Abstract: Described herein are microstructured wavelength conversion films for enhanced solar harvesting efficiency of photovoltaic devices or solar cells. The microstructured wavelength conversion film comprises a luminescent medium that is provided with a microstructured surface, where the luminescent medium and the microstructured surface can be combined into a single layer or made up of two or more separate layers. A photovoltaic module which utilizes the medium to improve the performance of photovoltaic devices or solar cells is also provided, along with a method of improving a solar cell or photovoltaic device by utilizing the microstructured wavelength conversion film.

Abstract: Compounds derived from aromatic tetracarboxyl bisbenzoimidazoles are disclosed. These compounds are capable of forming liquid crystal systems that can produce optically isotropic or anisotropic films with desirable optical properties. Formulae (I) or (II), or a salt thereof; wherein y is an integer in the range from 0 to about 4.

Abstract: A photorefractive composition and a photorefractive device comprising the composition are disclosed. The composition is configured to be photorefractive upon irradiation by a laser having a wavelength in the visible light spectrum and comprises a polymer, a non linear optical chromophore, and a plasticizer. In an embodiment, the percentage of polymer recurring units that comprise a charge transport moiety is less than 30%. In an embodiment, the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyurea, polyurethane, poly(meth)acrylate, polyester, polyimide, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the composition has a diffraction efficiency of about 30% or greater upon irradiation with a visible light laser.

Abstract: A photorefractive composition and a photorefractive device comprising the composition are disclosed. The composition is configured to be photorefractive upon irradiation by a laser having a wavelength in the visible light spectrum and comprises a polymer, a non linear optical chromophore, a plasticizer, and an electrolyte. In an embodiment, the percentage of polymer recurring units that comprise a charge transport moiety is less than 30%. In an embodiment, the electrolyte comprises one or more of ammonium salts, heterocyclic ammonium salts, and phosphonium salts. In an embodiment, the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyurea, polyurethane, poly(meth)acrylate, polyester, polyimide, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the composition has a diffraction efficiency of about 25% or greater upon irradiation with a visible light laser.

Abstract: The magneto-sensitive wire of the invention has a vortex-spin structure and hence includes no magnetic domain walls, so that the magneto-sensitive wire of the invention has an excellent hysteresis characteristic exhibiting nearly zero hysteresis. Therefore, the linearity related to the output voltage characteristic for the applied magnetic field in the determination range of an MI sensor is significantly improved as compared to MI sensors using the conventional magneto-sensitive wires. Using the magneto-sensitive wire of the invention makes it possible to provide a magneto-impedance (MI) element exhibiting a higher precision than the conventional ones and further provide a sensor using such an MI element.

Abstract: A photorefractive device (100) and methods of its manufacture are disclosed. The photorefractive device (100) comprises one or more transparent electrode layers (104), one or more sol-gel buffer layers (113), one or more polymer buffer layers (105), and a photorefractive layer (106). The one or more sol-gel buffer layer (113) is interposed between the one or more polymer buffer layer (105) and the one or more transparent electrode layer (104). When a bias voltage is applied to the device (100), the device (100) exhibits improvement in electric breakdown strength compared to a similar device without the one or more dielectric sol-gel buffer layers (113). The device (100) can operate at high bias levels with quick rising and decay times and shows higher grating performance under single nanosecond pulse recording conditions.

Abstract: An MI sensor element 1 includes a substrate 4 formed of a non-magnetic material, a plurality of magneto-sensitive bodies 2, and a plurality of detecting coils 3. The plurality of magneto-sensitive bodies 2 are formed of an amorphous material, and are fixed on the substrate 4, and are electrically connected to each other. The detecting coils 3 are wound around each of the magneto-sensitive bodies 2, and are electrically connected to each other. The MI sensor element 1 outputs a voltage corresponding to a magnetic field strength acting on the magneto-sensitive bodies 2 from the detecting coil 3 by flowing a pulse current or a high-frequency current to the magneto-sensitive body 2. The plurality of magneto-sensitive bodies 2 are formed by fixing one amorphous wire 20 on the substrate 4, and then cutting the wire.

