Abstract: A security and/or authentication device comprising: a compressible photonic crystal having an ordered array of voids, the photonic crystal having a reflection peak, wherein compression against at least a portion photonic crystal results in a decrease of intensity of the reflection peak in at least that portion.

Abstract: A temperature-responsive photonic crystal device comprising having a temperature-responsive photonic crystal material, whereby exposure of the device to a temperature above a predetermined threshold temperature is indicated by a detectable change in the device.

Abstract: A tunable photonic crystal composition comprising: tunable photonic crystal particles having a polymer network with a periodic modulation of refractive indices, the polymer network having a reflectance wavelength, wherein the periodic modulation of refractive indices is responsive to an external stimulus and the reflectance wavelength is shifted in response to the external stimulus; and a carrier in which the particles are dispersed.

Abstract: A photonic crystal device comprising: a photonic crystal material having an initial ordered structure and a viewing surface, the initial ordered structure giving rise to a first optical effect detectable from the viewing surface; and a removal layer removably attached with the viewing surface or an opposing surface of the photonic crystal material opposite to the viewing surface; wherein mechanical removal of at least a portion of the removal layer results in a structural change in at least a portion of the initial ordered structure of at least a portion of the photonic crystal material respective to the portion of the removed removal layer, thereby resulting in a changed portion different from the initial ordered structure, the changed portion giving rise to a second optical effect detectable from the viewing surface and detectably different from the first optical effect.

Abstract: A tunable photonic crystal device comprising: alternating layers of a first material and a second material, the alternating layers comprising a responsive material, the responsive material being responsive to an external stimulus, the alternating layers having a periodic difference in refractive indices giving rise to a first reflected wavelength; wherein, in response to the external stimulus, a change in the responsive material results in a reflected wavelength of the device shifting from the first reflected wavelength to a second reflected wavelength.

Abstract: A photonic crystal electrical property indicator for a battery comprising: an electrically conductive working electrode and an electrically conductive counter electrode; an electrically-responsive photonic crystal material in contact with at least one of said first and second electrically conductive electrodes; an ionically conductive electrolyte provided between the working and counter electrodes; and electrical conductors for connecting the indicator to terminals of the battery; wherein the photonic crystal material has a reflectance spectrum that is responsive to a change in at least one electrical property of the battery, thereby providing an optically detectable indication of the at least one electrical property of the battery.

Abstract: This application describes a tunable photonic crystal device based on the electrical actuation of photonic crystal films.

Abstract: A compressible photonic crystal comprising a polymer with an ordered array of voids, the photonic crystal having a reflectance in a first wavelength range for light incident to its incident surface and its opposing incident surface; wherein compression against at least a portion of at least one of the surfaces shifts the reflectance to a second wavelength range in at least that portion of that surface. The crystal may be used in authentication devices of various types.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to implement a technique for generating interactive events in a simulation, such as creating encounters in an online computer game. In one implementation, encounters are created based on the players and the environment and allow for interaction that is different for different players. Players can select encounters for interaction and choose how to handle the encounter. Encounters may have one or more objectives for participating players to resolve. The objectives for the same encounter may be different for different characters depending on the characteristics of the player characters. If multiple player characters interact with the same encounter, they may each be presented with different objectives, some or all of which may be competing. In addition, the objectives for an encounter may change depending on how other objectives are resolved.

Abstract: A method of wavelength tuning a composite material. The method includes the steps of: producing an ordered array of first constituents having a first refractive index embedded within a cross-linked metallopolymer network having a second refractive index different than the first refractive index, the ordered array of first constituents having a lattice spacing giving rise to Bragg diffraction when the composite material is illuminated; and switching the electronic configuration of the cross-linked metallopolymer network so that the cross-linked polymer network changes dimensions and modulates the lattice spacing of the ordered array of first constituents, which shifts the Bragg diffraction wavelength to a pre-selected wavelength.

Abstract: This application describes a tunable photonic crystal device based on the electrical actuation of photonic crystal films.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a widely wavelength tunable polychrome colloidal photonic crystal device whose optical Bragg diffraction stop bands and higher energy bands wavelength, width and intensity can be tuned in a continuous and fine, rapid and reversible, reproducible and predictable fashion and over a broad spectral range by a controlled expansion or contraction of the colloidal photonic lattice dimension, effected by a predetermined change in the electronic configuration of the composite material. In its preferred embodiment, the material is a composite in the form of a film or a patterned film or shape of any dimension or array of shapes of any dimension comprised of an organized array of microspheres in a matrix of a cross-linked metallopolymer network with a continuously variable redox state of charge and fluid content.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a widely wavelength tunable polychrome colloidal photonic crystal device whose optical Bragg diffraction stop bands and higher energy bands wavelength, width and intensity can be tuned in a continuous and fine, rapid and reversible, reproducible and predictable fashion and over a broad spectral range by a controlled expansion or contraction of the colloidal photonic lattice dimension, effected by a predetermined change in the electronic configuration of the composite material. In its preferred embodiment, the material is a composite in the form of a film or a patterned film or shape of any dimension or array of shapes of any dimension comprised of an organized array of microspheres in a matrix of a cross-linked metallopolymer network with a continuously variable redox state of charge and fluid content.

Abstract: Endothelial dysfunction is a known indicator of coronary artery disease. Endothelial dysfunction is detected by measuring presence of a marker in arteries following the release of blood flow into the limb after a period of blockage of blood flow into the limb. The blood flow is measured in a pair of laterally opposed limbs, such as the patient's forearms, and the marker presence is compared between both limbs. One efficient marker is a tracer containing a radionuclide and the non-invasive measurement of the radionuclide is carried out by gamma ray detection.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a widely wavelength tunable polychrome colloidal photonic crystal device whose optical Bragg diffraction stop bands and higher energy bands wavelength, width and intensity can be tuned in a continuous and fine, rapid and reversible, reproducible and predictable fashion and over a broad spectral range by a controlled expansion or contraction of the colloidal photonic lattice dimension, effected by a predetermined change in the electronic configuration of the composite material. In its preferred embodiment, the material is a composite in the form of a film or a patterned film or shape of any dimension or array of shapes of any dimension comprised of an organized array of microspheres in a matrix of a cross-linked metallopolymer network with a continuously variable redox state of charge and fluid content.

Abstract: Endothelial dysfunction is a known indicator of cornary artery disease. Endothelial dysfunction is detected by measuring tracer presence in arteries following the release of blood flow into the limb after a period of blockage of blood flow into the limb. The blood flow is measured in a pair of laterally opposed limbs, such as the patient's forearms, and the tracer presence is compared between both limbs. An efficient tracer is a radionuclide and the non-invasive measurement of the radionuclide is carried out by gamma ray detection.