Abstract: An optical device is provided that exhibits a variable optical effect upon illumination. The optical device has a diffractive structure comprising: a portion of a first kinoform diffractive structure that encodes a first image, arranged to form a first diffractive region (11) of the diffractive structure; and a portion of a second kinoform diffractive structure that encodes a second image, arranged to form a second diffractive region (13) of the diffractive structure; wherein the first diffractive region and the second diffractive region are laterally separate; and each of the first diffractive region and the second diffractive region are discernible by the naked human eye. Methods of manufacture of such optical devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present example provides a scalable tooling system using highly parallel convection heating for processing of high temperature composite materials. A single-sided mold is provided with vacuum pressure to cast and consolidate a raw material. The mold is integrally heated by a plurality of discretized heat sources providing a plurality of convection airflow sources to minimize the hot and cold spots inherit to typical convection oven processing. Airflow is arranged by orifices aligned conformally to the mold's profile surface such that rapid heating rates may be achieved while maintaining temperature control along the mold surface.

Abstract: A security device includes an array of reflective elements including at least first and second sets of reflective elements, which are regularly or irregularly interlaced along at least a first interlacing direction across a first area of the security device. A non-dispersive colour-generating structure is in the surface of first and/or second sets of reflective elements. The first set of reflective elements is configured to collectively exhibit a first image across the first area of the security device to a viewer within a first viewing zone and direct incident light convergently and/or divergently towards this zone. The second set of reflective elements is configured to collectively exhibit a second image across the first area of the security device to the viewer within a second viewing zone. The structure is modulated across the first and/or second sets of reflective elements such that the first and/or second images include multiple colours.

Abstract: A security element including: a first layer having a first surface; an array of image regions across the surface, each region including at least first and second sub-regions; a first diffractive optically variable effect generating structure in or on the surface across the first sub-regions; and a second diffractive optically variable effect generating structure in or on the surface across the second sub-regions; wherein the surface is arranged so each first sub-region has a first average inclination and each second sub-region has a second average inclination different from the first, wherein the first structure and inclination provide that the first effect is exhibited across the first sub-regions at least at a first viewing angle and the second structure and inclination provide that the second effect is exhibited across the second sub-regions at least at a second viewing angle different from the first. Also, a method of manufacturing the security element.

Abstract: A security device includes a diffractive structure, including grating elements and having a first area, the grating elements within a region have a constant pitch or spacing; the first area regions pitches or spacings increase from one region to the next between a first region having a grating element pitch or spacing of less than or equal to 0.6 microns and an end region having a grating element pitch or spacing of greater than or equal to 5 microns; upon illumination and viewing along a first viewing direction substantially orthogonal to the first axis, the device exhibits a first optical effect in that at least one region exhibits a diffractive colour; each region has at least first and second sub-regions having different grating element orientations within the plane of the device such that the first optical effect is exhibited at more than one angle of tilt about the second axis.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for presenting messages related to notifications are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: determining notification settings; determining that a notification of a particular type of notification is to be presented on a user device, wherein the particular type of notification is a notification that indicates recommended content to a user of the user device; causing the notification to be presented on the user device; determining that a message containing information related to the notification is to be presented on the user device, wherein the message includes a selectable input that, when selected, causes a user interface for modifying the notification settings to be presented; causing the message to be presented concurrently with the notification on the user device; in response to determining that the selectable input has been selected, causing the user interface for modifying the notification settings to be presented on the user device.

Abstract: The present example provides a scalable tooling system using highly parallel convection heating for processing of high temperature composite materials. A single-sided mold is provided with vacuum pressure to cast and consolidate a raw material. The mold is integrally heated by a plurality of discretized heat sources providing a plurality of convection airflow sources to minimize the hot and cold spots inherit to typical convection oven processing. Airflow is arranged by orifices aligned conformally to the mold's profile surface such that rapid heating rates may be achieved while maintaining temperature control along the mold surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a security device includes selectively providing a high refractive index (HRI) layer to a first outwardly facing surface of a security device substrate, the HRI layer having a substantially transparent host material and particles having a dimension along at least one axis less than 200 nm, such that they are substantially non-scattering to visible light and the HRI layer is substantially transparent to visible light, and wherein; the particles have a refractive index of at least 1.8 and are present within the host material in a proportion such that the resultant refractive index of the HRI layer is at least 1.6. A corresponding security device, as well as security articles and security documents, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An example article may include a dental surface, a hydrophobic coating on the dental surface, and a restorative layer on the hydrophobic coating. An example technique may include applying, on a dental surface, a hydrophobic coating comprising an amphiphilic agent. The hydrophobic coating may provide a water contact angle of greater than or equal to about 50° on the dental surface. The example technique may include applying a restorative layer to the hydrophobic coating. An example kit may include a dental restorative composition and a hydrophobic coating composition. The hydrophobic coating composition may include an amphiphilic agent. The hydrophobic coating composition may be configured to provide a water contact angle of greater than or equal to about 50° on a dental surface.

Abstract: A security element including: a first layer having a first surface; an array of image regions across the first surface arranged along at least a second direction, each region including at least a first image sub-region having an average inclination defining an angle, relative to a plane of the security element, about an image region axis extending along a first direction; a diffractive optically variable effect generating structure provided in or on the first surface across the first image sub-regions, the structure including diffractive elements that extend along a direction within 45° of the first direction, wherein the structure is provided across the first image sub-regions and spatially arranged and/or modulated across the first image sub-regions in accordance with a first image so the first image is displayed by the first image sub-regions in combination at least at a first viewing angle. Also, a method of manufacturing the security element.

