Patent ID: 6690440
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
A liquid crystal element comprising:a liquid crystal material comprising a liquid crystal molecule having negative dielectric anisotropy; and two substrates holding the liquid crystal material therebetween, wherein at least one surface of the two substrates comprises two structures for aligning the liquid crystal molecule, the two structures being an irregular surface and having a rubbing direction, a liquid crystal molecule in a vicinity of a surface of one of the substrates having the two structures for aligning is aligned in the rubbing direction and inclined with respect to the surface of one of the two substrates, when no voltage is applied to the molecule, the liquid crystal molecule is aligned in the rubbing direction for reducing an inclined angle with respect to the surface of one of the two substrates and to be parallel to the surface when a first voltage is applied to the molecule, and the liquid crystal molecule is aligned for shifting direction toward alignment with the irregularities when a second voltage is applied to the molecule, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage.