 72 and the antireflection layer 75A are laminated in this order so that the antireflection layer 75A is disposed on the outermost surface.
The structure of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 72 can be the same structure as that of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 in the optical compensation element 10 according to the first structure. The inorganic optically anisotropic layer 72 only needs to be provided in at least one layer, and either one of the inorganic optically anisotropic layers 72 can be omitted.
In addition, it is preferable that the rubbing treatment directions of the alignment film 74A and the alignment film 74B differ by 90 °. By providing such alignment films 74A and 74B, it becomes possible to align the alignment direction of the liquid crystalline compound contained in the polymerizable liquid crystal compound in the optically anisotropic layers 73A and 73B in directions different by 90 °. .

(Eighth structure optical compensation element)
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element according to the eighth structure.
The optical compensation element according to the eighth structure includes the inorganic optically anisotropic layer on one surface of the support and the optically anisotropic layer on the other surface.
That is, as shown in FIG. 8, in the optical compensation element 80 according to the eighth structure, the alignment film 84, the optical anisotropic layer 83, and the antireflection layer 85B are reflected on the one surface of the support 81 in this order. The antireflection layer 85B is laminated so as to be disposed on the outermost surface, and the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 82 and the antireflection layer 85A are arranged on the other surface of the support 81 in this order. It is laminated so that it may be arrange | positioned.
The structure of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 82 can be the same structure as that of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 in the optical compensation element 10 according to the first structure.
Further, two optical compensation elements 80 according to the eighth structure can be used in a stacked manner. In this case, it is preferable that the direction of rubbing treatment of the alignment film in each optical compensation element is different by 90 °.

In the optical compensation element, the optical characteristics of the inorganic optically anisotropic layers 2, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, and 82 are determined by the periodic structure pitch of the periodic structure laminate made of an inorganic material. In addition, it is possible to prevent problems of optical non-uniformity such as a variation in refractive index and a decrease in haze value in the surface of the polymer film due to residual stress generated when the polymer film is uniaxially stretched to obtain predetermined optical characteristics, It is possible to increase the optical uniformity in the plane of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer. Therefore, the optical compensation element can optically compensate the liquid crystal layer in the black display state with higher accuracy.
In addition, the inorganic optically anisotropic layers 2, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, and 82 can control the thickness in the plane within a range of several tens of nm, and can realize high smoothness. It is possible to increase the optical uniformity in the plane of the inorganic optically anisotropic layer. Therefore, the liquid crystal layer in the black display state can be optically compensated with higher accuracy to reduce light leakage and prevent streaky irregularity from becoming apparent.
Furthermore, the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82 does not expand or contract even when used for a long time in a high temperature and high humidity environment.

  In particular, in the optical compensation elements having the first to third structures, the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 on the supports 1, 21 and 31 capable of in-plane thickness control within a range of several tens of nm. , 22, 32. For this reason, the inorganic optically anisotropic layers 2, 22, and 32 can prevent in-plane thickness unevenness with high accuracy, and an inorganic optically anisotropic layer having a highly smooth surface can be obtained. It becomes. Since the optically anisotropic layers 3, 23, 33 are laminated on the inorganic optically anisotropic layers 2, 22, 32 having such a smooth surface, the optically anisotropic layers 3, 23, 33 are laminated. It is possible to prevent orientation defects in the plane. For this reason, it is possible to realize an optical compensation element that optically compensates the liquid crystal layer in the black display state with higher accuracy and prevents light leakage at a wide viewing angle. By using the optical compensation element in a projector or the like, a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal projector with high image quality and high contrast can be realized.

(Liquid crystal display device)
The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal element having at least a pair of electrodes and a liquid crystal compound sealed between the pair of electrodes, an optical compensation element disposed on either one or both sides of the liquid crystal element, A polarizing element disposed opposite to the liquid crystal element and the retardation plate, and further provided with other configurations as required, wherein the optical compensation element uses the optical compensation element of the present invention.
The display mode of the liquid crystal element is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, a VA (Vertical Alignment) mode, an IPS (In-Plane Switching) mode, An OCB (Optically Compensatory Bend) mode, an ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence) mode, and the like can be cited, and among these, a high optical compensation effect is obtained, and therefore the TN mode is preferably exemplified.

9 to 12 are schematic configuration diagrams of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention.
In order to facilitate understanding in these drawings, the schematic configuration of the liquid crystal display device shown in each drawing shows a mode in which light from a light source is incident from the lower side of the drawings and is emitted toward the upper side of the drawings. In the following description, the upper direction of the drawing is expressed as “upper side” and the lower direction of the drawing as “lower side”.
As shown in FIG. 9, the liquid crystal display device 100 includes a pair of an upper polarizing element 101 (analyzer) and a lower polarizing element 116 (polarizer) in which absorption axes 102 and 115 are substantially orthogonal and opposed to each other in crossed Nicols , An optical compensation element 108 disposed between the upper and lower polarizing elements 101 and 116, and a liquid crystal element 114 (liquid crystal cell).
In place of the upper and lower polarizing elements 101 and 116, a polarizing beam splitter such as a Glan-Thompson prism may be used as a polarizing element so as to be opposed to the liquid crystal element 114.

