All The Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:
a first substrate having a first electrode formed of a conductor;
a second substrate having a second electrode arranged to face said first electrode; and
a liquid crystal layer held between said first and second substrates and containing liquid crystal molecules which are set substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to said first and second substrates in a state where no potential difference exists between said first and second electrodes;
wherein said first electrode comprises a pixel electrode configured to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal molecules, said first electrode has a void space located in said conductor to divide the first electrode into segments and thereby forming boundaries that divide a pixel area defined by an overlap of said first and second electrodes into minute domains between which different directors of said liquid crystal molecules are obtained when a potential difference is applied between said first and second electrodes, and a bridge-wiring member interconnecting adjacent parts of said first conductor across said void space to connect said segments together, and said bridge-wiring member is configured to make an electric field created in a part of said pixel area located above said bridge-wiring member weaker than that created in said minute domains above the segments of the pixel electrode that are displaced from the bridge wiring member when the potential difference is applied between said first and second electrodes.
2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein capacitance per unit area between said first and second electrodes is smaller in a range corresponding to part of said pixel area located on said bridge-wiring member than in a range corresponding to said minute domain.
3. The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, wherein a dielectric body having a dielectric constant smaller than that of the said liquid crystal layer is disposed on a part of the said pixel area which is located on said bridge-wiring member and said dielectric body contacts said bridge-wiring member.
4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein said dielectric body has a dielectric constant of not larger than 3 and a thickness of not smaller than 0.1 \u03bcm.
5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, which further comprises spacers provided between said first and second substrates to maintain a gap between said first and second substrates and in which said dielectric body is formed of the same material as that of said spacer.
6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein a distance between said first and second electrodes is longer in a range corresponding to part of said pixel area located on said bridge-wiring member than in a range corresponding to said minute domain.
7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein the distance between said first and second electrodes is longer in a range corresponding to part of said pixel area located on said bridge-wiring member than in a range corresponding to said minute domain by 0.5 to 2.0 \u03bcm.
8. The liquid crystal device according to claim 6, wherein said bridge-wiring member of said first electrode connects across the void space dividing the pixel area of the first electrode and said bridge-wiring member is formed on a concave portion located in said first substrate under the void space.
9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein a dielectric body is formed on said bridge-wiring member.
10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein said first electrode is formed on a color filter located on said first substrate, and said concave portion is part of said color filter.

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 device for separating and curling eyelashes, the device extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and defining a midplane including the longitudinal axis, the device comprising:
a heater member; and
at least two rows of projecting elements disposed on either side of the heater member and defining spaces configured to receive eyelashes, the projecting elements being configured to separate the eyelashes,
wherein the heater member and the rows of projecting elements are configured such that the projecting elements selectively either
separate the eyelashes without the eyelashes contacting the heater member, or
curl the eyelashes while subjecting the eyelashes to heat from the heater member,

wherein the device is not configured to close a receptacle containing a product for being applied to the eyelashes,
wherein the heater member extends longitudinally in the midplane, and
wherein at least some of the projecting elements define free ends projecting away from the longitudinal midplane.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the heater member defines a length and at least one row of projecting elements extends substantially parallel to the heater member over at least a portion of the length of the heater member.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one row of projecting elements extends entirely along one side of the heater member.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device does not include a skirt configured to fix the device onto a receptacle.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device does not include an internally threaded skirt configured to fix the device onto a receptacle.
6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a handle member and a head comprising the heater member and at least one row of projecting elements, wherein the device does not include a circularly cylindrical rod extending between the handle member and the head.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device does not include a wiper.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the heater member is configured to be heated via electricity.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one row of projecting elements comprises at least seven projecting elements.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one row of projecting elements comprises a number of projecting elements ranging from about 7 to about 35.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the two rows of projecting elements are located symmetrically about the midplane.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the projecting elements comprise teeth formed via molding a plastics material.
13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a support, wherein the projecting elements comprise teeth formed via molding a plastics material integrally with the support.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the heater member is associated with the support.
15. The device of claim 1, further comprising a portion carrying the heater member, wherein at least one projecting element is associated with the portion.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein at least one row of projecting elements is associated with the portion.
17. The device of claim 1, further comprising two lateral portions and a central portion, wherein each lateral portion is associated with a row of projecting elements and the lateral portions are associated with the central portion.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the heater member is associated with the central portion.
19. The device of claim 1, wherein the projecting elements define a length ranging from about 1 millimeter to about 15 millimeters.
