Patent ID: 7145624

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, when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, a plurality of liquid crystal domains each in a radially-inclined orientation state 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; wherein at least some of the plurality of openings have substantially the same shape and the same size, and form at least one unit lattice arranged so as to have rotational symmetry; and wherein each region of the solid portion surrounded with the at least some of the plurality of openings is in a substantially circular shape.