Liquid crystal display device operating in a vertically aligned mode

A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

• first and second substrates opposing each other in a substantially parallel relationship;
• a first electrode provided on a first principal surface of said first substrate, said first principal surface facing said second substrate;
• a second electrode provided on a second principal surface of said second substrate, said second principal surface facing said first substrate;
• a first molecular alignment film provided on said first principal surface of said first substrate so as to cover said first electrode;
• a second molecular alignment film provided on said second principal surface of said second substrate so as to cover said second electrode;
• and
• a liquid crystal layer confined between said first and second substrates, said liquid containing therein n-type liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric anisotropy, said liquid crystal layer having a retardation of 80 nm or more but not exceeding 400 nm;
• said first and second substrates forming a liquid crystal panel together with said liquid crystal layer intervening therebetween,
• said liquid crystal display device further including a first polarizer having a first optical absorption axis and a second polarizer having a second optical absorption axis, respectively at a first side and a second side of said liquid crystal panel,
• said liquid crystal display device further including, in at least one of a first gap formed between said first substrate and said first polarizer and a second gap formed between said second substrate and said second polarizer, an optically biaxial retardation layer, said optically biaxial retardation layer having a refractive index in a direction perpendicular to said first and second substrates such that said refractive index is smaller than refractive indices of said optically biaxial retardation layer in any other direction.

A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

• a liquid crystal panel, said liquid crystal panel comprising:
• first and second substrates opposing each other in a substantially parallel relationship;
• a first electrode provided on a first principal surface of said first substrate, said first principal surface facing said second substrate;
• a second electrode provided on a second principal surface of said second substrate, said second principal surface facing said first substrate;
• a first molecular alignment film provided on said first principal surface of said first substrate so as to cover said first electrode;
• a second molecular alignment film provided on said second principal surface of said second substrate so as to cover said second electrode;
• and a liquid crystal layer confined between said first and second substrates, said liquid crystal layer containing therein liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric anisotropy;
• a first polarizer disposed at a first side of said liquid crystal panel;
• and
• a second polarizer disposed at a second, opposite side of said liquid crystal panel;
• wherein said liquid crystal display device further comprises first and second retardation layers disposed in one of a first gap formed between said liquid crystal panel and said first polarizer and a second gap formed between said liquid crystal panel and said second polarizer, said first and second retardation layers having a positive optical anisotropy and a negative optical anisotropy respectively, and
• wherein said first retardation layer is disposed closer to said liquid crystal panel than said second retardation layer.

A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

• a liquid crystal panel, said liquid crystal display panel comprising:
• first and second substrates opposing each other in a substantially parallel relationship;
• a first electrode provided on a first principal surface of said first substrate, said first principal surface facing said second substrate;
• a second electrode provided on a second principal surface of said second substrate, said second principal surface facing said first substrate;
• a first molecular alignment film provided on said first principal surface of said first substrate so as to cover said first electrode;
• a second molecular alignment film provided on said second principal surface of said second substrate so as to cover said second electrode;
• and a liquid crystal layer confined between said first and second substrates, said liquid crystal layer containing therein liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric anisotropy;
• a first polarizer disposed at a first side of said liquid crystal panel;
• and
• a second polarizer disposed at a second, opposite side of said liquid crystal panel;
• wherein said liquid crystal layer has a retardation .DELTA.n.multidot.d of 80 nm or more but not exceeding 300 nm and satisfying a relationship
• .psi./549.ltoreq..DELTA.n.multidot.d.ltoreq.(225+.psi.)/549
• where .psi. is a twist angle of the liquid crystal molecules.