KR102314117B1 - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A plurality of domains are defined on a display substrate of the liquid crystal display device, and the display substrate includes a pixel electrode having a plurality of slits defined therein and disposed in each of the plurality of domains, and a common electrode insulated from the pixel electrode. The plurality of domains are arranged in a column direction and a row direction, and each of the plurality of domains has a first side, a second side facing the first side, a first horizontal side, and a second side facing the first horizontal side. have a horizontal The first side is parallel to the column direction, and the second side is parallel to the diagonal direction in the column direction. A slit is defined between the two branch electrodes adjacent to each other, the slit has a first width adjacent to the first horizontal edge, and the slit is adjacent to the second horizontal edge and has a second width different from the first width have

Description

Liquid crystal display device {LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device with improved display quality.

A liquid crystal display is a display device that displays an image using two substrates and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates. The liquid crystal display may be classified into an In Plane Switching (IPS) mode, a Vertical Alignment (VA) mode, or a Plane to Line Switching (PLS) mode liquid crystal display according to a method of driving a liquid crystal layer.

In the liquid crystal display of the PLS mode, pixel electrodes and a common electrode insulated therefrom are disposed on any one of two substrates, and the liquid crystal layer is driven using a horizontal electric field generated between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode. do. In this case, since the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer have refractive index anisotropy, luminance of an image viewed may be different according to a viewing direction of the liquid crystal display device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display with improved display quality.

One liquid crystal display device for achieving the above object of the present invention includes a display substrate, a counter substrate and a liquid crystal layer. A plurality of domains are defined on the display substrate, and the display substrate includes a pixel electrode disposed in each of the plurality of domains to have a plurality of slits and a common electrode insulated from the pixel electrode. The counter substrate is coupled to the display substrate, and the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the display substrate and the counter substrate.

The plurality of domains are arranged in a column direction and a row direction, and each of the plurality of domains has a first side, a second side facing the first side, a first horizontal side, and a second side facing the first horizontal side. have a horizontal The first side is parallel to the column direction, and the second side is parallel to the diagonal direction in the column direction. A slit is defined between the two branch electrodes adjacent to each other, the slit has a first width adjacent to the first horizontal edge, and the slit is adjacent to the second horizontal edge and has a second width different from the first width have

Another liquid crystal display device for achieving the above object of the present invention includes a display substrate, a counter substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The display substrate includes a pixel electrode having branch electrodes in which a plurality of slits are defined and a common electrode insulated from the pixel electrode. The counter substrate is coupled to the display substrate, and the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the display substrate and the counter substrate.

A plurality of domains are arranged in a column direction and a row direction in the pixels, a first domain and a second domain are arranged in the row direction in each of the pixels, the first domain has a first side, and the second domain The domain has a second side facing the first side. The first side is parallel to a first oblique direction in the column direction, and the second side is parallel to a second oblique direction in the column direction that intersects the first oblique direction.

According to the present invention, regardless of the user's viewing direction, the difference between the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer defined in the N row (n is a natural number) and the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer defined in the N+1 row can be minimized. Accordingly, generation of a dark line or a bright line according to a difference in refractive index anisotropy between the N row and the N+1 row is prevented, and thus the display quality of the liquid crystal display can be improved.

In addition, in order to define the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules in an oblique direction, the branch electrodes may extend in a diagonal direction, and the branch electrodes may have an extension direction defined so as to be parallel to the side of the domain. Accordingly, the distance between the branch electrodes and the adjacent signal lines may be kept constant, and thus light may be prevented from leaking through the gap, thereby improving the display quality of the liquid crystal display.

1 is a plan view illustrating pixels of a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a plane taken along II′ shown in FIG. 1 .
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a plane taken along II-II′ shown in FIG. 1 .
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the third branch electrodes shown in FIG. 1 .
FIG. 5 is a view showing alignment directions of liquid crystal molecules defined in a plurality of domains shown in FIG. 1 .
6 is a plan view illustrating pixels of a liquid crystal display according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the third branch electrodes shown in FIG. 6 .
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating alignment directions of liquid crystal molecules defined in a plurality of domains illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Objects, features and effects of the present invention described above will be easily understood through the embodiments associated with the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and may be applied and modified in various forms. Rather, the embodiments of the present invention to be described later clarify the technical idea disclosed by the present invention, and furthermore, are provided so that the technical idea of the present invention can be sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art having an average knowledge in the field to which the present invention belongs. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the embodiments to be described later. On the other hand, the same reference numbers on the following examples and drawings indicate the same components.

In addition, in this specification, terms such as 'first' and 'second' are used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another, not in a limiting sense. In addition, when it is said that a part such as a film, region, or component is ‘on’ or ‘on’ another part, it is not only the case that it is directly on the other part, but also the case where another film, region, or component is interposed therebetween. cases are included.

1 is a plan view showing pixels of a liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a plane taken along II′ shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is II shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional view showing the plane cut along -II`.

