Abstract: A controllable polymer actuator (1) comprising a dielectric elastomeric film (2); a first (3) and a second (4) deformable electrode arranged on opposite sides of the dielectric elastomeric film such that application of a voltage between the electrodes causes an active portion (7) of the controllable polymer actuator to change topography. The controllable polymer actuator (1) further comprises a deformation controlling layer (5, 6) connected to the dielectric elastomeric film. The deformation controlling layer at least locally has a higher stiffness than the dielectric elastomeric film, and exhibits a spatially varying stiffness across the active portion (7). This may enable surface topographies that could not at all be achieved using previously known controllable polymer actuators and/or may enable a certain surface topography to be achieved with a simpler electrode pattern and/or fewer individually controllable electrodes.

Abstract: An actuator comprises an electroactive polymer layer (402) and stretchable electrode structures (410, 411) that are disposed on each side of the electroactive polymer layer (402). A softer passive layer (401) is secured to one of the stretchable electrode structures (410, 411). When compressed transversally by the stretchable electrode structures (410, 411), the electroactive polymer layer (402) will expand tangentially and the actuator will relax into a shape wherein the interior of the electroded region is substantially parallel to the plane of the device, while a substantial portion of the area increase is absorbed by out-of-plane bends arising at the electrode boundary (duck mode). The invention can be embodied as optically reflective or refractive devices with variable geometry.

Abstract: A method of controlling an influence on a user in a rendering environment includes obtaining signal data representing one or more physiological conditions of a user in response to an influence caused by system feedback of the rendering environment; obtaining data corresponding to a user's desired emotional state, which data is based on the user's self-reports and data representative of accompanying signal data representing one or more physiological conditions of the user over a last period before the accompanying self-report; determining whether the desired emotional state is reached; and if the state is not reached, adapting the system feedback provided by the rendering environment correspondingly.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator device (400) comprising an active layer (410) having directly or indirectly a skin layer (420) on top that can be touched by when in use by a user. The configuration of the active layer (410) can controllably be changed in an extension direction (x, y), and the skin layer (420) comprises a plurality of elevations (E) and intermediate recesses (R). Due to its structure, the skin layer (420) does not hinder conformation changes of the active layer (410) in the extension direction, while it provides favorable tactile characteristics of the actuator device (400). The active layer (410) may particularly comprise an electroactive polymer (EAP). The skin layer (420) may be composed of a plurality of grains isolated from each other, or it may comprise a thin surface layer (421) that is stiffer than the active layer (410).

Abstract: An actuator comprises an electroactive polymer layer (402) and a stretchable electrode structure (403) disposed at a first side of the electroactive polymer layer and further a counter electrode layer (401) disposed on a second side of the electroactive polymer layer, wherein the ratio YC/YEAP of the elastic modulus YC of the counter electrode layer and the elastic modulus YEAP of the electroactive polymer layer is at least 10. When compressed transversally by the electrodes, the electroactive polymer will expand tangentially and the actuator will relax into a shape wherein the interior of the electroded region is substantially recessed parallel to the plane of the device, while a substantial portion of the area increase is absorbed by out-of-plane bends arising at the electrode boundary (duck mode). The invention can be embodied as optically reflective or refractive devices with variable geometry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a display device (100-300) that comprises an image display unit (IDU) for displaying a visual image in combination with an adjacent topology display unit (TDU) that can controllably change the topology on a tactile display surface (TDS). Hence both visual and tactile information can be represented and can be related to each other by a control unit (CU).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for conveying an emotion to a person being exposed to multimedia information, such as a media clip, by way of tactile stimulation using a plurality of actuators arranged in a close vicinity of the person's body, the method comprising the step of providing tactile stimulation information for controlling the plurality of actuators, wherein the plurality of actuators are adapted to stimulate multiple body sites in a body region, the tactile stimulation information comprises a sequence of tactile stimulation patterns, wherein each tactile stimulation pattern controls the plurality of actuators in time and space to enable the tactile stimulation of the body region, and the tactile stimulation information is synchronized with the media clip. An advantage with the present invention is thus that emotions can be induced, or strengthened, at the right time (e.g. synchronized with a specific situation in the media clip).

Abstract: A controllable polymer actuator (1) comprising a dielectric elastomeric film (2); a first (3) and a second (4) deformable electrode arranged on opposite sides of the dielectric elastomeric film such that application of a voltage between the electrodes causes an active portion (7) of the controllable polymer actuator to change topography. The controllable polymer actuator (1) further comprises a deformation controlling layer (5, 6) connected to the dielectric elastomeric film. The deformation controlling layer at least locally has a higher stiffness than the dielectric elastomeric film, and exhibits a spatially varying stiffness across the active portion (7). This may enable surface topographies that could not at all be achieved using previously known controllable polymer actuators and/or may enable a certain surface topography to be achieved with a simpler electrode pattern and/or fewer individually controllable electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides a skin treatment device comprising a laser source (40) and focusing optics (50), such that a focal spot (18) is positioned in a dermis layer (24) of the skin to be treated. The laser beam (42) is powered and focused (16) such that a LIOB (laser induced optical breakdown) phenomenon is obtained, which affects the skin in order to stimulate re-growth of tissue. This in turn reduces wrinkles (30). The device may comprise wrinkle-determining means (52, 54, 56, 58). The focusing optics (50) may have a numerical aperture of at least 0.4. The invention also provides a corresponding method to treat skin, in particular to reduce wrinkles (30), by providing a focused laser beam (16) that causes LIOB in the dermis layer (24) of the skin. The advantage is that damage to overlaying epidermis layers may be avoided by the use of the very local LIOB phenomenon.

