Patent ID: 7142259

Claim:
An active matrix liquid crystal display device comprising an array substrate provided with a pixel electrode; an opposing substrate provided with a common electrode; and a liquid crystal layer arranged between the array substrate and the opposing substrate; wherein pretilt angles of the liquid crystal at an upper and at a lower boundary of liquid crystal layer have opposite signs, and in a liquid crystal cell in splay alignment, which has been subjected to a parallel alignment process, the liquid crystal is in splay alignment when no voltage is applied; wherein, before liquid crystal display driving, an initialization process is performed, in which the alignment of the liquid crystal layer is transitioned from splay alignment to bend alignment by application of a voltage; wherein the liquid crystal display driving is performed in the bend alignment attained by the initialization; comprising a liquid crystal cell including at least a first liquid crystal cell region, wherein a liquid crystal pretilt angle at an alignment film formed on an inner side of the array substrate is a first pretilt angle, and wherein a liquid crystal pretilt angle at an alignment film formed on an inner side of the opposing substrate is a second pretilt angle larger than the first pretilt angle; and a second liquid crystal cell region arranged next to the first liquid crystal cell region within the same pixel; wherein a liquid crystal pretilt angle at an alignment film formed on an inner side of the array substrate is a third pretilt angle; and wherein a liquid crystal pretilt angle at an alignment film formed on an inner side of the opposing substrate is a fourth pretilt angle smaller than the third pretilt angle, the alignment films having been subjected to an alignment process directed from the first liquid crystal cell region to the second liquid crystal cell region; a first voltage application means for applying a first voltage between the pixel electrode and the common electrode so as to form a disclination line at a border between the first liquid crystal cell region and the second liquid crystal cell region; and a second voltage application means for creating transition seeds at the disclination line by applying a second voltage of larger magnitude than the first voltage between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and causing transition from splay alignment to bend alignment.