Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing the probability of image sticking. The liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates. At least one of the substrates includes an alignment film and a polymer layer on the alignment film. The polymer layer includes monomer units derived from at least two species of polymerizable monomers. The at least two species of polymerizable monomers include at least two species of monomers selected from the group consisting of: specific polyfunctional monomers and specific monofunctional monomers.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display including first and second substrates arranged opposite to each other to form a gap, with first and second alignment films provided on the first and second substrates, respectively. A cured material is provided on at least one of the first and second alignment films, and a liquid crystal layer of liquid crystal molecules is provided in the gap. The display includes a pixel electrode with a plurality of elongated members arranged with spaces therebetween, wherein the plurality of elongated members are electrically connected to each other, and a common electrode configured to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal layer in cooperation with the pixel electrode. The plurality of elongated members include first, second, third and fourth elongated members extending, respectively, in first, second, third and fourth directions in plan view. The cured material regulates alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: An alignment film (100) according to the present invention includes: a first alignment layer (102) containing a first polyimide (p1); and a second alignment layer (104) containing a polymerization product (po) resulting from polymerization of a polyfunctional monomer and a second polyimide (p2). The polyfunctional monomer is represented by general formula (1) P1-A1-(Z1-A2)n-P2 (in general formula (1), P1 and P2 each independently of the other are an acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, vinyl, vinyloxy, or epoxy group; A1 and A2 each independently of the other represent a 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexane, 2,5-thiophene, or naphthalene-2,6-diyl group; Z1 is a —COO— group, a —OCO— group, a —O— group, a —CONH— group or a single bond, where n is 0, 1, or 2).

Abstract: A VA-mode liquid crystal display device having a high display quality is provided. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer; a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; a first electrode provided in the first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side and a second electrode provided in the second substrate on the liquid crystal layer side; and a first alignment film provided between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer and a second alignment film provided between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixel areas located in a matrix.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates, defined as a first substrate and a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates. The device also includes a pixel electrode and an additional electrode formed on the first substrate, and a contact hole that is configured and arranged to connect the pixel electrode and the additional electrode. In certain embodiments, the contact hole is formed at a liquid crystal domain boundary. In other embodiments, an additional contact hole is also provided between the pixel electrode and a second additional electrode, and in such embodiments the contact hole and the additional contact hole are formed within different liquid crystal domains. Further, in certain embodiments, the pixel electrode includes a plurality of pixel electrode slits arranged in a pattern to form a plurality of liquid crystal domains within each pixel.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules provided between a first substrate and a second substrate; pixels forming a display area; electrodes for applying a voltage across the liquid crystal layer within each of the pixels; a plurality of domain regulating structures for dividing orientations of the liquid crystal molecules and forming multiple domains within each of the pixels, when a predetermined voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer within each of the pixels. The device also includes a structure which is formed in an outer area located next to the display area, but that does not overlap the display area, and is substantially the same as at least one of the plurality of domain regulating structures.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display including a pair of substrates arranged opposite to each other to form a gap; spaced vertical alignment films formed on the substrate in the gap; a cured material formed on at least one of the alignment films in the gap; and a liquid crystal layer of liquid crystal molecules. The display also includes a pixel electrode formed on one of the substrates in a pixel region and having either a plurality of elongated members arranged with spaces therebetween and connected by a connecting member or a plurality of elongated openings arranged in patterns. Finally, the cured material is at least formed on the vertical alignment films so that an alignment direction of at least the liquid crystal molecules adjacent the alignment films is regulated.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer between a pair of substrates. The method includes disposing between the pair of substrates a liquid crystal composition including liquid crystal molecules and a polymerizable compound that is polymerizable by active energy rays or a combination of active energy rays and heat, and polymerizing the polymerizable compound by active energy ray irradiation, or by both active energy ray irradiation and heat with and/or without applying voltages to the liquid crystal layer, so that a polymer formed by the polymerizing process decides an alignment of the liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied. The amount of active energy ray irradiation is decided so that at least some of the polymerizable compound remains in the liquid crystal layer after the polymerization process. Further the amount of the polymerizable compound that remains is not more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules disposed between the substrates, an alignment layer disposed above at least one of the substrates, and a polymer disposed on the alignment layer. The device also includes scanning lines and signal lines, a TFT connected to one of the scanning lines and one of the signal lines, and a pixel electrode connected to the TFT and applying driving voltages to the liquid crystal molecules in an area defined by the pixel electrode. The polymer is formed through polymerization of monomers, different from monomers constituting the alignment layer, by active energy ray irradiation, or by both active energy ray irradiation and heat, and is arranged to align the liquid crystal molecules without rubbing so that the liquid crystal molecules in the area form multiple domains when driving voltages are applied from the TFT.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) includes: a pair of substrates (10, 20) each having an electrode; a liquid crystal layer (30) interposed between the pair of substrates; at least one photo-alignment layer (12) provided between at least one of the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer; and an alignment sustaining layer (14a, 14b) provided on the photo-alignment layer, the alignment sustaining layer containing a polymerization product generated through polymerization of at least one kind of bifunctional monomer. In the liquid crystal layer, at least two regions (R1, R2) are formed in one pixel region, the at least two regions (R1, R2) differing in terms of pretilt angles of liquid crystal molecules as regulated by the photo-alignment layer and the alignment sustaining layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates; liquid crystal contained between the substrates; a polymer which determines directions in which liquid crystal molecules tilt; a plurality of gate and data bus lines; and a plurality of picture elements. At least one of the picture elements includes a switching element, and first and second sub picture element electrodes. The first sub picture element electrode connects to the switching element and the second sub picture element electrode connects, via capacitive coupling, to the switching element. The first substrate further includes a control electrode that is connected to the switching element and the first sub picture element electrode. The control electrode is capacitively coupled to the second sub picture element electrode through an insulating film. The area of the second sub picture element electrode is larger than the area of the first sub picture element electrode.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates in a spaced relationship with one another. A pair of alignment films are provided, one alignment film being formed on each substrate such that the alignment films face one another. A liquid crystal layer, including plural liquid crystals, is inserted between the pair of alignment films, wherein the alignment films impart a given pre-tilt angle to the liquid crystals. The alignment films are composed of a material containing at least two types of polymers having a prescribed initial alignment and different alignment variation rates in response to ultraviolet ray irradiation. The pre-tilt angle being adjusted, without rubbing the alignment films, through ultraviolet exposure of the alignment films.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) as an embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of pixels (P), each of which includes subpixels (Spa, Spb) that are defined by subpixel electrodes (124a, 124b), respectively. In each pixel (P), after TFTs (130a, 130b) that have been ON have turned OFF, the average potential of the subpixel electrode (124a) has varied from a potential corresponding to a source signal voltage that was supplied to a source line (Ls) when the TFTs (130a, 130b) were ON. Meanwhile, the average potential of the subpixel electrode (124b) corresponds to the source signal voltage that was supplied to the source line (Ls) when the TFTs (130a, 130b) were ON.