20. The device of claim 1, wherein the projecting elements define a length ranging from about 3 millimeters to about 10 millimeters.
21. The device of claim 1, wherein free ends of the projecting elements are arranged in a line that is outwardly concave and configured to follow an eyelid curvature.
22. The device of claim 1, wherein the heater member extends along an outwardly concave, curvilinear longitudinal axis.
23. The device of claim 1, wherein all the projecting elements define free ends projecting away from the longitudinal midplane.
24. The device of claim 1, wherein the projecting elements define spaces between one another as viewed from a side perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device.
25. The device of claim 24, wherein the spaces define V-shaped grooves.
26. The device of claim 1, wherein the projecting elements are formed from a plastics material configured to withstand a maximum temperature reached by the heater member.
27. The device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical power supply associated with the heater member.
28. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cap.
29. The device of claim 28, wherein the cap is configured to be mounted on a portion of the device via snap-fastening.
30. The device of claim 1, wherein the projecting elements taper toward their free ends.
31. The device of claim 1, wherein projecting elements of a row of projecting elements define a geometrical separation surface, and the projecting elements of the row of projecting elements extend in alternating fashion on either side of the geometrical separation surface.
32. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a support defining a generally outwardly concave face.
33. The device of claim 1, further comprising ribs configured to substantially prevent eyelids from contacting the heater member.
34. The device of claim 33, wherein the ribs extend generally transversely relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the device.
35. The device of claim 33, wherein the ribs define a rounded top edge.
36. The device of claim 1, wherein the heater member does not define spaces in which eyelashes become engaged.
37. The device of claim 1, wherein each row of projecting elements defines a geometrical separation surface, and wherein the projecting elements of each row of projecting elements extend in alternating fashion on either side of their corresponding geometrical separation surface;
the device further comprising:
a support defining a generally outwardly concave face associated with the projecting elements; and
ribs configured to substantially prevent eyelids from contacting the heater member, the ribs extending generally transversely relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the device, and the ribs defining a rounded top edge.
38. The device of claim 1, wherein the projecting elements of each row of projecting elements are substantially aligned with one another;
the device further comprising:
a support defining a generally outwardly concave face associated with the projecting elements; and
ribs configured to substantially prevent eyelids from contacting the heater member, the ribs extending generally transversely relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the device, and the ribs defining a rounded top edge.
39. A method of curling eyelashes, comprising:
applying mascara to the eyelashes;
providing the device of claim 1;
separating the eyelashes using the at least one row of projecting elements without subjecting the eyelashes to heat given off by the heater member; and
curling the eyelashes while subjecting them to the heat given off by the heater member.
40. A method of curling eyelashes, comprising:
providing the device of claim 1; and
curling the eyelashes while subjecting the eyelashes to heat given off by the heater member and while engaging the eyelashes between the projecting elements.
41. A device for separating and curling eyelashes, the device extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and defining a midplane including the longitudinal axis, the device comprising:
a heater member defining a generally curved axis; and
at least two rows of projecting elements disposed on either side of the heater member and extending along a generally curved axis extending substantially parallel to the generally curved axis of the heater member, the projecting elements defining spaces between one another configured to receive eyelashes, the projecting elements being configured to separate the eyelashes,
wherein the heater member and the rows of projecting elements are configured such that the projecting elements selectively either
separate the eyelashes without the eyelashes contacting the heater member, or
curl the eyelashes while subjecting the eyelashes to heat from the heater member, and

wherein at least some of the projecting elements define free ends projecting away from the longitudinal midplane.
42. A device for separating and curling eyelashes, the device extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and defining a midplane including the longitudinal axis, the device comprising:
a heater member; and
at least one row of projecting elements defining spaces between one another configured to receive eyelashes, the projecting elements being configured to separate the eyelashes,
and
wherein at least some of the projecting elements define free ends projecting away from the longitudinal midplane.
43. The device of claim 42, wherein the free ends facing away from the longitudinal midplane face in a direction defining an angle with respect to the midplane ranging from about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees.
