Abstract:
A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates in a spaced relationship with one another. A pair of alignment films are provided, one alignment film being formed on each substrate such that the alignment films face one another. A liquid crystal layer; including plural liquid crystals, is inserted between the pair of alignment films, wherein the alignment films impart a given pre-tilt angle to the liquid crystals. The alignment films are composed of a material containing at least two types of polymers having a prescribed initial alignment and different alignment variation rates in response to ultraviolet ray irradiation. The pre-tilt angle being adjusted, without rubbing the alignment films, through ultraviolet exposure of the alignment films.

Description:
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/422,253 filed Apr. 24, 2003 now abandoned, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/629,287 filed Jul. 31, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,835. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to alignment films which orient liquid crystals provided between the alignment films in a liquid crystal display device, and a method for manufacturing the alignment films. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, liquid crystal display devices, particularly, Thin Film Transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display devices which have a twisted nematic (TN) display mode, have come into wide use. For example, they are the general-purpose display devices in personal computers. 
     Usually, a liquid crystal display device includes a pair of opposing substrates that are maintained with a prescribed interval, electrodes and alignment films formed on the facing surfaces of the substrates, and a liquid crystal layer inserted between the alignment films. The electrodes of one substrate are formed into a common electrode. The electrodes of the other substrate are formed into the pixel electrodes. The pixel electrodes are often provided with an active matrix. In addition, electrodes are provided only on one substrate (for example, IPS mode). A black matrix or color filter is provided on either substrate. 
     In conventional liquid crystal display devices, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are oriented in the prescribed direction by rubbing the alignment film. The alignment film is polished by a cloth, for example rayon, which undesirably generates dust within the clean room. Moreover, the rubbing generates static electricity which could potentially result in the breakdown of the TFT of the active matrix. 
     The inventors of the present invention have proposed in Japanese patent application HEI 9-354940 and Japanese patent application HEI 11-72085 a technique for orienting the liquid crystal molecules through the use of ultra-violet rays. As illustrated in  FIG. 37 , ultraviolet light is irradiated at an angle of 45°, for example, with respect to the surface of the polyimide alignment film  501 , thereby orienting the liquid crystal molecules  502 . 
     The relationship between the pre-tilt angle and the amount of ultra-violet ray irradiation realized by the method of Japanese patent application 11-72085 is illustrated in  FIG. 38 . 
     From the relationship shown in the drawing, when the volume of ultraviolet ray irradiation is low and the pre-tilt angle is large, black points occur in locations centered around spacers used to maintain the spacing between the substrates (cell gap) of the liquid crystal display device. Correspondingly, if the ultraviolet light exposure is high, flow-induced orientations accompanying the injection of liquid crystal are produced. Both are primary causes of poor displays. In this case, an appropriate range for the pretilt angles that obtain displays having good images is a narrow range of no more than 1.0° centered near 89°. 
     One of the problems associated with the teachings of Japanese patent application HEI 11-72085 is strong reliance on the proper control of the angle and intensity of the ultra-violet rays. Optimum results require a maximum of a ±10% intensity deviation in order to obtain a given pre-tilt angle. Referring to the properties curve of  FIG. 8 , a deviation of ±0.2% commonly occurs both in the angle of irradiation and in the intensity of the ultra-violet rays, making it difficult to reliably obtain a specified pre-tilt angle. Consequently, the probability of poor display occurring increases and there is a concern that the display will be unreliable. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for orientation of an orientation film in which a desired pre-tilt angle of liquid crystal molecules can be assured without the need for rubbing the orientation film, and which does not suffer from the aforementioned problem relating to proper control of the angle and intensity of the ultra-violet rays. 
     Another object of the present invention is to increase the contrast in the display surface and prevent light and dark reversal in the display, and provide an alignment technique that exposes the alignment film with ultraviolet light from different directions and produces domains in the pixels. As shown in  FIGS. 39A and 39B , two domains are created in the alignment film  611  by using an optical mask  601  formed with a slit  602 . The optical mask  601  is placed above the alignment film  611 , and parallel ultraviolet light is irradiated at an incline from above the optical mask  601 . Next, parallel light is irradiated again at an incline having a different angle (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. Hei 11-133429). Thus, the alignment film  601  is irradiated multiple times, one time for each domain. Naturally, this leads to an increase in the number of processes. 
     The method disclosed in Hei 11-133429 is further problematic as the multiple irradiations tend to cause bending of the optical mask. As shown in  FIG. 40 , bending of the optical mask  601  causes offsets in the exposure positions of the ultraviolet light on the alignment film  611 . For example, even if the ultraviolet light is irradiated in two directions with the center of the pixel as the boundary, the domain will have an offset center position. The size of the glass substrate has tended to increase each year, and the use of a 1 m 2  substrate is expected. If the thickness of the optical mask is 1 cm, bending by several dozen at the center of the optical mask will be apparent based on calculations. Thus, design offsets that cannot be ignored will occur. 
     Consequently, if domains are created as described above, in addition to the difficulty in controlling the angle and intensity of the irradiated ultraviolet light, the processes will necessarily become more complex. 
     In view of the problems described above, another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device that has a simple structure and is provided with alignment films that can very stably and easily obtain the appropriate pretilt angles for the liquid crystal molecules by a simple alignment process without rubbing. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an alignment apparatus, an alignment method able to easily and accurately create domains without increasing the number of processes. 
     The present invention provides an improved liquid display device and a method for creating the same. According to a first embodiment, the liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates in a spaced relationship with one another. A pair of alignment films are provided, one alignment film being formed on each substrate such that the alignment films face one another. A liquid crystal layer, including plural liquid crystals, is inserted between the pair of alignment films, wherein the alignment films impart a given pre-tilt angle to the liquid crystals. The alignment films are composed of a material containing at least two types of polymers having a prescribed initial alignment and different alignment variation rates in response to ultra-violet ray irradiation. The pre-tilt angle being adjusted, without rubbing the alignment films, through ultraviolet exposure of the alignment films. 