In the liquid crystal element 114, an upper substrate 109 made of a glass substrate and a lower substrate 113 are arranged to face each other, and for example, a nematic liquid crystal 111 is sealed between the upper substrate 109 and the lower substrate 113. On the opposing surfaces of the upper substrate 109 and the lower substrate 113, pixel electrodes (not shown), circuit elements (thin film transistors), and the like are formed. Upper and lower alignment films (not shown) are formed on the opposing surfaces of the upper substrate 109 and the lower substrate 113 that are in contact with the nematic liquid crystal 111. A rubbing process is performed on the surface of the alignment film in contact with the nematic liquid crystal 111 in order to align the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules. For example, in the case of a TN mode liquid crystal display device, the rubbing directions 110 and 112 in the upper and lower alignment films are substantially orthogonal to each other as the direction of the groove (rubbing direction) carved by the rubbing treatment.
FIG. 10 shows an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules in a normal state where no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal element 114. The nematic liquid crystals 111 on the upper substrate 109 and the lower substrate 113 are arranged in substantially the same direction as the rubbing directions 110 and 112 by the action of the rubbing treatment applied to the alignment film (not shown). Since the rubbing directions 110 and 112 are orthogonal to each other, the molecules of the nematic liquid crystal 111 are in a state in which the major axis of the liquid crystal molecules is twisted by 90 ° from the upper substrate 109 toward the lower substrate 113. Arranged.

The polarizing element preferably has a light transmittance of 0.001% or less when the polarizing element is arranged in a crossed Nicol state, where the light transmittance when the polarizing element is arranged in parallel Nicols is 100%. .
The upper polarizing element 101 (analyzer) and the lower polarizing element 116 (polarizer) have at least a polarizing film, and further have other configurations as necessary.
The polarizing film is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, the polarizing film may be selected from hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, partially formalized polyvinyl alcohol, and partially saponified ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer. And a film obtained by adsorbing a dichroic substance such as iodine, azo series, anthraquinone series, tetrazine series dichroic dyes, and the like on the resulting film.
The stretching orientation treatment is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. A width direction uniaxial stretching type tenter stretching machine in which the absorption axis of the polarizing film is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Preferably mentioned. Such a width direction uniaxial stretching type tenter stretching machine has an advantage that foreign matter hardly enters during bonding.
As the stretching orientation treatment, a stretching method described in JP-A No. 2002-131548 can be used.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said other structure, According to the objective, it can select suitably, The transparent protective layer, antireflection layer, glare-proofing layer, etc. which are provided in the single side | surface or both surfaces of the said polarizing film are mentioned.
The upper and lower polarizing elements 101 and 116 are structured such that a polarizing plate having the transparent protective layer on at least one surface of the polarizing film and a liquid crystal element 114 as a support on one surface of the liquid crystal element 114. Suitable examples include those having the polarizing film integrally therewith.
The transparent protective layer is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and cellulose propionate, polycarbonate, polyolefin, polystyrene, and polyester. Etc.
Specific examples of the transparent protective layer include polyolefins such as cellulose triacetate, ZEONEX, ZEONOR (both manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.), and ARTON (manufactured by JSR Co., Ltd.).
Further, non-birefringent optical resin materials described in JP-A-8-110402 and JP-A-11-293116 can also be used.

Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular as an orientation axis (slow axis) direction of the said transparent protective layer, It is preferable that the orientation axis of the said transparent protective layer is parallel to a longitudinal direction from the simplicity on work operation. Further, the angle between the slow axis (orientation axis) of the transparent protective layer and the absorption axis (stretching axis) of the polarizing film is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set according to the purpose of the polarizing plate. When the polarizing film is produced using the width direction uniaxial stretching type tenter stretching machine, the slow axis (alignment axis) of the transparent protective layer and the absorption axis (stretching axis) direction of the polarizing film are It will be substantially orthogonal.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as retardation of the said transparent protective layer, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, 10 nm or less is preferable in measurement wavelength 632.8nm, and 5 nm or less is more preferable.
In the case of using the cellulose acetate, the retardation is preferably less than 3 nm, more preferably less than 2 nm for the purpose of reducing the change in retardation due to environmental temperature and humidity. When the layer also serves as a protective layer, it can be achieved by using a film controlled to a desired retardation value.
The method for producing the polarizing plate is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected according to the purpose. The polarizing plate is continuously formed so that the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the long polarizing film supplied in a roll form. It is preferable that they are bonded together.
Moreover, it is preferable that the polarizing film and the polarizing plate are fixed to the liquid crystal element from the viewpoints of preventing optical axis misalignment and preventing foreign matter from entering such as dust.
The antireflection layer is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Examples thereof include a coating layer of a fluorine-based polymer as described above, and a light interference layer such as a multilayer metal deposition layer. Can be mentioned.
Optical properties and durability (short-term and long-term storage stability) of the upper and lower polarizing elements 101 and 116 are the same as or equivalent to commercially available super high contrast products (for example, HLC2-5618 manufactured by Sanlitz Co., Ltd.) It is preferable to have the above performance.

