1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein:
a picture element region comprises a first electrode provided on one side of the first substrate which is closer to the liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on the second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer;
the liquid crystal layer is a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropy; and
the picture element region includes at least one orientation-regulating region, the orientation-regulating region including a first region in which an electric field applied across the liquid crystal layer by the first electrode and the second electrode has a first electric field strength, a second region in which the electric field has a second electric field strength which is smaller than the first electric field strength, and a third region in which the electric field has a third electric field strength which is smaller than the second electric field strength, wherein the first, second and third regions are arranged in this order in a predetermined direction;
wherein a boundary between the first region and the second region, and a boundary between the second region and the third region, are each oriented so as to each extend substantially only in a single direction which is perpendicular to the predetermined direction;
wherein the display includes a plurality of the picture element regions including respective ones of the first electrodes arranged in a matrix having row and column directions, and wherein both the predetermined direction and the single direction are angled relative to the column direction;
a third electrode in the pixel element region, the first electrode being provided on one side of the first substrate which is closer to the liquid crystal layer than said third electrode;
wherein in said second region the electric field is applied across the liquid crystal layer by said third electrode and the second electrode and has a second electric field strength which is smaller than the first electric field strength, and;
wherein in the third region the electric field applied across the liquid crystal layer by at least a slit andor aperture region of the third electrode and the second electrode has a third electric field strength which is smaller than the second electric field strength; and
wherein voltages applied to the first electrodes are supplied independently for each pixel region.
2. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein:
a plurality of picture element regions are provided each of which is defined by a first electrode provided on one side of the first substrate which is closer to the liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on the second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer;
the liquid crystal layer is a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropy;
the first electrode includes a lower conductive layer, a dielectric layer covering the lower conductive layer, and an upper conductive layer provided on one side of the dielectric layer which is closer to the liquid crystal layer; the upper conductive layer includes an upper layer opening for each of the plurality of picture element regions, and the lower conductive layer includes a lower layer opening for each of the plurality of picture element regions;
at least one of the plurality of picture element regions includes a first region in which the liquid crystal layer is arranged between the upper conductive layer of the first electrode and the second electrode, a second region in which the liquid crystal layer and the dielectric layer located within the upper layer opening are arranged between the lower conductive layer of the first electrode and the second electrode, and a third region in which the liquid crystal layer and the dielectric layer located within the upper layer opening are arranged between the lower layer opening of the first electrode and the second electrode;
wherein, in a plane of the at least one picture element region, the third region is substantially entirely enclosed inside the second region, and the second region is substantially entirely enclosed inside the first region, and under the application of a voltage between the first and second electrodes, an axially symmetrical orientation is formed around the lower layer opening; and
wherein voltages applied to the upper conductive layer are supplied independently for each pixel region.
3. The liquid crystal display device of claim 2, wherein a boundary between the first and the second regions includes four sides each of which is parallel to one of outer edges of the upper conductive layer.
4. The liquid crystal display device of claim 2, wherein the lower layer opening has a polygonal shape or a circle.
5. The liquid crystal display device of claim 2, wherein the lower layer opening does not have a convex polygonal shape.
6. The liquid crystal display device of claim 2, wherein the first electrode is a picture element electrode.
7. The liquid crystal display device of claim 2, wherein the second electrode is a common electrode.
8. The liquid crystal display device of claim 2, wherein a potential of the lower conductive layer (Va), a potential of the upper conductive layer (Vb), and a potential of the second electrode (Vc) satisfy a relationship where Vb\u2266Va<Vc or Vb\u2267Va>Vc.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An award trophy comprising:
(a) a supporting base having an upper surface and a lower surface;
(b) a riser member superimposed over and connected to said base, said riser member having a wall; and
(c) a display assembly carried by said riser member for displaying indicia, said display assembly comprising:
(i) a display support member having a peripheral portion and being disposed within a first plane; and
(ii) a display member connected to said peripheral portion of said display support member, said display member having a peripheral portion and a central display portion and being disposed within a second plane extending angularly with respect to said first plane.
