1. An apparatus for exercising facial muscles, comprising:
a) a plurality of arms each having an end portion of a pre-selected thickness and a hole there-through determined by a circumferential rim; and
b) an equal plurality of bifurcated pad assemblies each having upper and lower pads made of compressible, resilient material, each upper pad having an upper surface with a first indentation adapted to closely receive a portion of at least one upper tooth, and a lower surface attached to a neck with a circumferential groove and a length slightly larger than the end portion thickness, each lower pad having a lower surface with a second indentation adapted to closely receive a portion of at least one lower tooth, and an upper surface attached to the neck, the lower pad of each pad assembly inserted through an end portion hole and the hole rim received within the groove.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
a) said plurality is 2;
b) the two arms are attached distally to an arcuate handle;
c) the two pad assemblies are laterally opposed;
d) each first indentation receives a portion of at least one upper molar tooth; and
e) each second indentation receives a portion of at least one lower molar tooth.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality is 4;
a) two arms are attached to a tongue, forming a first Y-shaped assembly;
b) two arms are attached to a sleeve having a longitudinal slot, forming a second Y-shaped assembly, the tongue closely received within the slot;
c) a first pair of pad assemblies are laterally opposed and each first indentation thereof receives a portion of at least one upper molar tooth, and each second indentation thereof receives a portion of at least one lower molar tooth;
d) a second pair of pad assemblies are laterally opposed and each first indentation thereof receives a portion of at least one upper premolar tooth, and each second indentation thereof receives a portion of at least one lower premolar tooth.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising means for changing the separation of the pad assemblies.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means comprises a spacer of incrementally adjustable length connected between the arms.
6. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising means for adjusting the separation of each pair of laterally opposed pad assemblies.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means comprises slidably positioning and fixing the tongue within the slot.
8. An apparatus for exercising facial muscles, comprising:
a) first and second arms having, respectively, first and second generally parallel central portions, first and second end distal portions attached to an arcuate handle, and opposed first and second proximal end portions each having upper and lower surfaces determining a common pre-selected thickness and a hole there-through determined by a circumferential rim; and
b) first and second bifurcated pad assemblies each having upper and lower pads made of compressible, resilient material, each upper pad having an upper surface with a first indentation adapted to closely receive a portion of at least one upper molar tooth, and a lower surface attached to a neck with a circumferential groove and a length slightly larger than the end portion thickness, each lower pad having a lower surface with a second indentation adapted to closely receive a portion of at least one lower molar tooth, and an upper surface attached to the neck, the lower pad of each assembly inserted through an end portion hole so the hole rim is received within the groove.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first and second arm central portions each comprise a proximal sub-portion having an interior edge with a tapped hole, each hole engaged by a threaded end of a shaft having a knob symmetrically disposed between the two edges whereby the shaft end depth within each hole can be adjusted.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the arms consist essentially of polypropylene.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pads consist of material demonstrated to be non-toxic and safe for use in a human mouth.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pads consist essentially of a silicone rubber.
13. An apparatus for exercising facial muscles, comprising:
a) first and second arms having, respectively, opposed first and second proximal end portions each having upper and lower surfaces determining a common pre-selected thickness and a hole there-through determined by a circumferential rim, each arm attached distally to a tongue, the arms and tongue forming a first y-shaped assembly;
b) third and fourth arms having, respectively, opposed third and fourth proximal end portions each having upper and lower surfaces of said common thickness and a hole there-through determined by a circumferential rim, each arm attached distally to a sleeve having an upper surface and a longitudinal slot, the arms and sleeve forming a second Y-shaped assembly, said tongue closely received within the slot;
c) first, second, third, and fourth bifurcated pad assemblies each having upper and lower pads made of compressible, resilient material, the upper pad of the first and third pad assemblies having an upper surface with a first indentation adapted to closely receive a portion of at least one upper molar tooth, the upper pad of the second and fourth pad assemblies having an upper surface with a first indentation adapted to closely receive a portion of at least one upper premolar tooth, the upper pad of the first, second, third, and fourth pad assemblies having a lower surface attached to a neck with a circumferential groove and a length slightly larger than the end portion thickness, the lower pad of the first and third pad assemblies having a lower surface with a second indentation adapted to closely receive a portion of at least one lower molar tooth, the lower pad of the second and fourth pad assemblies having a lower surface with a second indentation adapted to closely receive a portion of at least one lower premolar tooth, the lower pad of the first, second, third and fourth assemblies having an upper surface attached to the neck, the lower pad of each pad assembly inserted through an end portion hole so the hole rim is received within the groove;
d) the first and third pad assemblies laterally opposed; and
e) the second and fourth pad assemblies laterally opposed.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for changing the separation of the first and third pad assemblies, and the second and fourth pad assemblies.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said means comprises a first plurality of holes in the sleeve upper surface, a second plurality of prongs in the tongue, said holes collinear and equally spaced and said prongs collinear and equally spaced,
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the arms consist essentially of polypropylene.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the pads consist of material demonstrated to be non-toxic and safe for use in a human mouth.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the pads consist essentially of a silicone rubber.