The optical compensation element 108 uses the optical compensation element of the present invention.
As the optical compensation element, when the white display transmittance of the liquid crystal display device 100 in a state incorporated in the liquid crystal display device 100 is Vw and the black display transmittance is Vb, the white display on the front surface of the liquid crystal display device 100 is performed. The ratio between the transmittance Vw and the black display transmittance Vb, that is, the contrast ratio Vw: Vb is preferably 100: 1 or more, more preferably 200: 1 or more, and further preferably 300: 1 or more.
Further, in all azimuth directions inclined by 60 ° from the normal direction on the display surface of the liquid crystal display device 100, the maximum value of the black display transmittance is preferably 10% or less, more preferably 5% or less with respect to Vw. By using such an optical compensation element, it is possible to realize a liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle with high contrast and no gradation inversion.
In addition, in order to accurately compensate a liquid crystal element having a large residual twist component, the retardation plate is disposed between a pair of polarizing elements disposed in crossed Nicols, and the normal direction of the retardation plate is used as a rotation axis. There is no direction in which the liquid crystal display device extinguishes when the retardation plate is rotated, and the light transmittance is preferably 0.01% or more in all directions.
The optical compensation element 108 is disposed between the upper polarizing element 101 and the liquid crystal element 114, and includes an inorganic optical anisotropic layer 107, an upper optical anisotropic layer 103, and a lower optical anisotropic layer 105.
Each of the optically anisotropic layers constituting the optical compensation element 108 includes a rubbing direction 104 of the alignment film in the upper optical anisotropic layer 103 and a rubbing direction 110 of the upper alignment film in the upper substrate 109 of the liquid crystal element 114. The angle formed by the rubbing direction 106 of the alignment film in the lower optical anisotropic layer 105 and the rubbing direction 112 of the lower alignment film in the lower substrate 132 of the liquid crystal element 114 is arranged such that the angle is 180 °. It arrange | positions so that it may become 180 degrees.
Note that the relationship between the optically anisotropic layer and the rubbing direction of the alignment film in the substrate of the liquid crystal element may be replaced, and the rubbing direction 106 of the alignment film in the lower optically anisotropic layer 105 and the liquid crystal element 114 The upper substrate 109 is arranged so that the angle formed with the rubbing direction 110 of the upper alignment film is 180 °, and the rubbing direction 104 of the alignment film in the upper optical anisotropic layer 103 and the lower substrate 113 of the liquid crystal element 114 are arranged. You may arrange | position so that the angle | corner with the rubbing direction 112 of a lower side alignment film may be 180 degrees.
The inorganic optically anisotropic layer 107 is preferably provided so as to be on the liquid crystal element 114 side.

FIG. 11 shows an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules in a black display state, that is, in a state where a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal element 114, in the TN mode liquid crystal display device. When a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal element 114, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules changes so that the liquid crystal molecules rise, that is, the major axis of the liquid crystal molecules is perpendicular to the light incident surface. Ideally, it is desirable that all the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal element 114 when a voltage is applied are parallel to the light incident surface, but in practice, as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal element 114 are gradually in a state where the major axis of the liquid crystal molecules rises from the upper substrate 109 and the lower substrate 113 toward the central region of the liquid crystal element 114. Accordingly, the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the interface between the upper substrate 109 and the lower substrate 113 are in a tilted arrangement state in which the major axis of the liquid crystal molecules is not parallel to the light incident surface even when a voltage is applied. Thus, the presence of liquid crystal molecules tilted with respect to the light incident surface may cause light leakage depending on the viewing angle without causing a black display state.
Further, nematic liquid crystal used in a TN mode liquid crystal display device is generally a rod-like liquid crystal and exhibits optically positive uniaxiality. For this reason, even when the liquid crystal molecules exist in the central region of the liquid crystal element 114 and are completely upright, when the liquid crystal display device 100 is viewed from an oblique direction, birefringence is manifested. This may cause light leakage without being displayed.
Therefore, with respect to the alignment state of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal element 114 near the interface between the upper substrate 109 and the lower substrate 113 in the black display state, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules contained in the optically anisotropic layers 103 and 105 is mirror-finished. As a symmetry, the birefringence is optically compensated for in the interface region on the upper substrate 109 and the lower substrate 113 side, and the birefringence due to the liquid crystal in the central region of the liquid crystal element 114 is uniaxially inclined. The liquid crystal element 114 as a whole is optically compensated three-dimensionally by being optically compensated by the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 107 having no negative refractive index ellipsoidal optical characteristics. It is possible to prevent light leakage in a wide viewing angle.
Further, the optical compensation element 108 can be provided on the lower surface of the liquid crystal element 114 as shown in FIG. 11, and further, can be provided as 108a and 108b on the upper and lower surfaces of the liquid crystal element 114 as shown in FIG. . In addition, when arrange | positioning on the upper and lower surfaces of a liquid crystal element, it is also possible to abbreviate | omit either inorganic optically anisotropic layer 107a or 107b, and when providing an inorganic optically anisotropic layer in each, the sum total of 107a, 107b The retardation value is adjusted.
As the optical compensation element 108, the support (not shown) provided in the optical compensation element 108 can be the upper substrate 109 and the lower substrate 113 of the liquid crystal element 114. In this case, the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 107 a or 107 b shown in FIG. 12 is directly formed on the upper substrate 109 and the lower substrate 113.

