Abstract: An improved illuminated license plate comprising a support, an electroluminescent sheet, and a facing sheet. The support includes a rigid, nonopaque plate. The rigid support plate has a front surface and a back surface. An electroluminescent sheet is mounted on the back surface of the support plate, preferably in a recess provided in the back surface for such purposes. The facing sheet is nontransparent and is affixed to the front surface of the support plate. The facing sheet also has indicia perforated therethrough such that light emitted by the electroluminescent sheet passes through the perforated indicia illuminating the perforated indicia in contrast to the facing sheet. Preferably, the novel license plates also comprise optional colored translucent sheets mounted on the support plate between the electroluminescent sheet and the facing sheet to vary the apparent color of the light emitted by the electroluminescent sheet. Also, the facing sheet preferably is suitable as a substrate for printed indicia.

Abstract: One or more optical fibers are attached to an optical component element or supporting substrate by coating the peripheral surface of the optical fiber with a metallic layer and then positioning the metallic layer in electrical contact with a metal surface of the object along an interface. An electrical current pulse or pulses is applied through the interface sufficient to cause local melting or near melting and welding at the interface.

Abstract: An ink jet droplet exciter for generating pressure waves in a droplet generator. The preferred exciter is a composite made of PZT, Pb (Zr:Ti) O.sub.3, and a polyethylene supporting material. The mean diameter of the PZT particles is 7 mils and the entire exciter thickness is between 10 and 12 mils. The composite is pliable and can be made in sheets of a large enough area to provide droplet excitation for a multiple nozzle generator.

Abstract: A thin film of polyvinylidene fluoride is operated in the piezoelectric thickness mode to stimulate fluid drop formation for ink jet printing systems. The film is placed against a rigid wall of either rectangular, cylindrical or spherical chambers having at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of fluid from which the drops are formed. The frequency of the drop generation is related to the frequency of an AC voltage applied across the piezoelectric film.

Abstract: A flexible, low-density piezoelectric transducer utilizing a PZT-polymer posite that is formed with the two phases three-dimensionally interpenetrant. The ceramic PZT microstructure, which is produced by a replication process that in one embodiment reproduces the structure of a coral species, is filled with silicone rubber and thereafter its transverse connectivity is broken by a light shearing deformation to give it flexibility.