Abstract:
A liquid crystal display includes opening patterns in the electrodes or protrusions on the electrodes. The opening patterns or the protrusions have a pattern which controls the direction of the liquid crystal molecules. Thus the quality of the LCD can be improved.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/183,296 filed on Jul. 31, 2008 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/043,175 filed on Jan. 27, 2005, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0005407, filed on Jan. 28, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A liquid crystal display (LCD) is one of the most widely used flat panel displays. An LCD includes two panels provided with field-generating electrodes such as pixel electrodes and a common electrode and a liquid crystal (LC) layer interposed therebetween. The LCD displays images by applying voltages to the field-generating electrodes to generate an electric field in the LC layer, which determines orientations of LC molecules in the LC layer to adjust polarization of incident light. 
         [0006]    Among the LCDs, a vertical alignment (VA) mode LCD, which aligns LC molecules such that the long axes of the LC molecules are perpendicular to the panels in absence of electric field, is spotlighted because of its high contrast ratio and wide reference viewing angle that is defined as a viewing angle making the contrast ratio equal to 1:10 or as a limit angle for the inversion in luminance between the grays. 
         [0007]    The wide viewing angle of the VA mode LCD can be realized by cutouts in the field-generating electrodes and protrusions on the field-generating electrodes. Since the cutouts and the protrusions can determine the tilt directions of the LC molecules, the tilt directions can be distributed into several directions by using the cutouts and the protrusions such that the reference viewing angle is widened. 
         [0008]    However, the VA mode LCD has relatively poor lateral visibility compared with front visibility. For example, a patterned VA (PVA) mode LCD having the cutouts shows an image that becomes bright as it goes far from the front, and in the worse case, the luminance difference between high grays vanishes such that the images cannot be perceived. 
         [0009]    In addition, the cutouts and the protrusions reduce the aperture ratio. In order to increase the aperture ratio, the size of the pixel electrodes is suggested to be maximized. However, the close distance between the pixel electrodes causes strong lateral electric fields between the pixel electrodes, which dishevels orientations of the LC molecules to yield textures and light leakage, thereby deteriorating display characteristic. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A liquid crystal display is provided, which includes: a first panel including a first signal line, a second signal line intersecting the first signal line, a thin film transistor connected to the first and the second signal lines, and a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, a second panel including a common electrode facing the pixel electrode, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode and includes first and second regions having different light transmittance. 
         [0011]    At least one of the first and the second panels may further include a tilt direction defining member having a singularity. 
         [0012]    The first region may face the tilt direction defining member. 
         [0013]    The tilt direction defining member may include a cutout or a protrusion formed at the pixel electrode or the common electrode, and the singularity may include a concavity, a convexity, or a disconnection, and in particular, a concave notch provided at the cutout or the protrusion. 
         [0014]    The first and the second panels may further include first and second tilt direction defining members having singularities, respectively, which may be alternately arranged. 
         [0015]    The first region may face the first and the second tilt direction defining members. 
         [0016]    Each of the first and the second tilt direction defining members may include a cutout formed at the pixel electrode or the common electrode, or a protrusion formed on the pixel electrode or the common electrode. 
         [0017]    The number of singularities of each of the first and the second tilt direction defining members may be equal to or more than one. 
         [0018]    The transmittance of the first region may be higher than about 50% and lower than about 100% of the transmittance of the second region. 
         [0019]    The first region may have a planar area equal to or less than a planar area of the second region and higher than about 40% of the planar area of the second region. 
         [0020]    Tilt directions of liquid crystal molecules in the first and the second regions may be different. 
         [0021]    A liquid crystal display is provided, which includes: a first panel including a first signal line, a second signal line intersecting the first signal line, a thin film transistor connected to the first and the second signal lines, and a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, a second panel including a common electrode facing the pixel electrode, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode and includes first and second regions for displaying images, liquid crystal molecules in the first and the second regions having different tilt angles. 
         [0022]    At least one of the first and the second panels may further include a tilt direction defining member having a singularity. 
         [0023]    The first region may face the tilt direction defining member. 
         [0024]    The tilt direction defining member may include a cutout or a protrusion formed at the pixel electrode or the common electrode, and the singularity may include a concavity, a convexity, or a disconnection provided at the cutout or the protrusion. 
         [0025]    The first region may have a light transmittance higher than about 50% and lower than about 100% of a light transmittance of the second region. 
         [0026]    The first region may have a planar area equal to or less than a planar area of the second region and higher than about 40% of the planar area of the second region. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a layout view of a pixel area for an LCD according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a layout view of a common electrode panel for an LCD according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a layout view of an LCD including the TFT array panel shown in  FIG. 1  and the common electrode panel shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is the sectional view of the LCD shown in  FIG. 3  taken along the line IV-IV′. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is the sectional view of the LCD shown in  FIG. 3  taken along the line V-V′, respectively. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a layout view of an LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the LCD shown in  FIG. 6  taken along the line VII-VII′. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the LCD shown in  FIG. 6  taken along the lines VIII-VII′ and VIU′-VIII″. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a layout view of a TFT array panel of an LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 10  is a layout view of a common electrode panel of an LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 11  is a layout view of an LCD including the TFT array panel shown in  FIG. 9  and the common electrode panel shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the LCD shown in  FIG. 11  taken along the line XII-XII′. 
           [0039]      FIG. 13  is a layout view of an LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the LCD shown in  FIG. 13  taken along the line XIV-XIV′. 
           [0041]      FIG. 15  is a layout view illustrating an arrangement of cutouts of a pixel electrode and a common electrode of the LCD shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 16  is a layout view illustrating an arrangement of a cutout of a common electrode of an LCD that has substantially the same configuration as that shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5  except for cutouts. 
           [0043]      FIG. 17  is a table illustrating various experimental conditions of width and distance of the cutouts shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 18  is a graph illustrating gamma curves for the cases illustrated in  FIGS. 15 ,  16 , and  17 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0045]    The present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. 