     Also disclosed is an alignment apparatus for adjusting the alignment of an alignment film with ultraviolet light. The alignment apparatus includes a light source to irradiate scattered ultraviolet light, and an optical mask disposed under the light source. The optical mask is formed with at least one slit. In operation the optical mask is placed above the alignment film and scattered ultraviolet light irradiates from the light source through the optical mask. Diffuse light exposes the alignment film, and produces domains in the liquid crystal that depend on the directions of diffusion of the diffuse light. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-described objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, while referring to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of a liquid crystal display device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a characteristic plot showing changes in pre-tilt angles states for alignment films with respect to the ultraviolet light exposure; 
         FIG. 3  is a characteristic plot showing the surface free energy changes with respect to the ultraviolet light exposure for alignment films composed of one polymer; 
         FIG. 4A  is a characteristic plot showing the surface free energy changes with respect to the ultraviolet light exposure for alignment films composed of one polymer; 
         FIG. 4B  is a characteristic plot showing the surface free energy changes with respect to the ultraviolet light exposure for several different alignment films; 
         FIG. 4C  is a characteristic plot showing changes in pre-tilt angles states for several different alignment films with respect to the ultraviolet light exposure; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for irradiating an alignment film according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a characteristic plot showing the ideal changes in the pretilt angle with respect to the ultraviolet light exposure for the alignment films in a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing the main structures of an apparatus for irradiating an alignment film according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the ultraviolet light exposure when the optical mask is bent; 
         FIG. 9  is a characteristic plot shows the changes in the pretilt angle accompanying the ultraviolet light irradiating the alignment film of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are cross-sectional views shows the set up of the rib-shaped parts in a substrate when there are two domains; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the light source used in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram showing the light source of  FIG. 11  scanning an optical mask; 
         FIGS. 13A-13C  are schematic diagrams of a TFT LCD having top and bottom domains; 
         FIGS. 14A-14C  are schematic diagrams of a TFT LCD having left and right domains; 
         FIGS. 15A-15C  are schematic diagrams of a TFT LCD having top, bottom, left, and right domains; 
         FIGS. 16A-16C  are schematic diagrams of a TFT LCD having top, bottom, left, and right domains; 
         FIGS. 17A-17C  are schematic diagrams of a TFT LCD having top and bottom domains; 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship of the positions of the rib-shaped part and the pixel electrode; 
         FIG. 19  is a characteristic plot showing the relationship between the width of the overlap of the rib-shaped part and the pixel electrode and the width of the poor alignment it the end of the pixel electrode; 
         FIGS. 20A-C  are schematic diagrams showing a modification of the TFT LCD of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a characteristic plot showing optimum values for the width of the slit in the optical mask with a favorable alignment state and the distance between the optical mask and the substrate; 
         FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view shows the important structures of the alignment apparatus according to a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view showing a first modification of the structure shown in  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view showing a second modification of the structure shown in  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIGS. 25A and 25B  are cross-sectional views shows the important structures of an alignment apparatus according to a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 26  is an oblique projection view showing the optical mask in the alignment apparatus; 
         FIG. 27  is an oblique projection view showing the placement state of the optical mask; 
         FIGS. 28A and 28B  are top views showing the image state in the liquid crystal display device according to the fourth embodiment; 
         FIGS. 29A and 29B  are top views showing the image state of the liquid crystal display device using only alignment control for two divisions; 
         FIG. 30  is an oblique projection view showing the optical mask in the alignment apparatus according to a first modification; 
         FIG. 31  is an oblique projection view showing the optical mask in the alignment apparatus according to a second modification; 
         FIGS. 32A and 32B  are schematic diagrams of the light source used in the alignment apparatus of  FIGS. 25A and 25B ; 
         FIG. 33  is a top view shows the relationship between the scattering characteristics of the light source and the slit in the optical mask; 
         FIG. 34  is a top view shows the vicinity of a pixel electrode in the liquid crystal display device in a fifth embodiment; 
         FIGS. 35A and 35B  are cross-sectional views showing orientations of the liquid crystal molecules in the pixel electrode formed with a slit; 
         FIGS. 36A and 36B  are schematic diagrams of another example of a fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 37  is a schematic showing the pretilt angle orientation of liquid crystal molecules by alignment films exposed to oblique ultraviolet light; 
         FIG. 38  is a characteristic plot showing changes in the pretilt angle with respect to the ultraviolet light exposure for alignment films composed of one polymer; 
         FIGS. 39A and 39B  are cross-sectional views showing two domains implemented in a conventional alignment film; and 
         FIG. 40  is a cross-sectional view used to describe the problems when the optical mask is bent. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Various specific embodiments applying the present invention are explained in detail while referring to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment. The liquid crystal display device includes a pair of opposing transparent glass substrates  11 ,  12  with a liquid crystal layer  13  interposed therebetween. 
     A plurality of pixel electrodes  15  are formed on an intervening insulation layer  14  provided on transparent glass substrate  11 , and a transparent alignment film  16   a  covers the pixel electrodes  15 . A color filter  17 , a common electrode  18 , and an alignment film  16   b  are successively layered on the transparent glass substrate  12 . The alignment films  16   a ,  16   b  push towards each other to hold the liquid crystal layer  13 , and the glass substrates  11 ,  12  are fixed. 
     Polarizers  19 ,  20  are provided on the outer sides of the substrates  11 ,  12 . The pixel electrodes  15  are formed with the active matrix. In the illustrated example, the data bus lines  21  in the active matrix are shown. The electrodes are provided on only one substrate (for example, in the IPS mode). 
     The alignment film  16   a  ( 16   b ) provides a prescribed orientation property for the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer  13 . The prescribed orientation is realized by irradiating ultraviolet light from an inclined direction to the liquid crystal layer  13  without rubbing. 
     Specifically, the alignment film  16   a  ( 16   b ) is composed of a material containing two polymers x 1 , x 2  having different rates of change of the pretilt angles in response to ultraviolet light exposure. Polymer x 1  responds extremely rapidly to ultraviolet light, and its pretilt angle rapidly decreases under a small ultraviolet light exposure. In contrast, polymer x 2  responds extremely slowly to ultraviolet light and the pretilt angle is hardly changed at all by ultraviolet light exposure. Using mixtures or copolymers of three or more polymers having different rates of change of the pretilt angle may achieved. 
       FIG. 38  is a graph showing the relationship between the ultraviolet light exposure (J/cm 2 ) and the pretilt angle(°) for a given polymer. Notably, the change in the pretilt angle is large with respect to slight changes in the ultraviolet light exposure, making it difficult to achieve a desired pretilt angle. Ideally, the pretilt angle should rapidly decrease to a desired value under a small ultraviolet light exposure, and thereafter maintain the desired pretilt angle irregardless of additional ultraviolet light exposure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the alignment film  16   a  ( 16   b ) is formed by using polymer x 1  which rapidly decreases the pretilt angle under ultraviolet light exposure (J/cm 2 ) and polymer x 2  which does not change the pretilt angle and has almost no dependence on the ultraviolet light exposure. 
     The polymer for alignment film  16   a  ( 16   b ) is a vertically aligned polyimide or polyamic acid. An example is shown below. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     The polymer considered has the alkyl side chain (alkyl group) R as shown in formula 1 and randomly projects to the surface of the alignment film  16   a  ( 16   b ). If ultraviolet light irradiates the surface, photodecomposition develops and breaks the straight chain that supports the alkyl side chain R which essentially reduces the alkyl side chain R and subsequently appears as a decrease in the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules. Polymer x 1  has a structure in which the straight that supports the alkyl side chain R is remarkably easy to break compared to polymer x 2 . Specifically, a region where photodecomposition easily occurs, for example, a double bond region, is provided as the straight chain supporting the alkyl side chain R of the polymer x 1 . If ultraviolet light irradiates this double bond region, photo-decomposition develops even for an extremely small exposure and causes a substantial decrease in the pretilt angle in a short time. 
     Assuming, for the purposes of illustration, a copolymer composed of twenty percent polymer x 1  and eighty percent polymer x 2 . When the ultraviolet light exposure is initiated, the state of polymer x 1  within the copolymer rapidly changes until the amount of the alkyl side chain R that manifests the pretilt angle is reduced to essentially 0. In contrast, polymer x 2  within the copolymer maintains its initial state of vertical alignment because there is no double bond region in the straight chain of the alkyl side chain R. Therefore, the overall copolymer maintains a nearly constant pre-tilt value after the specified time has elapsed in which the amount of the alkyl side chain R is decreased to 80 percent. 
     The criteria for selecting polymers x 1  and x 2  to obtain a suitable alignment film having the characteristics described above will now be described. 
