US Patent 6987550 Liquid crystal display device

A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal layer, an alignment layer orientating the liquid crystal layer, and a driving circuit that drives the liquid crystal layer. The alignment layer is divided into a plurality of specified regions, each having a recognizable size. The orientation direction of adjacent regions is different from one another. This makes it difficult to resolve a displayed image from directions other than that from the front of the display, and instead a fixed pattern is seen when the display is viewed from directions other than that from the front. This fixed pattern can be chosen as desired and can be, e.g., a figure or a trade name of a product.