         [0046]    In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like numerals refer to like elements throughout. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
         [0047]    An LCD according to an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 . 
         [0048]    An LCD according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a TFT array panel  100 , a common electrode panel  200  facing the TFT array panel  100 , and an LC layer  3  interposed between the TFT array panel  100  and the common electrode panel  200 . 
         [0049]    The TFT array panel  100  is now described in detail with reference to FIGS.  1 , 3 , 4 , and  5 . 
         [0050]    A plurality of gate lines  121  and a plurality of pairs of storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  are formed on an insulating substrate  110 . 
         [0051]    The gate lines  121  for transmitting gate signals extend substantially in a transverse direction and are separated from each other. Each gate line  121  includes a plurality of projections forming a plurality of gate electrodes  124 . The gate lines  121  may extend to be connected to a driving circuit (not shown) integrated on the substrate  110 , or it may have an end portion (not shown) having a large area for connection with another layer or an external driving circuit mounted on the substrate  110  or on another device such as a flexible printed circuit film (not shown) that may be attached to the substrate  110 . 
         [0052]    The storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  extend substantially in the transverse direction, but they are bent near the gate electrodes  124 . Each pair of the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  include a plurality of pairs of storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b  that are connected thereto and extend parallel to each other. Each storage electrode  133   a  or  133   b  is once bent with a substantially right angle such that it includes a pair of oblique portions making an angle of about 45 degrees with the gate lines  121  and connected to each other with a substantially right angle. The storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  are supplied with a predetermined voltage such as a common voltage, which is applied to a common electrode  270  on the common electrode panel  200  of the LCD. 
         [0053]    The gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  are preferably made of Al containing metal such as Al and Al alloy, Ag containing metal such as Ag and Ag alloy, Cu containing metal such as Cu and Cu alloy, Mo containing metal such as Mo and Mo alloy, Cr, Ta, or Ti. However, they may have a multi-layered structure including two films having different physical characteristics. One of the two films is preferably made of low resistivity metal including Al containing metal, Ag containing metal, or Cu containing metal for reducing signal delay or voltage drop in the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b . The other film is preferably made of material such as Cr, Mo, Mo alloy, Ta, or Ti, which has good physical, chemical, and electrical contact characteristics with other materials such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO). A good exemplary combination of the two film materials is Cr and Al—Nd alloy. 
         [0054]    In addition, the lateral sides of the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  are inclined relative to a surface of the substrate  110 , and the inclination angle thereof ranges about 30-80 degrees. 
         [0055]    A gate insulating layer  140  preferably made of silicon nitride (SiNx) is formed on the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b.    
         [0056]    A plurality of semiconductor stripes  151  preferably made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (abbreviated as “a-Si”) or polysilicon are formed on the gate insulating layer  140 . Each semiconductor stripe  151  extends substantially parallel to the storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b  such that it is bent periodically. Each semiconductor stripe  151  has a plurality of projections  154  branched out toward the gate electrodes  124  and the width of each semiconductor stripe  151  becomes large near the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  such that the semiconductor stripe  151  covers large areas of the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b.    
         [0057]    A plurality of ohmic contact stripes and islands  161  and  165  preferably made of silicide or n+ hydrogenated a-Si heavily doped with n type impurity are formed on the semiconductor stripes  151 . Each ohmic contact stripe  161  has a plurality of projections  163 , and the projections  163  and the ohmic contact islands  165  are located in pairs on the projections  154  of the semiconductor stripes  151 . 
         [0058]    The lateral sides of the semiconductor stripes  151  and the ohmic contacts  161  and  165  are inclined relative to the surface of the substrate  110 , and the inclination angles thereof are preferably in a range of about 30-80 degrees. 
         [0059]    A plurality of data lines  171  and a plurality of drain electrodes  175  separated from each other are formed on the ohmic contacts  161  and  165  and the gate insulating layer  140 . 
         [0060]    The data lines  171  for transmitting data voltages extend substantially in the longitudinal direction and intersect the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b . Each data line  171  has an end portion  179  having a large area for contact with another layer or an external device and it includes a plurality of oblique portions and a plurality of longitudinal portions such that it bends periodically. Each bent portion connects a pair of oblique portions to form a chevron and opposite ends of the pair of oblique portions are connected to respective longitudinal portions. The oblique portions of the data lines  171  make an angle of about 45 degrees with the gate lines  121 , and the longitudinal portions cross over the gate electrodes  124 . The length of the oblique portion is about one to nine times the length of the longitudinal portion, that is, it occupies about 50-90 percents of the total length of the data line. An oblique portion may have three or more sub-oblique portions in a pixel area such that it is bent twice or more in a pixel area. 
         [0061]    Each drain electrode  175  obliquely extends from a linear end portion disposed near a gate electrode  124  to a rectangular expanded end portion having a large area for contact with another layer. The expansion of the drain electrode  175  has a chamfered corner substantially parallel to the storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b . Each longitudinal portion of the data lines  171  includes a plurality of projections such that the longitudinal portion including the projections forms a source electrode  173  partly enclosing a linear end portion of a drain electrode  175 . Each set of a gate electrode  124 , a source electrode  173 , and a drain electrode  175  along with a projection  154  of a semiconductor stripe  151  form a TFT having a channel formed in the semiconductor projection  154  disposed between the source electrode  173  and the drain electrode  175 . 
         [0062]    The data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175  are preferably made of refractory metal such as Cr, Mo, Mo alloy, Ta and Ti. They may also include a lower film (not shown) preferably made of Mo, Mo alloy or Cr and an upper film (not shown) located thereon and preferably made of Al containing metal. 
         [0063]    Like the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b , the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175  have inclined lateral sides, and the inclination angles thereof range about 30-80 degrees. 