(LCD projector)
The liquid crystal projector of the present invention is a liquid crystal projector that displays an image by irradiating a liquid crystal display device with illumination light from a light source and forming an image on the screen by a projection optical system using light modulated by the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device uses the liquid crystal display device of the present invention.
The liquid crystal projector is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a screen projection type front projector and a rear projection television. The liquid crystal display device used for the liquid crystal projector is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Suitable examples include a transmissive liquid crystal display device and a reflective liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 13 is an external view showing an example of a rear type liquid crystal projector.
As shown in FIG. 13, the liquid crystal projector 200 is provided with a diffusion transmission type screen 203 on the front surface of the housing 202, and an image projected on the back surface is observed from the front surface side of the screen 203. A projection unit 300 is incorporated in the housing 202, and a projection image projected by the projection unit 300 is reflected by the mirrors 206 and 207 and formed on the back surface of the screen 203. In the liquid crystal projector 200, a tuner circuit (not shown), a well-known circuit unit for reproducing a video signal and an audio signal, and the like are disposed inside the housing 202.
The projection unit 300 incorporates a liquid crystal display device (not shown) as image display means. The liquid crystal display device displays the reproduced image of the video signal, so that the image can be displayed on the screen 203.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of the projection unit 300.
As shown in FIG. 14, the projection unit 300 includes three transmissive liquid crystal elements 311R, 311G, and 311B, and can perform full-color image projection.
Light emitted from the light source 312 passes through a filter 313 that cuts ultraviolet rays and infrared rays to become white light including red light, green light, and blue light, and illumination light from the light source 312 to the liquid crystal elements 311R, G, and B. It enters the glass rod 314 along the axis. The light incident surface of the glass rod 314 is located near the focal position of the parabolic mirror used for the light source 312, and the light from the light source 312 efficiently enters the glass rod 314.

A relay lens 315 is disposed on the exit surface of the glass rod 314, and the white light emitted from the glass rod 314 becomes parallel light by the relay lens 315 and the subsequent collimator lens 316 and enters the mirror 317.
The white light reflected by the mirror 317 is divided into two light beams by a dichroic mirror 318R that transmits only red light, and the transmitted red light is reflected by the mirror 319 to illuminate the liquid crystal element 311R from the back.
Further, the green light and the blue light reflected by the dichroic mirror 318R are further divided into two light beams by the dichroic mirror 318G that reflects only the green light. The green light reflected by the dichroic mirror 318G illuminates the liquid crystal element 311G from the back side. The blue light transmitted through the dichroic mirror 318G is reflected by the mirrors 318B and 320, and illuminates the liquid crystal element 311B from the back.

  Each of the liquid crystal elements 311R, 311G, 311B is composed of a TN mode liquid crystal element, and each liquid crystal element displays a density pattern image of a red image, a green image, and a blue image constituting a full color image. The A synthesis prism 324 is arranged so that the center is optically equidistant from these liquid crystal elements 311R, 311G, and 311B, and a projection lens 325 is provided to face the emission surface of the synthesis prism 324. Yes. The combining prism 324 includes two dichroic surfaces 324a and 324b inside, and combines the red light transmitted through the liquid crystal element 311R, the green light transmitted through the liquid crystal element 311G, and the blue light transmitted through the liquid crystal element 311B. To enter the projection lens 325.

  A projection lens 325 is provided on the projection optical axis from the center of the exit surface of each of the liquid crystal elements 311R, 311G, 311B, through the center of the combining prism 324 and the projection lens 325 to the center of the screen 3. The projection lens 325 is disposed such that the object-side focal plane coincides with the exit surfaces of the liquid crystal elements 311R, 311G, and 311B, and the image-plane focal plane coincides with the screen 3. Therefore, the full color image synthesized by the synthesis prism 324 is formed on the screen 303.

