Patent ID: 7084943

Claim:
A liquid crystal display device, comprising: a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a plurality of picture element regions each defined by a first electrode provided on one side of the first substrate which is closer to 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, wherein: the first electrode includes a lower conductive layer, a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the lower conductive layer, and an upper conductive layer provided on one side of the dielectric layer which is closer to the liquid crystal layer; and in each of the plurality of picture element regions, the upper conductive layer includes a plurality of openings and a solid portion, the liquid crystal layer taking a substantially vertical alignment in the absence of an applied voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, a plurality of liquid crystal domains being formed in the plurality of openings or in the solid portion by inclined electric fields produced at respective edge portions of the plurality of openings of the upper conductive layer in response to a voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, each of the plurality of liquid crystal domains taking a radially-inclined orientation, and an orientation of each of the plurality of liquid crystal domains changing according to the applied voltage, thereby producing a display.