Liquid crystal display device

A thin film transistor (TFT) array panel includes: a substrate; gate lines including gate electrodes and storage electrode lines including storage electrodes, the gate lines and the storage electrode lines being formed on the substrate; a gate insulating layer formed on the substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer; data lines and drain electrodes formed on the gate insulating layer and the semiconductor layer; storage conductors formed together with the data lines on the gate insulating layer and connected with the drain electrodes; a passivation layer formed on the data lines, the drain electrodes, and the storage conductors; and pixel electrodes formed on the passivation layer, connected with the drain electrodes, and having a plurality of cutout portions, wherein each storage electrode and each storage conductor has slant portions that overlap with the cutout portions and overlap with each other with the gate insulating layer interposed therebetween. The storage electrode and the storage conductor have the slant portions that overlap the cutout portions of the pixel electrode, thereby providing an increased aperture ratio. The horizontal component of the electric field allows the sets of cutout portions of the pixel electrode to control the direction of the liquid crystal molecules compared with conventional LCD device in which the storage electrode and the storage conductor do not have slant portions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0011211 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 6, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and, more particularly, to an LCD device having cutout portions.

2. Description of the Related Art

A liquid crystal display (LCD) device, one of the commonly used flat panel displays, includes two panels on which field generating electrodes such as pixel electrodes and a common electrode are formed with a liquid crystal layer interposed between the panels. A voltage is applied to the field generating electrodes to generate an electric field in the liquid crystal layer to determine the alignment of liquid crystal molecules which controls the polarization of incident light so as to display images.

Of the LCD devices, the vertically aligned (VA) mode LCD device, in which the liquid crystal molecules are arranged with their longer axes perpendicular to the display panels in the absence of an electric field, offers a high contrast ratio and wide reference viewing angle.

In order to implement a wide viewing angle in the VA mode LCD device, a method for forming cutout portions on the field generating electrodes and a method for forming protrusions on the field generating electrodes are used. The cutout portions or protrusions determine the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. The reference viewing angle can be widened by locating the cutout portions or the protrusions in several directions to diversify the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules.

However, the larger the cutout portions is, the better the liquid crystal can be controlled, but so doing decreases the aperture ratio of the LCD device decreased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, an exemplary embodiment is provided which widens the viewing angle without decreasing the aperture ratio the display. A thin film transistor (TFT) array panel comprises a substrate, a gate line including a gate electrode and a storage electrode line including a storage electrode formed on the substrate, a gate insulating layer formed on the gate line, the storage electrode line, and the substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer, a data line and a drain electrode formed on the gate insulating layer and the semiconductor layer, a storage conductor formed as the same layer as the data line on the gate insulating layer and connected with the drain electrode, a passivation layer formed on the data line, the drain electrode, and the storage conductor; and a pixel electrode formed on the passivation layer, connected with the drain electrode, and having a plurality of cutout portions. Each storage electrode and each storage conductor has slant portions that overlap with the cutout portions and overlaps with each other with the gate insulating layer interposed therebetween.

The width of the storage electrode and that of the storage conductor that overlap with each other may be the same, or different.

The width of the storage electrode that overlaps h the storage conductor may be larger than that of the storage conductor.

The width of the storage electrode may be larger by about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm than that of the storage conductor.

The width of the storage conductor that overlaps the storage electrode may be larger than that of the storage electrode.

The width of the storage conductor may be larger by about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm than that of the storage electrode.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a first substrate, a gate line including a gate electrode and a storage electrode line including a storage electrode formed on the first substrate, a gate insulating layer formed on the gate line, the storage line, and the substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer, a data line and a drain electrode formed on the gate insulating layer and the semiconductor layer, a storage conductor formed as the same layer as the data line on the gate insulating layer and connected with the drain electrode, a passivation layer formed on the data line, the drain electrode, and the storage conductor, and a pixel electrode formed on the passivation layer, connected with the drain electrode, and having a first cutout portion, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a common electrode formed on the second substrate and having a second cutout portion, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates. The storage electrode and the storage conductor have slant portions that overlap with the cutout portions and overlap each other with the gate insulating layer interposed therebetween.

The dielectric constant (∈) of the liquid crystal layer, the thickness (d) of the liquid crystal layer, the dielectric constant of the passivation layer (∈′), and the thickness (d′) of the passivation layer satisfy the relationship; ∈d′/∈′d>0.1.

