Liquid crystal display device operating in a vertically aligned mode including at least one retardation film

A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

• first and second substrates disposed substantially parallel to each other, said first substrate having a first principal surface at a side thereof facing said second substrate, said second substrate having a second principal surface at a side thereof facing said first substrate;
• a first electrode pattern provided on said first principal surface of said first substrate;
• a second electrode pattern provided on said second principal surface of said second substrate;
• a first molecular orientation film disposed on said first principal surface of said first substrate so as to cover said first electrode pattern;
• a second molecular orientation film disposed on said second principal surface of said second substrate so as to cover said second electrode pattern;
• and
• a liquid crystal layer confined between said first and second molecular orientation films;
• said liquid crystal layer containing liquid molecules such that a major axis of said liquid crystal molecule aligns generally perpendicularly to at least one of said first and second principal surfaces in a state in which no substantial electric field is applied to said liquid crystal layer;
• said liquid crystal layer having a retardation of about 80 nm or more but below about 400 nm;
• wherein said liquid crystal display device further includes, at least in 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, a first retardation film having a positive optical anisotropy and a second retardation film having a negative optical anisotropy, such that said second retardation film is located further from said liquid crystal layer than said first retardation film.

A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

• first and second substrates disposed substantially parallel to each other, said first substrate having a first principal surface at a side thereof facing said second substrate, said second substrate having a second principal surface at a side thereof facing said first substrate;
• a first electrode pattern provided on said first principal surface of said first substrate;
• a second electrode pattern provided on said second principal surface of said second substrate;
• a first molecular orientation film disposed on said first principal surface of said first substrate so as to cover said first electrode pattern;
• a second molecular orientation film disposed on said second principal surface of said second substrate so as to cover said second electrode pattern;
• and
• a liquid crystal layer confined between said first and second molecular orientation films;
• said liquid crystal layer containing liquid molecules such that a major axis of said liquid crystal molecule aligns generally perpendicularly to at least one of said first and second principal surfaces in a state in which no substantial electric field is applied to said liquid crystal layer;
• wherein said liquid crystal display device further includes, at least in 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, a first retardation film having a positive optical anisotropy and a second retardation film having a negative optical anisotropy, such that said second retardation film is located further from said liquid crystal layer than said first retardation film.