Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a layer of quantum tunnelling composite configured such that in a non-compressed state the quantum tunnelling composite is an electrical insulator and in a compressed state the layer of quantum tunnelling composite is an electrical conductor; a magnetic portion configured to cause compression of the quantum tunnelling composite; and wherein the apparatus is configured to be coupled to a reciprocal apparatus where the reciprocal apparatus comprises a reciprocal magnetic portion such that when the apparatus is coupled to the reciprocal apparatus the magnetic portion causes compression of the quantum tunnelling composite to provide a direct current path through the quantum tunnelling composite to the reciprocal apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising; a light collector configured to collect ambient light and provide the collected light to a portion of skin of a user; a photodetector configured to enable a biometric parameter to be monitored by detecting changes in the light absorbed by the portion of skin; and an amplifier configured to amplify an output signal provided by the photodetector; wherein the light collector is configured to filter the collected ambient light to increase the proportion of light within a selected range of wavelengths which is provided to the portion of skin of the user relative to the collected ambient light.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a channel (4) configured to conduct charge carriers; and a charge carrier generator (22) configured to generate charge carriers for populating the channel, wherein the charge carrier generator is configured for resonance energy transfer (FRET). The charge carrier generator may be a nanoparticle or quantum dot (22), functionalised with at least one moiety (28A, 28B) to enable detection of an analyte. The charge carrier generator may also be a nanoparticle or quantum dot (22) configured to photo-generate charge carriers. The channel (4) may be made of a material having a very high carrier mobility like graphene or carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: An apparatus including an open interconnected wall structure having one or more pores, the open interconnected wall structure including a first electrode material, the pores including an electrolyte and a second electrode material, wherein the electrolyte and second electrode material are supported on the first electrode material within the pores such that the first electrode material is separated from the second electrode material by the electrolyte to enable the generation and/or storage of electrical energy using the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus including an open interconnected wall structure having one or more pores, the open interconnected wall structure including a first electrode material, the pores including an electrolyte and a second electrode material, wherein the electrolyte and second electrode material are supported on the first electrode material within the pores such that the first electrode material is separated from the second electrode material by the electrolyte to enable the generation and/or storage of electrical energy using the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a layer of channel material, source and drain electrodes configured to enable a flow of electrical current through the channel material, and a layer of quantum dot material configured to generate electron-hole pairs on exposure to electromagnetic radiation to produce a detectable change in the electrical current indicative of one or more of the presence and magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation. The layer of quantum dot material is positioned between the channel material and a layer of conductive material. The layers of channel and conductive material have work functions such that respective built-in electric fields are created at the interfaces between the layer of quantum dot material and the channel and conductive material. The electric field at each interface acts in the same direction to promote separation of the electrons and holes of the electron-hole pairs to facilitate production of the detectable change in electrical current.

Abstract: An apparatus including a flexible substrate; and an overhanging electronic component island, the electronic component island configured to be less flexible than the flexible substrate and including one or more electronic components, wherein the electronic component island includes a substrate-face with a connection portion and an overhang portion, the connection portion being mechanically coupled to a surface of the flexible substrate via a single connection-support pad and the overhang portion configured to overhang and be substantially free of the underlying flexible substrate such that the underlying flexible substrate can be strained independently from the overhang portion under operational strains of the flexible substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of layers of scintillator material configured to generate photons in response to incident radiation; and a plurality of layers of spacer material wherein the scintillator material and spacer material are arranged in alternate layers so that a plurality of interfaces are provided between layers of scintillator material and layers of spacer material; wherein the scintillator material has a different refractive index to the spacer material and the thickness of layers within the plurality of layers is arranged to enable constructive interference of photons emitted by the scintillator material and reflected by the interfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method wherein the method comprises: a deformable substrate; a curved support structure configured to support at least a portion of a resistive sensor wherein the resistive sensor comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and a resistive sensor material provided between the electrodes; at least one support configured to space the curved support structure from the deformable substrate so that when the deformable substrate is deformed the curved support structure is not deformed in the same way; wherein the resistive sensor is positioned on the curved support structure so as to limit deformation of the resistive sensor when the deformable substrate is deformed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method wherein the apparatus comprises: a deformable substrate; a curved support structure; at least one support configured to space the curved support structure from the substrate so that when the deformable substrate is deformed the curved support structure is not deformed in the same way; and a capacitive sensor comprising a protruding electrode capacitively coupled to an overlaying electrode; wherein the protruding electrode protrudes from a side of the curved support structure.