         [0064]    The ohmic contacts  161  and  165  are interposed only between the underlying semiconductor stripes  151  and the overlying data lines  171  and the overlying drain electrodes  175  thereon and reduce the contact resistance therebetween. The semiconductor stripes  151  include a plurality of exposed portions, which are not covered with the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175 , such as portions located between the source electrodes  173  and the drain electrodes  175 . Although the semiconductor stripes  151  are narrower than the data lines  171  at most places, the width of the semiconductor stripes  151  becomes large near the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  as described above, to smooth the profile of the surface, thereby preventing the disconnection of the data lines  171 . 
         [0065]    A passivation layer  180  is formed on the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175 , and exposed portions of the semiconductor stripes  151 , which are not covered with the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175 . The passivation layer  180  is preferably made of low dielectric insulating material such as a-Si:C:O and a-Si:O:F formed by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), organic insulator or inorganic insulator such as silicon nitride and silicon oxide. The passivation layer  180  may have a double-layered structure including a lower inorganic film and an upper organic film in order to prevent the channel portions of the semiconductor stripes  151  from being in direct contact with organic material. 
         [0066]    The passivation layer  180  has a plurality of contact holes  182  and  185  exposing the end portions  179  of the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175 , respectively. The passivation layer  180  and the gate insulating layer  140  have a plurality of contact holes  184  exposing the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b . The contact holes  182 ,  184  and  185  can have various shapes such as polygon or circle. The sidewalls of the contact holes  182 ,  184  and  185  are inclined with an angle of about 30-85 degrees or have stepwise profiles. 
         [0067]    A plurality of pixel electrodes  190 , a plurality of contact assistants  82 , and a plurality of storage overpasses  84  are formed on the passivation layer  180 , and they are preferably made of ITO or IZO. 
         [0068]    Each pixel electrode  190  is located substantially in an area enclosed by the data lines  171  and the gate lines  121 , and it has a pair of transverse edges extending substantially parallel to the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  and a pair of bent edges substantially parallel to the data lines  171  such that it also forms a chevron. The pixel electrodes  190  overlap the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  including the storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b  and the expansions of the drain electrodes  175 . 
         [0069]    In addition, each pixel electrode  190  has a bent cutout  191  that extends substantially parallel to the bent edges of the pixel electrode  190  and bisecting the pixel electrode  190  into right part  190   a  and left part  190   b . The cutout  191  is divided into middle portion  191   a , lower portion  191   b , and upper portion  191   c  by a pair of bridges  191   d  disposed at about quarter points of the cutout  191  from top and bottom of the cutout  191 . The bridges  191   d  cross the cutout  191  perpendicularly to the cutout  191  and thus each of the portions  191   a ,  191   b , and  191   c  has two oblique major edges parallel to each other and at least one minor edge perpendicular to the major edges. The width of the cutout  191  preferably ranges about 5-20 microns and the bridges  191   d  may have a shape of notch, triangle, parallelogram, or semicircle. 
         [0070]    The pixel electrodes  190  are physically and electrically connected to the drain electrodes  175  through the contact holes  185  such that the pixel electrodes  190  receive the data voltages from the drain electrodes  175 . The pixel electrodes  190  supplied with the data voltages generate electric fields in cooperation with the common electrode  270 , which reorient liquid crystal molecules  310  disposed therebetween. 
         [0071]    A pixel electrode  190  and the common electrode  270  form a capacitor called a “liquid crystal capacitor,” which stores applied voltages after turn-off of the TFT. An additional capacitor called a “storage capacitor,” which is connected in parallel to the liquid crystal capacitor, is provided for enhancing the voltage storing capacity. The storage capacitors are implemented by overlapping the pixel electrodes  190  with the storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  including the storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b.    
         [0072]    The pixel electrodes  190  overlap the data lines  171  as well as the gate lines  121  to increase aperture ratio. 
         [0073]    The contact assistants  82  are connected to the exposed end portions  179  of the data lines  171  through the contact holes  182 . The contact assistants  82  protect the exposed end portions  179  and complement the adhesion between the exposed end portions  179  and external devices. The contact assistants  82  may be omitted when the end portions  179  are omitted. 
         [0074]    The storage overpasses  84  cross over the gate lines  121  and they are connected to a pair of the storage electrode lines  131  through the contact holes  184  disposed opposite each other with respect to the gate lines  121 . 
         [0075]    Finally, a homeotropic alignment layer  11  is formed on the pixel electrodes  190 , the contact assistants  82 , the storage overpasses  84 , and the passivation layer  180 . 
         [0076]    The description of the common electrode panel  200  follows with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 . 
         [0077]    A light blocking member  220  called a black matrix is formed on an insulating substrate  210  such as transparent glass and it may include a plurality of bent portions facing the bent portions of the data lines  171  and a plurality of expanded portions facing the TFTs and the longitudinal portions of the data lines  171  such that the light blocking member  220  prevents light leakage between the pixel electrodes  190  and defines open areas facing the pixel electrodes  190 . 
         [0078]    A plurality of color filters  230  are formed on the substrate  210  and the light blocking member  220  and each of the color filters  230  is disposed substantially in the open areas defined by the light blocking member  220 . The color filters  230  disposed between adjacent two data lines  171  and arranged in the longitudinal direction may be connected to each other to form a stripe. Each color filter  230  may represent one of three primary colors such as red, green and blue colors. The color filters  230  may be disposed on the TFT array panel  100 , and in this case, they may be disposed under the gate insulating layer  140  or under the passivation layer  180 . 
         [0079]    An overcoat  250  preferably made of silicon nitride or organic material is formed on the color filters  230  and the light blocking member  220 . The overcoat  250  protects the color filters  230  and gives a flat top surface. 
