Liquid crystal display device and method for producing the same

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

• a first substrate;
• a second substrate;
• a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate;
• voltage application means for applying a voltage across the liquid crystal layer;
• a plurality of picture elements each including the liquid crystal layer whose orientation changes according to the voltage applied by the voltage application means, wherein:
• the liquid crystal layer in each of the plurality of picture elements includes, at least in a presence of an applied voltage, a 4-divided domain including a first sub-domain, a second sub-domain, a third sub-domain and a fourth sub-domain which are arranged in this order in a predetermined direction and in each of which an orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules located in a vicinity of a center of the liquid crystal layer in the thickness direction is different from those of the other sub-domains;
• for each 4-divided domain, the first substrate includes two first regions each having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in a first direction and a second region provided between the two first regions and having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, while the second substrate includes a third region having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules in a third direction that crosses and is not parallel to the first direction and a fourth region having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules in a fourth direction that is opposite to the third direction;
• and
• the first sub-domain is formed between one of the two first regions and the third region, the second sub-domain is formed between the second region and the third region, the third sub-domain is formed between the second region and the fourth region, and the fourth sub-domain is formed between the other one of the two first regions and the fourth region, the method comprising the steps of:
• injecting a liquid crystal material into a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate;
• and
• after the injection step, holding the liquid crystal material at a temperature equal to or greater than a Tni point of the liquid crystal material for a predetermined amount of time or longer and then cooling the liquid crystal material to normal temperature.

A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

• a first substrate;
• a second substrate;
• a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate;
• voltage application means for applying a voltage across the liquid crystal layer;
• a plurality of picture elements each including the liquid crystal layer whose orientation changes according to the voltage applied by the voltage application means, wherein:
• the liquid crystal layer in at least one of the plurality of picture elements includes, at least in a presence of an applied voltage, a 4-divided domain including a first sub-domain, a second sub-domain, a third sub-domain and a fourth sub-domain which are arranged in this order in a predetermined direction and in each of which an orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules located in a vicinity of a center of the liquid crystal layer in the thickness direction is different from those of the other sub-domains;
• for the 4-divided domain, the first substrate includes two first regions each having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in a first direction and a second region provided between the two first regions and having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, while the second substrate includes a third region having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules in a third direction that crosses and is not parallel to the first direction and a fourth region having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules in a fourth direction that is opposite to the third direction;
• and
• the first sub-domain is formed between one of the two first regions and the third region, the second sub-domain is formed between the second region and the third region, the third sub-domain is formed between the second region and the fourth region, and the fourth sub-domain is formed between the other one of the two first regions and the fourth region.

A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

• a first substrate;
• a second substrate;
• a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate;
• voltage application means for applying a voltage across the liquid crystal layer;
• a plurality of picture elements each including the liquid crystal layer whose orientation changes according to the voltage applied by the voltage application means, wherein:
• the liquid crystal layer in each of the plurality of picture elements includes, at least in a presence of an applied voltage, a 4-divided domain including a first sub-domain, a second sub-domain, a third sub-domain and a fourth sub-domain which are arranged in this order in a predetermined direction and in each of which an orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules located in a vicinity of a center of the liquid crystal layer in the thickness direction is different from those of the other sub-domains;
• for each 4-divided domain, the first substrate includes two first regions each having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in a first direction and a second region provided between the two first regions and having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, while the second substrate includes a third region having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules in a third direction that crosses and is not parallel to the first direction and a fourth region having an orientation-regulating force for orienting the liquid crystal molecules in a fourth direction that is opposite to the third direction;
• the first region, the second region, the third region and the fourth region constitute orientation-regulating regions;
• a division line is formed between the different orientation-regulating regions adjacent to each other;
• and
• the division line formed on one substrate of the first substrate and the second substrate is located so as to oppose one orientation-regulating region formed on the other substrate of the first substrate and the second substrate.