Polarizing plates 326R, 326G, and 326B are provided on the illumination light incident surfaces of the liquid crystal elements 311R, 311G, and 311B, respectively. In addition, retardation plates 327R, 327G, and 327B and polarizing plates 328R, 328G, and 328B are provided on the exit surface side of each liquid crystal element. The polarizing plates 326R, 326G, and 326B on the incident surface side and the polarizing plates 328R, 328G, and 328B on the outgoing surface side are arranged in a crossed Nicols state. Acts as an analyzer.
The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes liquid crystal elements 311R, 311G, 311B, polarizing plates 326R, 326G, 326B, 328R, 328G, 328B, and retardation plates 327R, 327G, 327B.
Although the operations of the liquid crystal element provided for each color channel, the polarizing plate and the retardation plate provided on both sides thereof are different based on each color light, the basic operation is substantially common. Therefore, the operation will be described below using the red channel.

  The red illumination light reflected by the mirror 319 becomes linearly polarized light by the polarizing plate 326R on the incident surface side and enters the liquid crystal element 311R. In the normally white mode, a signal voltage is applied to the pixel of the TN mode liquid crystal used for the liquid crystal element 311R in order to display black of a red image. At this time, the liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer take various orientations, and even if the red illumination light becomes a parallel light flux and enters the liquid crystal element 311R, the liquid crystal layer exhibits optical rotation and birefringence. The light emitted from the emission surface of the liquid crystal element 311R does not become completely linearly polarized light, and generally elliptically polarized image light is emitted, causing light leakage from the analyzer-side polarizing plate 328R, which is sufficient. I can't get black. Even in the normally black mode, the black level does not become sufficiently black due to a slight inclination of the liquid crystal molecules.

In addition, in the state where black display is desired, if the light that passes through the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal element obliquely is included, the image light modulated by the liquid crystal layer has a slightly optical phase different from the linearly polarized light. Becomes different elliptical polarized light, light leaks from the analyzer-side polarizing plate 328R, and sufficient black cannot be obtained.
The liquid crystal projector of the present invention uses the liquid crystal display device of the present invention provided with the optical compensation element of the present invention. The phase difference plate 327R can optically compensate the liquid crystal layer in the black display state with higher accuracy, and can prevent light leakage in a wide viewing angle.
Therefore, the liquid crystal projector of the present invention can obtain a high viewing angle, high contrast, and high image quality.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1
<Production of optical compensation element>
As the optical compensation element, the optical compensation element 10 shown in FIG. 1 was produced. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical compensation element 10 has an alignment film 4A, an optical anisotropic layer 3A, an alignment film 4B, an optical anisotropic layer 3B, and an antireflection layer 5B on the surface side of the support 1 made of glass. Are formed in this order, and an inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 and an antireflection layer 5A are formed on the back side of the support 1.

-Preparation of liquid crystal alignment film composition solution-
A powder of RN1175 (manufactured by Nissan Chemical Co., Ltd.), N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and butyl cellosolve are mixed at a ratio of 4:76:20, and the powder of RN1175 is dispersed and dissolved to obtain a composition solution ( 1) is prepared, and N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and butyl cellosolve are mixed at a ratio of 80:20 to prepare a mixed solution (2). Further, the composition solution (1) and the mixed solution are prepared. (2) was mixed at a ratio of 1: 1 to prepare a liquid crystal alignment film composition coating solution.

-Preparation of coating liquid for polymerizable liquid crystal compound-
A coating liquid of a polymerizable liquid crystal compound composed of the following composition was prepared.
------------------------------------
-Discotic liquid crystal compound of the following structural formula (3) ... 4.27g
・ Ethylene oxide modified trimethylolpropane triacrylate (V # 360, manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) ・ ・ ・ 0.42g
・ Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB551-0.2, manufactured by Eastman Chemical Co., Ltd.) ... 0.09g
・ Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB531-1, Eastman Chemical Co., Ltd.) ... 0.02g
・ Photopolymerization initiator (Irgacure 907, manufactured by Ciba Geigy) ・ ・ ・ ・ 0.14g
・ Sensitizer (Kayacure DETX-S, Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) ... 0.05g
・ Solvent: 2- (1-methoxypropyl) acetate ... 15.0g
------------------------------------

-Formation of alignment film-
On the support 1 made of glass, the above-mentioned coating liquid for forming a liquid crystal alignment film is spin-coated at 2,000 rpm for 20 seconds. Then, it dried at 220 degreeC for 10 minute (s), and obtained the 50-nm-thick orientation film. Next, a rubbing treatment was performed on the formed alignment film to produce an alignment film 4A that is aligned in a predetermined alignment direction.

