Abstract: A light transmissive optical component comprising an electroactive material layer structure having a controlled deformation. When actuating the component, different relative thickness changes are implemented at different regions of the electroactive material layer thereby providing a non-uniform change in an optical function between those different regions.

Abstract: An actuator device is provided having a controllable stiffness profile, wherein an actuator member (12) comprises an electroactive polymer material (16) having light absorbing filler elements (20) embedded therein. The filler elements are adapted to absorb and convert incident light (26) to heat energy to therefore heat surrounding sections of the electroactive material. By selectively controlling an intensity level or spectral composition of a light source (24) directed at the actuator member, a specific degree and spread of heating can be achieved across the member and, as a result, a specific desired stiffness or flexibility profile can be realised across the actuator member.

Abstract: An electroactive polymer actuator comprises an electroactive polymer structure and a driver for providing an actuation drive signal. In one aspect a first drive signal with an overdrive voltage is used to change the charge of the electroactive polymer structure needed for switching the structure from one to another actuation state. When or after the electroactive polymer structure actuation is near or at the another actuation state, a drive voltage is used to bring to and hold the electroactive polymer structure at the actuated state. This temporary overdrive scheme improves the speed response without damaging the electroactive polymer structure.

Abstract: A flow sensor comprises an electroactive material device. A driver controls the electroactive material device to deliver heat locally to the flowing medium for which the flow is to be sensed. Temperature sensing signals are obtained and these are used to derive a flow measurement. The way the heat is dissipated relates to the flow, and it is measurable based on the temperature sensing signals. The temperature sensing involves measuring an electrical characteristic which comprises an impedance or an impedance phase angle of the electroactive material device at at least a first frequency and at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The influences of temperature and pressure can in this way be decoupled so that the temperature can be measured at any pressure.

Abstract: An electroactive polymer actuator comprises an electroactive polymer structure and a driver for providing an actuation drive signal. In one aspect a first drive level is used to charge the electroactive polymer structure from a non-actuated state to an actuated state. When or after the electroactive polymer structure reaches the actuated state, a lower second drive level is used to hold the electroactive polymer structure at the actuated state. This temporary overdrive scheme improves the speed response without damaging the electroactive polymer structure. In another aspect, a driving method makes use of several different level segments over time which compensate for the delayed actuation response of the EAP actuator.

Abstract: The invention provides a surface analysis device for application to a receiving surface to enable analysis of at least one measure of an elasticity of said surface across multiple different linear stretches or sections of the surface. The device includes a two-dimensional arrangement of actuators and sensors, comprising at least one actuating element, at least one sensing element, and at least one further sensing or actuating element. Selected sets of two or more of these elements are activated together by a controller, each set including at least one actuator and one sensor, to thereby obtain a measure of elasticity between each actuator and sensor pair in the set. Elasticity measures are obtained based on stimulating a deformation in the receiving surface at the actuator site, and measuring a resultant pressure and/or force exerted by the receiving surface at a further displaced point. Sensors may monitor a change in the exerted pressure and/or force for example.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises an electroactive polymer actuator (116) and a control circuit for driving the electroactive polymer actuator. The control circuit comprises a voltage boosting circuit including at least a capacitor (114; C11, C12, C13). An electroactive polymer layer (110) forms the electroactive polymer actuator in an active region (112) as well as a dielectric layer of the capacitor in a passive region (111). This provides integration of components to enable cost reductions and miniaturization.

Abstract: An actuator device has an electroactive polymer actuator (35) and an integrated piezoelectric transformer (30). At least the secondary side (34) of the transformer shares a piezoelectric electroactive polymer layer (36) with the electroactive polymer actuator, so that lower external voltages can be applied to the device. A diode (46) is connected between the secondary side of the transformer and the electroactive polymer actuator.

Abstract: The present application relates to a cold plasma device (1) for treating skin (5). The cold plasma device (1) comprises a cold plasma generator (3) adapted to generate cold plasma that produces reactive species for treating said skin (5), and a manipulator (10) adapted to manipulate said skin (5) to increase exposure of bacteria on said skin to said reactive species during use of the device.

Abstract: The present application relates to a cold plasma device (13) for treating a surface (6) with cold plasma. The device (13) has a cold plasma generator (14) adapted to generate cold plasma that produces reactive species for treating the surface (6). The device (13) also includes a treatment head (5) that is positionable relative to the surface (6) such that the reactive species are imparted toward the surface (6) during treatment. The device (13) is also provided with an air flow generator (8) to generate an air flow over the surface (6) and a controller (9) configured to control operation of the air flow generator (8) to generate an air flow over the surface (6) after the treatment has been completed such that remaining by-products of the cold plasma are dissipated.