1, 2 and 3 , the liquid crystal display 500 includes a display substrate 100 , a counter substrate 200 , and a liquid crystal layer 250 . The display substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 are coupled to face each other, and the liquid crystal layer 250 is disposed between the display substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 . In this embodiment, the liquid crystal display 500 may be driven in a plane to line switching (PLS) method.

In FIG. 1 , eight pixels arranged in two rows and four columns among the pixels of the display substrate 100 are illustrated. Since the remaining pixels other than the 8 pixels may have a similar structure to the 8 pixels, illustration and description of the remaining pixels will be omitted.

The display substrate 100 includes a first substrate 110 , a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, pixel electrodes, thin film transistors electrically connected to the pixel electrodes, and a common electrode CE. do.

The first substrate 110 has the same light transmittance as a glass substrate, and the plurality of gate lines are disposed on the first substrate 110 . In addition, a first insulating layer 120 is disposed on the plurality of gate lines, and the plurality of data lines are disposed on the first insulating layer 120 to be insulated from the plurality of gate lines. For example, first to third gate lines GL1 , GL2 , and GL3 are disposed on the first substrate 110 , and the first to third gate lines GL1 , GL2 and GL3 are disposed on the first to third gate lines GL1 , GL2 and GL3 . One insulating film 120 is disposed. In addition, the first to fifth data lines DL1 , DL2 , DL3 , DL4 and DL5 crossing the first to third gate lines GL1 , GL2 and GL3 are formed on the first insulating layer 120 . are placed

In this embodiment, two adjacent ones of the first to third gate lines GL1, GL2, and GL3 and adjacent ones of the first to fifth data lines DL1, DL2, DL3, DL4, and DL5 are adjacent to each other. The first to eighth domains DM1 to DM8 may be located in a one-to-one correspondence with regions divided by two crossing each other. For example, the first domain DM1 may be positioned in a region where the first and second gate lines GL1 and GL2 intersect the first and second data lines DL1 and DL2 to be partitioned. The fourth domain DM4 may be located in a region partitioned by the second and third gate lines GL2 and GL3 crossing the second and third data lines DL2 and DL3. have.

The first to eighth domains DM1 to DM8 may be arranged in a matrix shape having a column direction RD and a row direction LD. In more detail, four domains may be arranged in the row direction LD in each of N rows (N is a natural number, N_L) and N+1 rows (N+1_L), and M columns (M is a natural number, M_R) ), two domains in the M+1 column (M+1_R), the M+2 column (M+2_R), and the M+3 column (M+3_R) may be arranged in the column direction RD.

In this embodiment, each of the first to third gate lines GL1 , GL2 , and GL3 may extend in the row direction LD. In addition, each of the second and fourth data lines DL2 and DL4 may extend in the column direction RD, and each of the first, third, and fifth data lines DL1 , DL3 and DL5 . may extend in the first diagonal direction D1 and the second diagonal direction D2.

In more detail, the first data line DL1 includes a first line part LP1 and a second line part LP2 connected to the first line part LP1. The first line part LP1 may extend in the first diagonal direction D1 , and the second line part LP2 may extend in the second diagonal direction D2 .

The second data line DL2 is arranged next to the first data line DL1 in the row direction LD. Also, the second data line DL2 extends in the column direction RD to pass between the first and second domains DM1 and DM2 and between the third and fourth domains DM3 and DM4. cross over

The third data line DL3 is arranged next to the second data line DL2 in the row direction LD. In addition, the third data line DL3 includes a third line part LP3 and a fourth line part LP4 connected to the third line part LP3 . The third line part LP3 extends in the second diagonal direction D2 , and the fourth line part LP4 extends in the first diagonal direction D1 .

In this embodiment, each of the first oblique direction D1 and the second oblique direction D2 may be an oblique direction with respect to the column direction RD, and the first oblique direction D1 is the column direction. It may be symmetrical to the second diagonal direction D2 with respect to (RD). Accordingly, the first data line DL1 may have a shape symmetrical to the third data line DL3 with respect to the second data line DL2 .

The fourth and fifth data lines DL4 and DL5 are sequentially arranged next to the third data line DL3 in the row direction LD. The fourth data line DL4 may have the same shape as the second data line DL2 , and the fifth data line DL5 may have the same shape as the first data line DL1 .

The thin film transistors are electrically connected to the plurality of pixel electrodes in a one-to-one correspondence to switch a driving signal applied to the plurality of pixel electrodes. The structure of one of the thin film transistors TR will be described as follows.

The thin film transistor TR includes a gate electrode GE, an active layer AL, a source electrode SE, and a drain electrode DE. The gate electrode GE is branched from the third gate line GL3 and is disposed on the first substrate 110 , and the active layer AL includes a semiconductor material and interposes the first insulating layer 120 . and disposed on the gate electrode GE. The source electrode SE is branched from the second data line DL2 and overlaps the active layer AL, and the drain electrode DE is spaced apart from the source electrode SE and overlaps the active layer AL. do.