       FIG. 3  shows the relationship between the ultraviolet light exposure time (minutes) on the alignment film surface and the surface free energy (γs: Helmholtz free energy per unit area). If a small amount of ultraviolet light is irradiated, the surface energy also becomes small and the surface free energy increases along with the ultraviolet light irradiation and finally becomes a nearly constant value. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , if the surface free energy increases with the increase in the ultraviolet light exposure time, the so-called injection stripe from the injection port is generated when the liquid crystal is injected. Furthermore, when the exposure time increases, the vertical alignment is not exhibited at the earliest time and the alignment moves to a random horizontal alignment. 
     The present inventors discovered that the surface free energy accompanying the increase in the ultraviolet light exposure time (amount of exposure) successively moves from region ( 1 ) to region ( 4 ). Region ( 1 ) is the initial state exhibiting vertical alignment, region ( 2 ) exhibits good image display with no generation of flow-induced orientation defects or defects near the spacers, region ( 3 ) exhibits injection strips caused by flow-induced orientations, and region ( 4 ) exhibits horizontal alignment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , the alignment film may be classified according to surface free energy into three general types. Alignment film A rapidly moves into region ( 4 ) in response to a small ultraviolet light exposure (short time) and has random horizontal alignments. Alignment film B moves into region ( 3 ) after a predefined amount of ultraviolet light exposure, and at a generally slower rate than alignment film A. Alignment film C generally remains in region ( 1 ) regardless of the amount of ultraviolet light exposure. Moreover, the desired state (Region ( 2 )) is implemented by properly combining alignment films A to C. 
       FIG. 4C  shows the relationship between the ultraviolet light exposure and the pretilt angle for the combinations of alignment films A and B and alignment films A and C. If alignment films A and B are combined, the pretilt angle continues to slowly decrease as the ultraviolet light exposure increases and does not contribute to an increase in the margin, and acceptable orientations are not achieved. In contrast, if alignment films A and C are combined, a region in which the pretilt angle hardly changes is created even if the ultraviolet light exposure changes, and orientations having a wide margin are achieved. 
     As described above, suitable polymers x 1  and x 2  exhibit both extreme properties related to the manifestation of the pretilt angle. In other words, polymer x 1  will have random horizontal alignments caused by a small ultraviolet light exposure (short time period). In contrast, polymer x 2  still maintains the initial vertical alignment. Thus, with the surface free energy as the criterion, alignment film A (polymer) is appropriately selected to be polymer x 1  and alignment film C to be polymer x 1 . 
     Next, the alignment method which is the main process of the embodiment in the method for manufacturing liquid crystal display devices is described. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , after the insulation film  14  is deposited in a layer on the surface of the transparent glass substrate  11 , the color filter  17  and the pixel electrodes  15  are successively formed on the surface of the transparent glass substrate  12 . 
     Next, a vertically aligned polyimide or polyamic acid (see formula 1) manufactured by Japan Synthetic Rubber Ltd. is used for polymers x 1  and x 2  having the above properties on the surfaces of the transparent glass substrates  11 ,  12 . According to a preferred embodiment, polymers x 1  and x 2  are mixed or copolymerized at a 2:8 ratio and form the alignment films  16   a ,  16   b  on the surfaces of the transparent glass substrates  11 ,  12 . However, different ratios may be selected depending on the desired pre-tilt angle. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an alignment apparatus useful for implementing alignment processing on the target film. 
     The alignment apparatus includes of a light source  31  to irradiate non-polarized ultraviolet light, a mirror  32 , and a holder  33  for supporting the transparent glass substrate  11  ( 12 ) forming the alignment film  16   a  ( 16   b ). The holder  33  supports the transparent glass substrate  11  ( 12 ) at an incline with respect to the optical axis of the ultraviolet light. The parallel ultraviolet light from the light source  31  is incident at an angle of θ=45° with respect to the surface of the alignment film  16   a  ( 16   b ) (or at a specified angle less than 45°). 
     The light source  31  is a short-arc xenon mercury lamp, includes a parabolic reflector  31   a , and exposes nearly parallel non-polarized ultraviolet light. The spectral distribution of the ultraviolet light wavelengths has a peak near 250 nm. In this spectral distribution, the wavelength components at and above 300 nm are judged to not contribute to appearance of the pretilt angle. Ultraviolet light having a wavelength no more than 280 nm is suited to effectively producing the pretilt angle. The P-waves and S-waves for the polarized ultraviolet light to be irradiated can have the state with more P-waves than S-waves or the state with only P-waves. 
     The alignment apparatus having the above structure irradiates ultraviolet light from an angle of 45° at an incline with respect to the surface of the alignment film  16   a  ( 16   b ). Polymer x 1  decreases the pretilt angle under several dozen mJ/cm 2  of ultraviolet light exposure. Polymer x 2  produces no change in the pretilt angle even when exposed to several J/cm 2  of ultraviolet light. Therefore, the ultraviolet light exposure is set to 1 J/cm 2 . 
     The reliable demonstration of the above properties of polymers x 1  and x 2  is considered here. A suitable relationship between the ultraviolet light exposure and the pretilt angle is at least a 2° change in the pretilt angle for ultraviolet light exposure no more than 0.5 J/cm 2  for polymer x 1 , and a change of no more than 0.5° in the pre tilt angle for no more than 1 J/cm 2  ultraviolet light exposure for polymer x 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the ultraviolet light was actually irradiated under these conditions, a stable pretilt angle around 89° could be obtained. Fluctuations in the pretilt angle in the ultraviolet light exposure range of 1±0.3 J/cm 2  were no more than 0.1°. Consequently, even if fluctuations arise in the amount of exposure of ultraviolet light, the desired pretilt angle is obtained. 
     Next, the liquid crystal is injected between the pair of transparent glass substrates  11 ,  12  to form the liquid crystal layer  13 , then the injection port is sealed. After hardening, various post processes, which do form part of the claimed invention, are performed to finish the liquid crystal display device. 
     As described above, an alignment film  16   a  ( 16   b ) imparting a desired pre-tilt may be easily and reliably achieved (without rubbing). 
     A method and apparatus for producing domains in the alignment films will now be explained with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     The alignment apparatus includes a light source  101  that irradiates scattered ultraviolet light and an optical mask  102  that is placed below the light source  101  and is formed with a slit  111 . 
     The light source  101  is an ultraviolet lamp having the property of scattering light. For example, a tubular low-pressure mercury lamp is one version. Its shape is similar to an ordinary long fluorescent lamp, but the gas component or glass material for the heavy glass tube differs. The ultraviolet light particularly near the wavelength of 250 nm is irradiated as scattered light. 
     The optical mask  102  is disposed at a constant distance from the coating of the alignment film  103  or the printed substrate  104 , for example, separated by approximately 50 μm. A slit  111  in the optical mask  102  is formed to transmit the scattered ultraviolet light. If the light source  101  is a mercury lamp and scans in the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 7  above the optical mask  102 , diffuse light that spreads out centered on the slit  111  is produced. The diffuse light exposes the alignment film  103 , and two domains that depend on the directions of diffusion of the incline of the diffuse light are created with the region directly under the slit  111  as the boundary. Notably, two domains having different inclines are created by a single ultraviolet light exposure. 
