Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate and a counter-substrate, a liquid crystal layer which is held between the array substrate and counter-substrate and includes a transmissive display part and a reflective display part which neighbor each other via a boundary, an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer being controlled by an application voltage from the array substrate and counter-substrate in the transmissive display part and the reflective display part, and control means for making an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules, which are present near the boundary in the reflective display part, substantially match an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules which are present near the boundary in the transmissive display part.

Abstract: A first phase plate and a third phase plate, which constitute a polarizer structure, cooperate to impart a phase difference of a ¼ wavelength to linearly polarized light that emerges from a first polarizer plate. A second phase plate and a fourth phase plate cooperate to impart a phase difference of a ¼ wavelength to linearly polarized light that emerges from a second polarizer plate. Slow axes in planes of the first phase plate and the second phase plate are substantially parallel. A crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the first phase plate and the third phase plate is 60°, a crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the second phase plate and the fourth phase plate is 60°, and a crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the third phase plate and fourth phase plate is 60°.

Abstract: Transmissive display regions are disposed at both sides of a reflective region in each pixel so as to sandwich the reflective region therebetween. A first height adjusting layer is formed below a counter electrode of a counter substrate, whereby the thickness of a liquid crystal layer in the reflective display region is made smaller than the thickness of the transmissive display regions. The motion of liquid crystal molecules at the peripheral edge of the reflective display region and the motion of liquid crystal molecules at the peripheral edge of the transmissive display region are symmetrical at both sides of the reflective display region. The alignment stability of the liquid crystal in the pixel can be enhanced. Defects such as unevenness of display caused by fluctuation of alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer can be avoided. The asymmetrical property of the field-of-view angle can be avoided.

Abstract: A circular polarizer structure, which is included in a liquid crystal display device, includes a uniaxial third retardation plate for optical compensation of the circular polarizer structure between a first polarizer plate and a first retardation plate, the uniaxial third retardation plate having a refractive index anisotropy of nx?nz>ny. A circular analyzer structure includes a uniaxial fourth retardation plate for optical compensation of the circular analyzer structure between a second polarizer plate and a second retardation plate, the uniaxial fourth retardation plate having a refractive index anisotropy of nx?nz>ny. A variable retarder structure includes a fifth retardation plate for optical compensation of the variable retarder structure between the first retardation plate and the second retardation plate, the fifth retardation plate having a refractive index anisotropy of nx?ny>nz.

Abstract: Transmission display regions are disposed at both sides of a reflection display region of a pixel electrode in a pixel of an array substrate. An insulating layer having a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer that face the transmission display regions and the reflection display region in the pixel electrode is formed on the counter electrode of the counter substrate. Second insulating layers exist at both sides of the first insulating layer. The motion of liquid crystal molecules is symmetrical with respect to the reflection display region. Liquid crystal orientation stability can be enhanced at a plurality of pixels. A defect such as unevenness in display due to orientation fluctuation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer can be avoided. A liquid crystal cell having a high display quality level is provided.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate and a counter-substrate, a liquid crystal layer which is held between the array substrate and counter-substrate and includes a transmissive display part and a reflective display part which neighbor each other via a boundary, an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer being controlled by an application voltage from the array substrate and counter-substrate in the transmissive display part and the reflective display part, and control means for making an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules, which are present near the boundary in the reflective display part, substantially match an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules which are present near the boundary in the transmissive display part.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a first electrode substrate, a second electrode substrate arranged opposite to the first electrode substrate with a gap therebetween, a liquid crystal layer held between the first and second electrode substrates, and including transmissive display sections and reflective display sections adjacent to the transmissive display sections, a linear boundary being defined between each transmissive display section and each reflective display section, orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the transmissive display sections and the reflective display sections being controlled in accordance with voltages applied to the liquid crystal layer by the first and second electrode substrates, and a control section which controls an electric field generated by the applied voltages to set, substantially parallel to the boundary, the orientation of those of the liquid crystal molecules which exist in the transmissive display sections near the boundary.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a circular polarizer structure, a circular analyzer structure and a variable retarder structure. The circular polarizer structure includes a uniaxial third retardation plate with a refractive index anisotropy of nx?ny<nz and a uniaxial fourth retardation plate with a refractive index anisotropy of nx>ny?nz, which are disposed for optical compensation of the circular polarizer structure. The circular analyzer structure includes a uniaxial fifth retardation plate with a refractive index anisotropy of nx?ny<nz and a uniaxial sixth retardation plate with a refractive index anisotropy of nx>ny?nz, which are disposed for optical compensation of the circular analyzer structure. The variable retarder structure includes a uniaxial seventh retardation plate with a refractive index anisotropy of nx?ny>nz, which is disposed for optical compensation of the variable retarder structure.

Abstract: A circular-polarization-based vertical alignment mode liquid crystal display device includes a circular polarizer structure, a variable retarder structure and a circular analyzer structure. The circular polarizer structure includes a first optical compensation layer for optical compensation thereof, the first optical compensation layer including a uniaxial retardation plate with a refractive index anisotropy of nx?ny<nz. The circular analyzer structure includes a second optical compensation layer for optical compensation thereof, the second optical compensation layer including a uniaxial retardation plate with a refractive index anisotropy of nx?ny<nz. The variable retarder structure includes a third optical compensation layer for optical compensation thereof, the third optical compensation layer including a uniaxial retardation plate with a refractive index anisotropy of nx?ny>nz.

Abstract: A first phase plate and a third phase plate, which constitute a polarizer structure, cooperate to impart a phase difference of a ¼ wavelength to linearly polarized light that emerges from a first polarizer plate. A second phase plate and a fourth phase plate cooperate to impart a phase difference of a ¼ wavelength to linearly polarized light that emerges from a second polarizer plate. Slow axes in planes of the first phase plate and the second phase plate are substantially parallel. A crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the first phase plate and the third phase plate is 60°, a crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the second phase plate and the fourth phase plate is 60°, and a crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the third phase plate and fourth phase plate is 60°.