-Lamination of optically anisotropic layer-
The polymerizable liquid crystal compound coating solution is spin-coated on the alignment film 4A thus obtained at 1500 rpm for 15 seconds. Then, it was dried at 70 ° C. for 1 minute.

-Heat treatment and UV irradiation of optically anisotropic layer-
Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the obtained laminated body 416 was mounted on the conveying apparatus 410 so that the said optically anisotropic layer 415 became the front side, and it conveyed by the arrow method. When the transported laminated body 416 enters the detection area of the positioning sensor 408, the positioning sensor 408 detects the position and size of the stacked body 416 and transmits the information to a transport control unit (not shown). Then, the transport device 410 is placed on the upper surface of the heating plate 405 below the ultraviolet irradiator 401, and the transport device 410 stops.
After the laminated body 416 is stopped, it is installed so as to be movable up and down by a guide cylinder 403, has a heating plate 405 and a cartridge heater 407, is supplied with power from a power cord 404, and is heated by a thermocouple 406 to control the overheating temperature. The processing apparatus 402 was operated, and the temperature of the back surface of the laminated body 416 on the support 414 surface side was heated by the heating plate 405 at 130 ° C. for 2 minutes to align the polymerizable liquid crystal compound. Thereafter, while the laminated body 416 is placed on the heating plate, light is irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiator 401 (high pressure mercury lamp) while performing the heat treatment so that the irradiation energy is 300 mJ / cm ² . The polymerizable liquid crystal compound contained in the optically anisotropic layer was polymerized. Thereafter, the laminate 415 was cooled to room temperature, and conveyed by the conveying device 410 in the direction of an arrow to obtain an optically anisotropic layer 3A in which the alignment state of liquid crystal molecules was fixed and the liquid crystal molecule alignment was stable.

In the formed optically anisotropic layer 3A, the discotic liquid crystal compound has an angle (orientation angle) formed by the normal axis of the vertical axis of the disc surface and the normal of the support 1 made of glass of 10 ° to 62 °. The angle increased from the support 1 side toward the air interface side, and the discotic liquid crystal compound was hybrid-aligned.
The orientation angle of the discotic liquid crystal compound is measured by using an ellipsometer (M-150, manufactured by JASCO Corporation) to change the observation angle, and the retardation is measured. It was calculated by the method described in “Design Concepts of the Discrete Negative Birefringence Compensation Films SID98 DIGEST”.

On the surface of the optically anisotropic layer 3A, an alignment film 4B was further formed so that the alignment direction was substantially orthogonal to the alignment film 4A. At this time, the surface of the optically anisotropic layer 3A was not attacked by the solvent, no coating failure such as repellency occurred, and the coating could be performed satisfactorily. Then, an optically anisotropic layer 3B was produced on the first alignment film 4B by the same method as the optically anisotropic layer 3A.
In the obtained optically anisotropic layer 3B, the discotic liquid crystal compound has an angle (orientation angle) between the vertical axis of the disc surface and the normal of the support 1 of 12 ° to 65 °. It increased from the 1 side toward the air interface side, and the discotic liquid crystal compound was hybrid aligned. Further, the obtained optically anisotropic layer 3B was a uniform layer having no defects such as schlieren exhibiting refractive index abnormality in the transparent optical material.

―Inorganic optical anisotropic layer―
On the surface opposite to the obtained optically anisotropic layer 3B, SiO ₂ and TiO ₂ were alternately deposited using a sputtering apparatus under reduced pressure, and each layer was 26 layers, each having a periodic structure of 52 layers in total. An inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 made of a laminate was produced. The total thickness of the formed inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 was 760 nm and Rth = 200 nm.

―Antireflection layer―
The antireflection layer 5A was formed on the inorganic optically anisotropic layer 2 and the optically anisotropic layer 3B obtained by alternately depositing SiO ₂ and TiO ₂ using a sputtering apparatus under reduced pressure. . The thicknesses of the formed antireflection layers 5A and 5B were both 0.24 μm.

Example 1A
<Production of liquid crystal display device>
The optical compensation element 60 produced in Example 1 was superimposed on a normally white mode TN mode liquid crystal element with white display of 1.5 V and black display of 3 V to produce a liquid crystal display device of Example 1A.

-Evaluation of contrast of liquid crystal display devices-
About the manufactured liquid crystal display device 1A, the contrast in the place of 60 degrees of elevation angles and 30 degrees of azimuth angles from the front of the display surface was measured using a conoscope (manufactured by Autronic-Melcher). Here, the contrast was measured as white display illuminance, black display illuminance, and contrast (white display illuminance / black display illuminance) calculated from the ratio thereof. The measurement results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 1B)
<Production of liquid crystal projector>
A liquid crystal projector of Example 1B was manufactured by mounting three liquid crystal display devices (Example 1A) for each of RGB colors on a commercially available TN liquid crystal projector.