         [0080]    A common electrode  270  preferably made of transparent conductive material such as ITO and IZO is formed on the overcoat  250 . The common electrode  270  is supplied with the common voltage and it has a plurality of pairs of chevron-like cutouts  271  and  272  facing respective pixel electrodes  190 . Each cutout  271  and  272  is divided into middle portions  271   a  and  272   a , lower portions  271   b  and  272   b , and upper portions  271   c  and  272   c  by a pair of bridges  271   d  and  272   d  disposed at about quarter points from the top to the bottom of the cutout  271  and  272  and the bridges  271   d  and  272   d  cross the cutout  271  and  272  perpendicular to the cutout  271  and  272  such that each of the portions  271   a ,  271   b ,  271   c ,  272   a ,  272   b , and  272   c  has two oblique major edges parallel to each other and at least a minor edge perpendicular to the major edges. In the meantime, the cutout  271  and  272  includes a pair of oblique portions connected to each other and a pair of transverse portions  271   f  and  272   f  connected to one of the oblique portions. The oblique portions of the cutout  271  and  272  extend substantially parallel to the cutout  191  of the pixel electrode  190  and they may bisect the partitions of the pixel electrode  190  into left and right halves. The transverse portions  271   f  and  272   f  of the cutout  271  and  272  are aligned with transverse edges of the pixel electrode  190 , respectively, and they make obtuse angles with the oblique portions of the cutout  271  and  272 . The cutout  271  and  272  preferably has a width W in a range of about 6-20 microns. 
         [0081]    The light blocking member  220  may also overlap the cutouts  271  and  272  to  20  block the light leakage through the cutouts  271  and  272 . 
         [0082]    A homeotropic alignment layer  21  is coated on the common electrode  270 . 
         [0083]    The alignment layers  11  and  21  may be homogeneous alignment layers. 
         [0084]    A pair of polarizer  12  and  22  is provided on outer surfaces of the panels  100  and  200  such that their transmissive axes are crossed and one of the transmissive axes is parallel to the gate lines  121 . In addition, retardation films  13  and  23  for compensating the retardation of the LC layer  3  are disposed on the outer surfaces of the panels  100  and  200 . 
         [0085]    The LCD may further include a backlight unit for providing light for the LCD. 
         [0086]    The LC layer  3  has negative dielectric anisotropy and the LC molecules  310  in the LC layer  3  are aligned such that their long axes are vertical to the surfaces of the panels  100  and  200  in absence of electric field. 
         [0087]    Upon application of the common voltage to the common electrode  270  and a data voltage to the pixel electrodes  190 , a primary electric field substantially perpendicular to the surfaces of the panels  100  and  200  is generated. The LC molecules  310  tend to change their orientations in response to the electric field such that their long axes are perpendicular to the field direction, hi the meantime, the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  of the pixel electrodes  190  and the common electrode  270  and the edges of the pixel electrodes  190  distort the primary electric field to have a horizontal component which determines the tilt directions of the LC molecules  310 . The horizontal component of the primary electric field is perpendicular to the edges of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  and the edges of the pixel electrodes  190 . The horizontal component of the primary field varies depending on positions on a pixel electrode  190 . 
         [0088]    A pixel region that is defined as a portion of the LC layer  3  disposed on a pixel electrode  190  includes two different kinds of sub-regions. One kind of the sub-regions are those disposed between adjacent two of a set of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  (referred to as primary sub-regions hereinafter) and the edges of the pixel electrodes  190  and the other kind of the sub-regions are those disposed on the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  (referred to as secondary sub-regions hereinafter). 
         [0089]    The horizontal component of the primary electric field in the primary sub-regions is substantially perpendicular to the extension direction of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  and the edges of the pixel electrodes  190 . Accordingly, the primary sub-regions include eight primary domains, each domain including substantially the same tilt direction, and the primary domains are partitioned by the edges of the pixel electrode  190 , the set of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  quartering the pixel electrode  190 , and an imaginary transverse center line passing through the meeting point of the oblique portions of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272 . The primary domains have four tilt directions. 
         [0090]    The horizontal component of the primary electric field in the secondary sub-regions is substantially parallel to the extension directions of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  since the horizontal components generated by the major edges of each of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  on the secondary sub-regions point opposite directions to be cancelled. Accordingly, the liquid crystal molecules  310  on the secondary sub-regions are tilted parallel to the extending directions of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  to form a plurality of secondary domains. 
         [0091]    In the meantime, the horizontal component on the secondary domains is relatively weak compared with that on the primary domains. Accordingly, the tilt angle of the secondary domains is different from that of the primary domains, and light transmittances in the primary and the secondary domains are different, hi other words, the primary domains exhibit a regular light transmittance corresponding to a given gray, while the secondary domains exhibit a light transmittance slightly different from the regular transmittance. Such a mixed transmittance of a pixel region compensates the distortion of a lateral gamma curve with respect to a front gamma curve, thereby improving visibility of the LCD. 
         [0092]    The transmittance of the secondary domains is preferably about 50-100% of that of the primary domains, and the area or the width of the secondary domains is preferably about 40-100% of that of the primary domains. 
         [0093]    The transmittance of the secondary domains can be adjusted by varying shapes, angles, or numbers of the bridges  191   d ,  271   d  and  272   d  or width of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272 . In addition, the transmittance of the secondary domains may be made different depending on the color represented by the pixel regions. 
         [0094]    The change of the shapes, angles, or numbers of the bridges  191   d ,  271   d  and  272   d  or the width of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  can be also made for effective alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the second domains or increasing the improvement of the visibility. 
         [0095]    In the meantime, the direction of a secondary electric field due to the voltage difference between the pixel electrodes  190  is perpendicular to the edges of the pixel electrodes and the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272 . Accordingly, the field direction of the secondary electric field coincides with that of the horizontal component of the primary electric field in the primary domains. Consequently, the secondary electric field between the pixel electrodes  190  enhances the determination of the tilt directions of the LC molecules  310  in the primary domains. 
         [0096]    Since the LCD performs inversion such as dot inversion, column inversion, etc., adjacent pixel electrodes are supplied with data voltages having opposite polarity with respect to the common voltage and thus a secondary electric field between the adjacent pixel electrodes is almost always generated to enhance the stability of the primary domains. 