Abstract: A sensor device comprising a passive matrix array of electroactive sensor elements arranged in rows and columns. In one example, each sensor element generates a binary sensor signal such that a total signal at each row and at each column enables any pattern of external inputs to be determined. This provides a first way to determine a pattern of sensor elements which are sensing an input using a passive matrix addressing scheme. In another example, each sensor element generates a sensor signal with a different frequency characteristic. This provides another way to enable any pattern of external inputs to be determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorption spectroscopy device, comprising a light cavity vessel (1) whose inner wall is at least partially coated with a light reflective layer (2), wherein said light reflective layer is a distributed Bragg reflector or is composed of stainless steel or aluminium; a photo-detector; and a light source, wherein said light source is capable of emitting light radiation which passes through said light cavity vessel, wherein said light cavity vessel is capable of reflecting the emitted radiation and wherein said photo-detector is capable of detecting at least a portion of the emitted light.

Abstract: The invention provides an electroactive material (preferably electroactive polymer) sensor system, comprising an electroactive material sensor (22) and a control system (28) for performing measurements relating to the impedance of the electroactive material sensor at at least first and second different frequencies. From these measurements a temperature at the sensor and an external pressure or force applied to the sensor can be determined. The sensor can thus be used as a pressure sensor and as a temperature sensor. When used in combination with actuation, an electroactive material actuator with integrated temperature sensing functionality is able to measure the temperature at the exact actuator position, which is always closer than an external thermocouple.

Abstract: A circuit and a method for operating LED lighting devices are described. A first LED lighting device and a second LED lighting device are electrically connected in series between first and second lighting circuit terminals. A third lighting circuit terminal is connected between the first and second LED lighting devices. A power supply with a first and second power supply terminals for delivering electrical power to the LED lighting devices is provided. Further, a switching circuit comprises at least a first switching element and second switching element. The first switching element is connected between the first power supply terminal and the first lighting circuit terminal. The second switching element is connected between the first power supply terminal and the third lighting circuit terminal. The switching circuit receives switching signals sw1, sw2 from a control circuit.

Abstract: A driver circuit for driving an LED arrangement (22), comprising: a power source for providing the LED arrangement with a regulated driving current, said converter (20) being adapted to convert an dimmed input power into said driving current; a current sensing element (42) in series with the LED arrangement (22) and adapted to sense the LED arrangement current through the LED arrangement (22); a bleeder circuit (40) having a bleeding path connected in parallel with the LED arrangement, adapted for removing a bleed portion from the driving current so as to decrease the output power of the LED arrangement; and a control circuit for enabling said bleeder circuit when the LED arrangement current sensed by the current sensing element is below a threshold so as to further dim the LED arrangement down.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting device, in particular a headlamp for vehicles, at least comprising an array of light sources, consisting of first and second light sources being mounted within the same flat or curved plane, and a projecting optical system arranged to project light emitted by the light sources in a forward direction of the lighting device. At least one shifting element is arranged in front of said first light sources. The shifting element generates real or virtual emission positions of the light of said first light sources shifted towards or away from the projecting optical system with respect to emission positions of said second light sources. With the proposed lighting device, in addition to the main lighting function of illumination, a pattern or signature can be projected at one or several additional image planes. The lighting device thus e.g. allows the additional projection of branding or safety patterns.

Abstract: A circuit and a method for operating LED lighting devices are described. A first LED lighting device and a second LED lighting device are electrically connected in series between first and second lighting circuit terminals. A third lighting circuit terminal is connected between the first and second LED lighting devices. A power supply with a first and second power supply terminals for delivering electrical power to the LED lighting devices is provided. Further, a switching circuit comprises at least a first switching element and second switching element. The first switching element is connected between the first power supply terminal and the first lighting circuit terminal. The second switching element is connected between the first power supply terminal and the third lighting circuit terminal. The switching circuit receives switching signals sw1, sw2 from a control circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a sensor for measuring a physiological parameter of a subject, wherein the physiological parameter sensor is adapted to be worn by the subject; an actuator comprising an electro-active polymer material, EAP, portion for adjusting the position of the physiological parameter sensor relative to the subject; a feedback sensor for measuring movement of the physiological parameter sensor and/or the subject; a controller configured to process the measurements of the feedback sensor and to adjust the position of the actuator based on information from the feedback sensor.

Abstract: System for configuring and powering a wireless batteryless device, the system comprising: a wireless batteryless device (A) comprising: a built-in harvester (12) for harvesting energy from a first energy source, for example ambient energy, means for communicating wirelessly, —and an external device (B) comprising: —a second power source (16), —means (17) for converting energy supplied by the second power source into energy suitable for being harvested in the harvester of the batteryless device, means (18) for wirelessly supplying the batteryless device with the converted energy via the built-in harvester, and means for communicating with the batteryless device. The invention also relates to an external device therefore, and a method for configuring and powering a batteryless device.

Abstract: This invention proposes a method of and a device for transmitting power via electromagnetic coupling from a transmission device to a set of reception devices, said method comprising a step of calculating by the transmission device, a first sum of given power levels defined by each reception device of said set of reception devices; if a maximum power that can be transmitted by the transmission device to said set of reception devices is less than said first sum, then performing a step of determining by said transmission device, based on said first sum and according to a set of criteria, a subset of reception devices among said set of reception devices, to which the transmission device transmits power.