-Evaluation of contrast of LCD projector-
About the obtained liquid crystal projector (Example 1B), the contrast (white display illuminance / black display illuminance) calculated from the white display illuminance, the black display illuminance on the screen set at a distance of 3 m from the projection lens, and the ratio thereof. ) Was measured.

(Example 2)
In Example 1, after heating at 130 ° C. for 2 minutes, the laminate was detached from the heating plate, and ultraviolet irradiation was started after 1 second from the separation. 2 was produced, and the liquid crystal display device of Example 2A and the liquid crystal projector of Example 2B were produced.

(Comparative Example 1)
In Example 1, after heating at 130 ° C. for 2 minutes, the laminate was detached from the heating plate, and the ultraviolet irradiation was started after 2 seconds from the separation, followed by Comparative Example in the same manner as in Example 1. 1 was manufactured, and the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 1A and the liquid crystal projector of Comparative Example 1B were manufactured.

(Comparative Example 2)
In Example 1, after heating at 130 ° C. for 2 minutes, the laminate was detached from the heating plate, and ultraviolet irradiation was started after the elapse of 5 seconds from the separation. 2 was produced, and a liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 2A and a liquid crystal projector of Comparative Example 2B were produced.

(Comparative Example 3)
In Example 1, after heating at 130 ° C. for 2 minutes, the laminate was detached from the heating plate, and ultraviolet irradiation was started 15 seconds after the separation, and Comparative Example was made in the same manner as in Example 1. 3 was manufactured, and the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 3A and the liquid crystal projector of Comparative Example 3B were manufactured.

(Observation of orientation of optically anisotropic layer)
About Examples 1-2 and Comparative Examples 1-3, the mode of the orientation of the liquid crystalline compound of the optically anisotropic layer was observed over the entire surface with a polarizing microscope (model name: Nikon E600POL, manufactured by Nikon Corporation). The results are shown in Table 1.

(Evaluation of retardation of optically anisotropic layer)
About Examples 1-2 and Comparative Examples 1-3, the phase difference of the optical anisotropic layer was measured as follows, and it evaluated by the standard deviation.
Using a phase difference measuring device (model name: RETS-1200VA, manufactured by Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.), the optical anisotropic layer of each sample was compared with respect to the retardation of the optical anisotropic layer obtained in each Example and Comparative Example. Each phase difference at 81 points in the plane of was measured, and a standard deviation was obtained.
Here, the standard deviation represents the degree of variation in the phase difference of the optically anisotropic layer. For example, when the phase difference of the optically anisotropic layer is measured at 100 points, the arithmetic operation of the phase difference at the 100 points is performed. Assuming that an average value (arithmetic average value: a value obtained by dividing the total thickness of the 100 locations by 100) is Ta and each measured phase difference is Tn (n is 1 to 100), {(Tn ^-ta) refers to a numerical value represented by the ^second summation / ^{100} 1/2.} When this formula is expressed as a general formula, the following formula is obtained.

(Evaluation of viewing angle dependence of liquid crystal display devices)
For the liquid crystal display devices of Examples 1A to 2A and Comparative Examples 1A to 3A, the contrast ratio at an elevation angle of 20 ° and an azimuth angle of 45 ° from the front of the display surface was measured using a conoscope (manufactured by Autronic-Melcher). did. Here, the contrast was measured as white display transmittance / black display transmittance from the white display transmittance and the black display transmittance with respect to the backlight. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Evaluation of contrast of LCD projector)
Three liquid crystal display devices of Examples 1A to 2A and Comparative Examples 1A to 3A corresponding to RGB colors are mounted on a TN type liquid crystal projector to obtain liquid crystal projectors of Examples 1B to 2B and Comparative Examples 1B to 3B. It was. With respect to the obtained liquid crystal projector, the illuminance and contrast (white display transmittance / black display transmittance) on the screen surface of the white display and black display projection light were measured. The results are shown in Table 1.

表１の結果から、実施例１〜２の光学補償素子は、配向性が良好で位相差のバラツキが少ないことが分かる。
また、実施例１Ａ〜２Ａの液晶表示装置は、いずれも視野角依存性が優れ、高視野角であることが分かる。実施例１Ｂ〜２Ｂの液晶プロジェクタはいずれも高コントラストであることが分かる。

From the results in Table 1, it can be seen that the optical compensation elements of Examples 1 and 2 have good orientation and little variation in phase difference.
In addition, it can be seen that the liquid crystal display devices of Examples 1A to 2A all have excellent viewing angle dependency and a high viewing angle. It can be seen that the liquid crystal projectors of Examples 1B to 2B all have high contrast.

