Patent ID: 7139055

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 surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on a surface of the second substrate facing the liquid crystal layer, wherein the first substrate has, on the surface thereof facing the liquid crystal layer, at least one first protrusion with an inclined side face correspondingly to each of the plurality of picture element regions, and a portion of the liquid crystal layer included in each of the plurality of picture element regions is in a substantially vertical orientation state under application of no voltage, and includes at least a part of a first liquid crystal domain placed in a radially-inclined orientation state about the at least one first protrusion under voltage application so that when viewed from above liquid crystal molecules in the first liquid crystal domain extend outwardly in substantially all directions from the periphery of the protrusion, for producing a display by changing an orientation state of the liquid crystal layer in accordance with an applied voltage.