A second insulating layer 130 covers the thin film transistor TR and the first to fifth data lines DL1 to DL5 , and a third insulating layer 140 is disposed on the second insulating layer 130 . In this embodiment, the second insulating layer 130 may include an inorganic insulating material, and the third insulating layer 140 may include an organic insulating material.

The pixel electrodes are disposed in the first to eighth domains DM1 to DM8. In this embodiment, the pixel electrodes include first to eighth pixel electrodes PE1 to PE8 that are disposed to correspond to the first to eighth domains DM1 to DM8 in one-to-one correspondence.

Also, the first to eighth pixel electrodes PE1 to PE8 are electrically connected to the thin film transistors in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, a contact hole CNT passing through the second and third insulating layers 130 and 140 may be defined, and the third pixel electrode PE3 may pass through the contact hole CNT through the thin film. It may be electrically connected to the drain electrode DE of the transistor TR.

The common electrode CE is disposed on the third insulating layer 140 , and a fourth insulating layer 150 is disposed on the common electrode CE. Accordingly, the common electrode CE may be insulated from the first to eighth pixel electrodes PE1 to PE8 by the fourth insulating layer 150 .

A common voltage may be applied to the common electrode CE to generate a horizontal electric field between each of the first to eighth pixel electrodes PE1 to PE8 and the common electrode CE. As a result, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules LM of the liquid crystal layer 250 may be defined by the horizontal electric field.

The opposite substrate 200 is coupled to the display substrate 100 . In this embodiment, the opposite substrate 200 may include a second substrate 210 , a light blocking layer BM, and a color filter CF.

The second substrate 200 may have light-transmitting properties like a glass substrate. The color filter CF is disposed on the second substrate 200 to overlap the first to eighth domains DM1 to DM8, and the light blocking layer BM is disposed on the first to eighth domains (DM1 to DM8). DM1 to DM8 may be disposed on the second substrate 200 to correspond to the remaining regions except for the defined regions.

In this embodiment, each of the first to eighth pixel electrodes PE1 to PE8 includes branch electrodes. For example, the first pixel electrode PE1 includes first branch electrodes BE1 , the second pixel electrode PE2 includes second branch electrodes BE2 , and the third pixel The electrode PE3 includes third branch electrodes BE3 , and the fourth pixel electrode PE4 includes fourth branch electrodes BE4 .

In this embodiment, the first to fourth branch electrodes BE1 to BE4 may extend in an oblique direction with respect to the column direction RD. The structure of the third branch electrodes BE3 among the first to fourth branch electrodes BE1 to BE4 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 for example.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the third branch electrodes BE3 shown in FIG. 1 .

1 and 4 , a third pixel electrode PE3 is disposed in the third domain DM3 , and the third pixel electrode PE3 includes third branch electrodes BE3 . The third branch electrodes BE3 are spaced apart from each other and arranged in the third domain DM3 , and a slit ST may be defined between two adjacent ones of the third branch electrodes BE3 .

In this embodiment, each of the third branch electrodes BE3 may extend in a diagonal direction in the column direction RD, and directions in which the third branch electrodes BE3 extend may be different from each other.

In more detail, the third branch electrodes BE3 are connected to the first to fourth branch parts BE11, BE12, BE13, and BE14 in the order arranged between the first and second data lines DL1 and DL2. separated by In addition, a first acute angle A1 is defined between the extending direction of the first branch BE11 and the column direction RD, and the extending direction of the second branch BE12 and the column direction RD ) a second acute angle A2 is defined, a third acute angle A3 is defined between the extending direction of the third branch portion BE13 and the column direction RD, and the fourth branch portion BE14 A fourth acute angle A4 is defined between the extending direction and the column direction RD. In this case, the size of the first acute angle A1 is greater than the size of the second acute angle A2, the size of the second acute angle A2 is greater than the size of the third acute angle A3, and the size of the second acute angle A2 is greater than that of the third acute angle A3. The size of the third acute angle A3 is greater than the size of the fourth acute angle A4.

That is, the magnitude of the acute angle defined between each of the first to fourth branch portions BE11 , BE12 , BE13 , and BE14 and the column direction RD is equal to that of the fifth side S5 of the third domain DM3 and The closer it is, the larger it is, and the closer it is to the sixth side S6 of the third domain DM3, the smaller it is. In this embodiment, the fifth side S5 may be parallel to the second oblique direction D2 , and the sixth side S6 may be parallel to the column direction RD. On the other hand, the size of the first acute angle A1 defined by the first branch portion BE11 among the first to fourth acute angles A1 to A4 is the largest, and the first to fourth branch portions ( Among BE11 to BE14 , the first branch portion BE11 is closest to the first data line DL1 and is substantially parallel to the second line portion LP2 . Accordingly, the deviation of the first interval G1 between the second line part LP2 and the first branch part BE11 may be minimized.