The optical compensation element and the liquid crystal display device of the present invention can be suitably used for mobile phones, personal computer monitors, televisions, liquid crystal projectors, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the optical compensation element having the first structure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the optical compensation element having the second structure. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the optical compensation element having the third structure. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element having a fourth structure. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the optical compensation element having the fifth structure. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element having a sixth structure. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element having a seventh structure. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an example of an optical compensation element having an eighth structure. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing an example of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing an example of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an example of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an example of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an external view showing an example of a rear type liquid crystal projector. FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a projection unit. FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of a method for manufacturing an optical compensation element of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 ... support 2, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82 ... inorganic optically anisotropic layer 3, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83... Optical anisotropic layer 4, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84... Alignment film 5, 25, 35 , 45, 55, 65, 75, 85... Antireflection layer 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80... Optical compensation element 100. Liquid crystal display device 101 Upper polarizing plate 102 Upper polarizing plate absorption axis 103・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Upper optically anisotropic layer 104 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Rubbing direction when producing upper optically anisotropic layer 1 5 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Lower optically anisotropic layer 106 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Rubbing during preparation of lower optically anisotropic layer Direction 107 ... Inorganic optical anisotropic layer 108 ... Optical compensation element 109 ...・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Liquid crystal cell upper substrate 110 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Rubber direction for upper substrate liquid crystal alignment 111 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・・ Liquid crystal molecules (liquid crystal layer)
112 ································································································································・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Liquid crystal element 115 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Absorption axis of lower polarizing plate 116・ ・ Lower polarizing plate 200 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Liquid crystal projector 202 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Housing 203 ... Screen 206, 207 ... Mirror 300 ... Projection unit 303 ... ... Screen 311 ... Liquid crystal element 312 ... Light source 313 ... ... Filter 314 ... Glass rod 315 ... Relay lens 316 ... ... Collimating lenses 317, 319, 320 ... Mirror 318 ... Dichroic mirror 324 ... .... Synthetic prism 324a, b ... Dichroic surface 325 ... Projection lens 326, 328 ...・ ・ ・ ・ Polarizing plate 327 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Optical compensation element 401 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ UV irradiator 403 ・ ・ ・・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Cylinder with guide 404 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Power cord 405 ... Heating plate 406 ... Thermocouple 407 ... Cartridge heater 408 ... ··················································································. ... Optically anisotropic layer 416 ... Laminated body

Claims (14)

An alignment film forming step of forming an alignment film for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystalline compound on the support;
An optically anisotropic layer laminating step of laminating a polymerizable liquid crystal compound containing a liquid crystalline compound on the alignment film;
A heat treatment step of subjecting the optically anisotropic layer to a heat treatment;
An ultraviolet irradiation step of irradiating the optically anisotropic layer with ultraviolet rays,
Irradiation of ultraviolet rays in the ultraviolet irradiation step is started either simultaneously with the heating in the heat treatment step or within 1 second after the heating.   The method for producing an optical compensation element according to claim 1, wherein the optically anisotropic layer is formed by a polymerization reaction of the polymerizable composition.   The optically anisotropic layer laminating step fixes by aligning the orientation angle of the liquid crystalline compound in the polymerizable liquid crystal compound in a state inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the optically anisotropic layer. A method for producing the optical compensation element according to 1.   4. The method of manufacturing an optical compensation element according to claim 1, wherein the orientation angle is a hybrid orientation that changes in the thickness direction of the optically anisotropic layer.   The method for producing an optical compensation element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the liquid crystalline compound in the optically anisotropic layer has an orientation direction oriented in a certain direction.   The method of manufacturing an optical compensation element according to claim 1, wherein the optically anisotropic layer is composed of two layers having different orientation directions and is provided on one surface of the support.   The method of manufacturing an optical compensation element according to claim 1, wherein the optically anisotropic layer has two layers having orthogonal orientation directions.   The method for producing an optical compensation element according to claim 1, wherein the polymerizable liquid crystal compound contains a discotic liquid crystal compound.   The method for producing an optical compensation element according to claim 1, wherein the polymerizable liquid crystal compound contains a rod-like liquid crystal compound.   An optical compensation element manufactured by at least one of the manufacturing methods according to claim 1.   The optical compensation element according to claim 10 used in a liquid crystal projector.   A liquid crystal element having at least a pair of electrodes and liquid crystal molecules sealed between the pair of electrodes, an optical compensation element disposed on one or both sides of the liquid crystal element, and opposed to the liquid crystal element and the optical compensation element A liquid crystal display device comprising: a polarizing element disposed, wherein the optical compensation element is the optical compensation element according to claim 10.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 12, wherein the liquid crystal element is a twisted nematic type. A liquid crystal display device that is irradiated with illumination light from the light source, and a projection optical system that forms an image of light modulated by the liquid crystal display device on a screen. 14. A liquid crystal projector according to any one of items 1 to 13.

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