Liquid crystal display and electronic device having same

Abstract

There is provided a CPA-type liquid crystal display device in which deterioration in display quality due to application of stress to a liquid crystal panel is suppressed. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer of a vertical-alignment type provided therebetween. In each picture element region, a first electrode provided on a side of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer includes a solid portion formed of an electrically-conductive film and a non-solid portion in which no electrically-conductive film is formed. The solid portion includes a plurality of unit solid portions each of which is substantially surrounded by the non-solid portion, the plurality of unit solid portions being arranged at least along a first direction. When a voltage is applied, with an oblique electric field generated at an edge of the non-solid portion, the liquid crystal layer within the picture element region forms a liquid crystal domain on each unit solid portion, the liquid crystal domain taking a radially-inclined orientation. The length of the unit solid portion along the first direction is 70 μm or less.

1 . A liquid crystal display device comprising:
 a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer of a vertical-alignment type provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and   a picture element region defined by a first electrode provided on a side of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on the second substrate and opposing the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer, wherein,   the picture element region includes a transmission region in which transmission-mode display is performed by using light entering through the first substrate;   in the picture element region, the first electrode includes a solid portion formed of an electrically-conductive film and a non-solid portion in which no electrically-conductive film is formed, the solid portion including a plurality of unit solid portions each of which is substantially surrounded by the non-solid portion, the plurality of unit solid portions being arranged at least along a first direction;   when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, with an oblique electric field generated at an edge of the non-solid portion, the liquid crystal layer forms a liquid crystal domain on each of the plurality of unit solid portions, the liquid crystal domain taking a radially-inclined orientation; and   the plurality of unit solid portions include at least one unit solid portion located in the transmission region, and a length of the unit solid portion located in the transmission region, along the first direction, is 70 μm or less.   
   
   
       2 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 1 , wherein an interval of the plurality of unit solid portions along the first direction is 8.0 μm or more. 
   
   
       3 . A liquid crystal display device comprising:
 a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer of a vertical-alignment type provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and   a picture element region defined by a first electrode provided on a side of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on the second substrate and opposing the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer, wherein,   the picture element region includes a transmission region in which transmission-mode display is performed by using light entering through the first substrate;   in the picture element region, the first electrode includes a solid portion formed of an electrically-conductive film and a non-solid portion in which no electrically-conductive film is formed, the solid portion including a plurality of unit solid portions each of which is substantially surrounded by the non-solid portion;   when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, with an oblique electric field generated at an edge of the non-solid portion, the liquid crystal layer forms a liquid crystal domain on each of the plurality of unit solid portions, the liquid crystal domain taking a radially-inclined orientation; and   the plurality of unit solid portions are arranged at least along a first direction, and an interval of the plurality of unit solid portions along the first direction is 8.0 μm or more.   
   
   
       4 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 2 , wherein the interval of the plurality of unit solid portions along the first direction is 8.5 μm or more. 
   
   
       5 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 1 , wherein the second substrate includes a protrusion provided in a region corresponding to a vicinity of a center of the liquid crystal domain formed in the transmission region, and a ratio H/D of a height H of the protrusion to a thickness D of the liquid crystal layer is 0.42 or more. 
   
   
       6 . A liquid crystal display device comprising:
 a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer of a vertical-alignment type provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and   a picture element region defined by a first electrode provided on a side of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on the second substrate and opposing the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer, wherein,   the picture element region includes a transmission region in which transmission-mode display is performed by using light entering through the first substrate;   in the picture element region, the first electrode includes a solid portion formed of an electrically-conductive film and a non-solid portion in which no electrically-conductive film is formed, the solid portion including a plurality of unit solid portions each of which is substantially surrounded by the non-solid portion, the plurality of unit solid portions being arranged at least along a first direction;   when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, with an oblique electric field generated at an edge of the non-solid portion, the liquid crystal layer forms a liquid crystal domain on each of the plurality of unit solid portions, the liquid crystal domain taking a radially-inclined orientation; and   the second substrate includes a protrusion provided in a region corresponding to a vicinity of a center of the liquid crystal domain formed in the transmission region, and a ratio H/D of a height H of the protrusion to a thickness D of the liquid crystal layer is 0.42 or more.   
   
   
       7 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 5 , wherein the ratio H/D of a height H of the protrusion to a thickness D of the liquid crystal layer is 0.47 or more. 
   
   
       8 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio H/D of a height H of the protrusion to a thickness D of the liquid crystal layer is 0.53 or more. 
   
   
       9 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 1 , wherein the solid portion of the first electrode includes at least one connecting portion connecting between two adjoining unit solid portions among the plurality of unit solid portions. 
   
   
       10 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one connecting portion includes a connecting portion connecting between, among the plurality of unit solid portions, those unit solid portions which adjoin each other along the first direction. 
   
   
       11 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 1 , wherein the picture element region further includes a reflection region in which reflection-mode display is performed by using light entering through the second substrate. 
   
   
       12 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 1 , wherein the orientation of the liquid crystal domain and an orientation of a region of the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the non-solid portion are continuous with each other. 
   
   
       13 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of unit solid portions is of a shape having rotational symmetry. 
   
   
       14 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of unit solid portions is of a generally rectangular shape. 
   
   
       15 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of unit solid portions is of a generally rectangular shape having generally arc-shaped corners. 
   
   
       16 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of unit solid portions are arranged also along a second direction intersecting the first direction. 
   
   
       17 . The liquid crystal display device of  claim 16 , wherein the non-solid portion has at least one opening which is substantially surrounded by the solid portion, and when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, the liquid crystal layer forms a liquid crystal domain also in a region of the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the opening, the liquid crystal domain taking a radially-inclined orientation. 
   
   
       18 . The electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal display device of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       19 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 18 , which is a mobile electronic apparatus. 
   
   
       20 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 18  not comprising a protective plate on a viewer's side of the second substrate.