The second cutout portion and the first cutout portion may be alternately disposed.

The LCD device may further include a light blocking member formed on the second substrate, and a color filter formed on the second substrate and the light blocking member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A TFT array panel and an LCD device including the TFT array panel according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1is a layout view of a thin film transistor (TFT) array panel of an LCD device according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 2is a layout view of a common electrode panel of the LCD device according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 3is a layout view of the LCD device according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The LCD device according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a thin film transistor (TFT) array panel100and a common electrode panel200, and a liquid crystal layer3interposed between the two display panels100and200.

First, the TFT array panel will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 3.

A plurality of gate lines121and a plurality of storage electrode lines131are formed on an insulation substrate110made of transparent glass or plastic.

The gate lines121transfer gate signals and extend mainly in a horizontal direction. Each gate line includes a plurality of gate electrodes124that protrude upward and a large end portion129for connection with a different layer or an external driving circuit. A gate driving circuit (not shown) for generating gate signals can be mounted on a flexible printed circuit film (not shown) attached on the substrate110, directly mounted on the substrate110, or integrated on the substrate110. When the gate driving circuit is integrated on the substrate110, the gate lines121can be elongated to be directly connected thereto.

The storage electrode line131receives a predetermined voltage and extends substantially parallel to the gate line121. Each storage electrode line131is positioned between two adjacent gate lines121and is spaced apart from the two gate lines121at the same distance.

The storage electrode line131includes upwardly and downwardly extending storage electrodes137. The storage electrodes137include a horizontal portion137chaving such a form that the storage electrode line131protrudes up and down, a second and a third slant portions137dand137eextending in upper and lower slant line directions from the horizontal portion137c, a vertical portion137bextending from the right side of the horizontal portion137cin a vertical direction, and a first slant portion137aextending slantingly from the vertical portion137bin a left direction. The shape and disposition of the storage electrode line131can be modified in various manners.

The gate lines121and the storage electrode lines131can be made of an aluminum-based metal such as aluminum (A) or an aluminum alloy, a silver-based metal such as silver (Ag) or a silver alloy, a copper-based metal such as copper (Cu) or a copper alloy, a molybdenum-based metal such as molybdenum (Mo) or a molybdenum alloy, chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), etc. Also, the gate lines121and the storage electrode lines131can have a multi-layered structure including two conductive layers (not shown) each having different physical properties. One of the conductive layers can be made of a metal with low resistivity, such as the aluminum-based metal, the silver-based metal, or the copper-based metal, etc. in order to reduce a signal delay or a voltage drop. The other conductive layer can be made of a material such as the molybdenum-based metal, chromium, tantalum, titanium, etc., that has good physical, chemical, and electrical contact characteristics with a different material, particularly, ITO (indium tin oxide) and IZO (indium zinc oxide). Good examples of such combination may include a combination of a lower chromium layer and an upper aluminum (alloy) layer, and a combination of a lower aluminum (alloy) layer and an upper molybdenum (alloy) layer. In addition, the gate lines121and the storage electrode lines131can be made of various other metals or conductors.

The sides of the gate lines121and the storage electrode lines131are sloped to the surface of the substrate110, and preferably, the slope angle is within the range of about 30° to 80°.

A gate insulating layer140made of silicon nitride (SiNx) or silicon oxide (SiOx), etc., is formed on the gate lines121and the storage electrode lines131.

A plurality of semiconductor stripes151made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si) or polycrystalline silicon, etc., are formed on the gate insulating layer140. The semiconductor stripes151extend mainly in a vertical direction and include a plurality of projections154extending toward the gate electrodes124. The semiconductor stripes151widen near the gate lines121and the storage electrode lines131to extensively cover them.

A plurality of ohmic contacts stripes and islands161and165are formed on the semiconductor stripes151. The ohmic contact stripes and islands161and165can be made of a material such as n+ hydrogenated amorphous silicon in which an n-type impurity such as phosphor is doped with a high density, or silicide. The ohmic contact stripes161have a plurality of projections163, and the projections163and the ohmic contact islands165are disposed as pairs on the projections154of the semiconductor stripes151.

The sides of the semiconductor stripes151and the sides of the ohmic contact stripes and islands161and165are sloped to the substrate110, and the slope angle is within the range of 30° to 80°.

