Abstract: A device includes: a first portion configured to be grasped by the hand of the user, and a second portion defining a reservoir containing a control material, wherein the control material contains a target analyte in a known or predetermined concentration. A method of verifying the accuracy of an analyte monitoring device includes receiving a fluid sample, identifying the fluid sample as a control solution, and analyzing the fluid sample.

Abstract: An indicator device includes a surface provided with at least one channel or at least one through-hole with at least two openings, wherein flowable material in an immobile state is provided adjacent to the channel or adjacent to a first opening of the through-hole, such that after application of a stimulus the material is directed along the channel by the action of capillary forces or into the at least one through-hole by the action of capillary forces and emerges at a second opening, thereby providing an indication of the application of the stimulus.

Abstract: A flexographic printing composition which comprises a carrier-swellable particle composition, such as a microgel particle composition, has improved printing performance and printing resolution, especially where the flexographic printing composition is an aqueous printing composition and the carrier is water. The composition is particularly beneficial for flexographic printing of such an aqueous printing ink onto low-energy surface substrates or impermeable substrates, in which the ink has improved adhesion, even in the absence of corona discharge treatment. The use of surfactant in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight of the ink composition enhances printed density and/or reduces mottling in solid printed areas.

Abstract: A method of creating a patterned coated layer on a substrate comprises the steps of applying a pattern on the substrate by an additive process using a first material, depositing a second material by vapour deposition over the whole substrate area and mechanically removing the pattern of first material from the substrate, leaving the inverse pattern of the second material.

Abstract: A method of making a colour filter array and atmospheric barrier comprises the steps of coating a layer of semi reflecting material onto a substrate, vapour depositing an essentially transparent layer to form a light interfering layer of one thickness on top of the semi reflecting layer and one or more stages, each comprising creating a patterned layer by printing on the light interfering layer, vapour depositing an essentially transparent layer over the whole patterned layer to provide a light interfering layer when combined with the first or previous light interfering layer and removing the patterned layer by a solvent. A second layer of semi reflecting material is then coated above the last light interfering layer.

Abstract: A method of creating a patterned coated layer on a substrate comprises the steps of applying a pattern on the substrate by an additive process using a first material, depositing a second material by vapour deposition over the whole substrate area and removing the first material by treatment with a solvent.

Abstract: An indicator device includes a surface provided with at least one channel or at least one through-hole with at least two openings, wherein flowable material in an immobile state is provided adjacent to the channel or adjacent to a first opening of the through-hole, such that after application of a stimulus the material is directed along the channel by the action of capillary forces or into the at least one through-hole by the action of capillary forces and emerges at a second opening, thereby providing an indication of the application of the stimulus.

Abstract: A surface plasmon element comprising an array of metal nanoparticles (1) with an adsorbed layer of resonant material and the use of such material to activate said array.

Abstract: A device comprises one or more dielectric layers, one side of the layer or layers being conductive. A hydrophobic layer is provided on the other side of the dielectric layer. First and second fluids are located on the surface of the hydrophobic layer, the fluids being immiscible with each other. The first fluid comprises at least one ionic liquid. The conductive layer and first fluid are arranged such that they can be electrically connected.

Abstract: A composite comprises conductive particles within a binder matrix, the particles being colloidably unstable within a solution and forming a conductive open network within the binder matrix when dried.

Abstract: A flexible display comprises a flexible dielectric layer (2) having a conductive layer (3) on one side and a hydrophobic layer (1) on the other side. Two fluids (4, 5) are located on the hydrophobic surface, the fluids being immiscible with one another. One fluid is a liquid conductor (5). When a potential is applied between the conductive layer and the liquid conductor the interface between the two fluids changes.

