Liquid crystal display device operable in a vertically aligned mode in which the liquid crystal molecules tilt in the third domain and in a direction perpendicular to both of the first and second direction when the driving in active state

A method of fabricating a vertically aligned mode liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer confined between first and second substrates, said liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules aligning in a direction generally perpendicular to a principal surface of said first substrate when no substantial electric field is applied to said liquid crystal layer;

• said liquid crystal layer including:
• a first domain in which said liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a first direction upon application of a driving electric field across said liquid crystal layer;
• a second domain in which said liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a second, opposite direction upon application of said driving electric field across said liquid crystal layer;
• and a third domain extending between said first and second domains in the form of a band;
• said liquid crystal molecules tilting, in said third domain, in a direction perpendicular to both of said first and second directions when said driving electric field is applied across said liquid crystal layer, said method comprising the steps of:
• (A) forming a first rubbing region and a second rubbing region on a first molecular alignment film provided on said first substrate, such that said first and second rubbing regions extend in the form of parallel bands in which said first and second rubbing regions are repeated alternately, and such that a first rubbing direction in said first rubbing region and a second rubbing direction in said second rubbing region are opposite to each other;
• (B) forming a third rubbing region and a fourth rubbing region on a second molecular alignment film provided on said second substrate, such that said third and fourth rubbing regions extend in the form of parallel bands, such that said third and fourth rubbing regions are repeated alternately, and such that a third rubbing direction in said third rubbing region and a fourth rubbing direction in said fourth rubbing region are opposite from each other;
• and
• (C) assembling said first and second substrates together, such that said first molecular alignment film on said first substrate and said second molecular alignment film on said second substrate face each other, such that said first rubbing region and said third rubbing region generally overlap each other when viewed in a direction perpendicular to said first substrate, and such that said first rubbing direction and said third rubbing direction oppose each other;
• wherein said step (C) includes a step of assembling said first and second substrates such that said first rubbing region and said fourth rubbing region overlap partially when viewed in said direction perpendicular to said first substrate.

A method of fabricating a vertically aligned mode liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer confined between first and second substrates, said liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules aligning in a direction generally perpendicular to a principal surface of said first substrate when no substantial electric field is applied to said liquid crystal layer;

• said liquid crystal layer including:
• a first domain in which said liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a first direction upon application of a driving electric field across said liquid crystal layer;
• a second domain in which said liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a second, opposite direction upon application of said driving electric field across said liquid crystal layer;
• and a third domain extending between said first and second domains in the form of a band;
• said liquid crystal molecules tilting, in said third domain, in a direction perpendicular to both of said first and second directions when said driving electric field is applied across said liquid crystal layer, said method comprising the steps of:
• (A) forming a first rubbing region and a second rubbing region in a first molecular alignment film provided on said first substrate alternately in the form of parallel bands, said first molecular alignment film being rubbed in a first direction, such that said first rubbing region causes a tilting in said liquid crystal molecules adjacent to said first rubbing region with a first pre-tilt angle and such that said second rubbing region causes a tilting in said liquid crystal molecules adjacent to said second rubbing region with a second pre-tilt angle;
• (B) forming a third rubbing region and a fourth rubbing region in a second molecular alignment film provided on said second substrate alternately in the form of parallel bands, said second molecular alignment film being rubbed in a second direction opposite to said first direction, such that said third rubbing region causes a tilting in said liquid crystal molecules adjacent to said third rubbing region with a third pre-tilt angle and such that said fourth rubbing region causes a tilting in said liquid crystal molecules adjacent to said fourth rubbing region with a fourth pre-tilt angle, said fourth pre-tilt angle being smaller than said first pre-tilt angle, said second pre-tilt angle being smaller than said third pre-tilt angle;
• (C) assembling said first and second substrates such that said first and second molecular alignment films face each other and such that said first rubbing region and said fourth rubbing region generally overlap with each other when viewed in a direction perpendicularly to a principal surface of said first substrate;
• wherein said step (C) is conducted such that said first rubbing region and said third rubbing region overlap partially when viewed in said direction perpendicular to said principal surface of said first substrate.