Abstract: A method of adapting an environment of a terminal (2) includes: —receiving data (27) from an external source at the terminal (2); —receiving monitoring data from a system for monitoring at least one user in the environment; and —controlling at least one output device for providing an output perceptible in the environment, the output being adjusted in dependence on the monitoring data. At least one segment including data pertaining to at least one mental state is retrieved from the data (27) from the external source, and the adjustment in dependence on the monitoring data is effected at least partly on the basis of the data pertaining to the at least one mental state.

Abstract: The interdental cleaner includes a source of liquid (22) and a control system (42) including a manual pump (26), for moving a selected amount of liquid, suitable for a single use, into a liquid pathway and there to a mixing chamber (53). A source of pressurized gas (30), such as a CO2 cartridge, is used to preload a selected amount of gas into a gas chamber (52). The control system includes a spring-loaded button (18), which upon operation results in the manual pump (26) being operated, forcing the selected amount of liquid into the mixing chamber, and then upon release, permits the pressurized gas in the gas chamber to enter the mixing chamber, breaking up the liquid therein into droplets and a liquid stream, and propelling the resulting liquid out of a nozzle portion (14) of the cleaner into the interproximal area of the teeth.

Abstract: Stimulation system for indicating stimulation signals to a user, provided with at least one heart beat sensor for converting measured heart beats into a signal, a processing circuit configured to process the measured heart beat signals, a user interface configured to indicate stimulation signals to a user, wherein the processing circuit is configured to calculate intervals between the detected heart beats and register a predetermined number of successive intervals, predict a time interval between a detected heart beat and a predicted future heart beat based on the registered intervals, and instruct the user interface to indicate a stimulation signal to a user non-simultaneously with the predicted heart beat at the end of the predicted time interval so as to change the heart rate and/or heart coherence of the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a user interface (100) comprising a touchable interaction surface (S) with an array (120) of actuators for providing haptic feedback. Moreover, the user interface comprises a controller (130) for controlling actuators in a coordinated manner such that they provide a directional haptic sensation. By means of this directional haptic sensation, a user touching the interaction surface (S) can be provided with additional information, for example about a given location on the interaction surface (S), or with a haptic feedback that corresponds to the movement of an image displayed on the interaction surface (S).

Abstract: An actuator comprises an electroactive polymer layer (402) and a stretchable electrode structure (403) disposed at a first side of the electroactive polymer layer and further a counter electrode layer (401) disposed on a second side of the electroactive polymer layer, wherein the ratio Yc/YEAP of the elastic modulus YC of the counter electrode layer and the elastic modulus YEAP of the electroactive polymer layer is at least 10. When compressed transversally by the electrodes, the electroactive polymer will expand tangentially and the actuator will relax into a shape wherein the interior of the electroded region is substantially recessed parallel to the plane of the device, while a substantial portion of the area increase is absorbed by out-of-plane bends arising at the electrode boundary (duck mode). The invention can be embodied as optically reflective or refractive devices with variable geometry.

Abstract: An actuator comprises an electroactive polymer layer (402) and stretchable electrode structures (410, 411) that are disposed on each side of the electroactive polymer layer (402). A softer passive layer (401) is secured to one of the stretchable electrode structures (410, 411). When compressed transversally by the stretchable electrode structures (410, 411), the electroactive polymer layer (402) will expand tangentially and the actuator will relax into a shape wherein the interior of the electroded region is substantially parallel to the plane of the device, while a substantial portion of the area increase is absorbed by out-of-plane bends arising at the electrode boundary (duck mode). The invention can be embodied as optically reflective or refractive devices with variable geometry.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator device (400) comprising an active layer (410) having directly or indirectly a skin layer (420) on top that can be touched by when in use by a user. The configuration of the active layer (410) can controllably be changed in an extension direction (x, y), and the skin layer (420) comprises a plurality of elevations (E) and intermediate recesses (R). Due to its structure, the skin layer (420) does not hinder conformation changes of the active layer (410) in the extension direction, while it provides favorable tactile characteristics of the actuator device (400). The active layer (410) may particularly comprise an electroactive polymer (EAP). The skin layer (420) may be composed of a plurality of grains isolated from each other, or it may comprise a thin surface layer (421) that is stiffer than the active layer (410).

Abstract: A wearable device or electric stimulation of a users body fits a portion of the user's body and includes at least one electrode embedded in the wearable device transferring a stimulating current to the user's body. A connection point is an intermediate connection between the at least one electrode and a control unit. The control unit is configured to generate the stimulating current. A detector is configured to detect if a change in a physical relationship between the connection point and the at least one electrode exceeds a predetermined threshold value, thereby enabling detection of misuse and tampering with the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a display device (100-300) that comprises an image display unit (IDU) for displaying a visual image in combination with an adjacent topology display unit (TDU) that can controllably change the topology on a tactile display surface (TDS). Hence both visual and tactile information can be represented and can be related to each other by a control unit (CU).

Abstract: A method of signal processing, includes obtaining at least one physiological signal from a system (9-12) arranged to monitor at least one user. Data at least based on data representative of at least one characteristic of electrical current drawn by at least one appliance (23,24,28) in an environment in which the at least one user is present is obtained. This data is used to determine an output based on the at least one physiological signal.

Abstract: A method of adapting an environment of a terminal (2) includes: —receiving data (27) from an external source at the terminal (2); —receiving monitoring data from a system for monitoring at least one user in the environment; and —controlling at least one output device for providing an output perceptible in the environment, the output being adjusted in dependence on the monitoring data. At least one segment including data pertaining to at least one mental state is retrieved from the data (27) from the external source, and the adjustment in dependence on the monitoring data is effected at least partly on the basis of the data pertaining to the at least one mental state.