44. The device of claim 43, wherein the angle ranges from about 15 degrees to about 40 degrees.
45. The device of claim 43, wherein the angle ranges from about 20 degrees to about 35 degrees.
46. A device for separating and curling eyelashes, the device extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and defining a midplane including the longitudinal axis, the device comprising:
a central portion on which a heater member configured to supply sufficient heat for curling eyelashes when activated extends; and
at least one lateral portion different from the central portion, fitted onto the central portion and carrying at least one row of projecting elements configured to engage and separate eyelashes,
wherein the heater member and the at least one row of projecting elements are configured such that when the heater member is activated, the device is configured to selectively either
separate the eyelashes without the eyelashes contacting the heater member and without the heater member supplying sufficient heat to the eyelashes to substantially curl the eyelashes, or
curl the eyelashes while subjecting the eyelashes to sufficient heat to curl the eyelashes via contact with the heater member, and

wherein at least some of the projecting elements define free ends projecting away from the longitudinal midplane.
47. The device of claim 46, wherein at least one lateral portion is removably secured to the central portion.
48. The device of claim 46, wherein at least one lateral portion is permanently secured to the central portion.
49. A method of separating and curling eyelashes, the method comprising:
separating eyelashes via at least one projecting element without subjecting the eyelashes to sufficient heat to curl the eyelashes; and
curling the eyelashes via heat sufficient to curl to the eyelashes.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein curling the eyelashes comprises contacting a heater member to the eyelashes.

1. A method for implementing a retrotraverse software routine for a remote vehicle configured to communicate with an operator control unit when a control signal from the operator control unit is not received, the method comprising:
executing the retrotraverse software routine, using a processor, including or in communication with a waypoint routine that maintains a list of time-stamped waypoints stored in a memory to cause the remote vehicle to be navigated according to the retrotraverse software routine, the time-stamped waypoints separated by at least a minimum difference in time and distance, the waypoint routine or the retrotraverse software routine generating a return path interconnecting at least two previously-traversed waypoints in reverse order of timestamps,
wherein the remote vehicle is navigated successively to a next previous time-stamped waypoint in the list until a control signal is received from the operator control unit.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing the retrotraverse software routine comprises automatically executing the retrotraverse software routine when communication with the operator control unit is lost.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording a list of start time and end time pairs for each retrotraverse period of time to obtain a list of previously-performed retrotraverses for at least one of the waypoint routine and the retrotraverse software routine.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising excluding waypoints recorded during the previously-performed retrotraverses from the retrotraverse software routine.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein excluding waypoints recorded during the previously-performed retrotraverses comprises excluding waypoints recorded between the start time and the end time pairs for each of the previously-performed retrotraverses.
6. The method of claim 3, further comprising excluding waypoints traversed during the previously-performed retrotraverses from the retrotraverse software routine.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a lookahead vector to allow smooth navigation of the remote vehicle along an intended path of travel, and
utilizing a lookahead vector in the retrotraverse software routine.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the utilizing a lookahead vector comprises only utilizing the lookahead vector in the retrotraverse software routine when the lookahead vector lies within a predetermined distance of each of the waypoints along the intended path of travel.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising avoiding taking shortcuts that bypass waypoints in the retrotraverse software routine when the lookahead vector is utilized.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising utilizing a radius of interception in the retrotraverse software routine to determine whether the remote vehicle has reached one of the waypoints when the lookahead vector is utilized.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising utilizing a perpendicular plane in the retrotraverse software routine to determine whether the remote vehicle has passed one of the waypoints when the lookahead vector is utilized.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising navigating the remote vehicle along the return path according to the retrotraverse software routine.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the navigating the remote vehicle along the return path comprises selecting a forward or backward direction to navigate the remote vehicle along the return path based on a determination of which direction requires the least rotation.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a position of the remote vehicle using odometry.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining a position of the remote vehicle comprises using a global positioning system, tying global positioning system data to odometry data, and using a Kalman filter to provide confidence in the position of the remote vehicle based on the odometry data and the global positioning system data.
16. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a position of the remote vehicle by maintaining a global map and placing coordinates of the remote vehicle within the global map.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining a position of the remote vehicle comprises maintaining a destination point within the global map and adjusting a heading of the remote vehicle to navigate the remote vehicle toward the destination point.
18. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a position of the remote vehicle by using one or more of a global positioning system or navigation beacon points.

