Abstract: An electrical zipper-type connector is provided which can be used in wearable electronics applications. The connector has a first connector part (20) with an array of connector members (21, 24) and a second connector part (30) with an array of connector members (31, 34), which can mate with the first array of connector members. The first and second connector parts (20, 30) have contacts for forming a conductive path when the connector parts (20, 30) are mated with one another. Once the connector parts (20, 30) have been mated a force is applied between the contacts, which maintains them in electrical contact. The force can be applied in a variety of ways, such as by: a resilient coating (26) on the connector parts; a cord which pulls the connector parts together; having one connector part clasp the other connector part; or binding the connector parts together.

Abstract: A filament or fibre (2) comprising: a first conductive layer (4); an electro-optically active layer (6); a second conductive layer (8); wherein the filament or fibre has an off-state and an on-state, the electro-optically active layer comprising a combination of an electro-optically active substance and a polymer.

Abstract: A filament or fiber (2) comprising a volume modulation coloration producing substance (6); containment means (8) for containing the substance in the form of an elongated core which containment means is at least partially light transmitting; and stimulation means (4) for stimulating the substance to produce a change in the volume of the substance, thereby changing the color of the filament or fiber.

Abstract: A fabric (2; 20) formed from a plurality of first fibers or filaments (4), and a plurality of second fibers or filaments (6); the first fibers or filaments being non-conductive and comprising an electro-optically active material; and the second fibers or filaments being conductive; whereby a voltage difference between two second fibers causes a colour change in a first fiber positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A fabric (2; 20) formed from a plurality of first fibres or filaments (4), and a plurality of second fibres or filaments (6); the first fibres or filaments being non-conductive and comprising an electro-optically active material; and the second fibres or filaments being conductive; whereby a voltage difference between two second fibres causes a colour change in a first fibre positioned therebetween.

Abstract: The detector 6 for the secondary electrons in a SEM provided with an electrostatic objective 14, 16 is arranged ahead of the objective, thus enabling a high detection efficiency. According to the invention, the deflection of the beam is performed electrically and the deflection electrodes 10, 12 are arranged between the detector 6 and the last two electrodes 14, 16 of the objective. The beam deflection is realized by means of two oppositely directed electrical deflection fields in such a manner that the tilting point of the scanning motion is situated at the center 20 of the objective lens, thus avoiding additional lens defects and obstruction of the beam by the limited dimensions of the objective bore. This results in a large field of view, without loss of resolution. Furthermore, deflection by means of two oppositely directed fields has the effect that the paths 24 of the secondary electrons traveling to the detector 6 are shaped such that a larger part thereof reaches the detection material 6.