Patent ID: 6950160

Claim:
A liquid crystal display device comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a plurality of picture element regions each defined by a first electrode provided on a face of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on the second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween, wherein the first electrode includes: (a) a solid portion including a plurality of sub-electrodes and a plurality of contact portions each for mutually electrically connecting at least some of the sub-electrodes, and (b) at least one opening in each of the plurality of picture element regions, the liquid crystal layer is in a substantially vertical orientation state in at least part of each of the plurality of picture element regions when no voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, and when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, a plurality of liquid crystal domains each in a radially-inclined orientation state are formed in the at least one opening and the solid portion by inclined electric fields generated at least at a edge portion of the at least one opening of the first electrode, for producing a display by changing orientation states of the plurality of liquid crystal domains in accordance with the applied voltage.