A plurality of data lines171, a plurality of drain electrodes175and a plurality of storage conductors177are formed on the ohmic contact stripes and islands161and165.

The data lines171transfer data signals and extend mainly in a vertical direction to cross the gate lines121. Each data line171includes a plurality of source electrodes173extending toward the gate electrode124and a large end portion179for a connection with a different layer or an external driving circuit. A data driving circuit (not shown) can be mounted on a flexible printed circuit film (not shown) attached on the substrate110, directly mounted on the substrate110, or integrated on the substrate110. When the data driving circuit is integrated on the substrate110, the data line171can be elongated to be connected thereto.

The drain electrode175is separated from the data line171and faces the source electrode173centering on the gate electrode124. Each drain electrode175includes one bar type end portion and a storage conductor177, and the bar type end portion is partially surrounded by a U-shaped source electrode173.

One gate electrode124, one source electrode173, and one drain electrode175constitute a single thin film transistor (TFT) together with the projection154of the semiconductor stripe151, and a channel of the TFT is formed at the projection154between the source electrode173and the drain electrode175.

The storage conductor177includes a first slant portion177aextending in a slant line direction from the bar type end portion surrounded by the source electrode173of the drain electrode175, a vertical portion177bextending from the first slant portion177ain a vertical direction, a horizontal portion177cextending from the vertical portion177bin a horizontal direction, and second and third slant portions177dand177eextending in upper and lower slant line directions. Each portion of the storage conductor177overlaps a corresponding the storage electrode137. In the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a width of the storage conductor177of the TFT array panel may be the same as or narrower than that of the storage electrode137, and the width of the storage electrode137can be wider than that of the storage conductor177by about 0 μm to about 10 μm.

Preferably, the data lines171, the drain electrodes175, and the storage conductors177are made of a refractory metal (not shown) such as molybdenum, chromium, tantalum, titanium, etc., or their alloys, and can have a multi-layered structure including the refractory metal layer (not shown) and a low-resistance conductive layer (not shown). Examples of the multi-layered structure may include a dual-layer of a lower chromium or molybdenum (alloy) layer and an upper aluminum (alloy) layer, and a triple-layer of a lower molybdenum (alloy) layer, an intermediate aluminum (alloy) layer, and an upper molybdenum (alloy) layer. Also, the data line171and the drain electrode175can be made of various other metals or conductors.

Preferably, the sides of the data lines171, the sides of the drain electrodes175, and the sides of the drain electrodes175are also sloped to the surface of the substrate110at a slope angle within the range of about 30° to 80°.

The ohmic contact stripes and islands161and165exist only between the lower semiconductor stripes151and the upper data lines171and the drain electrodes175, in order to lower contact resistance therebetween. In most portions, the semiconductor stripes151are narrower than the data lines171, but as mentioned above, the semiconductor stripes151widen at a portion that they meet the gate lines121and the storage electrode lines131to smooth a profile of the surface to thus prevent a disconnection of the data lines171. Some portions of the semiconductor stripes151including a portion between the source electrode173and the drain electrode175are exposed without being covered by the data line171and the drain electrode175.

A passivation layer180is formed on the data lines171and the drain electrodes175, and on the exposed portions of the semiconductor stripe151. The passivation layer180is made of an inorganic insulator or an organic insulator, etc., and may have a planarized surface. The organic insulator may be, for example, silicon nitride or silicon oxide. The organic insulator may have photosensitivity, and its dielectric constant is preferably 4.0 or less. In this respect, the passivation layer180may have a dual-layered structure of a lower inorganic layer and an upper organic layer so that it may not do harm to the exposed portion of the semiconductor island154while still sustaining the excellent insulation characteristics of the organic layer.

On the passivation layer180, there are formed a plurality of contact holes182and185exposing the end portions179of the data lines171, and the drain electrodes175, and on the passivation layer180and the gate insulating layer140, there are formed a plurality of contact holes181exposing the end portions129of the gate lines121.

A plurality of pixel electrodes191and a plurality of contact assistants81and82are formed on the passivation layer180. The pixel electrodes191and the contact assistants81and82can be made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO or IZO, or a reflective metal such as aluminum, silver, chromium, or their alloys.

