DISPLAY SUBSTRATE AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING THE SAME

Abstract

A display substrate includes a base substrate having a plurality of pixel areas and a pixel electrode in a pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas. The pixel electrode a first stem portion extending in a first direction, a second stem portion extending from the first stem portion in a second direction that intersects the first direction, a plurality of branch portions diagonally extending from at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion, and a bent portion extending from at least one of the plurality of branch portions.

Claims

1. A display substrate, comprising: a base substrate having a plurality of pixel areas; and a pixel electrode in a pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas, wherein the pixel electrode includes: a first stem portion extending in a first direction; a second stem portion extending from the first stem portion in a second direction that intersects the first direction; a plurality of branch portions diagonally extending from at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion; and a bent portion extending from at least one of the plurality of branch portions.

2. The display substrate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bent portion is substantially parallel to at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion.

3. The display substrate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bent portion is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the branch portions by a distance ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

4. The display substrate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first stem portion and the second stem portion form a cross shape.

5. The display substrate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first stem portion protrudes in the first direction from the second stem portion.

6. The display substrate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pixel electrode further includes: a connecting portion extending from at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion and protruding beyond the branch portions in the first direction or the second direction; and an edge bar intersecting the connecting portion.

7. The display substrate as claimed in claim 6, wherein the connecting portion has a length ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

8. The display substrate as claimed in claim 6, wherein the edge bar is substantially parallel to at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion.

9. The display substrate as claimed in claim 8, wherein the edge bar is substantially parallel to the bent portion.

10. The display substrate as claimed in claim 6, wherein the edge bar is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the bent portions at a distance ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

11. The display substrate as claimed in claim 10, wherein a distance between the bent portion and the branch portion is the same as a distance between the edge bar and the bent portion.

12. A display substrate, comprising: a base substrate having a plurality of pixel areas; and a pixel electrode in a pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas, wherein the pixel electrode includes: a first stem portion extending in a first direction; a second stem portion extending from the first stem portion in a second direction that intersects the first direction; a plurality of branch portions diagonally extending from at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion; a connecting portion extending from at least one of the first stem portion and the second stern portion and protruding farther than the branch portions in the first direction or the second direction; and an edge bar intersecting the connecting portion.

13. The display substrate as claimed in claim 12, wherein the edge bar is substantially parallel to at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion.

14. The display substrate as claimed in claim 12, wherein the edge bar is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the branch portions at a distance ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

15. A liquid crystal display device, comprising: a first substrate; an second substrate opposing the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first substrate includes: a base substrate having a plurality of pixel areas; and a pixel electrode in a pixel area of the pixel areas, and the pixel electrode includes: a first stem portion extending in a first direction; a second stem portion extending from the first stern portion in a second direction that intersects the first direction; a plurality of branch portions diagonally extending from at least one of the first stem portion and the second stern portion; and a bent portion extending from at least one of the plurality of branch portions.

16. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bent portion is substantially parallel to at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion.

17. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bent portion is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the branch portions at a distance ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

18. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pixel electrode further includes: a connecting portion extending from at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion and protruding farther than the branch portions in the first direction or the second direction; and an edge bar intersecting the connecting portion.

19. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the connecting portion has a length ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

20. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the edge bar is substantially parallel to at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion.

21. The liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the edge bar is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the bent portions at a distance ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

22. A liquid crystal display device, comprising: a first display substrate; an second substrate opposing the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first substrate includes: a base substrate having a plurality of pixel areas; and a pixel electrode in a pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas, and the pixel electrode includes: a first stem portion extending in a first direction; a second stem portion extending from the first stem portion in a second direction that intersects the first direction; a plurality of branch portions diagonally extending from at least one of the first stern portion and the second stem portion; a connecting portion extending from at least one of the first stem portion and the second stem portion and protruding farther than the branch portions in the first direction or the second direction; and an edge bar intersecting the connecting portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic plan view depicting an exemplary embodiment of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device;

[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view depicting an exemplary embodiment of a pixel electrode of FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view depicting an area “A” of FIG. 3;

[0032] FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate plan views depicting exemplary embodiments of a pixel electrode;

[0033] FIG. 9 illustrates a plan view depicting an exemplary embodiment of a pixel electrode;

[0034] FIG. 10 illustrates an enlarged view depicting an area “B” of FIG. 9;

[0035] FIG. 11 illustrates a plan view depicting an exemplary embodiment of a pixel electrode; and

[0036] FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged view depicting an area “C” of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey exemplary implementations to those skilled in the art.

