Alignment layer for display device, liquid crystal display device including the same and method and apparatus for treating the same

1. An alignment layer for a display device, said alignment layer comprising:

a plurality of rubbed patterns formed on a surface of the alignment layer, each rubbed pattern including first patterns intersecting a center axis at a first angle and second patterns intersecting the center axis at a second angle, and each rubbed pattern formed in a continuous zigzag shape by connecting the first and second patterns which are alternately repeated along the center axis.

2. The alignment layer of claim 1 , the first angle is different from the second angle.

3. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a first insulating substrate;

a second insulating substrate positioned above the first insulating substrate and facing the first insulating substrate; and

a liquid crystal layer formed between the first insulating substrate and the second insulating substrate;

at least one of the first insulating substrate and the second insulating substrate including an alignment layer formed on a surface facing the liquid crystal layer, said alignment layer comprising a plurality of rubbed patterns formed on a surface of the alignment layer, each rubbed pattern including first patterns intersecting a center axis at a first angle and second patterns intersecting the center axis at a second angle, and each rubbed pattern formed in a continuous zigzag shape by connecting the first and second patterns which are alternately repeated along the center axis.

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

a common electrode formed on one surface of the second insulating substrate; and

a pixel electrode formed on said one surface of the first insulating substrate and facing the common electrode.

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

a common electrode formed on one surface of the first insulating substrate; and

a pixel electrode formed on said one surface of the first insulating substrate and located adjacent to the common electrode.

6. The liquid crystal display device of claim 3 , the first patterns and the second patterns have a same length.

7. A method of treating an alignment layer, the method comprising the steps of:

preparing a display panel having an alignment layer on one surface of the display panel;

placing the display panel on a support;

bring a rubbing member into contact with the alignment layer; and

rubbing the alignment layer by transferring the alignment layer and the rubbing member with respect to each other;

the step of rubbing the alignment layer comprises transferring one of the rubbing member and the alignment layer in a first direction while allowing the rubbing member to reciprocate relative to the alignment layer in a second direction different from the first direction so as to form a plurality of rubbed patterns formed on a surface of the alignment layer, each rubbed pattern including first patterns intersecting a center axis at a first angle and second patterns intersecting the center axis at a second angle, and each rubbed pattern formed in a continuous zigzag shape by connecting the first and second patterns which are alternately repeated along the center axis.

8. The method of claim 7 , the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

9. The method of claim 8 , the rubbing member reciprocates at a pace ranging from 0.2 to 3 millimeters.

10. The method of claim 7 , the rubbing member is allowed to reciprocate in the second direction while transferring the rubbing member in the first direction.

11. The method of claim 7 , the rubbing member is allowed to reciprocate in the second direction while moving the display panel in a direction opposite to the first direction.