     Light source  101  symmetrically irradiates the diffuse ultraviolet light from an inclined direction with respect to the surface of the alignment film  103  about the center of symmetry which is the region directly below the slit  111  of the optical mask  102 . Therefore, two domains arc automatically created in the alignment film  103  with the center of symmetry as the boundary. In this case, the exposure angle changes as the diffuse light moves away from the center of symmetry to obtain a liquid crystal layer with superior visual characteristics and a plurality of pretilt angles. The resulting alignment film has the following properties: (1) the directions in which the liquid crystal molecules fall in mutually opposite directions, (2) the alignment in the central region where the molecules fall is the vertical alignment, and (3) the magnitude of the surface energy of the alignment film becomes larger or smaller closer to the slit. Therefore, a liquid crystal display device provided with this alignment film produces multiple domains at the specified boundaries in the liquid crystal, and the surface energy of the alignment film reaches a maximum or a minimum at the boundaries of the domains and either decreases or increases when moving away from the boundaries. 
     The expected domains are produced without being significantly affected using the above-described structure even if the optical mask  102  bends. By manner of illustration,  FIG. 8  shows that the center of symmetry of the irradiating light does not change even if the optical mask  102  is bent because the original scattered light falls incident perpendicular to the optical mask  102 . However, because the region of the incoming light changes, this margin must be estimated to design the gap between the optical mask  2  and the substrate and the width of the slit  111 . 
     The alignment film  103  is preferably a copolymer of the type described previously. Specifically, a copolymer of two or more polymers selected to provide a pretilt angle having a constant value near 90° when the ultraviolet light exposure exceeds some level. By using alignment films having this property, the vertical alignment is maintained directly below the slit  111  and the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal layer has a stable distribution from 90° to the constant value in response to the exposure angle and the amount of exposure of the scattered light. The ultraviolet light exposure is finished in one iteration. 
     In addition, the preferred alignment film has the characteristic of starting to change the pretilt angle from an initial vertical alignment in response to ultraviolet light exposure, and returning to the vertical alignment by exposing ultraviolet light again. 
       FIG. 9  shows the changes in the pretilt angle accompanying the ultraviolet light exposure of the alignment film. As the ultraviolet light exposure increases, the alignment moves from non-vertical to a vertical alignment. As described above, the alignment rapidly changes from the initial (non-vertical) state to a final (vertical) state in response to UV exposure, and thereafter generally maintains the final (vertical) state regardless of additional UV irradiation. Notably, fluctuations in UV irradiation cause only minor changes in alignment. 
     In this case, because the alignment does not become the horizontal alignment even directly below the slit  111 , where a lot of ultraviolet light is irradiated, the alignments do not become disordered. It should be appreciated that the use of a conventional film would result in horizontal alignment below slit  111  where a great deal of ultraviolet light is exposed, resulting in a region with poor alignment that emits white light results even in the black display state. In contrast, using the alignment film of the present invention, the alignments are continuous even in regions such as below slit  111 , and poor alignments are suppressed. Moreover, vertical alignment is maintained even if a lot of ultraviolet light is irradiated from the front, and fluctuations in the pretilt angles are small even if there are fluctuations in the amount of irradiated ultraviolet light. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10A , the alignment of the liquid crystal layer  112  of the second embodiment is controlled to be in the same direction as alignment control by the electric field leaking from the gate electrodes  113 . In particular, the oblique electric field from the gate electrode or data electrode assists in the orientation. Consequently, the alignments near the gate electrodes  115  change continuously and disclinations do not develop. However, when the tilt of the liquid crystal in  FIG. 10A  is reversed, disclinations develop near region  114   a . See,  FIG. 10B . In other words, if the orientations are controlled to oppose the orientations caused by the oblique electric field from the gate electrode or data electrode, disclinations will develop. In contrast, according to in this embodiment, the alignment is controlled over the entire display electrode surface because photo-alignment is used. Consequently, response is fast in this embodiment, and disclinations do not occur. 
     In this display shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the inclination of the side surface of rib-shaped part  116  is used to control the alignment of the liquid crystal. If only the rib-shaped part  116  is used, the gap with an adjacent rib-shaped part  116  must be narrower. For example, a gap around 30 μm is preferred. In this case, however, the rib-shaped parts are often present in the display pixels. 
     In this embodiment, the gaps between the rib-shaped parts can be widened because they in combination with the photo-alignment. During photo-alignment, the rib-shaped parts do not necessarily have to have an active alignment control force. Alignment by photo-alignment provides the possibility of not determining with certainty the position in the center part shown in  FIG. 10A . For example, if the width of the slit in the optical mask is about 20 μm, the center of the domain is believed to be difficult to reliably bring to the center of the slit. The positions of the divisions in this domain are reliably set by forming the rib and the rib-shaped part plays a major role in this embodiment. 
     As described above, the alignment film for photo-alignment is preferably a vertically or horizontally aligned polyimide, polyamic acid, or cross-linked resin film (for example, polyvinyl cinnamate). As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the materials are not limited to those listed above. Moreover, the alignment need not be limited to vertical and horizontal alignments. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the structure includes vertically aligned polyimide. Specifically, the alignment of the polyimide is preferably vertical in an initial state. Moreover, the liquid crystal provided between the alignment films preferably have negative dielectric anisotropy, particularly a fluorine liquid crystal In addition, the material of the rib-shaped part is a positive photoresist. 
     The liquid crystal panel structure shown in  FIG. 10A  includes a rib-shaped part  116  in addition to the above-described alignment film. The rib-shaped part  116  assists in producing the two domains. As a basic structure, this idea may also applied to producing four domains. The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer  114  are set to tilt from the upper and lower gate electrodes  113  of the pixel electrode  118  towards the center of the pixel, or (and) the liquid crystal molecules are set to tilt from the left and right data electrodes  115  of the pixel electrode  118  towards the center of the pixel. 
     A slit  111  (not illustrated in  FIG. 10A , see,  FIG. 11 ) in the optical mask  102  on the TFT substrate  104   b  side is provided at the center of the pixel and ultraviolet light is irradiated. Similarly, ultraviolet light is irradiated at an incline on the opposing CF (color filter) side substrate  104   a . The resin rib-shaped part  116  can be provided on the TFT substrate  104   b  and/or the CF (color filter) substrate  104   a  to assist in controlling the alignment direction. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  depict the light source used in the alignment process of the present invention.  FIG. 11A  is a cross-sectional view along the lengthwise direction of the lamp, and  FIG. 11B  is a cross-sectional view along the widthwise direction of the lamp. 
     The lamp  121  shown in  FIG. 11B  is preferably low-pressure mercury lamp manufactured by Ushio Denki Co., Ltd., a shielding plate  122  is disposed between the tubular ultraviolet lamp  121  and the exposure target surface of the alignment film  103  to prevent the light from directly reaching the exposure target. A so-called cold mirror  123  that does not reflect infrared light is disposed at the back surface. 
