Abstract: Disclosed is a sensory flooring system. The flooring system comprises a plurality of flooring segments and, for each flooring segment, one or more electrode portions. Each electrode portion is responsive to a force applied to the flooring segment and at least one electrode portion of a said flooring segment forms an electrode with at least one electrode portion of another said flooring segment. Moreover, each flooring segment comprises a unique encoding of the one or more electrode portions. Also disclosed is a sensory floor such a sensory flooring system, a receiver for receiving an electrical output from the one or more electrodes formed by said one or more electrode portions of the flooring segments, and a processor for analysing the electrical output and identifying the flooring segment by which the electrical output was produced.

Abstract: A system to provide a human-machine interface to enable a user in a real space to act/sense in a virtual space. The system includes: a ring wearable by a finger of the user; a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of feedback units. The plurality of sensors being multimodal, including: a tactile sensor disposed on an inner surface of the ring; and a temperature sensor disposed on an outer surface of the ring. The plurality of feedback units being multimodal, including: a vibrator disposed on the ring, the vibrator being disposed on the outer surface of the ring; and a heater disposed on the inner surface of the ring. The system includes a controller configured to drive the plurality of sensors and the plurality of feedback devices to enable concurrent multimodal sensing and multimodal feedback.

Abstract: A wearable human machine interface (HMI) comprises a plurality of triboelectric finger bending sensors configured to sense finger bending, deflecting or curling; a triboelectric palm sensor configured to detect an applied force and its direction; and at least one mechanical stimulator configured to provide haptic feedback. The human machine interface is configured to be worn on a human hand and may take the form of a glove.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensory flooring system. The flooring system comprises a plurality of flooring segments and, for each flooring segment, one or more electrode portions. Each electrode portion is responsive to a force applied to the flooring segment and at least one electrode portion of a said flooring segment forms an electrode with at least one electrode portion of another said flooring segment. Moreover, each flooring segment comprises a unique encoding of the one or more electrode portions. Also disclosed is a sensory floor such a sensory flooring system, a receiver for receiving an electrical output from the one or more electrodes formed by said one or more electrode portions of the flooring segments, and a processor for analysing the electrical output and identifying the flooring segment by which the electrical output was produced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Such TENGs comprise at least one tribolectric (TE) layer comprising two surfaces relative movement between which generates a TE charge, and a circuit. The circuit comprises a switch, a sensor, and a load. The switch has an open condition in which the TE charge accumulates (the accumulated TE charge), and a closed condition in which the accumulated TE charge discharges between the two surfaces across the load, the sensor determining a time constant (?) of discharge of the accumulated TE charge across the load.

Abstract: A triboelectric sensor comprises a substrate; at least one grid structure disposed in or on the substrate; and at least one electrode for collecting triboelectric charges that are generated by sliding of an object over a surface of the substrate; wherein the at least one grid structure is configured such that motion of the object is detectable from a signal generated by crossing of the object over at least part of the grid structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a sensory textile. The method includes: providing a conductive polymer, a dopant and a solvent; mixing the conductive polymer, dopant and solvent to form a mixture having a predetermined ratio of the conductive polymer and the dopant, and a predetermined concentration of the conductive polymer; contacting a fabric with the mixture to coat the fabric with the conductive polymer and dopant; and drying the coated fabric. Also disclosed is a sensory textile device that includes such a sensory textile, a conductive backing layer and a spacer layer disposed between the sensory textile and conductive backing layer.

Abstract: A self-powered triboelectric based device, a self-powered triboelectric based device, a user interface, a method of providing user input, an energy harvesting device, a method of harvesting energy, a submersion-detecting device, and a method of submersion-detecting.

Abstract: A gas sensor, a method of manufacturing a gas sensor, a method for fabricating a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) die for a heater or thermopile, and a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) die for a heater or thermopile. The gas sensor comprises a first micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) die comprising a light source; a second MEMS die comprising a light detector; a sample chamber disposes in an optical path between the light source and the light detector; and a holder substrate; wherein the first and second MEMS dies are disposed on the holder substrate in a vertical orientation relative to the holder.

Abstract: A microfluidic device (100) is disclosed. The device comprises a triboelectric sensor (102); an elastically deformable pump (104) arranged to transfer fluid to at least one fluid outlet (108) and triboelectrically activate the sensor; and first and second check valves (106a, 106b) respectively arranged at the inlet and outlet of the pump to control fluid transfer in and out of the pump. When the pump is actuated in conjunction with the check valves to transfer a volume of fluid, at least a portion of the sensor is triboelectrically activated according to an amount of deformation of the pump to generate a corresponding output voltage signal for enabling the volume of fluid transferred by the deformed pump to be determined. A corresponding method of using the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are directed to non-invasive or essentially non-invasive electrode structures, assemblies, and devices for sensing neural signals carried or produced by peripheral nerves, and/or applying stimulation signals to peripheral nerves. Electrode structures, assemblies, and devices in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure include (a) flexible epineural strip electrode structures having one or more elongate electrode-carrying strips that can be adhered (e.g.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a nano-projection array and an application unit configured to displace the nano-projection array to thereby deliver a composition (e.g., vaccine) to a controlled depth within the skin. The nano-projection array includes nano-projections carried by a carrier substrate. The application unit includes a peripheral structure and a displaceable carrier. The nano-projection array can be disposed within the peripheral structure. Displacement of the displaceable carrier causes a corresponding displacement to the nano-projection array. The displacement of the displaceable carrier can be controlled. For instance the distance of displacement of the displaceable carrier can be controlled. A method or process for manufacturing the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: Electrostatically operated micro-optical devices and method of manufacturing such devices is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the micro-optical devices using electrostatic comb drive actuators having new spring designs to overcome side instability and exhibit enlarged displacement, having new designs of comb finger electrode shapes to generate larger force output, and having new clip type latch mechanism to control the corresponding device at certain states in an analog manner without electrical power consumption. Based on the proposed optical path and device configurations, integration and assembly of a plurality of reflective micro-mirrors in conjunction with proposed new comb drive actuators is very promising way to provide micro-optical devices to get good optical performance and suitable for multi-channel applications. We also disclose several process techniques to manufacture the micro-optical devices with said electrostatic comb drive actuator in a mass production manner with higher yield.