         [0097]    Since the tilt directions of all domains make an angle of about 45 degrees with the gate lines  121 , which are parallel to or perpendicular to the edges of the panels  100  and  200 , and the 45-degree intersection of the tilt directions and the transmissive axes of the polarizers gives maximum transmittance, the polarizers can be attached such that the transmissive axes of the polarizers are parallel to or perpendicular to the edges of the panels  100  and  200  and it reduces the production cost. 
         [0098]    The number, shapes, and arrangements of the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  may be modified depending on the design factors. Moreover, the cutouts  191 ,  271  and  272  may be substituted with protrusions, preferably made of organic material, and preferably having width ranging about 5-15 microns. 
         [0099]    An LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 . 
         [0100]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , an LCD according to this embodiment also includes a TFT array panel  100 , a common electrode panel  200 , and a LC layer  3  interposed therebetween. 
         [0101]    Layered structures of the panels  100  and  200  according to this embodiment are almost the same as those shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 . 
         [0102]    Regarding the TFT array panel  100 , a plurality of gate lines  121  including a plurality of gate electrodes  124  and a plurality of storage electrode lines  131   a  and  131   b  including a plurality of storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b  are formed on a substrate  110 , and a gate insulating layer  140 , a plurality of semiconductor stripes  151  including a plurality of projections  154 , and a plurality of ohmic contact stripes  161  including a plurality of projections  163  and a plurality of ohmic contact islands  165  are sequentially formed thereon. A plurality of data lines  171  including a plurality of source electrodes  173  and a plurality of drain electrodes  175  are formed on the ohmic contacts  161  and  165 , and a passivation layer  180  is formed thereon. A plurality of contact holes  182 ,  184  and  185  are provided at the passivation layer  180  and the gate insulating layer  140 . A plurality of pixel electrodes  190  having cutouts  191  divided by bridges  191   d , a plurality of storage overpasses  84 , and a plurality of contact assistants  82  are formed on the passivation layer  180  and an alignment layer  11  is coated thereon. 
         [0103]    Regarding the common electrode panel  200 , a light blocking member  220 , a plurality of color filters  230 , an overcoat  250 , a common electrode  270  having cutouts  271  and  272  divided by bridges  271   d  and  272   d , and an alignment layer  21  are formed on an insulating substrate  210 . 
         [0104]    Different from the LCD shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 , the semiconductor stripes  151  have almost the same planar shapes as the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175  as well as the underlying ohmic contacts  161  and  165 . However, the projections  154  of the semiconductor stripes  151  include some exposed portions, which are not covered with the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175 , such as portions located between the source electrodes  173  and the drain electrodes  175 . 
         [0105]    A manufacturing method of the TFT array panel according to an embodiment simultaneously forms the data lines  171 , the drain electrodes  175 , the semiconductors  151 , and the ohmic contacts  161  and  165  using one photolithography process. 
         [0106]    A photoresist pattern for the photolithography process has position-dependent thickness, and in particular, it has first and second portions with decreased thickness. The first portions are located on wire areas that will be occupied by the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175  and the second portions are located on channel areas of TFTs. 
         [0107]    The position-dependent thickness of the photoresist is obtained by several techniques, for example, by providing translucent areas on the exposure mask as well as transparent areas and light blocking opaque areas. The translucent areas may have a slit pattern, a lattice pattern, a thin film(s) with intermediate transmittance or intermediate thickness. When using a slit pattern, it is preferable that the width of the slits or the distance between the slits is smaller than the resolution of a light exposer used for the photolithography. Another example is to use reflowable photoresist. In detail, once a photoresist pattern made of a reflowable material is formed by using a normal exposure mask only with transparent areas and opaque areas, it is subject to reflow process to flow onto areas without the photoresist, thereby forming thin portions. 
         [0108]    As a result, the manufacturing process is simplified by omitting a photolithography step. 
         [0109]    Many of the above-described features of the LCD shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5  may be appropriate to the LCD shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 . 
         [0110]    An LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 . 
         [0111]    An LCD according to this embodiment includes a TFT array panel  100 , a common electrode panel  200 , and a LC layer  3  interposed between the panels  100  and  200  and containing a plurality of LC molecules  310  aligned substantially vertical to surfaces of the panels is  100  and  200 . 
         [0112]    The TFT array panel  100  is now described in detail with reference  FIGS. 9 ,  11  and  12 . 
         [0113]    A plurality of gate lines  121  and a plurality of storage electrode lines  131  are formed on an insulating substrate  110  such as transparent glass. 
         [0114]    The gate lines  121  extend substantially in a transverse direction and are separated from each other and transmit gate signals. Each gate line  121  includes a plurality of projections forming a plurality of gate electrodes  124  and an end portion  129  having a large area for contact with another layer or an external device. 
         [0115]    Each storage electrode line  131  extends substantially in the transverse direction and includes a plurality of pairs of two longitudinal branches forming first and second storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b  and a plurality of storage connections  133   c  connected between the first storage electrodes  133   a  and the second storage electrodes  133   b  in adjacent storage electrode pairs. Each of the first storage electrodes  133   a  has a free end portion and a fixed end portion connected to the storage electrode line  131 , and the fixed end portion has a projection. The storage electrode lines  131  are supplied with a predetermined voltage such as a common voltage, which is applied to a common electrode  270  on the common electrode panel  200  of the LCD. Each storage electrode line  131  may include a pair of stems extending in the transverse direction. 
         [0116]    The gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131  is preferably made of Al containing metal, Ag containing metal, Cu containing metal, Mo containing metal, Cr, Ti or Ta. 
         [0117]    In addition, the lateral sides of the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131  are inclined relative to a surface of the substrate, and the inclination angle thereof ranges about 20-80 degrees. 
         [0118]    A gate insulating layer  140  preferably made of silicon nitride (SiNx) is formed on the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131 . 