     The lamp structure shown in  FIG. 11A , irradiates ultraviolet light perpendicular to the optical mask  102  in the widthwise direction of the lamp  121 . The perpendicular irradiation directions to the ultraviolet light tube are nearly perpendicular to the substrate ( FIG. 11A ). However, the parallel irradiation directions to the ultraviolet light tube are random ( FIG. 11B ). The slit  111  in the optical mask  2  and the lamp  121  are arranged orthogonal to each other. Light from the slit  111  exposes the alignment film  103  at an incline in the form of leaks in the widthwise direction of the slit  111 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the lamp  121  is caused to scan the slit  111  (while being maintained perpendicular to the slit  111 ) so as to uniformly expose the entire alignment film  3  with scattered light. The tube scans perpendicular to the slit openings in the mask. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, other lamp structures may be used, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the installation direction of the lamp  121  may be at 90°. Moreover, it is possible to remove the shielding plate  122  disposed directly below the lamp  121  to allow the ultraviolet light directed toward the surface of the alignment film  103  to be actively used while the scattered light is directly irradiated from the lamp  121 . However, by combining the shielding plate  122  and the cold mirror  123  of this embodiment, there is less possibility of light being irradiated in a different direction than the direction perpendicular to the desired direction for tilting the liquid crystal molecules, that is the elongated direction of the slit  111 . In addition, alignment is more stable and reliable. 
     When light enters from the slit  111 , either polarized light or non-polarized light is acceptable, but if the alignment film arranged in the perpendicular direction is used, non-polarized light can be used. The light irradiation method is proximity exposure because the light flows in and irradiates. The distance between the optical mask  102  and the alignment film  103  is preferably several μm to 100 μm. If outside of this range, the inflow of light is inadequate, and negative effects such as not obtaining the alignment and difficulty in specifying the boundaries of the domains may result. 
     The width of the slit  111  in the optical mask  102  is preferably several μm to around 100 μm. If outside of this range, the incoming light is similarly inadequate, and negative effects such as poor alignment and difficulty in specifying the boundaries of the domains may result. The domains in this embodiment are described using examples applied to a TFT LCD. 
       FIGS. 13A ,  13 B and  13 C show one example of a TFT LCD having two domains on the top and bottom alignment films. It should be appreciated that the lamp structure depicted in  FIGS. 11A-12  is used to provide UV irradiation, and reference to slit  111  is understood to refer to the slit  111  in  FIGS. 11A-12 .  FIG. 13A  is an enlarged view near the pixel electrode.  FIG. 13B  is a cross-sectional view when aligning on the CF substrate side.  FIG. 13C  is a cross-sectional view when aligning on the TFT substrate side. 
     In  FIG. 13B , the slit  111  is provided parallel to and close to the gate electrode  113  and irradiates ultraviolet light on the CF substrate  104   a . In  FIG. 13C , the slit  111  is provided at the position that coincides with the Cs electrode  117  and is parallel to the storage capacitive (Cs) electrode  117  (gate electrode  113 ) and irradiates ultraviolet light on the TFT substrate  104   b . In both  FIGS. 13A and 13B , the scattered light is irradiated so that liquid crystal molecules tilt in the direction from the gate electrodes  113  of the TFT substrate  104   b  to the vertical center of the pixel electrode  118  of the CF substrate  104   a.    
     In addition, the rib-shaped part  116  may be provided and is effective when installed parallel to the gate electrode  113  (Cs electrode  117 ) near the center of the pixel electrode  118  on the CF substrate  104   a  side. Alternatively, the rib-shaped part  116  may be installed parallel to the gate electrode  113  (Cs electrode  117 ) at the position nearly coinciding with the gate electrode  113  on the TFT substrate  104   b  side. 
       FIGS. 14A-14C  showing one example of two domains on the left and right of a TFT LCD. It should be appreciated that the lamp structure depicted in  FIGS. 11A-12  is used to provide UV irradiation, and reference to slit  111  is understood to refer to the slit  111  in  FIGS. 11A-12 .  FIG. 14A  is an enlarged top view of the vicinity of a pixel electrode.  FIG. 14B  is a cross-sectional view during alignment on the CF substrate side.  FIG. 14C  is a cross-sectional view during alignment on the TFT substrate side. 
     The slit  111  for ultraviolet light exposure on the CF substrate  104   a  side is positioned parallel to the data electrode  115  and almost coincides with the position of the data electrode  115  and transmits scattered UV light. On the TFT substrate  104   b  side, the slit  111  is positioned parallel to the data electrode  115  at the horizontal center of the pixel electrode  118  and transmits scattered UV light. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules are oriented to tilt from the data electrodes  115  on the TFT substrate  104   b  to the horizontal center of the pixel electrode  118  of the CF substrate  104   a . This coincides with the alignment direction due to the oblique leaking electric field from the data electrodes  115 . The alignment may further be stabilized by fixing the positions of the occurrences of disclinations at the alignment boundaries using the rib-shaped parts  116 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 14C , the rib-shaped part  116  may be provided to run vertically along the center of the pixel electrode  118  on the CF substrate  104   a  side, parallel to the data electrodes  115  at the positions that nearly coincide with the data electrodes  115  on the TFT substrate  104   b  side. 
       FIGS. 15A-16C  are schematic drawings showing an example of four domains on the left, right, top, and bottom in a TFT LCD.  FIG. 15A  is an enlarged top view in the vicinity of a pixel electrode having the rib-shaped element  116  fanned on the TFT side, and a rib-shaped projection  155  formed on the CF substrate side. The solid arrow  152  indicate the alignment direction of the TFT side, and dashed arrows  153  indicate the direction of falling on the CS side. Moreover, arrows  154  indicate the tilt direction when voltage is applied to the liquid crystals. 
       FIG. 15B  is a cross-sectional view during alignment along a data electrode. 
       FIG. 15C  is a cross-sectional view during alignment along a gate electrode. The state of the ultra violet light irradiating the TFT substrate is generally designated  156 . It should be appreciated that the lamp structure depicted in FIGS.  11 A- 12  is used to provide UV irradiation, and reference to slit  111  is understood to refer to the slit  111  in  FIGS. 11A-12 . 
     If the CF substrate  104   a  ( FIG. 15B ) is placed in the foreground of the paper, the tilt for any of the liquid crystal molecules in  FIGS. 15A-16C  is in the alignment direction in which the liquid crystal molecules fall from the four comers of the pixel electrode  118  of the TFT substrate  104   b  towards the center of the pixel electrode  118 . Four domains are produced on the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the pixel electrode  118 . On average, the liquid crystal molecules in the top right region are aligned to fall from the northeast to the southwest. Similarly, the tilts of the liquid crystal molecules are aligned to fall from the southeast to the northwest in the lower right, from the southwest to the northeast in the lower left, and from the northwest to the southeast in the upper left. 
     To make the liquid crystal molecules tilt at a 45° incline, the orientation on the CF substrate  104   a  side and the orientation on the TFT substrate  104   b  side have true directions at 90° so that the liquid crystal molecules fall towards the center in these two directions. The principle behind this alignment direction has been disclosed, for example, in the  Digest of AM - LCD 98. If the liquid crystal molecules tilt from the northeast to the southwest, the two methods considered are (1) a method that aligns the TFT substrate  104   b  side to fall towards the south and the CF substrate  104   a  side to fall towards the west, and (2) a method that aligns the TFT substrate  104   b  side to fall towards the west and the CF substrate  104   a  side to fall towards the south. 
