Pixel electrode having reflective and transmissive areas and liquid crystal display device using the same

A pixel electrode comprising:

• a step-forming layer composed of an electrically-insulating material defining an island;
• a reflective area portion extending over at least a portion of the step-forming layer for reflecting a light ray from a display face side in a manner that the light ray is along a predetermined bidirectional optical path within a pixel;
• a single transmissive electrically-conductive layer formed as an island defined by the step-forming layer for transmitting a light ray from a rear side to the display face side in such a manner that the light ray is along a predetermined unidirectional optical path within the pixel;
• and
• wherein the transition area portion is extended with a shape that is along an outline of substantially a polygon formed by five or more line segments.

A liquid crystal display device comprising:

• a display means having a first and a second substrate;
• a liquid crystal medium between the first and second substrates:
• pixels arranged substantially in a matrix:
• driving elements having outputs, the driving elements being provided on the first substrate in correspondence with the pixels for driving the pixels individually:
• and
• a common electrode provided on the second substrate;
• pixel electrodes being individually connected to the outputs of the driving elements wherein each pixel electrode comprises:
• a step-forming layer composed of an electrically-insulating material defining an island:
• a reflective area portion extending over at least a portion of the step-forming layer for reflecting a light ray from a display face side in such a manner that the light ray is along a predetermined bidirectional optical path within a pixel:
• a single transmissive electrically-conductive layer formed as an island defined by the step-forming layer for transmitting a light ray from a rear side to the display face side in such a manner that the light ray is along a predetermined unidirectional optical path within the pixel:
• and
• a transition area portion being formed between the reflective area portion and the transmissive electrically-conductive layer and including a portion in which the reflective area portion and the transmissive electrically-conductive layer are coupled.