[0038] In the drawing figures, the dimensions of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0039] “About” or “approximately” as used herein is inclusive of the stated value and means within an acceptable range of deviation for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, considering the measurement in question and the error associated with measurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system). For example, “about” can mean within one or more standard deviations, or within ±30%, 20%, 10%, 5% of the stated value.

[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic plan view depicting an exemplary embodiment of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1. An exemplary embodiment of an LCD device includes a plurality of pixels. For ease of description, FIG. 1 illustrates two pixels PX.sub.n and PX.sub.n+1 that are arranged in parallel to each other in a second direction D2. In FIG. 1, pixel electrodes PE.sub.n and PE.sub.n+i are depicted as having a longer length in a first direction D1 than a length thereof in a second direction D2. In some implementations, the length of the pixel electrodes PE.sub.n and PE.sub.n+1 in the first direction D1 may be less than the length thereof in the second direction D2.

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary embodiment of an LCD device includes a display substrate 100, an opposing substrate 200, and a liquid crystal layer 300 between the display substrate 100 and the opposing substrate 200. In addition, an exemplary embodiment of an LCD device may further include a backlight unit that provides light toward the display substrate 100.

[0042] The display substrate 100 may include a base substrate 110, a gate wiring GL.sub.n−1, GL.sub.n, GL.sub.n+1, and GE, a gate insulating layer 120, a semiconductor layer SM, a data wiring DL.sub.n, SE, and DE, an insulating interlayer 130, a passivation layer 140, pixel electrodes PE.sub.n and PE.sub.+i, and the like. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a thin film transistor (TFT) may include a gate electrode GE, the semiconductor layer SM, a source electrode SE, and a drain electrode DE.

[0043] The base substrate 110 may include a plurality of pixel areas PA arranged in a matrix form. The base substrate 110 may be an insulating substrate, e.g., a plastic substrate that has light transmitting characteristics and flexibility. In some implementations, the base substrate 110 may include a hard substrate such as a glass substrate.

[0044] The gate wiring GL.sub.n−1, GL.sub.n, GL.sub.n+1, and GE may be disposed on the base substrate 110.

[0045] The gate wiring GL.sub.n−1, GL.sub.n, GL.sub.n+1, and GE may include gate lines GL.sub.n−-1, GL.sub.n, and GL.sub.n+1 extending in the first direction D1 and a gate electrode GE branching off from the gate lines GL.sub.n−1, GL.sub.n, and GL.sub.n+1.

[0046] The gate wiring GL.sub.n−1, GL.sub.n, GL.sub.n+1, and GE may include various kinds of metals and conductors. For example, the gate wiring GL.sub.n−1, GL.sub.n, GL.sub.n+1, and GE may include or be formed of aluminum (Al) or an alloy thereof, silver (Ag) or an alloy thereof, copper (Cu) or an alloy thereof, molybdenum (Mo) or an alloy thereof, chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), and/or the like.

[0047] In some implementations, the gate wiring GL.sub.n−1, GL.sub.n, GL.sub.+1, and GE may have a multilayer structure including two or more conductive layers having different physical properties. For example, a conductive layer of the multilayer structure may include or be formed of a metal having low resistivity to reduce signal delay or voltage drop, e.g., an aluminum (Al)-based metal, a silver (Ag)-based metal, and a copper (Cu)-based metal. Another conductive layer of the multilayer structure may include a material that has an excellent contact property with indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO), e.g., a molybdenum-based metal, chromium, titanium, tantalum, or the like.

[0048] Examples of the multilayer structure may include a chromium lower layer and an aluminum upper layer, an aluminum lower layer and a molybdenum upper layer, a titanium lower layer and a copper upper layer. The gate wiring GL.sub.n−1, GL.sub.n, GL.sub.n+1, and GE may be simultaneously formed in a same process.

[0049] The gate insulating layer 120 may be disposed on the base substrate 110 on which the gate wiring GL.sub.n−1, GL.sub.n, GL.sub.n+1, and GE is disposed. The gate insulating layer 120 may include silicon oxide (SiO.sub.x) or silicon nitride (SiN.sub.x), as examples. In some implementations, the gate insulating layer 120 may further include aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, or zirconium oxide.