       FIGS. 15A-15C  show the alignment according to method (1). On the TFT substrate  104   b  side, the slit  111  in the optical mask for ultraviolet light exposure is provided close to and parallel to the Cs electrode  117  and irradiates scattered light ( FIG. 15B ). On the CF substrate  104   a  side, the slit  111  in the optical mask for ultraviolet light exposure is provided close to and parallel to the data electrode  115  ( FIG. 15A ) and irradiates scattered light. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15C , it is effective to provide a rib-shaped part  116  on both the TFT substrate  104   b  and the CF substrate  104   a . On the TFT substrate  104   b  side, the rib-shaped parts  116  are formed to be parallel to and close to the data electrode  115  and the gate electrode  113 , respectively. Thus, they act to assist in creating four domains in the liquid crystal. On the CF substrate  104   a  side, the rib-shaped parts  116  are formed in a shape that extends vertically and horizontally from the center of the pixel electrode  118 . As described earlier, the rib-shaped part acts to promote establishing the boundaries of the domain divisions. 
       FIGS. 16A-16C  show alignment according to method ( 2 ), in which a rib-shaped element  116  is formed on both the TFT substrate  104   b  and CF substrate  104   a . The solid arrow  163  indicate the alignment direction of the TFT side, and dashed arrows  162  indicate the tilt direction of the liquid crystals on the CF side. Moreover, arrows  164  indicate the tilt direction when voltage is applied to the liquid crystals. 
     On the CF substrate  104   a  side, the slit  111  in the optical mask for ultraviolet light exposure is provided close to and parallel to the gate electrode  113  and irradiates scattered light ( FIG. 16B ). The state of the ultraviolet light irradiating the CF substrate side is generally designated  165 . 
     On the TFT substrate  104   b  side, the slit  111  in the optical mask for ultraviolet light exposure is provided parallel to the data electrode  115  near the horizontal center of the pixel electrode  118  ( FIGS. 16A and 16B ). The rib-shaped parts  116  are formed close to and parallel to the data electrode  115  and the gate electrode  113 , respectively. Notably, the rib-shaped parts  116  assist in creating four domains in the liquid crystal. On the CF substrate  104   a  side, the rib-shaped parts  116  are formed in a shape that extends vertically and horizontally from the center of the pixel electrode  118 . The state of the ultraviolet light irradiating the CF substrate side is generally designated  165  ( FIG. 16C ). 
     The surface energy of the alignment film in the pixel of the liquid crystal display device having domains reaches a maximum at a domain boundary and reaches a minimum at a position separated from the boundary. The reason is the ultraviolet light exposure differs in a pixel. The domain boundary is directly below the slit  111 , and the surface energy reaches a maximum because most of the ultraviolet light irradiates this part. Because only leakage light irradiates the part separated from the boundary, the absolute amount of ultraviolet light exposure becomes smaller and the surface energy does not increase. 
       FIGS. 17A-17C  shows a structure that suppresses disorder in the alignment caused by the lateral electric fields from the data electrodes using the rib-shaped part  116  installed on the CF substrate side when there are two domains, an upper and a lower domain, in a TFT LCD. The solid arrow  171  indicates the alignment control direction, and arrow  162  indicates the tilt direction of the liquid crystals. 
       FIG. 17A  is an enlarged top view in the vicinity of a pixel electrode.  FIG. 17B  is a cross-sectional view during alignment along the data electrode (along line segment  17 B- 17 B).  FIG. 17C  is a cross-sectional view during alignment along the gate electrode (along line segment  17 C- 17 C in  FIG. 17A ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 17A , on the CF substrate  104   a  side, the rib-shaped parts  116  are formed horizontally in the center of the pixel electrode  118  and parallel to the data electrodes  115  in the parts opposite the data electrodes  115 . The effect of the rib-shaped part  116  installed parallel to this data electrode  115  is explained with reference to  FIG. 17C . The liquid crystal molecules near the data electrode  115  have a tendency to tilt towards the center of the pixel due to the electric field from the data electrode  115 . As shown by dashed portion  174  in  FIG. 17C , the rib-shaped part  116  installed on the opposing CF substrate  104   a  tilt the liquid crystal molecules in the direction away from the pixel electrode  118 . These effects cancel each other, and the liquid crystal molecules do not fall towards the center of the pixel but tilt uniformly in the vertical direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , ends  116   a  of a rib-shaped part  116  opposite a gate electrode  115  are formed to be opposite to and partially overlap the ends of the pixel electrodes  118  of the TFT substrate  104   b .  FIG. 19  shows the relationship between the width of this overlapping part  116   a  and the width of a poor alignment at the end of a pixel electrode  118 . In this case, by making the width of the overlapping part  116   a  at least 1 μm and more preferably 2 μm, the development of poor alignments can be suppressed. When the overlapping part  116   a  is actually formed, the mismatch is maintained around 3 μm and the width of the overlapping part  116   a  of at least 1 μm is reliably obtained. If the upper limit of the overlapping part  116   a  is set to 5 μm in order to not harm the function of the pixel electrode, the width is designed to be 1 μm (lower limit of the required width)+3 μm (mismatch) to 5 μm (upper limit of the required width)+3 μm (mismatch)=from at least 4 μm to no more than 8 μm or from at least 5 μm to no more than 8 μm. Therefore, the generation of poor alignments can be adequately prevented. 
     The structure forming the rib-shaped part  116  on the CF substrate  104   a  or the TFT substrate  104   b  has been described. However, similar results can be obtained without the rib-shaped parts  116  by removing slit shapes that are not part of the electrode in the pixel electrode  118 . Notably,  FIG. 20A  corresponds to  FIG. 13A  when the slit-shaped notch  131  was formed parallel to the Cs electrode  117  (gate electrode  113 ) of the pixel electrode  118  and at the position coinciding with the Cs electrode  117 .  FIG. 20B  corresponds to  FIG. 14A  when the slit-shaped notch  131  was formed in the pixel electrode  118  parallel to the data electrode  115  and at the position corresponding to the center of the pixel electrode  118 .  FIG. 20C  corresponds to  FIG. 15A  when the slit-shaped notch  131  shaped as a cross was formed in the pixel electrode  118 . 
       FIG. 21  is a characteristic plot showing the test results about the width of the slit  111  in the optical mask with an excellent alignment state and the optimum value of the distance (distance A) between the optical mask and the substrate. Excellent alignment can be obtained for a slit width from 3 μm to 100 μm (Region A) and a distance between the mask and the substrate from 3 μm to 100 μm. Furthermore, the preferred distance between the optical mask and the substrate is from 50 μm to 100 μm (Region  21 B). The slit width and the distance A are nearly equal. Excellent alignment can be obtained when the slit width is set in the range from about the same value as distance A to about 1/20 th  of distance A. 
     According to this embodiment as described above, alignment using ultraviolet light is accurately performed in the minimum number of processes. A vertically aligned liquid crystal display device is implemented few disclinations in two or four domains. The result is the ability to produce a superior bright screen when using the TN mode. Furthermore, the response speed can provide high-speed responsiveness that is similar to or better than in a so-called MVA liquid crystal display device provided with many rib-shaped parts. 
       FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view of the main structures in the alignment apparatus of another embodiment. 
     In this embodiment, the alignment film is a copolymer of two polymers. Preferably, the alignment of one polymer changes from the initial vertical alignment in response to ultraviolet light exposure and assumes a constant value of approximately 90° when the ultraviolet light exposure exceeds some level. The other polymer has the property of starting to change the pretilt angles from the vertical alignment in response to ultraviolet light exposure, and returning again to the vertical alignment when exposed again to ultraviolet light. 