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 Bluetooth communication method, the method comprising:
transforming, by a first Bluetooth device, authentication information required to establish a Bluetooth communication connection into an audio signal;
outputting the transformed audio signal via a speaker of the first Bluetooth device;
receiving a Bluetooth communication connection request signal from a second Bluetooth device receiving the transformed audio signal;
transmitting, by the first Bluetooth device, a response signal corresponding to the Bluetooth communication connection request signal to the second Bluetooth device; and
establishing a Bluetooth communication channel with the second Bluetooth device,
wherein the authentication information required to establish a Bluetooth communication technique includes a unique address identifying the first Bluetooth device, and
wherein the outputting of the transformed audio signal is performed when a proximity sensor of the first Bluetooth device senses that the second Bluetooth device is within a certain range of the first Bluetooth device in a transmission mode where contents are transmitted to the second Bluetooth device.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
transmitting, by the first Bluetooth device, contents selected by a user to the second Bluetooth device via the Bluetooth communication channel.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
determining if all contents selected by the user have been transmitted by the first Bluetooth device; and
if it is determined that all contents selected by the user have been transmitted by the first Bluetooth device, terminating the Bluetooth communication channel and displaying an indication that all contents have been transmitted.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
if it is determined that all contents selected by the user have not been transmitted by the first Bluetooth device, displaying a message asking whether to terminate the Bluetooth communication connection with the second Bluetooth device.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission mode is executed when the user makes a preset motion so that a motion sensor can sense it.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transforming of the authentication information into the audio signal further comprises at least one of mixing the transformed audio signal with another sound source signal and applying a masking effect to the transformed audio signal.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting, by the first Bluetooth device, of the response signal to the second Bluetooth device comprises determining that the request signal is received within a certain time.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein, after the outputting of the transformed audio signal via the speaker of the first Bluetooth device, the first Bluetooth device receives only the Bluetooth communication request signal from the second Bluetooth device before transmitting the response signal corresponding to the Bluetooth communication request signal.
9. A Bluetooth communication system, the system comprising:
a first Bluetooth device configured to transform authentication information required to establish a Bluetooth communication connection into an audio signal, and configured to output the audio signal; and
a second Bluetooth device configured to receive the audio signal, configured to extract the authentication information from the received audio signal, and configured to establish a Bluetooth communication channel with the first Bluetooth device, using the extracted authentication information,
wherein the authentication information required to establish a Bluetooth communication technique includes a unique address identifying the first Bluetooth device, and
wherein the first Bluetooth device includes a proximity sensor configured to sense that the second Bluetooth device is within a certain range of the first Bluetooth device, and
wherein the first Bluetooth device activates the speaker and transmits the audio signal to the second Bluetooth device upon the proximity sensor sensing that the second Bluetooth device is within the certain range of the first Bluetooth device.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first Bluetooth device transmits contents selected by a user to the second Bluetooth device via the Bluetooth communication channel.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first Bluetooth device determines if all contents selected by the user have been transmitted, and, if it is determined that all contents selected by the user have been transmitted, terminates the Bluetooth communication channel and displays an indication that all contents have been transmitted.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first Bluetooth device, if it is determined that all contents selected by the user have not been transmitted, displays a message asking whether to terminate the Bluetooth communication connection with the second Bluetooth device.
13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first Bluetooth device transforms the authentication information into an audio signal, and broadcasts it in a transmission mode in which contents are transmitted to the second Bluetooth device.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein, when a proximity sensor of the second Bluetooth device senses that the first Bluetooth device is within a certain range of the second Bluetooth device, the second Bluetooth device activates the microphone and receives the audio signal from the first Bluetooth device.
15. The system of claim 9, wherein the first Bluetooth device determines if the request signal is received within a certain time prior to transmitting of the response signal to the second Bluetooth device.
16. The system of claim 9, wherein, after the first Bluetooth device outputs the audio signal, the first Bluetooth device receives only a Bluetooth communication request signal from the second Bluetooth device before the second Bluetooth device establishes the Bluetooth communication channel with the first Bluetooth device.
17. A Bluetooth communication method, the method comprising:
receiving an audio signal transforming authentication information required to establish a Bluetooth communication connection via a microphone;
extracting the authentication information from the received audio signal;
transmitting a Bluetooth communication connection request signal using the extracted authentication information; and
receiving a response signal in response to the Bluetooth communication connection request signal for establishing a Bluetooth communication channel with a Bluetooth device transmitting the response signal,
wherein the authentication information required to establish a Bluetooth communication technique includes a unique address identifying the Bluetooth device and
wherein the receiving of the audio signal comprises:
sensing, by a proximity sensor, that the Bluetooth device transmitting the response signal is within a certain range;
activating the microphone; and
receiving the audio signal via the microphone.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving at least one content through the Bluetooth communication channel from the Bluetooth device transmitting the response signal.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein, after the extracting of the authentication information, only the Bluetooth communication connection request signal is transmitted before the receiving of the response signal from the Bluetooth device transmitting the response signal.