Patent ID: 7656483

Claim:
A liquid crystal display comprising: a pair of spaced-part first and second substrates; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates; a first polarization plate provided at the first substrate; and a second polarization plate provided at the second substrate wherein the first and second polarization plates have absorption axes which are disposed to cross together at substantially right angles to each other; wherein upon application of no voltage, the liquid crystal layer exhibits orientation so that long axes of liquid crystal molecules are substantially perpendicular to the first and second substrates; wherein a plurality of picture elements are formed between the first and second substrates, each of the picture elements having a reflection part and a transmission part; wherein the liquid crystal layer is variable in thickness so that a layer portion being disposed at the transmission part is thicker than a layer portion disposed at the reflection part; wherein at the reflection part, an internal retardation plate having an optical phase difference is disposed between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer; wherein the internal retardation plate has a phase delay axis forming an angle of substantially forty five (45) degrees with each of the absorption axes of the first and second polarization plates; wherein the internal retardation plate has a retardation of a quarter (1/4) wavelength; wherein a mechanism for controlling orientation of the liquid crystal layer at the transmission part is different from a mechanism for controlling orientation of the liquid crystal layer at the reflection part; wherein the liquid crystal layer is such that a division number of orientation control at the transmission part is different from a division number of orientation control at the reflection part; and wherein an orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules upon voltage application in the liquid crystal layer is at an angle of about forty five (45) degrees with each of the absorption axes of the first and second polarization plates at the transmission part, and the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules upon voltage application in the liquid crystal layer at the reflection part includes angles other than about 45 degrees.