Abstract: This invention is related to novel perylene diester derivatives represented by the general formula (I) or general formula (II) as described herein. The derivatives are useful in various applications, such as luminescent dyes for optical light collection systems, fluorescence-based solar collectors, fluorescence-activated displays, and/or single-molecule spectroscopy. The invention also relates to a luminescent medium, such as a luminescent film, that can significantly enhance the solar harvesting efficiency of thin film CdS/CdTe or CIGS solar cells. The luminescent medium comprises an optically transparent polymer matrix and at least one luminescent dye that comprises a perylene diester derivative. Over 16% of an efficiency enhancement to a CdS/CdTe solar cell and over 12% of an efficiency enhancement to a CIGS solar cell can be achieved.

Abstract: Described herein are photo-patternable sol-gel precursors and their methods of preparation. The sol-gel precursors are thermally stable and form compositions that have high refractive indices and low optical loss values. The precursors can be used to make sol-gel compositions that are ideally suited toward optical waveguide applications in the realm of telecommunications wavelengths.

Abstract: An MI sensor element 1 includes a substrate 4 formed of a non-magnetic material, a plurality of magneto-sensitive bodies 2, and a plurality of detecting coils 3. The plurality of magneto-sensitive bodies 2 are formed of an amorphous material, and are fixed on the substrate 4, and are electrically connected to each other. The detecting coils 3 are wound around each of the magneto-sensitive bodies 2, and are electrically connected to each other. The MI sensor element 1 outputs a voltage corresponding to a magnetic field strength acting on the magneto-sensitive bodies 2 from the detecting coil 3 by flowing a pulse current or a high-frequency current to the magneto-sensitive body 2. The plurality of magneto-sensitive bodies 2 are formed by fixing one amorphous wire 20 on the substrate 4, and then cutting the wire.

Abstract: A photorefractive device (100) and method of manufacture are disclosed. The device (100) comprises a layered structure, in which one or more chromophore-doped polymer layers (110) are interposed between a photorefractive material (106) and one or more electrode layers (104). The layered structure can also be interposed between a plurality of substrates (102). In some embodiments, the device (100) exhibits a decreased decay time when applying the biased voltage. Concurrently, the device (100) of the present disclosure utilizes approximately half the bias voltage, advantageously resulting in a longer device life time.

Abstract: A photorefractive device (100) and method of manufacture are disclosed. The device (100) comprises a layered structure in which one or more polymer layers (110) are interposed between a photorefractive material (106) and at least one transparent electrode layer (104). One or more electrolytes are dispersed into the one or more polymer layers (110). When a bias is applied to the device (100), the device (100) exhibits an increase in signal efficiency compared to a similar device without electrolyte. Both grating decay time and grating response time are greatly reduced by dispersing electrolytes into one or more polymer layers in the photorefractive device. The grating decay time can be adjusted by dispersing different kinds of the electrolytes and/or different concentration of the electrolytes, which can be fitted into all kinds of applications with different requirements for grating response and decay time.

Abstract: A magneto-impedance sensor element is formed in a planar type structure in which an amorphous wire is incorporated in a substrate. The magneto-impedance sensor element includes a nonmagnetic substrate, an amorphous wire arranged in an aligning direction of a planar pattern that forms a detecting coil, a spiral detecting coil formed of a planar pattern and a cubic pattern on an outer periphery of the amorphous wire, a planar insulating portion that insulates the planar pattern from the amorphous wire, a wire fixing portion to fix the amorphous wire on an upper surface of the planar insulating portion, and a cubic insulating portion that insulates the cubic pattern from the amorphous wire.