         [0119]    A plurality of semiconductor stripes  151  preferably made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (abbreviated to “a-Si”) or polysilicon are formed on the gate insulating layer  140 . Each semiconductor stripe  151  extends substantially in the longitudinal direction and has a plurality of projections  154  branched out toward the gate electrodes  124 . The width of each semiconductor stripe  151  becomes large near the gate lines  121  and the storage connections  133   c  such that the semiconductor stripe  151  covers large areas of the gate lines  121  and the storage connections  133   c.    
         [0120]    A plurality of ohmic contact stripes and islands  161  and  165  preferably made of silicide or n+hydrogenated a-Si heavily doped with n type impurity such as phosphorous are formed on the semiconductor stripes  151 . Each ohmic contact stripe  161  has a plurality of projections  163 , and the projections  163  and the ohmic contact islands  165  are located in pairs on the projections  154  of the semiconductor stripes  151 . 
         [0121]    The lateral sides of the semiconductor stripes  151  and the ohmic contacts  161  and  165  are inclined relative to a surface of the substrate, and the inclination angles thereof are preferably in a range of about 30-80 degrees. 
         [0122]    A plurality of data lines  171 , a plurality of drain electrodes  175  separated from the data lines  171 , and a plurality of isolated metal pieces  172  are formed on the ohmic contacts  161  and  165  and the gate insulating layer  140 . 
         [0123]    The data lines  171  for transmitting data voltages extend substantially in the longitudinal direction and intersect the gate lines  121 , the storage electrode lines  131 , and the storage connections  133   c . Each data line  171  includes an end portion  179  having a large area for contact with another layer or an external device. A plurality of branches of each data line  171 , which project toward the drain electrodes  175 , form a plurality of source electrodes  173 . Each drain electrode  175  includes an end portion having a large area for contact with another layer and each source electrode  173  is curved to partly enclose another end portion of the drain electrode  175 . A gate electrode  124 , a source electrode  173 , and a drain electrode  175  along with a projection  154  of a semiconductor stripe  151  form a TFT having a channel formed in the projection  154  disposed between the source electrode  173  and the drain electrode  175 . 
         [0124]    The metal pieces  172  are disposed on the gate lines  121  near the end portions of the storage electrodes  133   a.    
         [0125]    The data lines  171 , the drain electrodes  175 , and the metal pieces  172  are preferably made of refractory metal such as Cr, Mo containing metal, Ta and Ti and they may also have a multilayered structure including a lower film (not shown) preferably made of Mo, Mo alloy or Cr and an upper firm (not shown) located thereon and preferably made of Al 5 containing metal. 
         [0126]    Like the gate lines  121  and the storage electrode lines  131 , the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175  have tapered lateral sides, and the inclination angles thereof range about 30-80 degrees. 
         [0127]    The ohmic contacts  161  and  165  are interposed only between the underlying semiconductor stripes  151  and the overlying data lines  171  and the overlying drain electrodes  175  thereon and reduce the contact resistance therebetween. The semiconductor stripes  151  include a plurality of exposed portions, which are not covered with the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175 , such as portions located between the source electrodes  173  and the drain electrodes  175 . Although the semiconductor stripes  151  are narrower than the data lines  171  at most places, the width of the semiconductor stripes  151  becomes large near the gate lines  121  and the storage connections  133   c  as described above, to smooth the profile of the surface, thereby preventing the disconnection of the data lines  171 . 
         [0128]    A passivation layer  180  is formed on the data lines  171 , the drain electrodes  175 , and the exposed portions of the semiconductor stripes  151 . The passivation layer  180  is preferably made of photosensitive organic material having a good flatness characteristic, low dielectric insulating material having dielectric constant lower than 4.0 such as a-Si:C:O and a-Si:O:F formed by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), or inorganic material such as silicon nitride. 
         [0129]    The passivation layer  180  has a plurality of contact holes  182  and  185  exposing the end portions  179  of the data lines  171  and the end portions of the drain electrodes  175 , respectively. The passivation layer  180  and the gate insulating layer  140  have a plurality of contact holes  181 ,  183  and  184  exposing the end portions  129  of the gate lines  121 , portions of the storage electrode lines  131  near the fixed end portions of the first storage electrodes  133   a , and the projections of the free end portions of the first storage electrodes  133   a , respectively. The contact holes  181 ,  182 ,  183 ,  184 , and  185  have a shape of polygon or a circle, and sidewalls of the contact holes  181 ,  182 ,  183 ,  184 , and  185  are tapered. 
         [0130]    A plurality of pixel electrodes  190 , a plurality of contact assistants  81  and  82  and a plurality of storage overpasses  84 , which are preferably made of TO or IZO, are formed on the passivation layer  180 . 
         [0131]    The pixel electrodes  190  are physically and electrically connected to the drain electrodes  175  through the contact holes  185  such that the pixel electrodes  190  receive the data voltages from the drain electrodes  175 . The pixel electrodes  190  overlap the storage electrode is lines  131  including the storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b  to form storage capacitors. 
         [0132]    Each pixel electrode  190  is chamfered at its left corners and the chamfered edges of the pixel electrode  190  make an angle of about 45 degrees with the gate lines  121 . 
         [0133]    Each pixel electrode  190  has a lower cutout  195 , a center cutout  196 , and an upper cutout  197 , which partition the pixel electrode  190  into a plurality of partitions. The cutouts  195 ,  196  and  197  substantially have inversion symmetry with respect to an imaginary transverse center line. 
         [0134]    The lower cutout  195  and the upper cutout  197  are disposed at lower half and upper half of the pixel electrode  190 , respectively, which can be divided by the imaginary center line, and the lower cutout  195  and the upper cutout  197  obliquely extend approximately from the left edge of the pixel electrode  190  approximately to a lower right corner and the upper right corner of the pixel electrode  190 . The lower cutout  195  and the upper cutout  197  make counterclockwise or clockwise angles of about 45 degrees to the gate lines  121 , and they may be connected to each other. Each of the lower cutout  195  and the upper cutout  197  is divided into two portions by a bridge  195   d  or  197   d . The bridges  195   d  and  197   d  cross the cutout  195  and  197  perpendicularly to the cutout  195  and  197 . Thus each of the divided portions has two oblique major edges parallel to each other and at least a minor edge perpendicular to the major edges. 
