Patent ID: 6924876

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; a plurality of picture element regions each comprising 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 liquid crystal layer in each of the plurality of picture element regions takes a substantially vertical alignment in the absence of an applied voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, and changes its orientation according to a voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode; 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; wherein the upper conductive layer includes at least one first opening, and the lower conductive layer is provided so as to oppose at least a portion of the at least one first opening via the dielectric layer; and in the liquid crystal layer an electric field, with a strength that decreases in a region corresponding to the at least one first opening, is produced in response to a voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the liquid crystal layer in the region corresponding to the at least one first opening exhibits a radially-inclined orientation.