Abstract: A single device for emitting and detecting photons. The device comprises a semiconductive layer (3), active material (5), further dielectric layer (17) and overlying electrode (25). In a first mode of operation an electrical field is applied between the semiconductive layer (3) and the overlying electrode (25). This enables photons to be emitted from the active material (5). In a second mode of operation, the semiconductive layer (3) constitutes a channel of a field effect transistor (23). The field effect transistor further comprises source electrode (11), drain electrode (15), gate electrode (13) and dielectric layer (19). Photons absorbed by the active material (5) causes charge to be transferred to the semiconductive layer (3), thereby changing the channel resistance. A plurality of such devices can be arranged in a configurable array.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a deformable substrate, an electrical interconnect suitable for interconnecting one or more electronic components located on the deformable substrate to one another or to one or more electronic components located on another substrate, and a support beam configured to couple the electrical interconnect to the deformable substrate, wherein the electrical interconnect comprises one or more curved sections and adjoining straight sections, and wherein the electrical interconnect is attached to the support beam via the adjoining straight sections such that the one or more curved sections are suspended over the deformable substrate to enable the electrical interconnect to accommodate strain when the deformable substrate undergoes operational deformation.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a layer of channel material, source and drain electrodes configured to enable a flow of electrical current through the channel material, and a layer of quantum dot material configured to generate electron-hole pairs on exposure to electromagnetic radiation to produce a detectable change in the electrical current indicative of one or more of the presence and magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation. The layer of quantum dot material is positioned between the channel material and a layer of conductive material. The layers of channel and conductive material have work functions such that respective built-in electric fields are created at the interfaces between the layer of quantum dot material and the channel and conductive material. The electric field at each interface acts in the same direction to promote separation of the electrons and holes of the electron-hole pairs to facilitate production of the detectable change in electrical current.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of layers of scintillator material configured to generate photons in response to incident radiation; and a plurality of layers of spacer material wherein the scintillator material and spacer material are arranged in alternate layers so that a plurality of interfaces are provided between layers of scintillator material and layers of spacer material; wherein the scintillator material has a different refractive index to the spacer material and the thickness of layers within the plurality of layers is arranged to enable constructive interference of photons emitted by the scintillator material and reflected by the interfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a layer of quantum tunnelling composite configured such that in a non-compressed state the quantum tunnelling composite is an electrical insulator and in a compressed state the layer of quantum tunnelling composite is an electrical conductor; a magnetic portion configured to cause compression of the quantum tunnelling composite; and wherein the apparatus is configured to be coupled to a reciprocal apparatus where the reciprocal apparatus comprises a reciprocal magnetic portion such that when the apparatus is coupled to the reciprocal apparatus the magnetic portion causes compression of the quantum tunnelling composite to provide a direct current path through the quantum tunnelling composite to the reciprocal apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a transformable body configured to be elastically stretchable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration, a user input device, a user input device configured to receive user input signal, a communication interface configured to provide a wireless link for the apparatus and a flexible interconnection between at least two components within the transformable body. The apparatus may perform determining of user information based on the user input signal, transmitting at least part of the user information over the wireless link to a remote processing unit, receiving feedback information from the remote processing unit and presenting the feedback information to the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus, the method comprising: forming first electrode portions on a substrate; providing a sheet of two dimensional material overlaying at least part of the first electrode portions; forming second electrode portions on a superstrate; positioning the superstrate overlaying the substrate so that the second electrode portions are aligned with the first electrode portions; and laminating the substrate and the superstrate together so that the sheet of two dimensional material is positioned between the aligned first electrode portions and the second electrode portions.

Abstract: A single device for emitting and detecting photons. The device comprises a semiconductive layer (3), active material (5), further dielectric layer (17) and overlying electrode (25). In a first mode of operation an electrical field is applied between the semiconductive layer (3) and the overlying electrode (25). This enables photons to be emitted from the active material (5). In a second mode of operation, the semiconductive layer (3) constitutes a channel of a field effect transistor (23). The field effect transistor further comprises source electrode (11), drain electrode (15), gate electrode (13) and dielectric layer (19). Photons absorbed by the active material (5) causes charge to be transferred to the semiconductive layer (3), thereby changing the channel resistance. A plurality of such devices can be arranged in a configurable array.

Abstract: An apparatus including: a touch sensitive input responsive to manual actuation; a display output associated with the touch sensitive input; and a controller configured to provide and maintain, in response to a manual actuation at a user selected location of the touch sensitive input, an output at the user selected location to facilitate additional manual actuation via the touch sensitive input in the region of the user selected location.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments described herein, there is provided an apparatus for a user interface, the user interface including a user interface surface, the user interface surface including at least part of a self cleaning composition, the composition being configured to draw away at least one dermatological contaminant from one or more contaminated regions of the user interface surface to thereby provide a self-cleaning user interface surface.