Liquid crystal display device

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

first and second substrates disposed facing each other via a liquid crystal layer, each substrate having a plurality of pixels arranged thereon in matrix form;

a first electrode formed for each pixel on the first substrate side;

a second electrode formed for each pixel on the first or second substrate side; and

the liquid crystal layer being configured to be driven by a liquid crystal drive voltage applied between the first and second electrodes;

wherein an inequation of VLmin≦VLmax<Vmax is satisfied, where VLmin is a liquid crystal drive voltage applied to the pixel to produce minimum brightness, VLmax is a liquid crystal drive voltage applied to the pixel to produce maximum brightness, and Vmax is a maximum liquid crystal drive voltage applied to the pixel, and

wherein first and second areas are formed together in a predetermined display area which is divided into the first and second areas, the first area including pixels to which the applied liquid crystal drive voltage Vmax is applied, and the second area including pixels to which only a liquid crystal drive voltage between VLmin and VLmax (VLmin≦VLmax) is applied.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the liquid crystal drive voltage Vmax is applied to a pixel producing the maximum brightness.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a display selection unit configured to select or deselect the liquid crystal drive voltage Vmax.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a common signal drive circuit configured to supply a common AC signal as a reference for the liquid crystal drive voltage to the second electrode; and

an image signal drive circuit configured to supply to the first electrode an image signal synchronizing with the common signal and corresponding to brightness of each pixel,

wherein, based on an output of the display selection unit, the common signal drive circuit varies the amplitude range of the common signal and the image signal drive circuit varies the liquid crystal drive voltage VLmin.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a common signal drive circuit configured to supply a common AC signal as a reference for the liquid crystal drive voltage to the second electrode; and

an image signal drive circuit configured to supply to the first electrode an image signal synchronizing with the common signal and corresponding to brightness of each pixel,

wherein the image signal drive circuit varies the maximum amplitude range of the image signal based on an output of the display selection unit to change the liquid crystal drive voltage from VLmax to Vmax.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a display selection unit configured to select or deselect the liquid crystal drive voltage Vmax.

7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a common signal drive circuit configured to supply a common AC signal as a reference for the liquid crystal drive voltage to the second electrode; and

an image signal drive circuit configured to supply to the first electrode an image signal synchronizing with the common signal and corresponding to brightness of each pixel,

wherein, based on an output of the display selection unit, the common signal drive circuit varies the amplitude range of the common signal and the image signal drive circuit varies the liquid crystal drive voltage VLmin.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a common signal drive circuit configured to supply a common AC signal as a reference for the liquid crystal drive voltage to the second electrode; and

an image signal drive circuit configured to supply to the first electrode an image signal synchronizing with the common signal and corresponding to brightness of each pixel,

wherein the image signal drive circuit varies the maximum amplitude range of the image signal based on an output of the display selection unit to change the liquid crystal drive voltage from VLmax to Vmax.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a display selection unit configured to select or deselect the liquid crystal drive voltage Vmax.

10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a common signal drive circuit configured to supply a common AC signal as a reference for the liquid crystal drive voltage to the second electrode; and

an image signal drive circuit configured to supply to the first electrode an image signal synchronizing with the common signal and corresponding to brightness of each pixel,

wherein, based on an output of the display selection unit, the common signal drive circuit varies the amplitude range of the common signal and the image signal drive circuit varies the liquid crystal drive voltage VLmin.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a common signal drive circuit configured to supply a common AC signal as a reference for the liquid crystal drive voltage to the second electrode; and

an image signal drive circuit configured to supply to the first electrode an image signal synchronizing with the common signal and corresponding to brightness of each pixel,

wherein the image signal drive circuit varies the maximum amplitude range of the image signal based on an output of the display selection unit to change the liquid crystal drive voltage from VLmax to Vmax.