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. A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising:
a first substrate;
a second substrate arranged opposite to the first substrate with a gap;
a liquid crystal layer held between the first substrate and the second substrate; and
a plurality of pixels provided between the first substrate and the second substrate,
wherein each pixel has a first pixel part including a switching element and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element, and a second pixel part including a switching element and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element; and first liquid crystal molecules lying on the first pixel part of each pixel are oriented independently of second liquid crystal molecules lying on the second pixel part of the pixel.
2. A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising:
a first substrate;
a second substrate arranged opposite to the first substrate with a gap;
a liquid crystal layer held between the first substrate and the second substrate; and
a plurality of pixels provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, each comprising a plurality of sub-pixels of different colors and being the smallest display element capable of appearing white,
wherein each sub-pixel has a first pixel part including a switching element and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element, and a second pixel part including a switching element and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element; and first liquid crystal molecules lying on the first pixel part of each sub-pixel are oriented independently of second liquid crystal molecules lying on the second pixel part of the sub-pixel.
3. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a color filter having a plurality of color layers of different colors,
wherein the color layers provided on the first and second pixel parts of each sub-pixel are of the same color.
4. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first liquid crystal molecules and the second liquid crystal molecules are oriented in substantially the same direction.
5. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
an orientation control unit provided between the first and second substrates and configured to control the orientation of the first liquid crystal molecules and second liquid crystal molecules.
6. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first liquid crystal molecules are oriented in one direction, and the second liquid crystal molecules are oriented in another direction.
7. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first liquid crystal molecules tilt from a normal to the planes of the first and second substrates and are oriented in a certain direction, and the second liquid crystal molecules tilt from a normal and are oriented in the opposite direction.
8. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first liquid crystal molecules and the second liquid crystal molecules are twisted in opposite directions, or in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively.
9. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a control unit configured to apply a drive voltage to each of the switching elements and to adjust the drive voltage, thereby to control the orientation of the first liquid crystal molecules and second liquid crystal molecules.
10. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a control unit configured to apply a drive voltage to each of the switching elements and to adjust the drive voltage, thereby to switch the apparatus to a black display mode in which the first liquid crystal molecules and the second liquid crystal molecules are oriented in one direction to appear black, or to a broad viewing-angle display mode in which the first liquid crystal molecules tilt from a normal to the planes of the first and second substrates and are oriented in a certain direction, and the second liquid crystal molecules tilt from the normal and are oriented in the opposite direction, in order to display an image.
11. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a control unit configured to apply a drive voltage to each of the switching elements and to adjust the drive voltage, thereby to switch the apparatus to a broad viewing-angle display mode in which the first liquid crystal molecules tilt from a normal to the planes of the first and second substrates and are oriented in a certain direction, and the second liquid crystal molecules tilt from the normal and are oriented in the opposite direction, in order to display an image, or to a narrow viewing-angle display mode in which either the first liquid crystal molecules or the second liquid crystal molecules are oriented in one direction, while the other liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a direction inclined from the normal, thereby to display an image in a direction inclined from the normal.
12. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a control unit configured to apply a drive voltage to each switching element; and
first-pixel groups and second-pixel groups, provided between the first and second substrates and arranged to form a checkerboard pattern,
wherein
the first-pixel groups and second-pixel groups have a plurality of pixels each; and
the control unit adjusts the drive voltage, thereby switching the apparatus to a broad viewing-angle display mode in which the first liquid crystal molecules tilt from a normal to the planes of the first and second substrates and are oriented in a certain direction, and the second liquid crystal molecules tilt from the normal and are oriented in the opposite direction, in order to display an image, or to a narrow viewing-angle display mode in which the liquid crystal molecules of the first-pixel groups tilt from the normal in one direction and the liquid crystal molecules of the second-pixel groups tilt from the normal in another direction, thereby to display an image in front of the planes.
13. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when the control unit switches the apparatus to the narrow viewing-angle display mode, the first liquid crystal molecules of the first-pixel groups tilt from the normal and are oriented in a certain direction, the second liquid crystal molecules of the second-pixel groups tilt from the normal and are oriented in another direction, and the second liquid crystal molecules of the first-pixel groups and the first liquid crystal molecules of the second-pixel groups are oriented in one direction.
14. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when the control unit switches the apparatus to the narrow viewing-angle display mode, in a direction inclined from the formal to the planes, the first-pixel groups or the second-pixel groups display an image and the other pixel groups appear black, thereby displaying an image having a checkerboard pattern.
15. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a control unit configured to apply a drive voltage to each switching element,
wherein
the pixels consist of first pixels and second pixels;
the control unit adjusts the drive voltage, thereby to switch the apparatus to a broad viewing-angle display mode in which the first liquid crystal molecules tilt from a normal to the planes of the first and second substrates and are oriented in a certain direction, and the second liquid crystal molecules tilt from the normal and are oriented in another direction, in order to display an image, or to a stereoscopic display mode in which the first liquid crystal molecules of the first pixels and the second liquid crystal molecules of the second pixels tilt from the normal and are oriented in different directions, and the second liquid crystal molecules of the first pixels and the first liquid crystal molecules of the second pixels are oriented in one direction, thereby to display images;
the first liquid crystal molecules of each first pixel and the second liquid crystal molecules of each second pixel have larger tilt angles in the stereoscopic display mode than in the planer display mode; and
the first pixels form an image visible to one eye of a user and the second pixels form an image visible to the other eye of the user, once the control unit has switched the apparatus to the stereoscopic display mode.
16. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a control unit configured to apply a drive voltage to each switching element,
wherein
the pixels consist of first pixels and second pixels;
the control unit adjusts the drive voltage, thereby to switch the apparatus to a broad viewing-angle display mode in which the first liquid crystal molecules tilt from a normal to the planes of the first and second substrates and are oriented in a certain direction, and the second liquid crystal molecules tilt from the normal and are oriented in another direction, in order to display an image, or to a two-screen display mode in which the first liquid crystal molecules of the first pixels and the second liquid crystal molecules of the second pixels tilt from the normal and are oriented in different directions, and the second liquid crystal molecules of the first pixels and the first liquid crystal molecules of the second pixels are oriented in one direction, thereby to display images; and
the first pixels form an image visible in a direction inclined from the normal and the second pixels form an image visible in another direction inclined to the normal, once the control unit has switched the apparatus to the two-screen display mode.
17. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, which operates in an orientation-divided, vertical orientation mode; and in which the liquid crystal layer is made of a nematic liquid crystal, the first liquid crystal molecules and the second liquid crystal molecules are oriented along a normal to the planes of the first and second substrates while the control unit is applying no drive voltage, and the first liquid crystal molecules and the second liquid crystal molecules tilt from the normal and are oriented in different directions while the control unit is applying the drive voltage.
18. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a first polarizing plate arranged opposite to the first substrate and having an absorption axis parallel to a direction along the planes of the first and second substrates;
a second polarizing plate arranged opposite to the second substrate and having an absorption axis parallel to a direction along the planes and intersecting at right angles to the absorption axis of the first polarizing plate;
a polarizing reflector plate arranged between the second substrate and the second polarizing plate; and
a backlight unit arranged to face the first substrate across the first polarizing plate and configured to emit light toward the first polarizing plate.
19. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the polarizing reflector plate has a plurality of isotropic medium layers and a plurality of anisotropic medium layers and is a linear-polarizing reflector which reflects a linearly polarized beam parallel to the absorption axis of the second polarizing plate, the isotropic medium layers and the anisotropic medium layers being alternately laid, one on another.
20. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the polarizing reflector plate has a circularly-polarizing reflector layer and a quarter-wave plate arranged opposite to the circularly-polarizing reflector layer.