Patent ID: 6987551

Claim:
An in-plane-switching liquid crystal display unit comprising a two-dimensional matrix of pixel regions each including: a first region having liquid crystal molecules directed in a first orientation when no electric field is applied thereto; a second region having liquid crystal molecules directed in a second orientation which is the same as said first orientation when no electric field is applied thereto; and electric field generating means for generating an in-plane electric field to said liquid crystal molecules to rotate the liquid crystal molecules of the first and second regions in opposite directions with respect to each other while maintaining said first orientation and second orientation in symmetric relationship; wherein said electric field generating means comprises a plurality of pairs of confronting electrodes each having a longer arm and a shorter arm which extend at a predetermined angle with respect to each other and define a rectangular region, said pairs of confronting electrodes being inverted in said first region with respect to those pairs in said second region.