In addition, among the first to fourth acute angles A1 to A4 , the fourth acute angle A4 defined by the fourth branch BE14 has the smallest size, and the first to fourth branch portions ( Among BE11 to BE14 , the fourth branch BE14 is closest to the second data line DL2 . Accordingly, a deviation of the second interval G2 between the second data line DL2 and the fourth branch BE14 may be minimized.

As described above, when the deviation of each of the first and second intervals G1 and G2 is minimized and becomes constant, the length of the first interval G1 or the length of the second interval G2 is the Light leakage through the first gap G1 or the second gap G2 in an area larger than the periphery may be prevented from leaking.

A first horizontal edge HE1 and a second horizontal edge HE2 of the third domain DM3 may be defined. The first and second horizontal sides HE1 and HE2 face each other, and each of the first and second horizontal sides HE1 and HE2 connects the fifth and sixth sides S5 and S6.

In this embodiment, the length of the second horizontal side HE2 is longer than the length of the first horizontal side HE1. In addition, adjacent to the first horizontal side HE1, the slit ST has a first width W1, and adjacent to the second horizontal side HE2, the slit ST has a second width W2 When having, the second width W2 may be greater than the first width W1 . Accordingly, a pitch at which the first to fourth branch portions BE11 , BE12 , BE13 , and BE14 are arranged adjacent to the first horizontal edge HE1 is adjacent to the second horizontal edge HE2 and the first to fourth branch portions BE11 , BE12 , BE13 and BE14 are arranged adjacent to the second horizontal edge HE2 . The pitch of the branch portions BE11, BE12, BE13, and BE14 may be smaller than the arranged pitch.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating alignment directions of a plurality of domains shown in FIG. 1 and liquid crystal molecules defined therein.

1 and 5 , as shown in FIG. 1 , the first to fourth pixel electrodes PE1 to PE4 have different structures, and the fifth to eighth pixel electrodes PE5 to PE8 . have different structures. Accordingly, the first to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 have different structures, and the fifth to eighth domains DM5 to DM8 have different structures.

Also, the first and seventh pixel electrodes PE1 and PE7 have the same structure, the second and eighth pixel electrodes PE2 and PE8 have the same structure, and the third and fifth pixel electrodes PE2 and PE8 have the same structure. The pixel electrodes PE3 and PE5 have the same structure, and the fourth and sixth pixel electrodes PE4 and PE6 have the same structure. Accordingly, the first and seventh domains DM1 and DM7 have the same structure, the second and eighth domains DM2 and DM8 have the same structure, and the third and fifth domains have the same structure. (DM3, DM5) have the same structure, and the fourth and sixth domains (DM4, DM6) have the same structure.

The structure of the first to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 among the first to eighth domains DM1 to DM8 will be described below.

The first domain DM1 has a first side S1 and a second side S2 facing each other, and the second domain DM2 has a third side S3 and a fourth side S4 facing each other. ) has The second and third sides S2 and S3 are positioned between the first and fourth sides S1 and S4.

The first side S1 is parallel to the first oblique direction D1, and the fourth side S4 is parallel to the second oblique direction D2. In addition, each of the second and third sides S2 and S3 is parallel to the column direction RD. Accordingly, a length of each of the first and fourth sides S1 and S4 is longer than a length of each of the second and third sides S2 and S3 .

The third domain DM3 has a fifth side S5 and a sixth side S6 facing each other, and the fourth domain DM4 has a seventh side S7 and an eighth side S8 facing each other. ) has The sixth and seventh sides S6 and S7 are positioned between the fifth and eighth sides S5 and S8.

The fifth side S5 is parallel to the second oblique direction D2 , and the eighth side S8 is parallel to the first oblique direction D1 . In addition, each of the sixth and seventh sides S6 and S7 is parallel to the column direction RD. Accordingly, a length of each of the fifth and eighth sides S5 and S8 is longer than a length of each of the sixth and seventh sides S6 and S7.

When a first straight line SL1 intersecting between the first and second domains DM1 and DM2 and between the third and fourth domains DM3 and DM4 is defined, the first domain DM1 ) has a shape symmetrical to the second domain DM2 with respect to the first straight line SL1 , and the third domain DM3 is formed with the fourth domain DM4 and the fourth domain DM4 with respect to the first straight line SL1 . has a symmetrical shape.

If a second straight line SL2 crossing between the first and third domains DM1 and DM3 and between the second and fourth domains DM2 and DM4 is defined, the first domain DM1 ) has a shape symmetrical to the third domain DM3 with respect to the second straight line SL2, and the second domain DM2 is formed with the fourth domain DM4 and the fourth domain DM4 with respect to the second straight line SL2. has a symmetrical shape.

When a third straight line SL3 intersecting between the fifth and sixth domains DM5 and DM6 and between the seventh and eighth domains DM7 and DM8 is defined, the fifth domain DM5 ) has a shape symmetrical to the sixth domain DM6 with respect to the third straight line SL3, and the seventh domain DM7 is formed with the eighth domain DM8 and the third domain DM8 with respect to the third straight line SL3. has a symmetrical shape.

