Patent ID: 7379137

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, wherein: a plurality of picture element regions are each defined by a first electrode provided on one surface of the first substrate and a second electrode provided on the second substrate and opposing the first electrode with the liquid crystal layer therebetween; in each of the plurality of picture element regions, the first electrode includes a solid area formed of a conductive film and a non-solid area with no conductive film provided, the liquid crystal layer is in a vertical orientation state 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, the liquid crystal layer forms a plurality of first liquid crystal domains each in a radially-inclined orientation at least above the solid area of the first electrode by an inclined electric field generated in the vicinity of the solid area; the plurality of picture element regions each include a transparent region for providing a transmission mode display using light incident in a direction from the first substrate and a reflection region for providing a reflection mode display using light incident in a direction from the second substrate; and in each of the plurality of picture element regions a thickness dr of the liquid crystal layer in the reflection region is smaller than a thickness dt of the liquid crystal layer in the transmission region, wherein the second substrate includes: a stepped portion having an upper tier located in the reflection region, a lower tier located in the transmission region and a side surface connecting the upper tier and the lower tier to each other, and wherein the side surface of the stepped portion is located in the reflection region and is covered with the second electrode.