Patent ID: 7518674
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. An optical compensator element comprising: a pair of opposed substrates; electrodes provided on said pair of opposed substrates on their respective sides which face each other; and a variable phase difference layer provided between said pair of substrates, a level of a phase difference being electrically controllable, wherein the compensator element is used in combination with a liquid crystal display device for switching an angle of visibility of the display device, wherein the angle of visibility of the display device is switched by a change in the level of the phase difference, wherein said variable phase difference layer comprises nematic liquid crystal molecules having positive dielectric anisotropy, and wherein the optical compensator element functions as a positive A plate or a negative C plate when no voltage is applied to the optical compensator element, and functions as a positive C plate when a voltage is applied to the optical compensator element.