Patent ID: 7995169

Claim:
A liquid crystal display device comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, the liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules having a negative anisotropy of dielectric constant; and an alignment layer between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the substrates, the alignment layer controlling the liquid crystal molecules to be aligned perpendicular to the substrate, a dielectric protrusion that protrudes in the liquid crystal layer, wherein the alignment layer covers the dielectric protrusion, the liquid crystal display device further including pixels, each pixel including a plurality of subpixels, each subpixel having a transmissive display area for transmissive display and a reflective display area for reflective display, the subpixel including a stepped layer therein such that the stepped layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the substrates, the stepped layer defining a first region and a second region in the transmissive display area of the subpixel, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer being relatively thick in the first region and relatively thin in the second region, the area ratio of the first region depending on a color expressed by the subpixel, wherein the area ratio of the first region in the transmissive display area of the subpixel is larger as the wavelength of the color expressed by the subpixel is longer.