Domain divided liquid crystal display panels having alternately rubbed pixel areas and methods of fabrication therefor

A method of forming a panel for a liquid crystal display, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming a first alignment layer on a surface of a substrate having a plurality of pixel areas defined thereon, the first alignment layer providing a first pretilt angle for a liquid crystal material;
• forming a plurality of spaced apart second alignment regions on the first alignment layer, the second alignment regions providing a second pretilt angle for the liquid crystal material, a respective pair of the spaced apart second alignment regions defining an exposed portion of the first alignment layer disposed therebetween;
• and
• forming grooves in portions of the first alignment layer and the second alignment regions covering pixel areas of the substrate in respective first and second directions for respective adjacent ones of the pixel areas;
• wherein said step of forming a plurality of spaced apart second alignment regions comprises the steps of:
• forming a second alignment layer on the first alignment layer, the second alignment layer providing a second pretilt angle for the liquid crystal material:
• and
• patterning the second alignment layer to form the plurality of spaced apart second alignment regions such that a portion of a respective one of the pixel areas is partially covered by one of the second alignment regions, and a portion of the first alignment layer is exposed between a respective pair of the second alignment regions.