Liquid crystal display

A liquid crystal apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of data electrodes, wherein the data electrodes are spaced from and disposed opposite to and intersecting the scanning electrodes so as to form a pixel at each intersection of the scanning and data electrodes, said scanning electrodes and said data electrodes respectively being in the form of stripes and extending perpendicular to each other;
• a liquid crystal layer disposed between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes such that a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer at each pixel between a pair formed by one of the scanning electrodes and one of the data electrodes;
• a plurality of third electrodes disposed at each pixel, wherein the third electrodes are capacitively coupled in series to each other, and wherein one of the third electrodes is capacitively coupled or electrically directly coupled to the associated scanning electrode as to form a plurality of controlled capacitances connected in series, each capacitance being between an adjacent pair of the third electrodes, and so that stepwise different voltages are applied across the liquid crystal layer between the third electrodes and an opposite one of the data electrodes;
• and
• a plurality of auxiliary electrodes each disposed between an adjacent pair of the scanning electrodes, wherein a plurality of the third electrodes are disposed between an adjacent pair of a scanning electrode and an auxiliary electrode to receive stepwise different voltages formed by capacitively dividing a potential difference between the scanning electrode and the auxiliary electrode,
• wherein each adjacent pair of the third electrodes is disposed at different spacings from the liquid crystal layer and the third electrodes constituting respective adjacent pairs partially overlap each other with an insulating film therebetween so as to provide one of the capacitances at an overlapping portion.

A liquid crystal apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of data electrodes, wherein the data electrodes are spaced from and disposed opposite to and intersecting the scanning electrodes so as to form a pixel at each intersection of the scanning and data electrodes, said scanning electrodes and said data electrodes respectively being in the form of stripes and extending perpendicular to each other;
• a liquid crystal layer disposed between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes such that a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer at each pixel between a pair formed by one of the scanning electrodes and one of the data electrodes;
• a plurality of third electrodes disposed at each pixel, wherein the third electrodes are capacitively coupled in series to each other, and wherein one of the third electrodes is capacitively coupled or electrically directly coupled to the associated scanning electrode as to form a plurality of controlled capacitances connected in series, each capacitance being between an adjacent pair of the third electrodes, and so that stepwise different voltages are applied across the liquid crystal layer between the third electrodes and an opposite one of the data electrodes;
• and
• a plurality of auxiliary electrodes each disposed between an adjacent pair of the scanning electrodes, wherein a plurality of the third electrodes are disposed between an adjacent pair of a scanning electrode and an auxiliary electrode to receive stepwise different voltages formed by capacitively dividing a potential difference between the scanning electrode and the auxiliary electrode,
• wherein said plurality of third electrodes are disposed in a same plane with a minute gap between each adjacent pair of the third electrodes, said minute gap determining one of the capacitances between the adjacent pair of third electrodes.