Abstract: A variable optical attenuator for providing a new light attenuation mechanism based on using at least one of tilted mirrors to change and control the beam direction of reflected light beam toward output optical port in a two dimensional light path configuration is demonstrated to achieve the light attenuation in terms of changing and controlling the coupling loss among input optical port, reflective tilted mirrors, and output optical port. The tilted mirror is supported and connected by a suspended flexure spring at one side. This suspended spring is connected with tilted mirror at one side and is anchored on a substrate at the other side via a post (or a pivot). When the tilted mirror is driven by an actuator to generate movement including rotational mirror deflection and parallel mirror shifted displacement, the reflected light beam path is changed according to the particular mirror positions. The attenuation value is modified and controlled by the coupled light of reflected light beam to output port.

Abstract: Disclosed is a retro-reflective type optical signal processing device and method, particularly to a device includes a set of optical mirror planes with retro-reflective type layout and configuration, and a set of micro-shutters controlled by microelectromechanical actuators, whereas the optical signals in propagation can be blocked or partially blocked in terms of the position of said a set of micro-shutters corresponding to the optical signal transmission path, thereby the method of said approach to determine the range of attenuated optical signal is a variable optical attenuation function demonstrated by present invention. Such a retro-reflective type optical signal processing device and method further comprises a set of three reflective mirrors and micro-shutters with reflective mirrors. Thereby this device has the capability to switch 2 sets of retro-reflected optical light transmission paths, the method of said approach is a demonstration of 2×2 optical switching function.

Abstract: Electrostatically operated micro-optical devices and method of manufacturing such devices is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the micro-optical devices using electrostatic comb drive actuators having new spring designs to overcome side instability and exhibit enlarged displacement, having new designs of comb finger electrode shapes to generate larger force output, and having new clip type latch mechanism to control the corresponding device at certain states in an analog manner without electrical power consumption. Based on the proposed optical path and device configurations, integration and assembly of a plurality of reflective micro-mirrors in conjunction with proposed new comb drive actuators is very promising way to provide micro-optical devices to get good optical performance and suitable for multi-channel applications. We also disclose several process techniques to manufacture the micro-optical devices with said electrostatic comb drive actuator in a mass production manner with higher yield.

Abstract: Disclosed is a retro-reflective type optical signal processing device and method, particularly to a device includes a set of optical mirror planes with retro-reflective type layout and configuration, and a set of micro-shutters controlled by microelectromechanical actuators, whereas the optical signals in propagation can be blocked or partially blocked in terms of the position of said a set of micro-shutters corresponding to the optical signal transmission path, thereby the method of said approach to determine the range of attenuated optical signal is a variable optical attenuation function demonstrated by present invention. Such a retro-reflective type optical signal processing device and method further comprises a set of three reflective mirrors and micro-shutters with reflective mirrors. Thereby this device has the capability to switch 2 sets of retro-reflected optical light transmission paths, the method of said approach is a demonstration of 2×2 optical switching function.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical switch using V-beam electrothermal actuators, buckle beam springs, and movement translation mechanism with its bi-directional movable latched function for optical communication applications. In the preferred embodiments, various layout combinations of the V-beam electrothermal actuators, the buckle beam springs, a reflective mirror shutter connected to a shutter beam, and spatial joint to enable various operation approaches to realize the bi-stable switching function without external electrical load and electrical power consumption of said optical switch regarding the input optical signals transmitting toward the output channels, or the input optical signals transmitting forward to the reflective mirror shutter and then being reflected toward the output channel.

Abstract: A package structure and method for making devices of system-in-a-package (SiP). Substrates with integrated and assembled elements can be aligned and pre-bonded together, and fluidic encapsulating materials is applied to seal the rest opening of pre-bonded interface of substrates. Three dimensional and protruding microstructures, elements, and MFMS devices can be accommodated and protected inside a spatial space formed by the bonded substrates. By applying the technologies of flip-chip, chip-scale-packaging, and wafer-level-packaging in conjunction with present invention, then plural elements and devices can be packaged together and become a system device in wafer-level-system-in-a-package (WLSiP) format.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to optical communication systems, and more particularly, to an apparatus combining microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) elements and optical wavelength division multiplexing/demultiplexing (WDM) elements for optical wavelength selective add/drop application. Wherein, optical fiber arrays or optical planar waveguide arrays are used as the input terminal and the output terminal of multiple optical signals. Moreover, 1×N one-dimensional micro-mirror arrays manufactured by using the MEMS technology are applied to change the transmitting directions of the optical signal of each channel between the input terminals and the output terminals, thus, it achieves the purpose of switching the optical signals from one channel of input terminals to another corresponding channel of output terminals.