LCD device with alignment films having a pretilt changing characteristic

A process for producing a liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates each having thereon an electrode and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so that the liquid crystal assumes at least two optically stable states, at least one of the substrates having thereon an alignment film;

• said process comprising:
• a first step of uniaxially alignment-treating the alignment film in a first direction so as to provide an alignment control force which changes monotonously in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and
• a second step of uniaxially alignment-treating the alignment film in a third direction opposite to the first direction so as to provide an alignment control force which changes monotonously in a fourth direction reverse to the second direction, such that the alignment film has a pretilt-changing characteristic, and such that it provides a pretilt angle which monotonously changes and is then inverted through 0 degree to a state providing a reverse molecular inclination with respect to the at least one substrate.

A process for producing a liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates each having thereon an electrode and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so that the liquid crystal assumes at least two optically stable states, at least one of the substrates having thereon an alignment film;

• said process comprising:
• a first step of rubbing the alignment film in a first direction, and
• a second step of rubbing the alignment film in a second direction opposite to the first direction so as to provide a rubbing intensity which changes monotonously in a third direction perpendicular to the second direction, and such that the alignment film has a pretilt angle distribution including a region having a pretilt angle 0 and a plurality of corresponding regions on opposite sides of the pretilt angle 0 region, the corresponding regions having opposite pretilt angle directions.