[0050] The semiconductor layer SM may be disposed on the gate insulating layer 120. The semiconductor layer SM may include or be formed of amorphous silicon or an oxide semiconductor including at least one selected from the group of gallium (Ga), indium (In), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn). In some implementations, an ohmic contact layer may be disposed on the semiconductor layer SM.

[0051] In FIG. 2, the semiconductor layer SM is depicted as substantially overlapping the gate electrode GE. In some implementations, the semiconductor layer SM may substantially overlap the data wiring DL.sub.n, SE, and DE to be described below.

[0052] The data wiring DL.sub.n, SE, and DE may be disposed on the base substrate 110 on which the semiconductor layer SM is disposed.

[0053] The data wiring DL.sub.n, SE, and DE may include a data line DL.sub.n extending in the second direction D2, which intersects the first direction D1, the source electrode SE branching off from the data line DL.sub.n to overlap the semiconductor layer SM, and the drain electrode DE spaced apart from the source electrode SE and overlapping the semiconductor layer SM. The data wiring DL.sub.n, SE, and DE may include the same material as that included in the gate wiring GL.sub.n−1, GL.sub.n, GL.sub.n+1, and GE. The data wiring DL.sub.n, SE, and DE may be simultaneously formed in a same process.

[0054] The insulating interlayer 130 may be disposed on the base substrate 110 on which the data wiring DL.sub.n, SE, and DE is disposed. The insulating interlayer 130 may have a monolayer structure or a multilayer structure including, for example, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, a photosensitive organic material, or a low dielectric constant insulating material such as a-Si:C:O or a-Si:O:F.

[0055] The passivation layer 140 may be disposed on the insulating interlayer 130. The passivation layer 140 may have a monolayer or multilayer structure including, for example, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, a photosensitive organic material, or a silicon-based low dielectric constant insulating material.

[0056] In some implementations, when a color filter on array (COA) structure is provided, a color filter may be provided in lieu of the passivation layer 140, or the color filter may be disposed between the insulating interlayer 130 and the passivation layer 140.

[0057] The pixel electrodes PE.sub.n and PE.sub.n+1 may be disposed on the passivation layer 140. The pixel electrodes PE.sub.n and PE.sub.n+1 may pass through the insulating interlayer 130 and the passivation layer 140 to be connected to the drain electrode DE.

[0058] The pixel electrodes PE.sub.n and PE.sub.n+1 may include or be formed of a transparent conductive material. For example, the pixel electrodes PE.sub.n and PE.sub.n+1 may include at least one selected from the group of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium tin zinc oxide (ITZO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), and amorphous indium tin oxide (a-ITO).

[0059] A lower alignment layer may be disposed on the pixel electrodes PE.sub.n and PE.sub.n+1. The lower alignment may be a homeotropic alignment layer or a photoalignment layer including a photopolymerizable material.

[0060] FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view depicting an exemplary embodiment of a pixel electrode of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view depicting an area “A” of FIG. 3.

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pixel electrode PE.sub.n may include a first stem portion HS extending in the first direction D1, a second stem portion VS extending from the first stem portion HS in the second direction D2, which intersects the first direction D1, a plurality of branch portions MB diagonally extending from at least one of the first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS, and a bent portion SB extending from at least one of the plurality of branch portions MB. The pixel electrode PE.sub.n may further include a connecting electrode CNE connected to the drain electrode DE.

[0062] The first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS may be disposed in a cross shape. In an exemplary embodiment, the first stem portion HS may have a shape protruding from the second stem portion VS.

[0063] In FIG. 3, the bent portion SB is depicted as extending parallel to the first stem portion HS. In some implementations, the bent portion SB may extend at a predetermined angle with respect to the first stem portion HS. In some implementations, the bent portion SB may extend parallel to the second stem portion VS.

[0064] In FIG. 3, the bent portion SB is depicted as having a shape bent outwardly with respect to the second stem portion VS. In some implementations, the bent portion SB may have a shape bent inwardly with respect to the second stem portion VS, or a shape bent inwardly or outwardly with respect to the first stem portion HS.

[0065] The number of the bent portions SB may vary based on the shape and size of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n. For example, in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is that every fourth branch portion MB has the bent portion SB A length L of the bent portion SB may vary based on the shape and size of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 4, the branch portions MB may have a spacing distance W1 from one another ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm. The bent portion SB may have a spacing distance W2 from an adjacent one of the branch portions MB ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

[0067] When at least one bent portion SB of the plurality of branch portions MB is bent along an edge of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n, an effect of a fringe field that externally exerts inwardly of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n may be significantly reduced. Accordingly, control over liquid crystals may be improved at the edge of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n, and the display quality of the LCD device may be improved.