The pixel electrode191is physically and electrically connected with the drain electrode175via the contact hole185and receives a data voltage from the drain electrode175. The pixel electrode191, to which the data voltage has been applied, generates an electric field together with a common electrode270of the common electrode panel200which receives a common voltage, to thereby determine the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules (not shown) of the liquid crystal layer3. The polarization of light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer3differs depending on the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules. The pixel electrode191and the common electrode270form a capacitor (referred to hereinafter as a ‘liquid crystal capacitor’) to sustain the applied voltage even after the TFT is turned off.

As mentioned, the storage conductor177overlaps the storage electrode line131including the storage electrode137. A capacitor formed as the storage conductor177electrically connected with the pixel electrode191overlaps with the storage electrode line131is called a storage capacitor, which strengthens voltage storage capability of the liquid crystal capacitor. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the storage electrode137and the storage conductor177overlap each other to form the storage capacitor of the TFT array panel. Slant portions137a,137d,137e,177a,177d, and177eare disposed below cutout portions92,93,94a,94b,95a, and95bof the pixel electrode. The width of the slant portions137a,137d,137e,177a,177d, and177eis preferably the same as that of the cutout portions92,93,94a,94b,95a, and95bof the pixel electrode.

Each pixel electrode191has four major edges substantially parallel to the gate lines121and the data lines171, and has a substantially rectangular shape with chamfered corners. The chamfered hypotenuse of the pixel electrode191makes an angle of about 45° with the gate line121.

The cutout portions of the pixel electrodes191includes central cutout portions92and93, the lower cutout portions94aand95a, and upper cutout portions94band95b. The pixel electrodes191are divided into a plurality of partitions by these cutout portions92˜95b. The cutout portions92˜95bare substantially symmetrical to a virtual horizontal central line that divides each pixel electrode191.

The upper and lower cutout portions94a˜95bextend substantially from the right and upper hypotenuses of the pixel electrode191to the right hypotenuse slantingly, and are positioned at the upper and lower portions of the pixel electrode191based on the horizontal central line of the pixel electrode191. The upper and lower cutout portions94a˜95bextend vertically at an angel of about 45° to the gate lines121.

The central cutout portion92is disposed at the center of the pixel electrode191and has an entrance positioned at the left side thereof. The entrance of the central cutout portion92has a pair of hypotenuses substantially parallel to the lower and upper cutout portions94a,95a,94b, and95b. The central cutout portion93includes a pair of slant portions extending slantingly from the horizontal central line of the pixel electrode191to the left side of the pixel electrode191.

Accordingly, the lower portion of the pixel electrode191is divided into four parts by the central cutout portion93and the lower cutout portions94aand95a, and the upper portion of the pixel electrode191is divided into four parts by the central cutout portion93and the lower cutout portions94aand95a.

The number of regions or the number of cutout portions may vary depending on the designing factors such as the ratio of the length of the horizontal side and vertical side of the pixel electrode191and type or characteristics of the liquid crystal layer3.

Among the cutout portions92a˜95b, the central cutout portion93and the lower cutout portion94aoverlap the first to third slant portions177a,177d, and177eof the storage conductor177and the slant portions of the storage electrode137.

In this manner, by forming the storage electrode137and the storage conductor177such that they overlap the cutout portions92,93,94a,94b,95a, and95b, the aperture ratio of the LCD device can be improved.

The contact assistants81and82are connected with the end portions129of the gate lines121and the end portions179of the data lines171via the contact holes181and182. The contact assistants81and82assist the adhesion of the end portions129of the gate lines121and the end portions179of the data lines171with an external device, and protect them.

In the LCD device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the dielectric constant of liquid crystal is “∈”, the cell gap of the LCD device is “d”, the dielectric constant of the passivation layer180is “∈″”, and the thickness of the passivation layer180is “d″”, it is preferred that the relationship ∈d′/∈′d>0.1 be satisfied.

The common electrode panel200will now be described with reference toFIGS. 2 to 4.

A light blocking member220is formed on the insulation substrate210made of transparent glass or plastic. The light blocking member220is also called a black matrix and prevents light leakage. The light blocking member220faces the pixel electrode191, has a plurality of openings225with substantially the same shape as the pixel electrode191, and blocks light leakage between pixel electrodes191. The light blocking member220may include a portion corresponding to the gate line121and the data line171and a portion corresponding to the TFT.