Abstract: When radiating light onto a liquid crystal composition containing a photosensitive material, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is adjusted by applying a voltage to the liquid crystal composition layer, to achieve substantially orderly alignment of the liquid crystal molecules, or the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is made uniform by adjusting the structure of the liquid crystal display device, or any display defect is driven out of the display area. When radiating light to the liquid crystal composition containing the photosensitive material, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules can be adjusted so as to achieve substantially orderly alignment of the liquid crystal molecules, and the liquid crystal display device can thus be driven stably.

Abstract: An alignment film material according to the present invention includes: a precursor of a first polyimide (p1); a second polyimide (p2) and a precursor thereof; and a vinyl-type monomer. The vinyl-type monomer is represented by general formula (1) P1-A1-(Z1-A2)n-P2 (in general formula (1), P1 and P2 are, independently, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide or methacrylamide; A1 and A2 represent, independently, 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexane or 2,5-thiophene, or naphthalene-2,6-diyl or anthracene-2,7-diyl; at least one of A1 and A2 is substituted by at least one fluorine group; and Z1 is a —COO— group, a —OCO— group, a —O— group, a —CONH— group or a single bond, where n is 0 or 1).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrate, with liquid crystal contained therebetween; a plurality of gate bus lines; a plurality of drain bus lines; and first and second sub picture element electrodes. The first sub picture element electrode is not in contact with the second sub picture element electrode. The first sub picture element electrode includes a first body portion and a plurality of first branches extending from the first body portion, with the first branches being separated from each other by a plurality of first slits. The second sub picture element electrode includes a second body portion and a plurality of second branches extending from the second body portion, with the second branches being separated from each other by a plurality of second slits.

Abstract: A polymerizable compound in a liquid crystal composition is polymerized in a state that liquid crystal molecules present in a gap between a pixel electrode and at least either one of signal electrodes and scanning electrodes are tilted in a direction from the at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward the pixel electrode. Preferably, the amount of the polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal phase after the polymerization is not more than 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal. In a seal section surrounding the liquid crystal layer, a second seal wall is preferably provided at a position opposite to the liquid crystal injection inlet in the non-display section.

Abstract: A polymerizable compound in a liquid crystal composition is polymerized in a state that liquid crystal molecules present in a gap between a pixel electrode and at least either one of signal electrodes and scanning electrodes are tilted in a direction from the at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward the pixel electrode. Preferably, the amount of the polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal phase after the polymerization is not more than 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal. In a seal section surrounding the liquid crystal layer, a second seal wall is preferably provided at a position opposite to the liquid crystal injection inlet in the non-display section.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal layer sealed between a pair of substrates; an alignment layer formed on at least one of the substrates; a polymer formed of a photopolymerized material on the alignment layer; and a pixel electrode, including an electrode portion and a plurality of slits, formed on one of the substrates. The device also includes a source electrode and a Cs intermediate electrode, having the same potential as the pixel electrode, formed between the pixel electrode and one of the substrates; and a Cs bus line located between the Cs intermediate electrode and one of the substrates. The source electrode is formed along a first liquid crystal domain boundary, between the pixel electrode and one of the substrates. The liquid crystal layer contains part of a photopolymerizable monomer, which is a source material of the photopolymerized material.

Abstract: A TFT substrate (110) of a liquid crystal display device(100) includes a common electrode (112) and a drain electrode (114) facing the common electrode (112) via an insulating layer (113) and provided with an opening (114a) for making an electric field generated between the common electrode (112) and the drain electrode (114) supplied into a liquid crystal layer (130). Since the opening (114a) for making an electric field supplied into the liquid crystal layer (130) is provided in the drain electrode (114) made from metal, the opening (114a) can be formed more finely than before. Thus, a liquid crystal display which can more surely control spray-to-bend transition can be attained.