Liquid Crystal Display Including a Variable Width Spacer Element and Method for Fabricating the Same

Abstract

A liquid crystal display with two insulating substrates. A first insulating substrate has crossing signal lines, a pixel electrode, and a drain electrode electrically connected to the pixel electrode through a contact hole. A spacer is formed on the first signal line of the first insulating substrate, and is wider at a first portion close to the first insulating substrate than at a second portion close to the second insulating substrate, and the drain electrode comprises a first portion and a second portion extending in a different direction with respect to the first portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display device comprising:
 a first insulating substrate;   a first signal line disposed on the first insulating substrate;   a second signal line disposed on the first insulating substrate and crossing the first signal line;   a pixel electrode disposed on the first insulating substrate;   a spacer disposed on the first insulating substrate;   a second insulating substrate; and   a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first insulating substrate and the second insulating substrate,   wherein the pixel electrode has a plurality of domain dividers, each of the plurality of domain dividers comprises a first domain divider and a second domain divider substantially orthogonal to the first domain divider,   wherein the liquid crystal layer on the pixel electrode is divided into a plurality of domains by the plurality of domain dividers, and the plurality of domains are defined by an orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer, and   wherein the spacer is wider at a first portion close to the first insulating substrate than at a second portion close to the second insulating substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and the second domain dividers comprises an end portion extending adjacent to and along an edge of the pixel electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage capacitor conductive pattern partially overlapping with the pixel electrode and extending parallel to the first signal line and crossing the second signal line, wherein the storage capacitor conductive pattern comprises a first portion parallel to at least one of the first and the second domain dividers. 
     
     
         3 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the pixel electrode comprises a plurality of openings as the plurality of domain dividers, wherein the plurality of openings comprises a first opening to meet with an edge of the pixel electrode and a second opening surrounded by the pixel electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of domain dividers comprises a plurality of openings formed on the first insulating substrate and a plurality of protrusions formed on the second insulating substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drain electrode electrically connected to the pixel electrode;   a passivation layer covering the first signal line, the second signal line and the drain electrode.   
     
     
         6 . The display device of  claim 5 , wherein the drain electrode is connected to the pixel electrode through a contact hole, and the contact hole is positioned adjacent to a center line of the pixel electrode parallel to the second signal line. 
     
     
         7 . The display device of  claim 5 , wherein the spacer partially overlaps with the drain electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The display device of  claim 5 , wherein the passivation layer has a contact hole, and the drain electrode is connected to the pixel electrode through the contact hole. 
     
     
         9 . The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising a semiconductor pattern formed under at least one of the first and second signal lines. 
     
     
         10 . The display device of  claim 9 , wherein the spacer partially overlaps with the semiconductor pattern.