Analysis of Light Leakage Caused by Color Filter between Crossed Polarizers

The light leakage caused by color filters between crossed polarizers was analyzed in terms of light scattering due to pigments inside color filter layers. Localized pigment particles in the color filter layers used in devices were observed with a scanning transmission electron microscope. The direct observation of the scattering light revealed that the pigment particles cause Rayleigh scattering. We found that the depolarized light leakage by color filters between crossed polarizers is governed by light scattering.