A plurality of color filters230are also formed on the substrate210. The color filters230exist mostly within regions surrounded by the light blocking member230, and may extend long in a vertical direction along the rows of pixel electrodes191. Each color filter230can display one of three primary colors of red green, and blue.

An overcoat250is formed on the color filters230and the light blocking members220. The overcoat250can be made of an (organic) insulator to protect the color filters230, to prevent the color filters230from being exposed, and to provide a planarized surface.

A common electrode270made of a transparent conductor such as ITO or IZO is formed on the overcoat250.

The common electrode270has sets of a plurality of cutout portions73,74,75a,75b,76a, and76b.

One set of cutout portions73˜75bface a single pixel electrode191and include central cutout portions73and74, lower cutout portions75aand76aand upper cutout portions75band76b. The cutout portions73,74,75a,76a,75b, and76bare disposed between adjacent cutout portions92˜95bor between cutout portions94a˜95band the chamfered hypotenuse. The cutout portions73˜75binclude at least one slant portion extending parallel to the lower cutout portions94aand95aor the upper cutout portions94band95bof the pixel electrode191, and each slant portion includes a concave notch. The notches of the cutout portions73˜75bof the common electrode270determine a slant direction of liquid crystal molecules positioned at the cutout portions73˜75b. The notches can be formed at the cutout portions92˜95bof the pixel electrode191or omitted.

The lower and upper cutout portions75a,75b,76a, and76binclude a slant portion, a horizontal portion, and a vertical portion. The slant portion extends substantially from the upper or lower side of the pixel electrode191to the right side. The horizontal and vertical portions overlap with the sides of the pixel electrode191and extend from each end of slant portions, and form an obtuse angle to the slant portions.

The central cutout portions73and74include a central horizontal portion, a pair of slant portions, and a pair of end vertical portions. The central horizontal portion extends substantially from the right side or the center of the pixel electrode191to the left side along the horizontal central line of the pixel electrode191, and the pair of slant portions extend substantially from an end of the central horizontal portion toward the left side of the pixel electrode191so as to be substantially parallel to the lower and upper cutout portions75aand75b. The end vertical portions extend from ends of the corresponding slant portions while overlapping with the right side along the right side of the pixel electrode191, and form an obtuse angle to the slant portion.

The number of the cutout portions73˜75bcan vary depending on design factors, and the light blocking member220and the cutout portions73˜75bcan overlap with each other to prevent light leakage at or around the cutout portions73˜75b.

Alignment layers11and21are coated on an inner surface of the display panels100and200, and can be vertical alignment layers. Polarizers (not shown) are provided on an outer surface of the display panels100and200, and polarization axes of the two polarizers are perpendicular to each other, and preferably, one of the two polarization axes is parallel to the gate lines121. In the case of a reflective LCD device, one of the two polarizers can be omitted.

The LCD device according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include a phase retardation film (not shown) for compensating delay of the liquid crystal layer. The LCD device may further include a backlight unit (not shown) for providing light to the polarizers, the phase retardation film, the display panels100and200, and the liquid crystal layer3.

The liquid crystal layer3has negative dielectric anisotropy, and liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer3are aligned such that their longer axes are substantially perpendicular to the surfaces of the two display panels100and200in a state when there is no electric field. Accordingly, incident light is blocked, rather than passing through the crossed polarizers.

When a common voltage is applied to the common electrode and a data voltage is applied to the pixel electrode191, an electric field substantially perpendicular to the surface of the display panels100and200is generated. Then, the longer axis of the liquid crystal molecules is changed to be perpendicular to the direction of the electric field in response to the electric field. Hereinafter, the pixel electrode191and the common electrode270will be called field generating electrodes.

The cutout portions73˜75band92˜95bof the field generating electrodes191and270and the sides of the pixel electrode191distort the electric field to create a horizontal component for determining a slant direction of the liquid crystal molecules. The horizontal component of the electric field is substantially perpendicular to the sides of the cutout portions73˜75band92˜95band the sides of the pixel electrode191.

With reference toFIG. 3, a set of cutout portions73˜75band92˜95bdivide the pixel electrode191into a plurality of sub-regions, and each region has two major edges making an oblique angle to a major edge of the pixel electrode191.

Liquid crystal molecules on each sub-region mostly incline to be perpendicular to the major edges, namely, substantially in four directions. By varying the directions in which the liquid crystal molecules incline, a reference viewing angle of the LCD device can increase.