In this embodiment, the liquid crystal molecules (LM in FIG. 2) of the liquid crystal layer (250 in FIG. 2) may have positive dielectric anisotropy, and in this case, the liquid crystal molecules in the first domain DM1 are aligned in the first alignment direction. (AL1). In more detail, an electric field is generated between the first pixel electrode PE1 and the common electrode (CE of FIG. 2 ), and the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the first domain DM1 by the electric field, and the aligned A director of the liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the first alignment direction AL1.

In the second domain DM2, the liquid crystal molecules may be aligned in the second alignment direction AL2 by the electric field, and in the third domain DM3, the liquid crystal molecules may be aligned in the second alignment direction by the electric field. (AL2), and the liquid crystal molecules in the fourth domain DM4 may be aligned in the first alignment direction AL1 by the electric field.

In addition, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the first alignment direction AL1 in each of the sixth and seventh domains DM6 and DM7, and the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the fifth and eighth domains DM5 and DM8, respectively. The molecules are aligned in the second alignment direction AL2.

In this embodiment, the first alignment direction AL1 intersects the second alignment direction AL2 , and the first alignment direction AL1 intersects the second alignment direction AL2 with respect to the column direction RD. may be symmetric.

In this embodiment, Rows N (N_L), Rows N+1 (N+1_L), Columns M (M_R), Columns M+1 (M+1_R), Columns M+2 (M+2_R), and M+3 When the first to eighth domains DM1 to DM8 defined by the combination of the columns M+3_R are defined as a unit domain group, the unit over the entire display area of the liquid crystal display (500 of FIG. 1 ). Domain groups may be arranged repeatedly. That is, the structure of the domains in the N+2 row may be the same as the structure of the domains in the N row (N_L), and the structure of the domains in the N+3 row is the structure of the domains in the N+1 row. can be the same as

As in this embodiment, when the unit domain group is repeatedly arranged in the entire display area, any one row and any one column each have a domain defined in the first alignment direction AL1 and the It is composed of domains defined in the second alignment direction AL2. That is, each of a row and a column is not composed of domains defined in the same orientation directions as each other.

Unlike the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the N rows N_L are configured only with the first domain DM1 defined in the first alignment direction AL1 , and the N+1 rows N+1_L ) is composed of only the third domain DM3 defined in the second alignment direction AL2, the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer defined in the N row N_L according to the user's viewing direction and the The refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer defined in the N+1 row (N+1_L) may be different from each other. Accordingly, the luminance viewed in the N row (N_L) and the luminance viewed in the N+1 row (N+1_L) are different from each other, so that a dark line or a bright line may be generated.

However, in this embodiment, the N row N_L is defined by the first and fifth domains DM1 and DM5 defined in the first alignment direction AL1 and the second alignment direction AL2. It is composed of second and sixth domains DM2 and DM6. In addition, the N+1 row N+1_L includes the fourth and seventh domains DM4 and DM7 defined in the first alignment direction AL1 and a second alignment direction AL2 defined in the second alignment direction AL2 . It consists of 3 and 8 domains DM3 and DM8. Therefore, regardless of the user's viewing direction, the difference between the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer defined in the N row (N_L) and the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer defined in the N+1 row (N+1_L) is minimized. As a result, it is possible to prevent the linear dark line or the linear bright line from being generated.

6 is a plan view illustrating pixels of a liquid crystal display according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the description of FIG. 6 , reference numerals are given to the components described above, and duplicate descriptions of the components are omitted or provided briefly.

Referring to FIG. 6 , like the liquid crystal display device ( 500 of FIG. 1 ) described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 , the liquid crystal display device 501 includes a display substrate and a counter substrate facing each other, and the display substrate and the opposite substrate. It can operate in the PLS mode including the liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates.

6 illustrates four pixels arranged in two rows and two columns among the pixels of the display substrate. In addition, two domains are defined in each of the pixels, and first to eighth domains DM1 to DM8 are defined in FIG. 6 .

The display substrate includes first to third gate lines GL1′, GL2′, and GL3′, first to third data lines DL1′, DL2′, DL3′, and first to fourth pixel electrodes (PE1`, PE2`, PE3`, PE4`).

In this embodiment, two adjacent ones of the first to third gate lines GL1 ′ to GL3 ′ and two adjacent ones of the first to third data lines DL1 ′ to DL3 ′ cross each other. One pixel may be defined in an area partitioned by the ?, and two domains may be arranged in the row direction LD in the one pixel. For example, the first and second gate lines GL1 ′ and GL2 ′ intersect the first and second data lines DL1 ′ and DL2 ′ in a pixel defined by the first and second gate lines GL1 ′ and GL2 ′. The domains DM1 and DM2 may be arranged in the row direction LD.