Abstract: A fluid container cover includes a cap having an outer and an inner surface. The inner surface is capable of being coupled to the fluid container. A spout includes a drinking portion, an actuation portion and a curved, distal end. The spout is capable of being actuated from a first closed position to a second open position by an external force. A flexible tube is coupled inside of the spout, and has a first end and a second end. An air venting component has a nub and a plurality of air vent holes. When the spout is in the first closed position, the flexible tube is deformed preventing flow through the spout. When the spout is actuated from the first closed position to the second open position, the curved, distal end of the spout deflects the nub allowing passage of air with the fluid container.

Abstract: A security device has: an array of focusing elements on a grid; and an array of image elements overlapping the focusing elements array and arranged based on a repeating unit cell defining image element positions. The unit cell periodicity is substantially the same as the grid's. Each position is assigned to carry an image element of a respective corresponding image. Dependent on angle, the focusing elements array directs light from selected positions, as the device is tilted different ones of the respective images are displayed by the elements at the selected positions in combination, sequentially. Each unit cell center area, larger than each outer area, is assigned to carry element(s) of a corresponding center image, the outer areas assigned to carry element(s) of other respective images, such that the range of viewing angles over which the center image is displayed is greater than that over which each other image is.

Abstract: A security device is provided including a transparent layer having a first optically variable effect generating relief structure formed in a surface thereof; a reflection enhancing body extending over the first relief structure and following the contour of the first relief on a first side of the reflection enhancing body; and a second optically variable effect generating relief structure formed in a second side of the reflection enhancing body. The reflection enhancing body includes at least a first reflection enhancing layer defining the first and/or second sides of the reflection enhancing body and the first reflection enhancing layer includes a binder having reflective particles dispersed therein. When the device is viewed through the transparent layer, the optically variable effect of the first relief structure is visible and when the device is viewed from the other side, the optically variable effect of the second relief structure is visible.

Abstract: An example article may include a dental surface, a hydrophobic coating on the dental surface, and a restorative layer on the hydrophobic coating. An example technique may include applying, on a dental surface, a hydrophobic coating comprising an amphiphilic agent. The hydrophobic coating may provide a water contact angle of greater than or equal to about 50° on the dental surface. The example technique may include applying a restorative layer to the hydrophobic coating. An example kit may include a dental restorative composition and a hydrophobic coating composition. The hydrophobic coating composition may include an amphiphilic agent. The hydrophobic coating composition may be configured to provide a water contact angle of greater than or equal to about 50° on a dental surface.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for presenting messages related to notifications are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: determining notification settings; determining that a notification of a particular type of notification is to be presented on a user device, wherein the particular type of notification is a notification that indicates recommended content to a user of the user device; causing the notification to be presented on the user device; determining that a message containing information related to the notification is to be presented on the user device, wherein the message includes a selectable input that, when selected, causes a user interface for modifying the notification settings to be presented; causing the message to be presented concurrently with the notification on the user device; in response to determining that the selectable input has been selected, causing the user interface for modifying the notification settings to be presented on the user device.

Abstract: A security device is presented, including: an array of focusing elements, each focusing element being adapted to focus light in at least two orthogonal directions, the focusing elements being arranged on a regular two-dimensional grid; and an array of elongate image elements overlapping the array of focusing elements, configured such that each focusing element can direct light from any one of a respective set of at least two elongate image elements to the viewer, in dependence on the viewing angle. In a first region of the security device, the elongate image elements extend along a first direction, and in a second region of the security device, the elongate image elements extend along a second direction which is different to the first direction.

Abstract: A security device is provided, including a first transparent layer having an optically variable effect generating relief structure formed in a surface thereof; a reflection enhancing layer extending over the relief structure and following the contour of the relief; and a second transparent layer extending over the reflection enhancing layer, the lateral extent of the second transparent layer being less than the whole area of the security device and corresponding to the lateral extent of the reflection enhancing layer. The first and/or second transparent layer includes one or more optically effective substances such that the appearance of the optically variable effect generated by the relief structure is different when viewed through the first transparent layer compared with when viewed through the second transparent layer, at least under illumination at a wavelength at which at least one of the optically effective substance(s) is visible.

Abstract: A fluid container cover includes a cap having an outer and an inner surface. The inner surface is capable of being coupled to the fluid container. A spout includes a drinking portion, an actuation portion and a curved, distal end. The spout is capable of being actuated from a first closed position to a second open position by an external force. A flexible tube is coupled inside of the spout, and has a first end and a second end. An air venting component has a nub and a plurality of air vent holes. When the spout is in the first closed position, the flexible tube is deformed preventing flow through the spout. When the spout is actuated from the first closed position to the second open position, the curved, distal end of the spout deflects the nub allowing passage of air with the fluid container.

Abstract: A reconfigurable leak testing system is provided that includes a leak testing station and at least one off-shuttle cart removably attachable to the leak testing station. A fixture cartridge is translatable between the off-shuttle cart and the leak testing station. The fixture cartridge is configured to selectively couple with the leak testing station. The fixture cartridge includes an upper fixture, a lower fixture, and an actuatable testing feature. The fixture cartridge is configured to receive a part between the upper fixture and lower fixture. The actuatable testing feature is configured to contact the part. A closed volume is defined at least partially by the actuatable testing feature and the part.