2. The award trophy as defined in claim 1 in which said display assembly further includes an indicia carrying member affixed to said central display portion of said display member.
3. The award trophy as defined in claim 1 in which said periphery of said display support member is curved and in which said wall of said riser member is curved.
4. The award trophy as defined in claim 1 in which said periphery of said display support member is rectangular and in which said riser member is rectangular in cross section.
5. The award trophy as defined in claim 1 in which said periphery of said display support member is curved, in which said wall of said riser member is curved and in which said peripheral portion of said display member is rectangular.
6. The award trophy as defined in claim 1 in which said periphery of said display support member is curved, in which said wall of said riser member is curved and in which said peripheral portion of said display member is curved.
7. The award trophy as defined in claim 1 in which said periphery of said display support member is rectangular, in which said riser member is rectangular in cross section and in which said periphery of said display’ member is curved.
8. The award trophy as defined in claim 1 in which said wall of said riser defines an interior space and in which said award trophy further comprises a threaded rod connected to said base and extending through said interior space of said riser, said threaded rod having first and second threaded ends.
9. The award trophy as defined in claim 8 in which said award trophy further comprises:
(a) a threaded coupler connected to said first end of said threaded rod; and
(b) a connector member connected to said threaded coupler said connector member having a body portion and a threaded shaft portion connected to said body portion and extending there from.
11. The award trophy as defined in claim 10 further including a nut threadably connected to said second end of said threaded rod.
12. An award trophy comprising:
(a) a supporting base having an upper surface, a lower surface and a central bore;
(b) a riser superimposed over said base, said riser having a wall defining an interior space;
(c) a threaded rod connected to said base and extending through said interior space of said riser, said threaded rod having a first threaded end and a second threaded end receivable within said central bore of said supporting base;
(d) a threaded coupler connected to said first end of said threaded rod;
(e) a connector member connected to said threaded coupler said connector member having a body portion and a threaded shaft portion connected to said body portion and extending there from; and
(f) a display assembly carried by said carried by said riser for displaying award indicia, said display assembly comprising:
(i) a display support member disposed between said connector member and said riser, said the display support member having a peripheral portion and a central aperture for receiving said threaded shaft portion of said connector member; and
(ii) a display member connected to said display support member, said display member having a peripheral portion and a central display portion.
13. The award trophy as defined in claim 12 in which said display assembly further includes an indicia carrying member affixed to said central display portion of said display member.
14. The award trophy as defined in claim 12 in which said display support member is disposed within a first plane and in which said display member is disposed within a second plane perpendicular to said first plane.
15. The award trophy as defined in claim 12 further including a nut threadably connected to said second end of said threaded rod.
16. The award trophy as defined in claim 12 in which said periphery of said display support member is curved and in which said wall of said riser member is curved.
17. The award trophy as defined in claim 12 in which said periphery of said display support member is rectangular and in which said riser member is rectangular in cross section.
18. An award trophy comprising:
(a) a supporting base having an upper surface, a lower surface and a central bore;
(b) a riser superimposed over said base, said riser having a side wall defining an interior space;
(c) a threaded rod connected to said base and extending through said interior space of said riser, said threaded rod having a first threaded end and a second threaded end receivable within said central bore of said supporting base;
(d) a threaded coupler connected to said first end of said threaded rod;
(e) a connector member connected to said threaded coupler said connector member having a body portion and a threaded shaft portion connected to said body portion and extending there from; and
(f) a display assembly carried by said carried by said riser for displaying award indicia, said display assembly comprising:
(i) a display support member disposed within a first plane and located between said connector member and said riser, said the display support member having a peripheral portion and a central aperture for receiving said threaded shaft portion of said connector member;
(ii) a display member connected to said display support member and being disposed within a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, said display member having a peripheral portion and a central display portion; and
(iii) an indicia carrying member affixed to said central display portion of said display member.
19. The award trophy as defined in claim 18 in which said periphery of said display support member is curved and in which said side wall of said riser member is curved.
20. The award trophy as defined in claim 18 in which said periphery of said display support member is rectangular and in which said riser member is rectangular in cross section.