The first to eighth domains DM1 to DM8 may be arranged in a matrix shape having a column direction RD and a row direction LD. In more detail, four domains may be arranged in the row direction LD in each of N rows (N is a natural number, N_L) and N+1 rows (N+1_L), and M columns (M is a natural number, M_R) ), two domains in the M+1 column (M+1_R), the M+2 column (M+2_R), and the M+3 column (M+3_R) may be arranged in the column direction RD.

In this embodiment, each of the first to third data lines DL1 ′, DL2 ′, and DL3 ′ may extend in a first diagonal direction D1 and a second diagonal direction D2 . In more detail, the first data line DL1 ′ includes a first line part LP1 ′ and a second line part LP2 ′ connected to the first line part LP1 ′. The first line part LP1 ′ may extend in the first diagonal direction D1 , and the second line part LP2 ′ may extend in the second diagonal direction D2 .

The second data line DL2 ′ is arranged next to the first data line DL1 ′ in the row direction LD. The second data line DL2' includes a third line part LP3' and a fourth line part LP4' connected to the third line part LP3'. The third line part LP3 ′ extends in the second diagonal direction D2 , and the fourth line part LP4 ′ extends in the first diagonal direction D1 .

In this embodiment, each of the first oblique direction D1 and the second oblique direction D2 may be an oblique direction with respect to the column direction RD, and the first oblique direction D1 is the column direction. It may be symmetrical to the second diagonal direction D2 with respect to (RD).

Each of the first to fourth pixel electrodes PE1 ′ to PE4 ′ includes branch electrodes. For example, the first pixel electrode PE1 ′ includes first branch electrodes BE1 ′, and the second pixel electrode PE2 ′ includes second branch electrodes BE2 ′; The third pixel electrode PE3 ′ includes third branch electrodes BE3 ′, and the fourth pixel electrode PE4 ′ includes fourth branch electrodes BE4 ′.

In this embodiment, the first to fourth branch electrodes BE1 ′ to BE4 ′ may extend in an oblique direction with respect to the column direction RD. The structure of the first branch electrodes BE2 ′ among the first to fourth branch electrodes BE1 ′ to BE4 ′ will be described with reference to FIG. 7 , for example.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the second branch electrodes BE2′ shown in FIG. 6 .

6 and 7 , the second pixel electrode PE2 ′ is disposed in the third and fourth domains DM3 and DM4 , and the second pixel electrode PE2 ′ includes second branch electrodes ( BE2'). The second branch electrodes BE2′ are arranged in the third and fourth domains DM3 and DM4, and a slit ST is formed between two adjacent ones of the second branch electrodes BE2′. can be defined.

In this embodiment, each of the second branch electrodes BE2 ′ may extend in a diagonal direction in the column direction RD, and directions in which the second branch electrodes BE2 ′ extend may be different from each other. .

In more detail, the second branch electrodes BE2' are connected to the first to eighth branch parts BE11' to BE18' in the order arranged between the first and second data lines DL1' and DL2'. ) to separate In addition, a first acute angle A1 is defined between the extending direction of the first branch BE11 ′ and the column direction RD, and the extending direction and the column direction of the second branch BE12 ′. A second acute angle A2 is defined between RD, a third acute angle A3 is defined between the extending direction of the third branch BE13′ and the column direction RD, and the fourth branch A fourth acute angle A4 is defined between the extending direction BE14′ and the column direction RD. In this case, the size of the first acute angle A1 is greater than the size of the second acute angle A2, the size of the second acute angle A2 is greater than the size of the third acute angle A3, and the size of the second acute angle A2 is greater than that of the third acute angle A3. The size of the third acute angle A3 is greater than the size of the fourth acute angle A4.

A fifth acute angle A5 is defined between the extending direction of the fifth branch BE15 ′ and the column direction RD, the extending direction of the sixth branch BE16 ′ and the column direction RD A sixth acute angle A6 is defined between An eighth acute angle A8 is defined between the direction in which `) extends and the column direction RD. In this case, the size of the eighth acute angle A8 is greater than the size of the seventh acute angle A7, the size of the seventh acute angle A7 is greater than the size of the sixth acute angle A6, The size of the 6 acute angle A6 is larger than the size of the fifth acute angle A5.

Each of the first to fourth acute angles A1 to A4 is an acute angle defined in a clockwise direction with respect to the column direction RD, and each of the fifth to eighth acute angles A5 to A8 is an acute angle to the column direction. It is an acute angle defined counterclockwise with respect to (RD). Accordingly, when defining a first straight line SN1 passing between the fourth branch BE14 ′ and the fifth branch BE15 ′ in parallel with the column direction RD, the first to fourth The shape of the branch parts BE11 ′ to BE14 ′ may be symmetrical to the fifth to eighth branch parts BE15 ′ to BE18 ′ with respect to the first straight line SN1 .

