Liquid crystal display

Abstract

Disclosed is a liquid crystal display mainly including a liquid crystal layer having negative dielectric anisotropy sandwiched between two substrates treated by vertical alignment process, and first and second domain regulators for regulating orientation of the liquid crystal layer such that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned obliquely when a voltage is applied, so that the orientation will include a plurality of first and second directions. The first directions are different from the second directions. Each pixel is provided with one of the first and second domain regulators in a manner that every two adjacent pixels or every two adjacent R pixels, two adjacent G pixels or two adjacent B pixels are provided with different domain regulators.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a pixel layout of a conventional MVA LCD;

FIG. 2 shows a pixel layout of another conventional MVA LCD;

FIG. 3A shows a pixel layout of an LCD according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B illustrates the oblique directions of the liquid crystal molecules in the LCD of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 shows a pixel layout of an LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a pixel layout of an LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a pixel layout of an LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A shows a pixel layout of an LCD according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7B illustrates the oblique directions of the liquid crystal molecules in the LCD of FIG. 7A.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, the liquid crystal display comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate treated by vertical alignment process;a liquid crystal layer being sandwiched between the first and the second substrates, the liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules aligning in a direction generally perpendicular to a principal surface of the first substrate when no substantial electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer; andfirst and second domain regulators respectively provided in two adjacent pixels or two adjacent pixels representing the same color, the first and second domain regulators regulating orientation of the liquid crystal layer such that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned obliquely when a voltage is applied, so that the orientation of the liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of first and second directions wherein the first directions are different from the second directions.

2. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes, the first domain regulator comprises: a plurality of slits arranged in a zigzag pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the slits and the protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other,the second domain regulator comprises: a plurality of cross-shaped slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the cross-shaped slits on the second substrate.

3. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes, the first domain regulator comprises: a plurality of first slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the first slits on the second substrate,the second domain regulator comprises: a plurality of second slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the second slits and on the second substrate,wherein the first slits extend in a direction different from the extending direction of the second slits.

4. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes, the first domain regulator comprises: a plurality of first slits arranged in a cross-shaped pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the first slits on the second substrate,the second domain regulator comprises: a plurality of second slits arranged in a X-shaped pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the second slits on the second substrate.

5. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes, the first domain regulator comprises: a plurality of first slits arranged in a rectangular pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the first slits on the second substrate,the second domain regulator comprises: a plurality of second slits arranged in a diamond-shaped pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the second slits on the second substrate.

6. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes, the first domain regulator comprises: a plurality of first slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of first protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the first slits and the first protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other,the second domain regulator comprises: a plurality of second slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of second protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the second slits and the second protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other, andthe first slits and the first protrusions extend in a first direction, and the second slits and the second protrusions extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

7. The liquid crystal display according to claim 6, wherein an angle included between the edge of the pixel electrode and the extending direction of the protrusions is about 45 degrees.

8. The liquid crystal display according to claim 6, wherein an angle included between the edge of the pixel electrode and the extending direction of the protrusions is about 90 degrees.

9. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes, and the first domain regulator and the second domain regulator are selected from the group consisting of domain regulators (A) to (G), wherein: the domain regulator (A) comprises: a plurality of slits arranged in a zigzag pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the slits and the protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other;the domain regulator (B) comprises: a plurality of cross-shaped slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the cross-shaped slits on the second substrate;the domain regulator (C) comprises: a plurality of slits arranged in a X-shaped pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the slits on the second substrate;the domain regulator (D) comprises: a plurality of slits arranged in a rectangular pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the slits on the second substrate;the domain regulator (E) comprises: a plurality of slits arranged in a diamond-shaped pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the slits on the second substrate;the domain regulator (F) comprises: a plurality of slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the slits and the first protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other, and the angle included between the edge of the pixel electrode and the extending direction of the protrusions is about 45 degrees; andthe domain regulator (G) comprises: a plurality of slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the slits and the first protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other, and the angle included between the edge of the pixel electrode and the extending direction of the protrusions is about 90 degrees.

10. A liquid crystal display having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, the liquid crystal display comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate treated by vertical alignment process;a liquid crystal layer being sandwiched between the first and second substrates, the liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules aligning in a direction generally perpendicular to a principal surface of the first substrate when no substantial electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer; andfirst, second, third and fourth domain regulators respectively provided in four adjacent pixels or four adjacent pixels representing the same color, the first, the second, the third and the fourth domain regulators regulating orientation of the liquid crystal layer such that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned obliquely when a voltage is applied, so that the orientation of the liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of first, second, third and fourth directions different from each other.

11. The liquid crystal display according to claim 10, wherein the first substrate is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes, the first domain regulator comprises: a plurality of first slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of first protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the first slits and the first protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other,the second domain regulator comprises: a plurality of second slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of second protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the second slits and the second protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other, andthe first slits and the first protrusions extend in a first direction, and the second slits and the second protrusions extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;the third domain regulator comprises: a plurality of third slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of third protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the third slits and the third protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other,the fourth domain regulator comprises: a plurality of fourth slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of fourth protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the fourth slits and the fourth protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other, andthe third slits and the third protrusions extend in a third direction, and the fourth slits and the fourth protrusions extend in a fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction,wherein an angle included between the edge of the pixel electrode and the extending direction of the first and second protrusions is about 45 degrees, and an angle included between the edge of the pixel electrode and the extending direction of the third and fourth protrusions is about 90 degrees.

12. The liquid crystal display according to claim 10, wherein the first substrate is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes, and the first, second, third and fourth domain regulators are selected from the group consisting of domain regulators (A) to (G), wherein: the domain regulator (A) comprises: a plurality of slits arranged in a zigzag pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the slits and the protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other;the domain regulator (B) comprises: a plurality of cross-shaped slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the cross-shaped slits on the second substrate;the domain regulator (C) comprises: a plurality of slits arranged in a X-shaped pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the slits on the second substrate;the domain regulator (D) comprises: a plurality of slits arranged in a rectangular pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the slits on the second substrate;the domain regulator (E) comprises: a plurality of slits arranged in a diamond-shaped pattern on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of closed rectangular protrusions around the slits on the second substrate;the domain regulator (F) comprises: a plurality of slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the slits and the first protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other, and the angle included between the edge of the pixel electrode and the extending direction of the protrusions is about 45 degrees; andthe domain regulator (G) comprises: a plurality of slits on the pixel electrodes; anda plurality of protrusions on the second substrate,wherein the slits and the first protrusions are arranged alternately and in parallel to each other, and the angle included between the edge of the pixel electrode and the extending direction of the protrusions is about 90 degrees.