Liquid crystal display cell

A liquid crystal display cell comprising:

• first and second substrates opposed to each other;
• an array of pixel electrodes overlying said first substrate, each of said pixel electrodes defining a pixel area and having an active element for applying a voltage to said pixel electrode;
• at least one counter electrode overlying said second substrate and opposing said array of pixel electrodes;
• a first and a second orientation film overlying said pixel electrode and said counter electrode, respectively;
• a plurality of gate bus lines each for supplying a signal to the active elements corresponding to a row of said pixel electrodes and a plurality of drain bus lines each for supplying a voltage to the active elements corresponding to a column of said pixel electrodes;
• and
• a liquid crystal interposed between said first orientation film and said second orientation film, at least one of said first orientation film and said second orientation film being subjected to a divided orientation alignment to divide said pixel area at a boundary into a first area and a second area, said first area and said second area defining a first domain and a second domain, respectively, for said liquid crystal,
• wherein said pixel electrode has a cut-away portion aligned with the boundary between said first area and said second area.

A liquid crystal display cell comprising:

• first and second substrates opposed to each other;
• an array of pixel electrodes overlying said first substrate, each of said pixel electrodes defining a pixel area and having an active element for applying a voltage to said pixel electrode;
• at least one counter electrode overlying said second substrate and opposing said array of pixel electrodes;
• a first and a second orientation film overlying said pixel electrode and said counter electrode, respectively;
• a plurality of gate bus lines each for supplying a signal to the active elements corresponding to a row of said pixel electrodes and a plurality of drain bus lines each for supplying a voltage to the active elements corresponding to a column of said pixel electrodes;
• and
• a liquid crystal interposed between said first orientation film and said second orientation film, at least one of said first orientation film and said second orientation film being subjected to a divided orientation alignment to divide said pixel area at a boundary into a first area and a second area, said first area and said second area defining a first domain and a second domain, respectively, for said liquid crystal,
• wherein each of said pixel electrodes has an offset at said boundary in a direction of said boundary whereby a gap between said each pixel electrode and an adjacent one of said drain lines is different on either side of said boundary.

A liquid crystal display cell comprising:

• first and second substrates opposed to each other;
• an array of pixel electrodes overlying said first substrate, each of said pixel electrodes defining a pixel area and having an active element for applying a voltage to said pixel electrode;
• at least one counter electrode overlying said second substrate and opposing said array of pixel electrodes;
• a plurality of gate bus lines each for supplying a signal to the active elements corresponding to a row of said pixel electrodes and a plurality of drain bus lines each for supplying a voltage to the active elements corresponding to a column of said pixel electrodes;
• a first and a second orientation film overlying said first and second substrates, respectively;
• a liquid crystal interposed between said first orientation film and said second orientation film;
• and
• a storage capacitor electrode connected to an edge portion of one of said pixel electrodes, said storage capacitor electrode opposing one of said gate bus lines, with an insulator layer interposed therebetween, to form a storage capacitor, at least a part of an edge of said storage capacitor electrode extending in a first direction different from a direction that is parallel or perpendicular to a second direction in which said gate bus lines extend,
• wherein a first angle between said first direction and a third direction defined by a projection of longer axes of molecules of said liquid crystal in a vicinity of said first substrate on said first substrate is larger than a second angle between said second direction and said third direction.

A liquid crystal display cell comprising:

• first and second substrates opposed to each other;
• an array of pixel electrodes overlying said first substrate, each of said pixel electrodes defining a pixel area and having an active element for applying a voltage to said pixel electrode;
• at least one counter electrode overlying said second substrate and opposing said array of pixel electrodes;
• a plurality of gate bus lines each for supplying a signal to the active elements corresponding to a row of said pixel electrodes and a plurality of drain bus lines each for supplying a voltage to the active elements corresponding to a column of said pixel electrodes;
• a first and a second orientation film overlying said first and second substrates, respectively;
• a liquid crystal interposed between said first orientation film and said second orientation film;
• and
• a storage capacitor electrode connected to an edge portion of one of said pixel electrodes, said storage capacitor electrode opposing one of said gate bus lines, with an insulator layer interposed therebetween, to form a storage capacitor, at least a part of an edge of said storage capacitor electrode extending in a first direction different from a direction that is parallel or perpendicular to a second direction in which said gate bus lines extend,
• wherein said part of said edge of said storage capacitor electrode is implemented as one of a curve and a straight line, and
• wherein at least one of said first and second orientation films has a plurality of minute areas in each of said pixel areas subjected to divided orientation alignment to provide different orientations to said liquid crystal in a plurality of minute domains corresponding to said minute areas.

A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display cell comprising first and second substrates opposed to each other, an array of pixel electrodes overlying said first substrate and each defining a pixel area and a counter electrode overlying said second substrate and opposing said array of said pixel electrodes, first and second orientation films overlying said first and second substrates, respectively a liquid crystal disposed between said first orientation film and said second orientation film, said method consecutively including the steps of:

• rubbing at least one of said first and second orientation films;
• forming a photoresist film on said at least one of said first and second orientation films;
• patterning said photoresist film into a photoresist pattern by photolithography, said photoresist pattern defining in each of said pixel areas a first area for masking and a second area for exposing;
• removing said photoresist pattern by an etching solution, before carrying out another step of rubbing;
• and
• fabricating said first substrate, said second substrate and said liquid crystal to form said liquid crystal cell in which said first area provides a first pre-tilt angle to said liquid crystal in a vicinity of said first area, said second area providing a second pre-tilt angle to said liquid crystal in a vicinity of said second area.