Of the first to eighth branches BE11 ′ to BE18 ′, the first branch BE11 ′ closest to the first data line DL1 ′ is the first branch of the first data line DL1 ′. It may be substantially parallel to the second line portion LP2 ′. In addition, the eighth branch BE18 ′ closest to the second data line DL2 ′ among the first to eighth branch parts BE11 ′ to BE18 ′ is a portion of the second data line DL2 ′. It may be substantially parallel to the fourth line part LP4 ′. Accordingly, as described above with reference to FIG. 4 , light leakage around the first and second data lines DL1 ′ and DL2 ′ may be minimized.

Each of the first and second horizontal sides HE1′ and HE2′ connects the third side S3′ to the fourth side S4′, and the first and second horizontal sides HE1′ and HE2′ ) face each other. In this embodiment, the length of the second horizontal side HE2′ is longer than the length of the first horizontal side HE1′. Also, adjacent to the first horizontal side HE1′, the slit ST has a first width W1, and adjacent to the second horizontal side HE2′, the slit ST has a second width W2 ), the second width W2 may be greater than the first width W1 . Accordingly, a pitch at which the first to eighth branch portions BE11 ′ to BE18 ′ are arranged adjacent to the first horizontal edge HE1 ′ is adjacent to the second horizontal edge HE2 ′ and the first to eighth branch portions BE11 ′ to BE18 ′ are adjacent to each other. The branch portions BE11′ to BE18 may be smaller than the arranged pitch.

8 is a view illustrating alignment directions of a plurality of domains shown in FIG. 6 and liquid crystal molecules defined therein.

6 and 8 , the first to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 have different shapes, and the fifth to eighth domains DM5 to DM8 have different shapes. Also, the first and seventh domains DM1 and DM7 have the same structure, the second and eighth domains DM2 and DM8 have the same structure, and the third and fifth domains have the same structure. (DM3, DM5) have the same structure, and the fourth and sixth domains (DM4, DM6) have the same structure.

The structure of the first to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 among the first to eighth domains DM1 to DM8 will be described below.

The first domain DM1 has a first side S1′, and the second domain DM2 has a second side S2′ facing the first side S1′. Also, the third domain DM3 has a third side S3 ′, and the fourth domain DM4 has a fourth side S4 ′ facing the third side S3 ′.

The first side S1 ′ is parallel to the first oblique direction D1 , and the second side S2 ′ is parallel to the second oblique direction D2 . In addition, the third side S3 ′ is parallel to the second oblique direction D2 , and the fourth side S4 ′ is parallel to the first oblique direction D1 .

If a first straight line SL1 crossing between the first and second domains DM1 and DM2 and between the third and fourth domains DM3 and DM4 is defined, the first domain DM1 ) has a shape symmetrical to the second domain DM2 with respect to the first straight line SL1 , and the third domain DM3 is formed with the fourth domain DM4 and the fourth domain DM4 with respect to the first straight line SL1 . has a symmetrical shape.

If a second straight line SL2 crossing between the first and third domains DM1 and DM3 and between the second and fourth domains DM2 and DM4 is defined, the first domain DM1 ) has a shape symmetrical to the third domain DM3 with respect to the second straight line SL2, and the second domain DM2 is formed with the fourth domain DM4 and the fourth domain DM4 with respect to the second straight line SL2. has a symmetrical shape.

Similar to that described above with reference to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the liquid crystal molecules (LM in FIG. 2) of the liquid crystal layer (250 in FIG. 2) may have positive dielectric anisotropy, and the first and fourth domains In each of the DM1 and DM4 , the liquid crystal molecules may be aligned in the first alignment direction AL1 . In addition, the liquid crystal molecules in the second and third domains DM2 and DM3 may be aligned in the second alignment direction AL2 by the electric field. In this embodiment, the first alignment direction AL1 intersects the second alignment direction AL2 , and the first alignment direction AL1 intersects the second alignment direction AL2 with respect to the column direction RD. may be symmetric.

Although the above has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art or those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field will not depart from the spirit and technical scope of the present invention described in the claims to be described later. It will be understood that various modifications and variations of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (20)