         [0135]    The center cutout  196  extends along the imaginary center line and has an inlet from the right edge of the pixel electrode  190 , which has a pair of inclined edges substantially parallel to the lower cutout  195  and the upper cutout  197 , respectively. 
         [0136]    Accordingly, the lower half of the pixel electrode  190  is partitioned into two lower parts by the lower cutout  195  and the upper half of the pixel electrode  190  is also partitioned into two upper parts by the upper cutout  197 . The number of parts or the number of the cutouts depends on the design factors such as the size of pixels, the ratio of the transverse edges and the longitudinal edges of the pixel electrodes  190 , the type and characteristics of the liquid crystal layer  3 , and so on. 
         [0137]    The contact assistant  81  is connected to the end portion  129  of the gate line  121  through the contact hole  181 . The contact assistant  82  is connected to the end portion  179  of the data lines  171  through the contact hole  182 . The contact assistants  81  and  82  protect the end portions  129  and  179 , and they complement the adhesion to the external devices. 
         [0138]    The storage overpass  84  crosses over the gate line  121 , and it is connected to the exposed portion of the storage electrode line  131  and the exposed projection of the first storage electrode  133   a  respectively through the contact holes  183  and  184  which are opposite each other with respect to the gate line  121 . The storage overpass  84  overlaps the metal piece  172  and it may be electrically connected to the metal piece  172 . The storage electrode line  131  including the storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b  along with the storage overpass  84  and the metal piece  172  are used for repairing defects in the gate lines  121 , the data lines  171 , or the TFTs. The electrical connection between the gate line  121  and the storage electrode line  131  for repairing the gate line  121  is obtained by exposing the cross points of the gate line  121  and the storage overpass  84  by a laser beam to connect electrically the gate line  121  to the storage overpass  84 . In this case, the metal piece  172  enhances the electrical connection between the gate line  121  and the storage overpass  84 . 
         [0139]    The description of the common electrode panel  200  follows with reference to  FIGS. 10 ,  11 , and  12 . 
         [0140]    A light blocking member  220  called a black matrix for preventing light leakage is formed on an insulating substrate  210  such as transparent glass. The light blocking member  220  may include a plurality of openings that face the pixel electrodes  190  and it may have substantially the same shape as the pixel electrodes  190 . Otherwise, the light blocking member  220  may include linear portions corresponding to the data lines  171  and other portions corresponding to the TFTs. 
         [0141]    A plurality of color filters  230  are formed on the substrate  210  and they are disposed substantially in the areas enclosed by the light blocking member  220 . The color filters  230  may extend substantially along the longitudinal direction along the pixel electrodes  190 . The color filters  230  may represent one of the primary colors such as red, green and blue colors. 
         [0142]    An overcoat  250  is formed on the color filters  230 . 
         [0143]    A common electrode  270  preferably made of transparent conductive material such as ITO and IZO is formed on the overcoat  250 . 
         [0144]    The common electrode  270  has a plurality of sets of cutouts  275 ,  276 , and  277 . 
         [0145]    The set of cutouts face a pixel electrode  190  and include a lower cutout  275 , a center cutout  276 , and an upper cutout  277 . Each of the cutouts  275 ,  276 , and  277  is disposed between adjacent cutouts  195 ,  196 , and  197  of the pixel electrode  190  or between a cutout  195  or  197  and a chamfered edge of the pixel electrode  190 . In addition, each of the cutouts  275 ,  276 , and  277  has at least an oblique portion extending parallel to the lower cutout  195  or the upper cutout  197  of the pixel electrode  190 . The bridges  275   d ,  276   d , and  277   d  divide the cutouts as shown in  FIG. 10 . The bridges  275   d ,  276   d , and  277   d  cross the cutouts  275 ,  276 , and  277  perpendicularly to the cutout  275 ,  276 , and  277  Thus each of the divided portions has two oblique major edges parallel to each other and at least a minor edge perpendicular to the major edges. The cutouts  275 ,  276 , and  277  substantially have inversion symmetry with respect to an imaginary transverse center line. 
         [0146]    Each of the lower and upper cutouts  275  and  277  includes an oblique portion extending approximately from a left edge of the pixel electrode  190  approximately to a lower right corner or an upper right corner of the pixel electrode  190 . The extending direction depends on devices, and it may be the opposite direction. The ends of the oblique portion may extend to transverse and longitudinal direction along and overlapping edges of the pixel electrode  190 , and making obtuse angles with the oblique portion. 
         [0147]    The center cutout  276  includes a central transverse portion extending approximately from the left edge of the pixel electrode  190  along the imaginary transverse center line, a pair of oblique portions extending from an end of the central transverse portion approximately to a right edge of the pixel electrode and making obtuse angles with the central transverse portion, and a pair of terminal longitudinal portions extending from the ends of the respective oblique portions along the right edge of the pixel electrode  190 , overlapping the right edge of the pixel electrode  190 , and making obtuse angles with the respective oblique portions. 
         [0148]    The number of the cutouts depends on the design factors. The light blocking member  220  may overlap a portion of the cutouts  275 ,  276 , and  277  to block the light leakage through the cutouts. 
         [0149]    Homeotropic alignment layers  11  and  21  are coated on inner surfaces of the panels  100  and  200 , and polarizers  12  and  22  are provided on outer surfaces of the panels  100  and  200  such that their polarization axes may be crossed and one of the transmissive axes may be parallel to the gate lines  121 . One of the polarizers may be omitted when the LCD is a reflective LCD. 
         [0150]    The LCD may further include one retardation film for compensating the retardation of the LC layer  3 . 
         [0151]    The LC molecules  310  in the LC layer  3  are aligned such that their long axes are vertical to the surfaces of the panels  100  and  200 . The liquid crystal layer  3  has negative dielectric anisotropy. 
