Liquid crystal display device with counter electrodes having holes in the In ...

(54) LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE WITH COUNTER ELECTRODES HAVING HOLES IN THE IN-PLANE SWITCHING MODE

(75) Inventors: Masuyuki Ohta, Kariya; Junichi

Ohwada, Mobara; Nobutake Konishi, Mobara; Masayuki Hikiba, Mobara, all of (JP)

(73) Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo (JP)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/823,370

(22) Filed: Mar. 30, 2001

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation of application No. 09/760,385, filed on Jan. 11, 2001.

(30) Foreign Application Priority Data

Jan. 12, 2000 (JP) 2000-003348

(51) Int. CI.7 G02F 1/1343

(52) U.S. CI 349/139; 349/143; 349/141

(58) Field of Search 349/139, 143,

349/141, 142, 146

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

5,737,051 A * 4/1998 Kondo et al 349/141

5,754,266 A * 5/1998 Ohta et al 349/139

5,949,511 A * 9/1999 Park 349/42

6,052,163 A * 4/2000 Sung 349/42

6,088,078 A * 7/2000 Kim et al 349/141

6,219,115 Bl * 4/2001 Nakayoshi et al 349/43

A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate. A liquid crystal layer is provided between the first and second substrates. First and second gate lines are extending in a first direction, and first and second drain lines are extending in a second direction. A pixel area is defined by the gate lines and drain lines. A counter electrode assigned to the pixel area and having a hollow portion is provided adjacent to a solid portion. The hollow and solid portions are extending in the second direction. One hollow portion is provided after N number of the solid portions, the N being a number equal to or greater than 3. A pixel electrode is assigned to the pixel area and is opposing the counter electrode. The pixel electrode has a connecting portion extending in the first direction and first and second extending portions extending in the second direction. The connection portion connects the first and second extending portions, wherein the first extending portion is vertically aligned to the hollow portion of the counter electrode and the second extending portion is vertically aligned to the solid portion of the counter electrode. An insulating layer is provided between the counter and pixel electrodes.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets