Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer thin film is formed from a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the polymer to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film and its method of manufacture 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 polymers may include vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinyl fluoride. Example additives may occupy up to approximately 60 wt. % of the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film may be characterized by a piezoelectric coefficient (d31) of at least approximately 5 pC/N or an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least approximately 0.1.

Abstract: A polymer thin film includes polyethylene having a weight average molecular weight of at least approximately 500,000 g/mol, where the thin film is characterized by transparency within the visible spectrum of at least approximately 80%, bulk haze of less than approximately 5%, and an in-plane elastic modulus of at least approximately 10 GPa. The polymer thin film may be thermally conductive and may be incorporated into an optical element and configured to dissipate heat, such as from a light-emitting device.

Abstract: An organic thin film includes an organic solid crystal material and has mutually orthogonal refractive indices, nx, ny, and nz each having a value at 589 nm of between approximately 1.5 and approximately 2.6, where nx?ny?nz. The organic thin film may be birefringent, and may be configured as a single layer thin film, or plural organic thin films may be stacked to form a multilayer that may be incorporated into an optical element, such as a reflective polarizer.

Abstract: An optical element (e.g., a lens) may include an optically uniaxial or optically biaxial organic solid, for example, an organic molecular solid. The direction of a maximum refractive index of the organic solid may be aligned substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens. In some examples, a device may include a display and an optical configuration configured to receive light from the display and direct the light to a remote view location. In some examples, the optical configuration may comprise a lens and at least one surface of the lens may include a plurality of facets, for example, to form a Fresnel lens.

Abstract: A switchable optical retardation device includes a switchable retardation element including liquid crystals and an electrical driver circuit. While in a first state, the switchable retardation element modifies light transmitted through the switchable retardation element by causing a phase shift of a first retardation angle. While in a second state, the switchable retardation element modifies the light transmitted through the switchable retardation element by causing a phase shift of a second retardation angle distinct from the first retardation angle. The electrical driver circuit provides a first voltage for placing the switchable retardation element in the first state and a second voltage for placing the switchable retardation element in the second state. The first voltage is greater than the second voltage, the second voltage is a non-zero voltage, and the electrical driver circuit alternatingly provides the first voltage and the second voltage with a predefined frequency.

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: Some embodiments relate to a method for performing a battery power-based control of an in-call experience based on shared battery power information. Some embodiments relate to a coating of a headset that has a first emissivity over an ultraviolet band and a near-infrared band, a second emissivity over a visible band, and a third emissivity over a mid-to-far infrared band. Some embodiments relate to an aggregate coating of a headset. A thin films is applied to a surface of the headset, and a paint coating is applied to a surface of the thin film to form the aggregate coating. Some embodiments relate to a method for a high-definition multimedia interface derived network timing for distributed audio-video synchronization. Some embodiments relate to a battery containment structure with a metal chassis having surfaces coated with electrical insulators configured to receive a battery, and a lid coupled to the metal chassis.

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 method includes attaching a clip array to opposing edges of a polymer thin film, the clip array having a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the polymer thin film and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the polymer thin film, applying a positive in-plane strain to the polymer thin film along a transverse direction by increasing a distance between the first and second clips, and decreasing an inter-clip spacing amongst the first clips and amongst the second clips along a machine direction while applying the in-plane strain to form an optically anisotropic polymer thin film. During stretching, a strain rate of the thin film may be decreased and/or a temperature of the thin film may be increased.

Abstract: A method includes attaching a clip array to opposing edges of a polymer thin film, the clip array having a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the polymer thin film and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the polymer thin film, applying a positive in-plane strain to the polymer thin film 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 while applying the in-plane strain to form an optically anisotropic polymer thin film.

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: An optical film includes an organic solid crystal film formed of a contiguous organic solid crystal having a first dimension no less than 100 micrometer and a second dimension distinct from the first dimension no less than one centimeter. Methods for making the organic solid crystal film are also described.

Abstract: A polymer thin film is characterized by a first in-plane refractive index (nx) along a first direction of the polymer thin film, a second in-plane refractive index (ny) along a second direction of the polymer thin film orthogonal to the first direction, and a third refractive index (nz) along a thickness direction substantially orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction, where nx>nz>ny. Such a polymer thin film may exhibit one or more of (a) an in-plane birefringence of at least approximately 0.05, and (b) nx greater than approximately 1.7.

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: A method is provided. The method includes providing an alignment structure at least partially defining a predetermined alignment pattern. The method also includes forming a solid crystal on the alignment structure. Crystal molecules of the solid crystal are aligned in the predetermined alignment pattern.

Abstract: A method of forming a voided polymer includes forming a polymerizable composition containing a polymer precursor and a solid templating agent, forming a coating of the polymerizable composition, processing the coating to form a cured polymer material having a solid phase in a plurality of defined regions, and removing at least a portion of the solid phase from the cured polymer material to form a voided polymer layer.