Abstract: A birefringent organic thin film includes mutually orthogonal in-plane refractive indices (nx and ny) and a through thickness refractive index (nz), where nx>1.4, ny?1.4, nz>1.4, Dnxy?0.1, Dnxz<0.01, and Dnyz<0.01. Optical properties including refractive index and birefringence may be continuously tuned by applying a voltage across the birefringent organic thin film.

Abstract: A method of forming an organic solid crystal (OSC) thin film includes forming a layer of molecular feedstock over a surface of a substrate, the molecular feedstock including an organic solid crystal precursor, forming crystal nuclei from the organic solid crystal precursor within a nucleation region of the layer of molecular feedstock, and growing the crystal nuclei to form the organic solid crystal thin film.

Abstract: An optical diffraction grating includes a layer of organic solid crystal (OSC) material, an input photonic element configured to couple an input beam to the organic solid crystal material, and an output photonic element configured to receive an output beam from the organic solid crystal material. An applied voltage may be used to control the refractive index of the OSC material and accordingly tune the operation of the optical diffraction grating.

Abstract: A film stack includes a plurality of first films and a plurality of second films alternately stacked. At least one second film of the plurality of second films includes a solid crystal including crystal molecules aligned in a predetermined alignment direction. At least one first film of the plurality of first films includes an alignment structure configured to at least partially align the crystal molecules of the solid crystal in the predetermined alignment direction.

Abstract: A method includes applying a stress to a polymer thin film to stretch the polymer thin film along a first in-plane direction, and subsequently applying a stress to the polymer thin film to stretch the polymer thin film along a second in-plane direction orthogonal to the first in-plane direction to form an ultra-high modulus polymer thin film. Calendaring or hot pressing of the ultra-high modulus polymer thin film may improve its optical and/or thermal properties.

Abstract: A polymer multilayer includes two or more laminated layers of ultra-drawn, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene or high density polyethylene. A transparent laminated structure may include such a polymer multilayer disposed between a pair of transparent substrates. The polymer multilayer may be configured to induce a compressive stress in a near surface region of each transparent substrate, which may improve the toughness and fracture resistance of the laminated structure. A photothermal dye may be incorporated into the polymer matrix and the compressive stresses may be achieved using photothermal actuation of the dye-containing polyethylene layers.

Abstract: An optical element is provided. The optical element includes a solid crystal including crystal molecules aligned in a predetermined alignment pattern at least partially defined by an alignment structure.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic polymer thin film includes a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the polymer (e.g., via ?-? interactions) to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than approximately 50% of the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. Example crystallizable polymers include polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, as well as derivatives thereof. Example additives, which may occupy up to approximately 10 wt. % of the polymer thin film, include aromatic ester oligomers, aromatic amide oligomers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, for example. The optically anisotropic polymer thin film may be characterized by a refractive index greater than approximately 1.

Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer thin film may be formed by gel casting a solution that includes a crystallizable polymer and a liquid solvent. The solvent may be configured to interact with the polymer to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the cast thin film. The thin film may also include up to approximately 90 wt. % of an additive and may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution of a crystallizable polymer where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. In some examples, the polymer(s) and the additive(s) may be independently selected from vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropene, vinyl fluoride, etc. The anisotropic polymer thin film may be characterized by an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least 0.1.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optically anisotropic polymer thin film includes forming a composite structure that includes a polymer thin film and a high Poisson's ratio polymer thin film disposed directly over the polymer thin film, attaching a clip array to opposing edges of the composite, the clip array including a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the composite and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the composite, applying a positive in-plane strain to the composite along a transverse direction by increasing a distance between the first clips and the second clips, and decreasing an inter-clip spacing amongst the first clips and amongst the second clips along a machine direction, wherein the high Poisson's ratio polymer thin film applies a negative in-plane strain to the polymer thin film along the machine.

Abstract: A headset for augmented reality applications is provided. The headset includes at least one eyepiece configured to provide a see-through image to a user via a transparent optical component, and to provide an artificial image through a display, and a dimming shutter configured to adjust a transparency level of the transparent optical component. The dimming shutter further includes an active liquid crystal layer configured to adjust a transparency level according to an electrical power provided between two electrodes, and a photoactive layer configured to adjust the transparency level upon absorption of an ultraviolet radiation for a selected period of time. A default orientation of a host material in the active liquid crystal layer may be in a dark state or in a clear state, when no electrical power is provided. A method and a memory storing instructions to execute the method for use of the above device are also provided.

Abstract: A polymer bilayer includes a layer of a porous fluoropolymer directly overlying a layer of polyethylene. The polyethylene layer may be porous or dense and may include an ultra-high molecular weight polymer. The polymer bilayer may be co-integrated with structures (e.g., wearable devices) exposed to high thermal loads (>0-1000 W/m2) and provide passive cooling thereof. For instance, passive cooling of AR/VR glasses under different solar loads may be achieved by a polymer bilayer that is both highly reflective across solar heating wavelengths and highly emissive in the long-wavelength infrared. The high reflectance decreases energy absorption across the solar spectrum while the high emissivity promotes radiative heat transfer to the surroundings.

Abstract: A polymer bilayer includes a layer of a porous fluoropolymer directly overlying a layer of polyethylene. The polyethylene layer may be porous or dense and may include an ultra-high molecular weight polymer. The polymer bilayer may be co-integrated with structures (e.g., wearable devices) exposed to high thermal loads (>0-1000 W/m2) and provide passive cooling thereof. For instance, passive cooling of AR/VR glasses under different solar loads may be achieved by a polymer bilayer that is both highly reflective across solar heating wavelengths and highly emissive in the long-wavelength infrared. The high reflectance decreases energy absorption across the solar spectrum while the high emissivity promotes radiative heat transfer to the surroundings.

Abstract: A method of forming an organic solid crystal (OSC) thin film includes forming a layer of a non-volatile medium material over a surface of a mold, forming a layer of a molecular feedstock over a surface of the non-volatile medium material, the molecular feedstock including an organic solid crystal precursor, forming crystal nuclei from the organic solid crystal precursor, and growing the crystal nuclei to form the organic solid crystal thin film. An organic solid crystal (OSC) thin film may include a biaxially-oriented organic solid crystal layer having mutually orthogonal refractive indices, n1?n2?n3.

Abstract: An organic thin film includes an organic crystalline phase, where the organic crystalline phase defines a surface having a surface roughness (Ra) of less than approximately 10 micrometers over an area of at least approximately 1 cm2. The organic thin film may be manufactured from an organic precursor and a non-volatile medium material that is configured to mediate the surface roughness of the organic crystalline phase during crystal nucleation and growth. The thin film may be formed using a suitably shaped mold, for example, and the non-volatile medium material may be disposed between a layer of the organic precursor and the mold during processing.

Abstract: A camera device for integration into a wearable device is presented. The camera device includes an image sensor, a lens assembly, a first high density interconnect (HDI) tape substrate, a second HDI tape substrate, and a molded plastic layer. The molded plastic layer is sandwiched between the first and second HDI tape substrates. A wearable device with at least one soft electrode is further presented. The at least one soft electrode includes a conductive coating applied to an elastomer substrate and monitors electrical signals generated by a wearer of the wearable device to initiate an appropriate action. A method of forming an aggregate coating for a wearable device is further presented. One or more thin films are applied to a surface of the wearable device, and a paint coating is applied to a surface of the one or more thin films to form the aggregate coating.

Abstract: An optically clear, high strength, high modulus, and high thermal conductivity polyethylene thin film may be formed from a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the crystallizable polymer to facilitate crystallite alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polyethylene thin film. The polyethylene thin film may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than approximately 5% of the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. Example crystallizable polymers may include high molecular weight polyethylene, high density polyethylene, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Example additives may include low molecular weight polyethylene and polyethylene oligomers. The polyethylene thin film may be characterized by a Young's modulus of at least approximately 10 GPa, a tensile strength of at least approximately 0.

Abstract: A thin film assembly includes an optical thin film and a discontinuous spacer layer disposed over a major surface of the optical thin film. Within a multilayer stack of optical thin films, the spacer layer may be located between opposing regions of adjacent thin films such that the spacer layer separates the adjacent thin films and inhibits or prevents surface-to-surface contact.

Abstract: A multilayer organic thin film includes a plurality of biaxially-oriented layers, where each layer is characterized by mutually orthogonal refractive indices, n1?n2?n3. In example structures, the corresponding in-plane refractive indices of adjacent layers may be rotated with respect to each other by a predetermined angle. Such a multilayer may be incorporated into a circular reflective polarizer, for example, which may be used in display systems to provide high broadband efficiency and high off-axis contrast. In an example process, individual organic thin films may be molded, and then oriented and stacked to form a multilayer.

Abstract: A polymer thin film includes polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and is characterized by a Young's modulus along an in-plane dimension of at least 4 GPa, an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least 0.1 at room temperature. A method of manufacturing such a polymer thin film may include forming a polymer composition into a polymer thin film, applying a tensile stress to the polymer thin film along at least one in-plane direction and in an amount effective to induce a stretch ratio of at least approximately 5 in the polymer thin film, and applying an electric field across a thickness dimension of the polymer thin film. Annealing and poling steps may separately or simultaneously accompany and/or follow the act of stretching of the polymer thin film.