Abstract: A magneto-impedance sensor element has a base body, a magnetic amorphous wire, a coating insulator, a detecting coil, a terminal base having a terminal mounting surface, wire electrode terminals and coil electrode terminals formed on the terminal mounting surface, wire connecting wirings for electrically connecting the wire electrode terminals and a pair of wire conducting terminals provided to the magnetic amorphous wire, and coil connecting wirings for electrically connecting the coil electrode terminals and a pair of coil conducting terminals provided to the detecting coil. A normal of the terminal mounting surface has a longitudinal direction component of the magnetic amorphous wire, and the terminal mounting surface is arranged between both ends of the magnetic amorphous wire in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic amorphous wire.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions that are photorefractive upon irradiation by multiple laser wavelengths across the visible light spectrum. Embodiments of the photorefractive composition comprise a polymer, a chromophore, and a sensitizer, wherein the polymer comprises a repeating unit including at least a moiety selected from the group consisting of the formulae (Ia), (Ib) and (Ic), as defined herein. The photorefractive composition can be used in optical devices.

Abstract: A magneto-impedance element includes a magnetic sensitive member having a form of a line, whose electromagnetic characteristics vary depending on an external magnetic field, a pulse current flowing from one to another end portion thereof in an axial direction. A conductive layer is arranged on an insulating layer provided on an outer surface of the magnetic sensitive member. A connection portion, electrically connecting the magnetic sensitive member and the conductive layer, is arranged on the other end portion in the axial direction of the magnetic sensitive member. A detection coil, outputting an induced voltage corresponding to an intensity of an external magnetic field acting on the magnetic sensitive member when the pulse current flows in the magnetic sensitive member, is wounded around the conductive layer. A direction of the pulse currents flowing in the magnetic sensitive member and in the conductive layer are opposite each other.

Abstract: A magneto-impedance element includes a magnetic sensitive member having a form of a line, whose electromagnetic characteristics vary depending on an external magnetic field, a pulse current flowing from one to another end portion thereof in an axial direction. A conductive layer is arranged on an insulating layer provided on an outer surface of the magnetic sensitive member. A connection portion, electrically connecting the magnetic sensitive member and the conductive layer, is arranged on the other end portion in the axial direction of the magnetic sensitive member. A detection coil, outputting an induced voltage corresponding to an intensity of an external magnetic field acting on the magnetic sensitive member when the pulse current flows in the magnetic sensitive member, is wounded around the conductive layer. A direction of the pulse currents flowing in the magnetic sensitive member and in the conductive layer are opposite each other.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetoimpedance (MI) sensor having a high magnetic sensor sensitivity and a wide measurement range. The MI sensor comprises an MI element, an electric current supply unit and a signal processing circuit. The MI element comprises a magnetosensitive wire formed of an amorphous soft magnetic alloy having zero magnetostriction, and a detection coil provided around the magnetosensitive wire with an electric insulator disposed therebetween, thereby detecting voltage generated at the detection coil and corresponding to an external magnetic field upon application of a high frequency electric current to the magnetosensitive wire. The electric current supply unit supplies the high frequency electric current to the MI element. The signal processing circuit processes an output signal from the detection coil.

Abstract: A magnetic detection device of the present invention includes at least one pair of first magnetosensitive bodies each comprising a soft magnetic material extending in a first axis direction and being sensitive to an external magnetic field oriented in the first axis direction; and a magnetic field direction changer comprising a soft magnetic material and changing an external magnetic field oriented in a different axis direction from the first axis direction into a measurement magnetic field having a component in the first axis direction which can be detected by the at least one pair of first magnetosensitive bodies. With this magnetic detection device, the external magnetic field oriented in the different axis direction can be detected by way of the first magnetosensitive bodies. As a result, while attaining magnetic detection with high accuracy, the magnetic detection device can be reduced in size or thickness by omitting a magnetosensitive body extending long in the different axis direction.

Abstract: Described herein are optical devices comprising a photorefractive layer and at least two inert layers, such that the photorefractive layer is sandwiched between the two inert layers. The photorefractive layer may include a photorefractive composition that is photorefractive upon irradiation by a laser beam. In some embodiments, the photorefractive composition is formulated such that a grating that is irradiated into the photorefractive composition can be read out of the photorefractive composition without applying an external bias voltage. Furthermore, a grating that is written into the composition may be controlled using thermal treatment.