A phase difference compensation plate, the phase difference compensator, a liquid crystal display device and a projection type image display apparatus

摘要

A retardation compensator (40) for compensating for residual retardation of a liquid crystal panel (11) includes a retardation compensating plate (50) having birefringence. An in-plane retardation R0c of the retardation compensating plate (50) and an in-plane retardation R0p of the liquid crystal panel (11) satisfy a relationship of 1 R0c / R0p ‰ 10, thereby providing a retardation compensating plate, a retardation compensator, a liquid crystal display device, and a projection image display apparatus that allow changes in the amount of compensated retardation among rotation angles occurring when the retardation compensating plate (50) is set with respect to the liquid crystal panel (11) to be confined within narrow limits. Therefore, the contrast can be adjusted readily, and variations in residual retardation among the individual liquid crystal panels (11) can be accommodated flexibly.