         [0152]    The cutouts  195 ,  196 ,  197 ,  275 ,  276 , and  277  control the tilt directions of the LC molecules in the LC layer  3 . The liquid crystal molecules defined by adjacent cutouts and chamfered edges are tilted in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the cutouts and the chamfered edges, which is called domains. It is apparent that the domains have two long edges extending substantially parallel to each other and making an angle of about 45 degrees with the gate line  121 . 
         [0153]    The width of the cutouts  195 ,  196 ,  197 ,  275 ,  276 , and  277  is preferably in a range between about seven microns and about twenty microns. 
         [0154]    At least one of the cutouts  195 ,  196 ,  197 ,  275 ,  276 , and  277  can be substituted with protrusions (not shown) or depressions (not shown). The protrusions are preferably made  5  of organic or inorganic material and disposed on or under the field-generating electrodes  190  or  270  and have a width smaller than the cutouts. 
         [0155]    The shapes and the arrangements of the cutouts  195 ,  196 ,  197 ,  275 ,  276 , and  277  may be modified. 
         [0156]    An LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
         [0157]    Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , an LCD according to this embodiment also includes a TFT array panel  100 , a common electrode panel  200 , and a LC layer  3  interposed therebetween. 
         [0158]    Layered structures of the panels  100  and  200  according to this embodiment are almost the same as those shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 . 
         [0159]    Regarding the TFT array panel  100 , a plurality of gate lines  121  including a plurality of gate electrodes  124  and a plurality of storage electrode lines  131  including a plurality of storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b  and storage connections  133   c  are formed on a substrate  110 , and a gate insulating layer  140 , a plurality of semiconductor stripes  151  including a plurality of projections  154 , and a plurality of ohmic contact stripes  161  including a plurality of projections  163  and a plurality of ohmic contact islands  165  are sequentially formed thereon. A plurality of data lines  171  including a plurality of source electrodes  173 , a plurality of drain electrodes  175 , and a plurality of isolated metal pieces  172  are formed on the ohmic contacts  161  and  165 , and a passivation layer  180  is formed thereon. A plurality of contact holes  181 ,  182 ,  183 ,  184 , and  185  are provided at the passivation layer  180  and the gate insulating layer  140 . A plurality of pixel electrodes  190  having cutouts  195 ,  196 , and  197  divided by bridges  195   d ,  196   d , and  197   d , a plurality of storage overpasses  84 , and a plurality of contact assistants  81  and  82  are formed on 5 the passivation layer  180 . An alignment layer  11  is coated thereon. 
         [0160]    Regarding the common electrode panel  200 , a light blocking member  220 , a plurality of color filters  230 , an overcoat  250 , a common electrode  270  having cutouts  275 ,  276 , and  277  divided by bridges  275   d ,  276   d , and  277   d , and an alignment layer  21  are formed on an insulating substrate  210 . 
         [0161]    Different from the LCD shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 , the semiconductor stripes  151  have almost the same planar shapes as the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175  as well as the underlying ohmic contacts  161  and  165 . However, the projections  154  of the semiconductor stripes  151  include some exposed portions, which are not covered with the data lines  171  and the drain electrodes  175 , such as portions located between the source electrodes  173  and the drain electrodes  175 . 
         [0162]    Many of the above-described features of the LCD shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  may be appropriate to the LCD shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
         [0163]    Now, experiments on an LCD according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 15 ,  16 ,  17 , and  18 . 
         [0164]    As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a pixel electrode  190  overlaps a pair of storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b  at its left and right edges. 
         [0165]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , the pixel electrode  190  has a cutout  198  bisecting the pixel electrode  190  into left and right parts and the pixel electrode  190  includes a plurality of bridges  198   d  crossing the cutout  198 . A common electrode  270  has a pair of cutouts  278  bisecting the left and right parts of the pixel electrode  190 . The common electrode  270  includes a plurality of bridges  278   d  crossing the cutouts  278 . The number of the bridges  198   d  and  278   d  crossing each of the cutouts  198  and  278  is three. 
         [0166]    Referring to  FIG. 16 , the pixel electrode  190  has no cutout. A common electrode  270  has a cutout  279  bisecting the pixel electrode  190  into left and right halves and the common electrode  270  includes one bridge  279   d  crossing the cutout  279 . 
         [0167]    In  FIGS. 15 and 16 , D 1  indicates a distance between an edge of the pixel electrode  190  and an edge of the cutouts  198 ,  278  and  279  adjacent thereto, D 2  indicates a  10  distance between adjacent edges of adjacent cutouts  198  and  278 , W 1  indicates a width of the cutouts  278  and  279  of the common electrode  270 , and W 2  indicates a width of the cutout  198  of the pixel electrode  190 . 
         [0168]    The width of the pixel electrode  190  was 55 microns and the overlapping width of the pixel electrode  190  with each of the storage electrodes  133   a  and  133   b  was 2 microns such that the non-overlapping width of the pixel electrode  190  was 51 microns. 
         [0169]      FIG. 15  shows Cases  1 ,  2 , and  3  in  FIG. 17 .  FIG. 16  shows Case  4  in  FIG. 17 . The distances D 1  and D 2  and the widths W 1  and W 2  are shown in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0170]      FIG. 18  shows some of the normalized luminance in front and lateral views.  FIG. 18  also shows gamma curves for a conventional LCD having a cutout, but no bridge. The cutout of the conventional LCD was provided at a common electrode and had a width of 10-11 microns. 
         [0171]    Referring to  FIG. 18 , the lateral gamma curve for the conventional LCD is remarkably different from the front gamma curve. However, the gamma curves in front and lateral views for Cases  2  and  4  approach each other. 
         [0172]    As described above, the bridges enable to control the tilt of the liquid crystal molecules on the cutouts and to realize different transmittances in a pixel area, thereby improving visibility and luminance. 
         [0173]    While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and substitutions can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.