Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Kazuhiro Maekawa

Masumi Kubo

Takashi Ochi

Akihiro Yamamoto

Kiyoshi Ogishima

Naoshi Yamada

Katsuhiko Morishita

Tetsuhiro Yamaguchi

Shohgo Fujioka

Takayuki Shimada

Mikio Katayama

Yozo Narutaki

Yuko Maruyama

The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes picture element regions each defined by a first electrode provided on a first substrate and a second electrode provided on a second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. In each of the picture element regions, the first electrode includes a solid portion and a nonsolid portion. The liquid crystal display device further includes a pair of polarizing plates disposed with polarization axes thereof crossing each other substantially perpendicularly. The polarization axis of one of the pair of polarizing plates is substantially parallel to a direction in which the solid portion extends. When a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, in each of the picture element regions, liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are in a radially-inclined orientation state.

Liquid crystal display device

The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a plurality of picture element regions each defined by a first electrode provided on a face of a first substrate facing a liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on a second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. In each of the picture element regions, the first electrode has a plurality of openings and a solid portion, the liquid crystal layer is in a vertical orientation state when no voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, and when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, a plurality of liquid crystal domains each in a radially-inclined orientation state are respectively formed in the plurality of openings and the solid portion by inclined electrode fields generated at respective edge portions of the openings of the first electrode.

Liquid crystal display device with sub-picture element electrodes electrically separated from each other

The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, and includes a plurality of picture element regions each defined by a first electrode provided on one side of the first substrate that is closer to the liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on the second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes a first orientation-regulating structure in each of the plurality of picture element regions, the first orientation-regulating structure exerting an orientation-regulating force so as to form a plurality of liquid crystal domains in the liquid crystal layer, each of the liquid crystal domains taking a radially-inclined orientation in the presence of an applied voltage. The second substrate includes a second orientation-regulating structure in a region corresponding to at least one of the plurality of liquid crystal domains, the second orientation-regulating structure exerting an orientation-regulating force for orienting liquid crystal molecules in at least one liquid crystal domain into a radially-inclined orientation at least in the presence of an applied voltage.

Liquid crystal display device having multiple domains with radially inclined LC molecules

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a high display quality. The liquid crystal display device displays an image by applying a voltage by a first electrode and a second electrode across a liquid crystal layer which takes a vertical alignment in the absence of an applied voltage. The first electrode includes a lower conductive layer, a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the lower conductive layer, and an upper conductive layer provided on one side of the dielectric layer which is closer to the liquid crystal layer. The upper conductive layer includes a first opening, and the lower conductive layer is provided so as to oppose at least a portion of the first opening via the dielectric layer.

The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and a plurality of picture element regions for producing a display. In each of the plurality of picture element regions, a picture element electrode provided on the face of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer and a switching element electrically connected to the picture element electrode are provided. The picture element electrode includes a plurality of sub-picture element electrodes and a plurality of contact portions for mutually electrically connecting at least some of the plurality of sub-picture element electrodes. At least one of the plurality of sub-picture element electrodes is electrically connected to the switching element via a plurality of connection paths.

Liquid crystal display device with domains formed over solid and open portions of an electrode

A display device, with a pair of substrates provided so as to face each other with a display medium interposed therebetween, includes, on a first substrate of the pair of substrates: switching elements disposed in a matrix; scanning lines and signal lines disposed so as to cross each other; and an interlayer insulating film provided so as to have the switching elements, the scanning lines and the signal lines on one surface thereof and pixel electrodes on the other surface thereof. Each of the pixel electrodes is electrically connected to a drain electrode of one of the switching elements via a contact hole which penetrates through the interlayer insulating film. The interlayer insulating film is made of an organic thin film having a high transparency and covers at least the switching elements, the scanning lines and the signal lines. Furthermore, the interlayer insulating film is provided so as to contact directly with the first substrate in a light-transmitting area which is not shaded at least by the switching elements, the scanning lines and the signal lines.

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Chiba, Japan

Kazuhiro Maekawa