Abstract: An actuator comprises an electroactive polymer layer (402) and stretchable electrode structures (410, 411) that are disposed on each side of the electroactive polymer layer (402). A softer passive layer (401) is secured to one of the stretchable electrode structures (410, 411). When compressed transversally by the stretchable electrode structures (410, 411), the electroactive polymer layer (402) will expand tangentially and the actuator will relax into a shape wherein the interior of the electroded region is substantially parallel to the plane of the device, while a substantial portion of the area increase is absorbed by out-of-plane bends arising at the electrode boundary (duck mode). The invention can be embodied as optically reflective or refractive devices with variable geometry.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator device (400) comprising an active layer (410) having directly or indirectly a skin layer (420) on top that can be touched by when in use by a user. The configuration of the active layer (410) can controllably be changed in an extension direction (x, y), and the skin layer (420) comprises a plurality of elevations (E) and intermediate recesses (R). Due to its structure, the skin layer (420) does not hinder conformation changes of the active layer (410) in the extension direction, while it provides favorable tactile characteristics of the actuator device (400). The active layer (410) may particularly comprise an electroactive polymer (EAP). The skin layer (420) may be composed of a plurality of grains isolated from each other, or it may comprise a thin surface layer (421) that is stiffer than the active layer (410).

Abstract: An actuator comprises an electroactive polymer layer (402) and a stretchable electrode structure (403) disposed at a first side of the electroactive polymer layer and further a counter electrode layer (401) disposed on a second side of the electroactive polymer layer, wherein the ratio YC/YEAP of the elastic modulus YC of the counter electrode layer and the elastic modulus YEAP of the electroactive polymer layer is at least 10. When compressed transversally by the electrodes, the electroactive polymer will expand tangentially and the actuator will relax into a shape wherein the interior of the electroded region is substantially recessed parallel to the plane of the device, while a substantial portion of the area increase is absorbed by out-of-plane bends arising at the electrode boundary (duck mode). The invention can be embodied as optically reflective or refractive devices with variable geometry.

Abstract: An actuator comprises an electroactive polymer layer (402) and a stretchable electrode structure (403) disposed at a first side of the electroactive polymer layer and further a counter electrode layer (401) disposed on a second side of the electroactive polymer layer, wherein the ratio Yc/YEAP of the elastic modulus YC of the counter electrode layer and the elastic modulus YEAP of the electroactive polymer layer is at least 10. When compressed transversally by the electrodes, the electroactive polymer will expand tangentially and the actuator will relax into a shape wherein the interior of the electroded region is substantially recessed parallel to the plane of the device, while a substantial portion of the area increase is absorbed by out-of-plane bends arising at the electrode boundary (duck mode). The invention can be embodied as optically reflective or refractive devices with variable geometry.

Abstract: An actuator comprises an electroactive polymer layer (402) and stretchable electrode structures (410, 411) that are disposed on each side of the electroactive polymer layer (402). A softer passive layer (401) is secured to one of the stretchable electrode structures (410, 411). When compressed transversally by the stretchable electrode structures (410, 411), the electroactive polymer layer (402) will expand tangentially and the actuator will relax into a shape wherein the interior of the electroded region is substantially parallel to the plane of the device, while a substantial portion of the area increase is absorbed by out-of-plane bends arising at the electrode boundary (duck mode). The invention can be embodied as optically reflective or refractive devices with variable geometry.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator device (400) comprising an active layer (410) having directly or indirectly a skin layer (420) on top that can be touched by when in use by a user. The configuration of the active layer (410) can controllably be changed in an extension direction (x, y), and the skin layer (420) comprises a plurality of elevations (E) and intermediate recesses (R). Due to its structure, the skin layer (420) does not hinder conformation changes of the active layer (410) in the extension direction, while it provides favorable tactile characteristics of the actuator device (400). The active layer (410) may particularly comprise an electroactive polymer (EAP). The skin layer (420) may be composed of a plurality of grains isolated from each other, or it may comprise a thin surface layer (421) that is stiffer than the active layer (410).

Abstract: An image display apparatus including a display device for displaying an image by emission of display light in a first direction; a scattering layer disposed in front of the display device, for scattering at least a portion of ambient light; a transparent plate-shaped light source, arranged parallel to the scattering layer and being optically coupled to the scattering layer. The plate-shaped light source may be a passive light source, in which case at least one light source is arranged along an edge of the plate-shaped light source. When the display device is ON, the scattering layer and the plate-shaped light source are transparent. When the display device is OFF, the scattering layer is scattering and the plate-shaped light source is ON.

Abstract: A pointing device (10) is disclosed comprising a light emitter (65) for emitting a plurality of light beams (100) in mutually different controlled directions. The light beams are individually identifiable. The receiving apparatus that is used with this pointing device comprises a light detector for detecting one or more of the plurality of light beams emitted by the pointing device. It determines which of the plurality of individually identifiable light beams are detected. Based thereon the orientation of the pointing device with respect to a target surface may be determined.

Abstract: A micro system power supply (1) comprises a compartment (7), at least one ion sink void (51, 52) being separated from the compartment (7) by ion pervious separation means (61, 62), a first electrode (41) being arranged in the ion sink void, and a second electrode (42). Such a micro system power supply (1) allows to provide power for a micro system, such as, e.g., an implantable micro device, a MEMS, a bioMEMS, or the like, wherein the micro system power supply (1) can be comparably efficiently manufactured in a manner to be comparably environmentally friendly disposable.