Abstract: A method of creating and controlling the particle spacing of a regular lattice of monodisperse particles or a mixture of monodisperse particles by using an electric field.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of creating a material for use as a material to be coated by curtain coating, comprising the step of: creating a surface texture of said material such that when said material is coated with a freely falling curtain formed of a composite layer of one or more coating compositions that impinges at a point of impingement against a continuously moving receiving surface of said material using roughness assisted wetting, the height of the composite layer at a distance &lgr; from the point of impingement, in which &lgr; is the average periodicity of the surface texture, is less than or equal to Rz. The invention also provides a method of identifying a material suitable for coating with Roughness Assisted coating.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of bead coating a web using a coating die. The method comprises forming one or more layers of coating material using the coating die and allowing the one or more layers to impinge on the web as the web and die move relative to each other. The web surface has an average peak to peak roughness as defined by DIN 4768, ISO4287 or BS1134 between 2 &mgr;m and 20 &mgr;m. The layer of coating material forming a wetting layer adjacent to the web has a viscosity of between 35 mPas and 200 mPas measured at a shear rate of substantially 10,000 s−1. An electrostatic field is provided at the point at which the layers impinge on the web to stabilize the layers of coating material. The method enables the web being coated to be conveyed at a speed greater than 400 cm/s relative to the coating die whilst avoiding the problem of air entrainment.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of creating a material for use as a material to be coated by curtain coating, comprising the step of: creating a surface texture of said material such that when said material is coated with a freely falling curtain formed of a composite layer of one or more coating compositions that impinges at a point of impingement against a continuously moving receiving surface of said material using roughness assisted wetting, the height of the composite layer at a distance &lgr; from the point of impingement, in which &lgr; is the average periodicity of the surface texture, is less than or equal to Rz. The invention also provides a method of identifying a material suitable for coating with Roughness Assisted coating.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of bead coating a web using a coating die. The method comprises forming one or more layers of coating material using the coating die and allowing the one or more layers to impinge on the web as the web and die move relative to each other. The web surface has an average peak to peak roughness as defined by DIN 4768, ISO4287 or BS1134 between 2 &mgr;m and 20 &mgr;m. The layer of coating material forming a wetting layer adjacent to the web has a viscosity of between 35 mPas and 200 mPas measured at a shear rate of substantially 10,000 s−1. An electrostatic field is provided at the point at which the layers impinge on the web to stabilize the layers of coating material. The method enables the web being coated to be conveyed at a speed greater than 400 cm/s relative to the coating die whilst avoiding the problem of air entrainment.

Abstract: A method of curtain coating, the curtain being formed from at least one layer of coating solution having a composite density &rgr; (kgm−3) and a total volumetric flow rate per unit curtain width Q (m2s−1), the curtain being allowed to free fall a distance h (m), at a velocity U (ms−1), onto a continuously moving substrate having a velocity S (ms−1) with an application angle of &thgr; between the horizontal and tangent to the substrate at the point of impingement, the dynamic surface tension at the rear of the falling curtain being &sgr; (mNm−1), the aforementioned variable parameters being controlled so as to prevent recirculation.

Abstract: A method of curtain coating, the curtain being formed from at least one layer of coating solution having a composite density &rgr; (kgm−3) and a total volumetric flow rate per unit curtain width Q (m2s−1), the curtain being allowed to free fall a distance h (m), at a velocity U (ms−1), onto a continuously moving substrate having a velocity S (ms−1) with an application angle of &thgr; between the horizontal and tangent to the substrate at the point of impingement, the dynamic surface tension at the rear of the falling curtain being &sgr; (mNm−1), the aforementioned variable parameters being controlled so as to prevent recirculation.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided for dispensing dough. The apparatus comprises a dough hopper (11) having a valve chamber (12) at its lower end into which dough from the hopper is metered and from which dough is eventually discharged by a valve unit (14). Dough is expelled from the valve chamber in response to downward strokes of a dispensing rod (30) attached to the valve unit. In the preferred embodiment, a dough former (72) is attached to the valve unit and is used to dispense multiple charges of dough. In an alternative embodiment, the valve unit is provided with a seat (27) having a discharge opening (19) through which dough is dispensed in a single charge.