Liquid crystal display device and method for producing the same

A method for producing a liquid crystal display device, comprising the steps of:

• providing two parallel, spaced-apart substrates;
• forming alignment layers on the opposing surfaces of the substrates which cover the electrodes, the alignment layers on the substrates aligning liquid crystal molecules horizontally with respect to the substrates so as to cover the electrodes;
• forming a vertical orientation area extending between the alignment layers and aligning liquid crystal molecules vertically with respect to the substrates in a prescriber portion of at least one of the alignment layers, including radiating an energy beam selected from the group consisting of an electron beam, an ion beam and an X-ray to the prescribed portion, the vertical orientation area having a shape selected from the group consisting of a shape around which liquid crystal molecules radially or tangentially orient, a curved line, and a combination of a curved line and a straight line;
• and
• forming a layer of liquid crystal including the liquid crystal molecules between the alignment layers formed on the opposing substrates.

A method for producing a liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of:

• forming two parallel, spaced-apart substrates;
• forming electrodes on opposing surfaces of the two substrates;
• forming alignment layers on the opposing surfaces of the substrates which cover the electrodes, the alignment layers aligning liquid crystal molecules horizontally with respect to the substrates;
• forming a layer of liquid crystal including the liquid crystal molecules between the alignment layers formed on the opposing substrates;
• forming at least one vertical orientation area for each pixel extending between the alignment layers and aligning the liquid crystal molecules vertically with respect to the substrates in a prescribed portion of at least one of the alignment layers, the prescribed portion being less than an entire surface area of the at least one alignment layer corresponding to each pixel,
• wherein the vertical orientation area has a shape around which liquid crystal molecules radially or tangentially orient and is located at or near the center of each pixel.

A method for producing a liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of:

• forming two parallel, spaced-apart substrates;
• forming electrodes on opposing surfaces of the two substrates;
• forming alignment layers on the opposing surfaces of the substrates which cover the electrodes, the alignment layers aligning liquid crystal molecules horizontally with respect to the substrates;
• forcing a layer of liquid crystal including the liquid crystal molecules between the alignment layers formed on the opposing substrates;
• forming at least one vertical orientation area for each pixel extending between the alignment layers and aligning the liquid crystal molecules vertically with respect to the substrates in a prescribed portion of at least one of the alignment layers, the prescribed portion being less than an entire surface area of the at least one alignment layer corresponding to each pixel,
• forming a plurality of vertical orientation areas for each pixel in corresponding, non-overlapping prescribed portions of at least one of the alignment layers, each prescribed, non-overlapping portions being less than an entire surface area of the at least one alignment layer, each vertical orientation area aligning some of the liquid crystal molecules vertically with respect to the substrates.