Abstract: A lighting device (1401; 1402; 1403; 1404) comprises a semi-transparent plate-shaped light source (1409; 1400). The transparent plate-shaped light source may be a passive plate-shaped light source (1400) comprising a transparent light guide plate body (1410) with two substantially parallel main surfaces (1411; 1412), and wherein at least one of the main surfaces (1411; 1412) is provided with permanent obtrusions (1415). The obtrusions (1415) may be implemented as material portions projecting from the surface and/or as indentations recessed in the surface. The obtrusions (1415) may be arranged by sandblasting, preferably in a pattern of dots, wherein the dots may have sizes in the range between 20 and 200 ?m, preferably approximately 100 ?m, and wherein the dot density may be in the range between 5 and 500 dots/cm2.

Abstract: The invention relates to phase-separated composite for microfluidic applications, whereby the polymerization/phase separation is performed in such a way that a top-layer of a certain ratio to the height of the composite is achieved in order to ensure the stability of the composite.

Abstract: An image display apparatus (100) comprises: a display device (104) for displaying an image 900 by emission of display light (210) in a first direction; a scattering layer (902) disposed in front of the display device (104), for scattering at least a portion of ambient light (208); a transparent plate-shaped light source (950), arranged parallel to the scattering layer (902) and being optically coupled to the scattering layer (902). The plate-shaped light source (950) may be a passive light source, in which case at least one light source (967) is arranged along an edge of the plate-shaped light source (950). When the display device (104) is ON, the scattering layer (902) and the plate-shaped light source (950) are transparent. When the display device (104) is OFF, the scattering layer (902) is scattering and the plate-shaped light source (950) is ON.

Abstract: This invention provides a biosensor solid or hydrogel substrate comprising one or more temperature indicating agents, each of said one or more temperature indicating agents operating by changing its optical properties and being deposited in and/or at the surface of the biosensor solid or hydrogel substrate as one or more layers and/or spots

Abstract: An electro-optical switch, which can be switched between a substantially transparent state and a scattering state on basis of respective applied voltages, is disclosed. The electro-optical switch has a reflection-voltage curve that is steep enough to allow multiplexing. The electro-optical switch comprises: a scattering layer (302) comprising a liquid crystal-polymer composite; and a reflective layer (306) for reflecting a portion of scattered light back towards the scattering layer (302).

Abstract: An image display apparatus (100) is disclosed. The image display apparatus (100) comprises: a display device (104) for displaying an image, by emission of display light in a first direction; a scattering layer (102) disposed in front of the display device (104), for scattering a portion of the ambient light; and a reflective layer (106) disposed in between the display device (104) and the scattering layer (102) for reflecting a portion of the scattered ambient light into the first direction.

Abstract: A method is provided of producing an active matrix display device having an optical layer comprising a mixture of an electro-optical material and a polymer precursor. An upper layer of the active plate is processed in dependence on a difference between the transmission or reflection characteristics of the row and column conductors and of the pixel electrodes, thereby to process the upper layer in dependence on the row and column pattern or the pixel electrode pattern. The optical layer is then exposed from above the substrate to a stimulus for polymerizing the polymer precursor into a discrete polymer surface layer, thereby enclosing the electro-optical material between the polymerized material and the active plate to define display pixels. Enclosed bodies of electro-optical material defining display pixels are defined in a pattern defined by the processing of the upper layer.

Abstract: An active matrix display device has an optical layer (7,9,11) comprising a mixture of an electro-optical material and a polymer precursor. An upper surface of the active plate comprises an array of wells (70) such that the upper surface has higher (72) and lower regions, and the optical layer mixture is provided over the active plate. The optical layer is exposed to a stimulus for polymerizing the polymer precursor into a polymer layer constituted by a top surface (9) and by side walls (11), thereby enclosing the electro-optical material between the polymerized material and the active plate to define display pixels. Enclosed bodies of electro-optical material defining display pixels are thus provided over the lower regions. This method uses the processing of the active plate to define wells (70) which provide a height difference which can be used to provide alignment of enclosed display pixels cells. This avoids the need for an alignment mask during the deposition and exposure of the optical layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a display device (1), comprising a display panel (2) having a layer of electro-optical material (4), a first light-transmissive substrate (5) provided with electrodes (7) in an area of pixels arranged in rows and columns, a second light transmissive substrate (6), said layer of electro-optical material (4) being sandwiched between said first and second layer (5, 6), and an illumination system (3), being arranged on a side of the second substrate (6) being remote from said layer of electro-optical material (4), the illumination system comprising an optical waveguide (14) of an optically transparent material, having an exit face (15) facing said display panel (2). According to the invention, the illumination system (3) further comprises a matrix-addressable light-management member (27).

Abstract: The invention relates to a scanning backlight device, based on dynamic light extraction, the device comprising a light guide structure (24), a light source for emitting light, arranged to be directed into said light guide structure, the light guide structure (24) being provided with an addressable out-coupling member, comprising two or more defined areas, each providing switchable out-coupling of light from said light guide structure (24). The scanning backlight device is characterised in that at least one micro-optical redirection member (23), arranged in proximity with said light guide structure (24), being arranged to redirect light emitted from said light guide structure (23) in an essentially normal direction of said light guide structure.

Abstract: A polarizing arrangement comprises a first linear polarizer having a first extinction axis. The polarization contrast ratio of the first polarizer is dependent on the angle a light beam incident on the polarizer makes with the extinction axis, polarization being most efficient when the light beam is orthogonal to the first extinction axis. In order to improve the polarization contrast ratio, for light beams traveling in directions which make an angle with the first extinction axis of the first polarizer the polarizing arrangement comprises a second polarizer having a second extinction axis. The first and second polarizer are arranged relative to one another such that, in operation, a light beam traversing the first polarizer in a direction orthogonal to the first extinction axis traverses the second polarizer in a direction coincident with the second extinction axis.