[0068] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the opposing substrate 200 may include an opposing base substrate 210, a black matrix 220, a color filter 230, a common electrode CE, or the like.

[0069] The opposing base substrate 210 may be an insulating substrate, e.g., a plastic substrate, having light transmitting characteristics and flexibility. In some implementations, the opposing base substrate 210 may include a hard substrate such as a glass substrate.

[0070] The black matrix 220 may be disposed on the opposing base substrate 210. The black matrix 220 may form a black matrix on array (BOA) structure in which the black matric 220 as a light blocking member is disposed on the base substrate 110.

[0071] The black matrix 220 may include or be formed of a photosensitive composition. Examples of the photosensitive composition may include a binder resin, a polymerizable monomer, a polymerizable oligomer, a pigment, a dispersant, and a photoinitiator. The pigment may include a black pigment, a black resin, or the like.

[0072] The color filter 230 may be disposed on the black matrix 220.

[0073] The color filter 230 may be one selected from a red color filter, a green color filter, a blue color filter, a cyan color filter, a magenta color filter, a yellow color filter, and a white color filter. Three primary colors of red, green, and blue, or cyan, magenta, and yellow may define a basic pixel group for forming a color.

[0074] The common electrode CE may be disposed on the opposing base substrate 210 on which the color filter 230 is disposed. In some implementations, the common electrode CE may be disposed on the base substrate 110.

[0075] The common electrode CE may be in a form of a whole plate electrode including a transparent conductor such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO). In some implementations, the common electrode CE may include an uneven portion or at least one slit to define a plurality of domains.

[0076] An upper alignment layer may be disposed on the common electrode CE. The upper alignment layer may be a photoalignment layer including a homeotropic alignment layer or a photopolymerizable material.

[0077] FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate plan views depicting embodiments of a pixel electrode. Descriptions of common features with the pixel electrode described above will not be repeated.

[0078] Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, an a pixel electrode PE.sub.n may include a first stem portion HS extending in a first direction D1, a second stem portion VS extending from the first stem portion HS in a second direction D2 that intersects the first direction D1, a plurality of branch portions MB diagonally extending from at least one of the first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS, and a bent portion SB extending from at least one of the plurality of branch portions MB. In addition, the pixel electrode PE.sub.n may further include a connecting electrode CNE connected to a drain electrode DE.

[0079] The first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS may have a cross shape.

[0080] In some implementations, the bent portions SB may be bent outwardly with respect to the first stem portion HS and may extend parallel to the second stem portion VS (refer to FIG. 5). In some implementations, the bent portions SB may be bent outwardly with respect to the first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS and extend parallel to the second stem portion VS and the first stem portion HS, respectively (refer to FIG. 6).

[0081] In some implementations, the bent portions SB may be bent inwardly with respect to the first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS and extend parallel to the second stem portion VS and the first stem portion HS, respectively (refer to FIG. 7).

[0082] Referring to FIG. 8, a pixel electrode PE.sub.n may include a first stem portion HS extending in a first direction D1, a second stem portion VS extending from the first stem portion HS in a second direction D2 that intersects the first direction D1, a plurality of branch portions MB diagonally extending from at least one of the first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS, and a bent portion SB extending from at least one of the plurality of branch portions MB. In addition, the pixel electrode PE.sub.n may further include a connecting electrode CNE connected to a drain electrode DE. The second stem portion VS may extend from the first stem portion VS at one end of the pixel electrode, for example, at an end adjacent to the connecting electrode CNE. The first stem portion HS may protrude in the first direction D1 and some of the plurality of branch portions MB may protrude diagonally from one side of the second stem portion VS.

[0083] In FIG. 8, the bent portion SB is depicted as extending parallel to the first stem portion HS. In some implementations, the bent portion SB may extend at a predetermined angle with respect to the first stem portion HS. In some implementations, the bent portion SB may extend parallel to the second stem portion VS.

[0084] FIG. 9 illustrates a plan view depicting an embodiment of a pixel electrode, and FIG. 10 illustrates an enlarged view depicting an area “B” of FIG. 9. Descriptions of common features with the pixel electrode described above will not be repeated.

