Abstract: A light control film comprises a light input surface and a light output surface opposite the light input surface. Alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions are disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30 and the alternating transmissive region and absorptive regions have a relative transmission at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 75%.

Abstract: A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between a light input surface and a light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions have a transmission as measured with a spectrophotometer at a viewing angle of 0 degrees of at least 35, 40, 45, or 50% for a wavelength of the range 320-400 nm (UV) and/or at least 65, 70, 75, or 80% for a wavelength of the range 700-1400 nm (NIR). In another embodiment, the absorptive regions block light at the light input surface and light output surface and the maximum surface area that is blocked is less than 20% of the total alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions. Also described are various optical communication systems comprising the light control films described herein and methods.

Abstract: Apparatus, system, and method to authenticate and identify objects using nanoparticles are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium includes executable code to: (1) derive an index based on an authentication image of a marking; (2) select a reference image of the marking based on the index; (3) compare the authentication image with the reference image to determine whether the authentication image matches the reference image; and (4) produce an indication of authenticity based on whether the authentication image matches the reference image.

Abstract: Devices utilize elements carried by a fluid in a microchannel to switch, attenuate, shutter, filter, or phase shift optical signals. In certain embodiments, a microchannel carries a gaseous or liquid slug that interacts with at least a portion of the optical power of an optical signal traveling through a waveguide. The microchannel may form part of the cladding of the waveguide, part of the core and the cladding, or part of the core only. The microchannel may also have ends or may be configured as a loop or continuous channel. The fluid devices may be self-latching or may be semi-latching. The fluid in the microchannel is moved using e.g., e.g., electrocapillarity, differential-pressure electrocapillarity, electrowetting, continuous electrowetting, electrophoresis, electroosmosis, dielectrophoresis, electro-hydrodynamic electrohydrodynamic pumping, magneto-hydrodynamic magnetohydrodynamic pumping, thermocapillarity, thermal expansion, dielectric pumping, and/or variable dielectric pumping.

Abstract: Devices utilize elements carried by a fluid in a microchannel toswitch, attenuate, shutter, filter, or phase shift optical signals. In certain embodiments, a microchannel carries a gaseous or liquid slug that interacts with at least a portion of the optical power of an optical signal traveling through a waveguide. The microchannel may form part of the cladding of the waveguide, part of the core and the cladding, or part of the core only. The microchannel may also have ends or may be configured as a loop or continuous channel. The fluid devices may be self-latching or may be semi-latching. The fluid in the microchannel is moved using e.g., e.g., electrocapillarity, differential-pressure electrocapillarity, electrowetting, continuous electrowetting, electrophoresis, electroosmosis, dielectrophoresis, electro-hydrodynamic electrohydrodynamic pumping, magneto-hydrodynamic magnetohydrodynamic pumping, thermocapillarity, thermal expansion, dielectric pumping, and/or variable dielectric pumping.

Abstract: Devices and methods utilizing dielectric pumping and variable dielectric pumping to move fluids through microchannels. Two fluids having dissimilar dielectric constants form an interface that is positioned between two electrodes in order to move the interface and therefore the fluids. Dielectric pumping and variable dielectric pumping may be used to move fluids in miniaturized analytical packages containing microchannels in which forces created by surface tension predominate over the gravitational force.

Abstract: Optical devices and methods for attenuating, shuttering, or switching optical signals as found in telecommunications. A platform carrying a portion of a waveguide and residing in a plane of a substrate is tipped, tilted, twisted, or otherwise moved out of the plane of the substrate to divert the path of an optical signal or to change coupling between adjacent waveguides. The platform can be formed by etching a substrate while leaving one or more connection points between the platform and the substrate to hold the platform to the substrate.

Abstract: Devices utilize elements carried by a fluid in a microchannel toswitch, attenuate, shutter, filter, or phase shift optical signals. In certain embodiments, a microchannel carries a gaseous or liquid slug that interacts with at least a portion of the optical power of an optical signal traveling through a waveguide. The microchannel may form part of the cladding of the waveguide, part of the core and the cladding, or part of the core only. The microchannel may also have ends or may be configured as a loop or continuous channel. The fluid devices may be self-latching or may be semi-latching. The fluid in the microchannel is moved using e.g., e.g., electrocapillarity, differential-pressure electrocapillarity, electrowetting, continuous electrowetting, electrophoresis, electroosmosis, dielectrophoresis, electro-hydrodynamic electrohydrodynamic pumping, magneto-hydrodynamic magnetohydrodynamic pumping, thermocapillarity, thermal expansion, dielectric pumping, and/or variable dielectric pumping.