     Quartz glass which is transparent in the short wavelength region (for example, 254 nm) of the ultraviolet light is preferably used for the optical mask  201 . A mask pattern of metallic chromium is formed on one side of the optical mask  201 . The mask pattern provides a stripe-shaped slit  211  in the metallic chromium. The stripe-shaped slits  211  are lined up at the same pitch as the pitch of the pixels having domains. As one example, if the pixel pitch is 200 μm, the width of a slit  211  is 10 μm, and the width of the metallic chromium pattern becomes 190 μm from one slit  211  to the adjacent slit  211 . 
     The scattering mechanism  221  that scatters parallel light is formed on the surface of the optical mask  201  on the light source side. Scattering of the incident light is generally shown by the dashed circle  22   a . The scattering mechanism  221  may be formed, for example, by sandblasting the surface of the optical mask  201  on the light source side. 
     The alignment film  203  is irradiated with ultraviolet light on the glass substrate  202 . The optical mask  201  is placed so that the position of the stripe-shaped slot  211  almost coincides with the horizontal center position of the pixel and parallel to the data electrode. 
     The optical mask  201  is placed in the direction parallel to the data electrode with the position of the stripe-shaped slit  211  at the position of the data electrode of the TFT substrate  204 B in the opposing substrate  204 A when ultraviolet light irradiates the opposing substrate (CF substrate)  204 A side. 
     After the optical mask  201  is disposed as described above, parallel ultraviolet light is irradiated perpendicular to the surface of the optical mask  201  on the light source side. The irradiated ultraviolet light is scattered by the ground glass part and is split into two directions with the center as the boundary from the slit  211  and irradiated as illustrated. 
     When the TFT substrate  204 B is affixed to the opposing substrate  204 A, the positions of corresponding slits become the centers of the pitch lining up the slits. Therefore, the region inclined in the direction perpendicular to the slit can be between the slit on the TFT substrate  204 B side and the slit on the opposite substrate  204 A side, that is within a 90 μm width. The domains in two orientations can be produced in one pixel by giving the orientations mutually opposite directions with the position of the slit in the center of the pixel as the boundary. 
       FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view showing another example of this embodiment. The optical mask  201  is disposed as described above and irradiates parallel ultraviolet light perpendicular to the surface of the optical mask  201  on the light source side. Irradiated ultraviolet light is scattered in two directions by the slit  211 , and exposes the alignment film  203 . 
     If the TFT substrate  204 B is affixed to the opposing substrate  204 A, the positions of their mutual slits are at the centers of the pitch lining up the slits. Thus, the region inclined in the direction perpendicular to the slit can be between the slit on the TFT substrate  204 B side and the slit on the opposing substrate  204 A side, that is within a 90 μm width. Domains in two directions can be produced in one pixel by giving the orientations mutually opposite directions with the position of the slit in the center of the pixel as the boundary. 
       FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view showing another example of this embodiment. 
     A prism  212  generally shaped like an isosceles triangle with the width of the slit opening as its base is disposed in the opening of the slit  211  in the optical mask  201  described above. 
     Similar to the above description, the position of the optical mask  201  is perpendicular to the surface of the optical mask  201  on the light source side and irradiates parallel ultraviolet light. The irradiated ultraviolet light is reflected and refracted by the prism  212  and is split into parallel light in two directions when the scattered light is emitted from the prism  212  as shown in the drawing and exposes the alignment film  203 . 
     If the TFT substrate  204 B is affixed to the opposing substrate  204 A, the positions of their mutual slits are at the centers of the pitch lining up the slits. Therefore, the region inclined in the direction perpendicular to the slit can be between the slit on the TFT substrate  204 B side and the slit on the opposing substrate  204 A side, that is within a 90 μm width. Domains in two directions can be produced in one pixel by producing orientations having mutually opposite directions with the position of the slit in the center of the pixel as the boundary. 
     Even if the ultraviolet light that exposes the surface of the optical mask  201  on the light source side is scattered light in this embodiment, similar to when parallel light is irradiated, the ultraviolet light exposing the alignment film  203  can be split in two directions to produce the desired domains. This method disperses the ultraviolet light that exposes the alignment film  203  directly below the slit, and the ultraviolet light exposure on this part no longer becomes excessive. In addition, domains can be produced by one exposure on one substrate. 
     As described above, even if the ultraviolet light on the optical mask  201  is parallel light, similar effects can be obtained when scattered ultraviolet light irradiates the optical mask  201  by scattering, or reflection or refraction by the ground glass part of the optical mask  201  or the prism  212 . This shows that an ultraviolet light exposure device that emits parallel light as the light source can be used. 
     Because the ultraviolet light can be dispersed in the part of the alignment film  203  in the opening of the slit  211 , excess exposure light in this part can be prevented. And void areas caused by a lower tilt in this part and flow-induced orientations can be prevented. 
     Embodiment 4 
     Yet another embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 25A-26 . Similar to the second embodiment, the alignment film in this embodiment is composed of two polymers. Preferably, alignment of one polymer changes from an initial vertical alignment in response to ultraviolet light exposure, and assumes a constant value near 90° when a predetermined level of ultraviolet light exposure is exceeded. The alignment of the other polymer starts to change from the vertical alignment in response to ultraviolet light exposure, but returns to the vertical alignment when exposed again to ultraviolet light. 
       FIG. 25A  is a cross-sectional view of the main structures in the alignment apparatus in this embodiment.  FIG. 25B  is a cross-sectional view of the main structures in the liquid crystal display device implementing this alignment method. In  FIGS. 25A and 25B , the liquid crystal molecule is generally designated  251 . 
     Quartz glass that has the property of transmitting the short wavelength region (for example, 254 nm) of ultraviolet light is the material of the optical mask  301 . As shown in  FIG. 26 , a mask pattern made of metallic chromium is formed on one surface of the optical mask  301 . The mask pattern is provided with a stripe-shaped alignment control slit  211  in the metallic chromium. The alignment control slit  211  orients the liquid crystal molecules in the desired direction, and is lined up at the same pitch as that of the pixels having domains. As an example, if the pixel pitch is 200 μm, then the width of the slit  211  is 10 μm and the width of the metallic chromium mask pattern from a slit to an adjacent slit  211  becomes 190 μm. 
     Furthermore, an alignment correction slit  311  is provided in the same optical mask  311 . This slit must be finer than the slit that orients the liquid crystal molecules in the desired direction and must be disposed in a mutually perpendicular direction. The pixel pitch is about one-third at 70 μm, and the width of the slit  311  is about 1 μm. 
     Next, ultraviolet light irradiates the alignment film  303  on the glass substrate  304 . As shown in  FIG. 27 , the optical mask  301  is placed so that the position of the alignment control slit  211  almost coincides with the center position horizontally of the pixel and is perpendicular to the data electrode  315  when ultraviolet light irradiates the TFT substrate  304   b  side. The positions of the alignment correction slits  311  are parallel to the data electrodes  315  and centered between adjacent pixel electrodes  318 , that is they are at the centers of the data electrodes  315 . 
     The optical mask  301  only needs the alignment control slit  211  when ultraviolet light irradiates the opposite substrate  304   a  side. The position of this slit  211  is the position of the gate electrode  313  of the TFT substrate  304   b  in the opposite substrate  304   a  and is disposed in the direction perpendicular to the data electrode  315 . 