a display substrate having a plurality of domains defined, the display substrate including a pixel electrode having a plurality of branch electrodes disposed in each of the plurality of domains and a common electrode insulated from the pixel electrode;
a counter substrate coupled to the display substrate; and
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the display substrate and the opposite substrate;
The plurality of domains are arranged in a column direction and a row direction, and each of the plurality of domains has a first side, a second side facing the first side, a first horizontal side, and a second side facing the first horizontal side. has a horizontal side, wherein the first side is parallel to the column direction, and the second side is parallel to the diagonal direction of the column direction;
A slit is defined between the two branch electrodes adjacent to each other, the slit has a first width adjacent to the first horizontal edge, and the slit is adjacent to the second horizontal edge and has a second width different from the first width A liquid crystal display device, characterized in that it has. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of domains comprises a first domain having the first side and the second side and a second domain arranged next to the first domain in the row direction,
The second domain has third and fourth sides facing each other, the second and third sides are located between the first and fourth sides, and each of the first and fourth sides is in the diagonal direction and each of the second and third sides is parallel to the column direction. The liquid crystal display device of claim 2 , wherein the first side is parallel to a first oblique direction, and the fourth side is parallel to a second oblique direction intersecting the first oblique direction. The liquid crystal display device of claim 3 , wherein the first diagonal direction is symmetrical with the second diagonal direction with respect to the column direction. The liquid crystal display of claim 2 , wherein a length of the first side is greater than a length of the second side, and a length of the fourth side is greater than a length of the third side. 4. The method of claim 3,
The plurality of domains further include a third domain and a fourth domain sequentially arranged in the row direction,
the first and third domains are sequentially arranged in the column direction, and the second and fourth domains are sequentially arranged in the column direction;
The third domain has fifth and sixth sides facing each other, the fourth domain has seventh and eighth sides facing each other, and the sixth and seventh sides are the fifth and eighth sides The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein each of the fifth and eighth sides is parallel to the diagonal direction, and each of the sixth and seventh sides is parallel to the column direction. The liquid crystal display device of claim 6 , wherein the fifth side is parallel to the second oblique direction, and the eighth side is parallel to the first oblique direction. The method of claim 7 , wherein the display substrate comprises:
multiple gate lines; and
Further comprising data lines crossing the plurality of gate lines insulated,
The data lines are
a first data line extending along the first domain and the third domain and extending in the first and second diagonal directions to be parallel to the first side and the fifth side;
a second data line arranged next to the first data line in the row direction, crossing between the first and second domains and between the third and fourth domains, and extending in the column direction; and
It is arranged next to the second data line in the row direction, is disposed adjacent to the second domain and the fourth domain, and extends in the first and second oblique directions to form the fourth side and the second data line. A liquid crystal display device comprising a third data line parallel to the eighth side. The liquid crystal display of claim 8 , wherein the first data line is symmetrical to the third data line with respect to the second data line. The liquid crystal molecules of claim 7, wherein in the first domain, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned in a first alignment direction, and in the second domain, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a second alignment direction crossing the first alignment direction, and , wherein in the third domain, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the second alignment direction, and in the fourth domain, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the first alignment direction. The liquid crystal display device of claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second alignment directions is an oblique direction with respect to the column direction. The liquid crystal display of claim 11 , wherein the first alignment direction is symmetrical with the second alignment direction with respect to the column direction. The liquid crystal display of claim 7 , wherein a length of the fifth side is greater than a length of the sixth side, and a length of the eighth side is greater than a length of the seventh side. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of domains further comprises a fifth domain, a sixth domain, a seventh domain, and an eighth domain,
the fifth and seventh domains are arranged in the column direction, and the sixth and eighth domains are arranged in the column direction;
After the first and second domains, the fifth and sixth domains are sequentially arranged in the row direction, and after the third and fourth domains, the seventh and eighth domains are sequentially arranged in the row direction arranged as,
the first and seventh domains have the same shape as each other, the second and eighth domains have the same shape as each other, the third and fifth domains have the same shape as each other, and the fourth and sixth domains have the same shape as each other. A liquid crystal display device, characterized in that it has the same shape as each other. The method of claim 1 , wherein the branch electrodes extend in the diagonal direction, and a magnitude of an acute angle defined between each of the branch electrodes and the column direction decreases as it approaches the first side, and the magnitude of the acute angle decreases with the first side. A liquid crystal display device, characterized in that the closer to the second side, the larger it is. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein a length of the second horizontal side is longer than a length of the first horizontal side, and the second width is greater than the first width. a display substrate comprising: a pixel electrode having branch electrodes in which a plurality of slits are defined and a common electrode insulated from the pixel electrode;
a counter substrate coupled to the display substrate; and
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the display substrate and the opposite substrate;
A plurality of domains are arranged in a column direction and a row direction in the pixels, a first domain and a second domain are arranged in the row direction in each of the pixels, the first domain has a first side, and the second domain The domain has a second side facing the first side,
The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the first side is parallel to a first diagonal direction in the column direction, and the second side is parallel to a second diagonal direction in the column direction that intersects the first diagonal direction. 18 . The two branch electrodes of claim 17 , wherein first and second horizontal sides facing each other are defined in the first and second domains, the first and second horizontal sides are parallel to the row direction and adjacent to each other a slit is defined between the slits, wherein the slit has a first width adjacent to the first transverse side, and the slit has a second width adjacent to the second transverse side and different from the first width. display device. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of domains further comprises a third domain and a fourth domain sequentially arranged in the row direction,
the first and third domains are sequentially arranged in the column direction, and the second and fourth domains are sequentially arranged in the column direction;
The third domain has a third side, the fourth domain has a fourth side facing the third side, the third side is parallel to the second side, and the fourth side is the first side A liquid crystal display device, characterized in that it is parallel to the side. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein in each of the first and fourth domains, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned in a first alignment direction, and in each of the second and third domains, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the first alignment direction. A liquid crystal display device, characterized in that it is aligned in a second alignment direction intersecting with the .

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