Abstract: Devices and methods utilizing dielectric pumping and variable dielectric pumping to move fluids through microchannels. Two fluids having dissimilar dielectric constants form an interface that is positioned between two electrodes in order to move the interface and therefore the fluids. Dielectric pumping and variable dielectric pumping may be used to move fluids in miniaturized analytical packages containing microchannels in which forces created by surface tension predominate over the gravitational force.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid waveguide structure, wherein a core or cladding has a hybrid section or “button” of a different optical property such as refractive index from the major portion of the core or cladding, respectively. The hybrid section can be made of a passive material or an electro-optic material. Methods of making a hybrid waveguide structure are also disclosed. These methods include rib-based methods and trench-based methods, and in either of these methods, a temporary filler is used in many instances to incorporate the hybrid section into the hybrid waveguide structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid waveguide structure, wherein a core or cladding has a hybrid section or “button” of a different optical property such as refractive index from the major portion of the core or cladding, respectively. The hybrid section can be made of a passive material or an electro-optic material. Methods of making a hybrid waveguide structure are also disclosed. These methods include rib-based methods and trench-based methods, and in either of these methods, a temporary filler is used in many instances to incorporate the hybrid section into the hybrid waveguide structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid waveguide structure, wherein a core or cladding has a hybrid section or “button” of a different optical property such as refractive index from the major portion of the core or cladding, respectively. The hybrid section can be made of a passive material or an electro-optic material. Methods of making a hybrid waveguide structure are also disclosed. These methods include rib-based methods and trench-based methods, and in either of these methods, a temporary filler is used in many instances to incorporate the hybrid section into the hybrid waveguide structure.

Abstract: Optical devices and methods for attenuating, shuttering, or switching optical signals as found in telecommunications. A platform carrying a portion of a waveguide and residing in a plane of a substrate is tipped, tilted, twisted, or otherwise moved out of the plane of the substrate to divert the path of an optical signal or to change coupling between adjacent waveguides. The platform can be formed by etching a substrate while leaving one or more connection points between the platform and the substrate to hold the platform to the substrate.

Abstract: A controllable variable optical attenuator for attenuating an optical signal is described herein. The attenuator has an optical waveguide made from similar waveguide core and cladding materials and a coupling layer in close proximity to the waveguide which is configured to provide a difference between the refractive index of the coupling layer in proximity to the waveguide and the effective index of the waveguide. The index of the waveguide can be modified such that if the refractive index of the coupling layer is substantially lower than the effective index of the waveguide, minimal attenuation occurs to the light in the waveguide. Furthermore, if the refractive index of the coupling layer is substantially greater than the effective index of the waveguide, light is coupled into the coupling layer out of the waveguide to attenuate the optical signal. The amount of attenuation varies smoothly between these maximum and minimum values.

Abstract: Hybrid integrated planar photonics provides silica waveguides for transport and polymer or hybrid silica/polymer waveguides for refractive-based active functions within a single integrated photonic circuit. Functions include modulation, attenuation, switching, filtering, and exceptionally low-loss transport. When the active and passive optical elements are integrated onto the same substrates, the resulting composite devices can exhibit strong functional response with little total optical loss as compared to known methods.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid waveguide structure, wherein a core or cladding has a hybrid section or "button" of a different optical property such as refractive index from the major portion of the core or cladding, respectively. The hybrid section can be made of a passive material or an electro-optic material. Methods of making a hybrid waveguide structure are also disclosed. These methods include rib-based methods and trench-based methods, and in either of these methods, a temporary filler is used in many instances to incorporate the hybrid section into the hybrid waveguide structure.

Abstract: A hybrid digital electro-optic switch has core and/or cladding areas that contain at least two different materials which undergo a change in their refractive index when an electric field is applied. One of the two different materials used in core regions, for example, has a change in refractive index that is less than the change in refractive index for the other material when the materials are exposed to the same electric field. A hybrid digital electro-optic switch functions by modulating the propagation constants of the eigenmodes of the switch with a voltage-induced refractive-index change, so that the propagation constants of the two materials are equal either in the presence or absence of the electric field. These electro-optic modulations change the evanescent coupling between the waveguides of the waveguide regions of the switch and transfer an optical signal that was input into one of the waveguides to a coupled waveguide.

Abstract: A method of removing contaminants from the surface is disclosed. The method comprises coating the surface with a surface active agent having a first surface energy and into which the contaminants are combined, applying thereover a higher surface energy colloidal sol and then allowing sufficient time for the first surface energy material with the contaminants combined therewith to migrate through the colloidal sol so as to remove the contaminants from the immediate vicinity of the substrate surface. The surface may then be treated by exposing it to an acid or base to remove the migrated surfactant layer thus removing the trace of contaminants.

Abstract: A method of selectively depositing a metal on a surface is disclosed. The method comprises selectively coating a surface with a surface active agent, having a first surface energy, to form a coated surface having a coated portion capable of burying a higher surface energy material applied thereto and an uncoated surface pattern not so capable. The selectively coated surface is then treated with a solution, having a second surface energy higher than the first, comprising a species selected from the group comprising (1) a species capable of reducing an activating metal ion to an activating metal and (2) an activating metal species capable of participating in an electroless metal deposition, to form a surface having the species deposited atop the uncoated pattern.