Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a substrate, an overcoat layer disposed on the substrate, and a pixel electrode disposed on the overcoat layer. The pixel electrode includes a stem electrode and a plurality of branch electrodes. The stem electrode extends in a first direction and in a second direction crossing the first direction to have a cross shape, and the plurality of branch electrodes extends from the stem electrode obliquely to the first direction and the second direction. The overcoat layer includes a base layer and a plurality of ridge patterns which protrude from a surface of the base layer. The plurality of ridge patterns extends in a different direction from the direction in which the plurality of branch electrodes extends.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid crystal display (LCD), comprising:
 a first substrate;   a pixel electrode disposed on the first substrate;   a second substrate facing the first substrate;   an overcoat layer disposed on a surface of the second substrate which faces the first substrate;   a plurality of ridge patterns disposed on the overcoat layer and protruding from a surface of the overcoat layer toward the first substrate;   a common electrode disposed on the overcoat layer; and   a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate,   wherein the overcoat layer comprises a base layer and the ridge patterns protrude from a surface of the base layer toward the first substrate, and   wherein the common electrode is formed conformally along a surface of the overcoat layer.   
     
     
         2 . The LCD of  claim 1 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises a stem electrode, which extends in a first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to have a cross shape, a plurality of branch electrodes, which extends from the stem electrode obliquely to the first direction and the second direction, and a slit, which is an opening between neighboring branch electrodes of the plurality of branch electrodes, and
 wherein the common electrode is shaped like a plate.   
     
     
         3 . The LCD of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of ridge patterns extends in the second direction. 
     
     
         4 . A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD), comprising:
 forming an overcoat layer and a contact hole on a substrate, the overcoat layer comprising a plurality of ridge patterns and a base layer; and   forming a pixel electrode on the overcoat layer,   wherein the forming of the overcoat layer and the contact hole comprises:   forming an organic composition layer by coating an organic composition on the substrate;   exposing and developing the organic composition layer; and   etching the organic composition layer,   wherein the organic composition layer has a first thickness corresponding to a thickness of the base layer in a first region, a second thickness corresponding to a thickness of at least one of the plurality of ridge patterns in a second region, and an opening corresponding to the contact hole, and   wherein the contact hole passes through the organic composition layer.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein in the exposing and developing of the organic composition layer, the organic composition layer is exposed to light by using a mask, the mask having a first transmittance in an area overlapping the plurality of ridge patterns, a second transmittance in an area overlapping the contact hole, and a third transmittance in an area that does not overlap the plurality of ridge patterns and the contact hole, wherein the first, second and third transmittances are different from each other.