At least one or more cutout portions73˜75band92˜95bcan be substituted by protrusions (not shown) or depressions (not shown). The protrusions can be made of an organic material or an inorganic material, and can be disposed on an upper or lower portion of the field generating electrodes191and270.

In the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a storage conductor177, to which the same voltage as that of the pixel electrode is applied, is disposed at lower portions of some of the sets of cutout portions92˜95bof the pixel electrode191of the TFT array panel.

Where the storage conductor177to which a voltage is applied is located at the lower portions of the sets of cutout portions92˜95bof the pixel electrode191, the following relational expression should be satisfied in order to create an electric field horizontal component having a magnitude that can control the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules incline:
VSC<VP(1+∈d′/∈′d),
where, VSCis the voltage applied to the storage conductor177, VPis the voltage applied to the pixel electrode191, “∈” and “d” are a dielectric constants of the liquid crystal and the cell gap, respectively, and “∈′” and “d′” are the dielectric constant and thickness of the passivation layer180.

A TFT array panel according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention applies the same data voltage to the storage conductor177and the pixel electrode191, so that VSCand VPare the same and ∈d′/∈′d>0.1, and thus, the above formula is satisfied.

In the TFT array panel according to the present exemplary embodiment, the storage electrode137and the storage conductor177have the slant portions with the same width as the cutout portions and are disposed below the cutout portions92˜95bAccordingly, the aperture ratio of the LCD device is increased. The horizontal component of the electric field allows the sets of cutout portions92˜95bof the pixel electrode191to control the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules are oriented compared with a conventional LCD device in which the storage electrode137and the storage conductor177are not disposed below the cutout portions92˜95b.

The LCD device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 6is a layout view of an LCD device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of the LCD device inFIG. 6, andFIG. 8is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of the LCD device inFIG. 6.

The LCD device according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a TFT array panel100, a common electrode panel200, and a liquid crystal layer3interposed between the two display panels100and200.

The layered structures of the display panels100and200are substantially the same as those shown inFIGS. 1 to 5.

In the TFT array panel, a plurality of gate lines121including gate electrodes124and a plurality of storage electrode lines131including storage electrodes are formed on a substrate110, on which a gate insulating layer140, a plurality of semiconductor stripes151including projections154, a plurality of ohmic contact stripes161including projections163, and a plurality of ohmic contact islands165are sequentially formed.

A plurality of data lines171including source electrodes173and a plurality of drain electrodes175are formed on the ohmic contact stripes and islands161and165, a storage conductor177is formed as the same layer as the data lines171and connected with the drain electrode175, and a passivation layer180is formed thereon. A plurality of contact holes181,182, and185are formed at the passivation layer180, on which a plurality of pixel electrodes191, a plurality of contact assistants81and82, and an alignment layer11are formed.

In the common electrode panel200, a light blocking member220, a plurality of color filers230, a common electrode, and an alignment layer21are sequentially formed on an insulation substrate210.

However, unlike the LCD device shown inFIGS. 1 to 5, in the LCD device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the width of the storage electrode137may be the same as or narrower than that of the storage conductor177and the width of the storage conductor177may be larger than that of the storage electrode137by about 0 μm to about 10 μm.

In the LCD device according to the present exemplary embodiment, the storage electrode137and the storage conductor177also have slant portions overlapping cutout portions92˜95b. When the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal is “Ε”, the cell gap of the LCD device is “d”, the dielectric constant of the passivation layer180is “∈′”, and the thickness of the passivation layer180is “d′”, the relationship ∈d′/∈′d>0.1 is satisfied.

Accordingly, because the storage electrode137and the storage conductor177have the slant portions that overlap the cutout portions92˜95bof the pixel electrode191, the aperture ratio of the LCD device is increased and the electric field horizontal component allows the sets of cutout portions92˜95bof the pixel electrode191to control the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules are inclined, compared with the conventional LCD device in which the storage electrode137and the storage conductor177are not disposed below the cutout portions92˜95b.

As described above, because the TFT array panel of the LCD device according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes the storage electrode and the storage conductor having the slant portions that overlap the cutout portions of the pixel electrode, the aperture ratio of the LCD device is increased compared with the conventional LCD device in which the storage electrode and the storage conductor do not have the slant portions.