     After the optical mask  301  is disposed as described above, scattered ultraviolet light is irradiated perpendicular to the surface of the optical mask  301  on the light source side. As shown in  FIG. 25A , the irradiated ultraviolet light is split into two directions by the slit  311 . 
     The ultraviolet light irradiates through the slit  311 , and spreads out in a fan shape centered on the slit  311 . As shown in  FIG. 25 , the alignment control force that tilts the liquid crystal molecules in some direction of the slit  311  is applied to the alignment film  303 . Thus, the directions of the force that orients the liquid crystal molecules by the electric field at the ends of the pixel electrode  318  and the alignment control force of the alignment film  303  oppose each other in order to cancel the forces that orient the liquid crystals, tilting the liquid crystal molecules perpendicular to the direction of the desired tilts of the liquid crystal molecules can be prevented. 
     The brightness changes in the image display device (device A) that implements the alignment connection in addition to the alignment control of two divisions by the method of this embodiment is examined based on a comparison with the image display device (device B) that implements only alignment control for two divisions. In device B ( FIG. 28A ), the tilt of the liquid crystal molecules by the electric fields at the ends of the pixel electrodes  318  is generally designated  281 . The desired orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is generally designated  282 . Moreover, regions where brightness reductions occur at the ends of the black matrix  321  are generally designated  281  in  FIG. 28B . 
     In contrast, the tilts of the liquid crystal molecules are eliminated at the ends of the pixel electrodes  318  in  FIG. 29A  (Device A). Consequently, an excellent image is obtained without the problem of lower brightness regions at the ends of the black matrix  321 . 
     If the TFT substrate  304   b  is affixed to the opposing substrate  304   a , the positions of their mutual slits are at the centers of the pitch lining up the slits. The region that inclines in the direction perpendicular to the slit can be between the slit on the TFT substrate  304   b  side and the slit on the opposing substrate  304   a  side, that is within a 90 μm width. Domains in two directions can be produced in one pixel by producing orientations having mutually opposite directions with the position of the slit in the center of the pixel electrode  318  as the boundary. 
       FIG. 30  is a top view of the optical mask in another example of this embodiment. Although similar to the above description up to forming the slit in the optical mask, the scattering mechanism for the incident ultraviolet light is provided on the surface on the side opposite the alignment film  303  of the slit  211  that orients the liquid crystal molecules in the desired direction. As a specific example of the scattering mechanism, a groove with a depression-shaped cross-section is provided by sandblasting only the opening of the slit  211 , forming the ground glass part  211   a , or irradiating with laser pulses. 
     The irradiated ultraviolet light is scattered by the ground glass part  211   a  and has its irradiation width narrowed by the alignment correction slit  211 , so it does not negatively affect the essential orientations of the liquid crystal molecules. 
       FIG. 31  is a top view of the optical mask in another example of this embodiment. 
     Only the alignment correction slit  311  in the optical mask  301  has a prescribed height, for example, it is formed to be about 50 μm. Therefore, the gap between the optical mask  301  and alignment film  304 , which are opposite each other, becomes narrower to around 50 μm only in the alignment correction slit  311  and can narrow the width of the scattered ultraviolet light incident on only this part. Thus, the essential orientations of the liquid crystal molecules are not negatively affected. 
       FIGS. 32A and 32B  are schematic diagrams of the light source according to another used embodiment.  FIG. 33  is a top view showing the relationship between the scattering of the light source and the slit in the optical mask. 
     A method for changing the direction of the tubular light source  302  is adopted. The lengthwise direction of the light source  302  ( FIG. 32B ) has higher scattering than the widthwise direction of the light source  302  ( FIG. 32A ). This characteristic is used in this embodiment. 
     The lengthwise direction of the light source  302  for ultraviolet light is positioned to be parallel to the direction of the alignment correction slit  311  in the optical mask  301 . Thus, the ultraviolet light passing through the alignment correction slit  311  has a narrow scattering width and is positioned perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the light source  302 . The ultraviolet light that passed through the slit  211  that orients the liquid crystal molecules in the desired orientations has a wider scattering width. Therefore, there are no negative effects on the essential orientations of the liquid crystal molecules. 
     According to this embodiment as described above, because the directions of the alignment control force at the end of the pixel electrode  318  and the force to orient due to the electric field cancel each other, tilting the liquid crystal molecules in the direction perpendicular to the desired tilt direction for the liquid crystal molecules can be prevented. Therefore, the occurrence of disclinations is prevented, and a decrease in the brightness at the ends of the pixels can be suppressed. 
     Because new rib-shaped parts do not have to be formed, the process that controls the alignment can be simplified by forming the alignment correction slit  211  and the alignment control slit  311  in the optical mask  301 . 
     A further embodiment of a liquid crystal display device featuring a pixel electrode is described with reference to  FIG. 34 . 
     The alignment film in this embodiment is composed of two polymers. Preferably, the pretilt angle of one polymer changes from an initial vertical alignment in response to ultraviolet light exposure and assumes a constant value near 90° when some level of ultraviolet light exposure is exceeded. The pretilt angle of the other polymer starts changing from the vertical alignment in response to ultraviolet light exposure, but resumes vertical alignment when exposed again to ultraviolet light. 
     To prevent poor orientation caused by the lateral electric field from the data electrode  415 , a slit  411  is disposed near the data electrodes  415  of the pixel electrode  418 . The slit  411  extends in the direction parallel to the data electrode  415  (direction orthogonal to the gate electrode  413 ). An effective width for this slit  411  falls in the range from 2 μm to 5 μm. In particular, a 3 μm width for the slit was confirmed as the most effective size for suppressing poor orientation. 
     The provision of a fine slit  411  in the pixel electrodes  418  has the property of making the liquid crystal molecules fall in the direction parallel to this slit  411 . In this embodiment, this action is jointly used with the photo-alignment. Essentially, if there is liquid crystal in the gaps between the pixel electrodes, the liquid crystal tilts in the direction away from the gap because the electric field becomes oblique (see  FIG. 35A ). However, if a fine slit, for example, a 3 μm wide slit  411 , is provided, the liquid crystal molecules will tilt on both sides of a slit  411  and the destinations disappear. Consequently, the liquid crystal molecules are oriented to tilt towards the slit direction (see  FIG. 35B ). If a slit  411  is provided as shown in  FIG. 34 , the tilts of the liquid crystal molecules similarly lose their destinations because of this slit ( FIG. 35B ). Consequently, the liquid crystal molecules will tilt in the direction parallel to the slit  411 , and poor orientation caused by the data electrode is suppressed. 
       FIG. 36  is a schematic showing another example of this embodiment.  FIG. 36A  is a top view of the vicinity of a pixel electrode.  FIG. 36B  is a cross-sectional view. 
     A plurality of slits  411  is provided over the entire pixel electrode  418  area. Therefore, the stability of the orientation becomes more reliable. It is important for these slits  411  to be connected by the connector  421  in the center of the pixel electrode  418 . If the relationship between the connector  421  and the slits  411  is examined, the electric field at the connector  421  is as shown in  FIG. 34B  and expands in a fan shape from the connector  421 . This effect tilts the liquid crystal molecules in a more preferred direction. 
     According to this embodiment as described above, a liquid crystal display device with no poor orientations and a wide viewing angle can be implemented. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that other modifications, substitutions and alternatives are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications, substitutions and alternatives can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which should be determined from the appended claims. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.