[0085] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a pixel electrode PE.sub.n may include a first stem portion HS extending in a first direction D1, a second stem portion VS extending from the first stem portion HS in a second direction D2 that intersects the first direction D1, a plurality of branch portions MB diagonally extending from at least one of the first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS, a connecting portion CB extending from an end of at least one of the first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS to protrude beyond the branch portion MB in the first direction D1 or the second direction D2, and an edge bar EB intersecting the connecting portion CB. The pixel electrode PE.sub.n may further include a connecting electrode CNE connected to a drain electrode DE.

[0086] In FIG. 9, the edge bar EB is depicted as extending parallel to the first stem portion HS. In some implementations, the edge bar EB may extend at a predetermined angle with respect to the first stem portion HS. In some implementations the edge bar EB may extend parallel to the second stem portion VS. The edge bar EB may have the same length as at least one of the first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 10, the connecting portion CB may have a length ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm. The edge bar EB may have a distance W3 from an adjacent one of the branch portions MB ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

[0088] As such, when the edge bar EB is disposed along an edge of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n, an effect of a fringe field that externally exerts inwardly of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n may be significantly reduced. Accordingly, control over liquid crystals may be improved at the edge of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n, and display quality of the LCD device may be improved.

[0089] FIG. 11 illustrates a plan view depicting an embodiment of a pixel electrode, and FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged view depicting an area “C” of FIG. 11. Descriptions of common features with the pixel electrode described above will not be repeated.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 11, a pixel electrode PE.sub.n may include a first stem portion HS extending in a first direction D1, a second stem portion VS extending in a second direction D2 that intersects the first direction D1, a plurality of branch portions MB diagonally extending from at least one of the first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS, a bent portion SB extending from at least one of the plurality of branch portions MB, a connecting portion CB extending from at least one of the first stem portion HS and the second stern portion VS to protrude beyond the branch portion MB in the first direction D1 or the second direction D2, and an edge bar EB intersecting the connecting portion CB. In addition, the pixel electrode PE.sub.n may further include a connecting electrode CNE connected to a drain electrode DE. The first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS may form a cross shape.

[0091] In FIG. 11, the edge bar EB is depicted as extending parallel to the first stem portion HS. In some implementations, the edge bar EB may extend at a predetermined angle with respect to the first stem portion HS. In some implementations, the edge bar EB may extend parallel to the second stem portion VS. The edge bar EB may be substantially parallel to an adjacent one of the bent portions SB. The edge bar EB may have the same length as at least one of the first stem portion HS and the second stem portion VS.

[0092] Referring to FIG. 12, the connecting portion CB may have a length ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm. The edge bar EB may have a distance W4 from an adjacent one of the bent portions SB ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

[0093] Similarly, the bent portion SB may have a distance W5 from an adjacent one of the branch portions MB ranging from about 2 μm to about 10 μm.

[0094] The term “length” with respect to the connecting portion CB refers to the distance that the connecting portion extends in the first direction or the second direction beyond the farthest extension of the branch portions MB in same first direction or second direction. For example, the length of the connecting portion may be the same as the distance W3 between the edge bar EB and an adjacent one of the branch portions MB as shown in FIG. 10 or may be the same as the distance W4 between the edge bar EB and an adjacent one of the bent portions SB.

[0095] In some implementations, the distance W4 between the edge bar EB and the bent portion SB may be the same as the distance W5 between the bent portion SB and the branch portion MB.

[0096] As such, when the bent portion SB and the edge bar EB are provided along an edge of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n, an effect of a fringe field that externally exerts inwardly of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n may be significantly reduced. Accordingly, control over liquid crystals at the edge of the pixel electrode PE.sub.n may be improved, and the display quality of the LCD device may be improved.

[0097] By way of summation and review, an LCD device in a vertically aligned mode, in which a major axis of liquid crystal molecules are aligned to be perpendicular to the substrate in the absence of an electric field, has a relatively great contrast ratio and may provide a wide viewing angle.

[0098] In recent times, a technology to improve viewing angle properties of an LCD device has been used whereby a pixel electrode is divided into multiple domains. Upon applying a voltage, liquid crystal molecules are aligned in different directions in respective domains. In such an example, however, when a general pixel electrode has a quadrangular shape, liquid crystal molecules may not be aligned in a desired direction due to a fringe field at an edge portion of the pixel electrode, thus resulting in a degraded display quality.

[0099] As set forth hereinabove, in one or more exemplary embodiments of an LCD device, a pixel electrode is provided with a shape such that control over liquid crystals is improved at an edge of the pixel electrode and display quality is also improved.

[0100] Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwise specifically indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the following claims.