Abstract: We describe an architecture for a large-area, touch-sensitive electronic document reading device which is able to tolerate bending. In broad terms, a control circuit board is mounted behind a flexible display structure in the housing and at respective points of attachment of first and second laminar connectors to the control circuit board each laminar connector has a plurality of electrical connections running along a longitudinal direction of the laminar connector and disposed alongside one another in a transverse direction across the laminar connector. At the respective points of attachment of the first and second laminar connectors to the control circuit board the longitudinal directions of the laminar connectors are aligned such that, when said device is flexed, a relative displacement in said longitudinal direction between said control circuit board and of said display structure can be tolerated without damage to the control electronics, touch sensitive display screen or connections therebetween.

Abstract: A method for optically measuring at least one characteristic of a thin film on a reflecting substrate. A p-polarized beam of collimated light of known intensity is directed through an integrating sphere onto the film at substantially the Brewster's angle of the film. All the light is reflected into the sphere, including all diffusely reflected light as well as the light specularly reflected at a region inside the sphere where the specularly reflected light is incident. A reflective surface is provided for determining the thickness of the film as a function of the total intensity of light sensed within the sphere. An absorptive surface is provided at said region for absorbing the specularly reflected light for determining the porosity or surface roughness of the film based on the intensity of the diffused light sensed within the sphere not reflected from the substrate.