Patent ID: 7215395

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 plurality of openings and a solid portion in each of the plurality of picture element regions, the liquid crystal layer is in a substantially vertical orientation state in 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 are formed in the plurality of openings and the solid portion by inclined electric fields generated at respective edge portions of the plurality of openings 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, and wherein each of said liquid crystal domains includes: (a) first liquid crystal molecules oriented substantially parallel to a normal of the first substrate (hereby defining an axis, and (b) second liquid crystal molecules existing around all lateral sides of said axis and radially inclined relative to the axis.