Patent ID: 6970216

Claim:
An optical element comprising: a polarizing plate; and a light diffusing plate laminated on said polarizing plate, said light diffusing plate comprising a birefringent film containing dispersed therein minute regions differing from the birefringent film in birefringent characteristics, wherein the minute regions comprises a thermoplastic liquid-crystal polymer, and difference in refractive index between the birefringent film and the minute regions in a direction perpendicular to an axis direction in which a linearly polarized light has a maximum transmittance, Î”n 1 , is 0.03 or larger and that in said axis direction, Î”n 2 , is not larger than 80% of the Î”n 1 , and wherein the Î”n 1 direction of said light diffusing plate is parallel to a transmission axis of said polarizing plate.