Abstract: The present invention discloses resistive touch sensors that incorporate microstructured conductive layers. When local electrical contact is made between the microstructured conductive layer and an opposing conductive layer due to a touch input, the resulting signal can be used to determine the location of the touch. The microstructures can be used to penetrate a solid, deformable filler material disposed between the conductive layers, for example to provide more transmission of light through the sensor. The microstructures can also provide additional functionalities such as z-axis sensitivity, image direction, light control, light extraction, and so forth.

Abstract: An improved optical film having a continuous/disperse phase morphology and a method for making the same is provided. At least one of the continuous and disperse phases comprises a blend of homopolymers which are inter-reacted, as by transesterification. The resulting films exhibit a higher degree of birefringence for a given level of strain than analogous films in which the blend is replaced by a random copolymer.

Abstract: A touch sensing method and a touch sensing device are described for sensing a location of a touch. When the touch sensing device is touched, a first conductive layer disposed on a supporting layer is deflected toward a second conductive layer. The touch location is determined by sensing the change in capacitance at the location of the touch. A change in capacitance at the touch location is sensed by driving one of the conductive layers with an electrical signal referenced to the other conductive layer and measuring the current flow between the conductive layers. The sensed change in capacitance is greater than a change in the external capacitance of the touch sensor.

Abstract: An improved optical film having a continuous/disperse phase morphology and a method for making the same is provided. At least one of the continuous and disperse phases comprises a blend of homopolymers which are inter-reacted, as by transesterification. The resulting films exhibit a higher degree of birefringence for a given level of strain than analogous films in which the blend is replaced by a random copolymer.

Abstract: A capacitive touch screen is described with a touch area including a substantially transparent conductive polymer. The capacitive touch screen also includes circuitry connecting the conductive polymer of the touch area to a power source, where the circuitry is configured to determine a location of a capacitive coupling on the touch area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a switchable pressure activated electronic device. The switchable electronic device includes a composite material disposed between two conductors. The composite material electrically connects the two conductors when pressure is applied between them, and electrically isolates the two conductors when pressure is not applied between them. The composite includes conductive particles at least partially embedded in an insulating material. The conductive particles are disposed so that substantially all electrical connections made between the first and second conductors are through single particles.

Abstract: An improved optical film having a continuous/disperse phase morphology and a method for making the same is provided. At least one of the continuous and disperse phases comprises a blend of homopolymers which are inter-reacted, as by transesterification. The resulting films exhibit a higher degree of birefringence for a given level of strain than analogous films in which the blend is replaced by a random copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides touch panels and touch panel substrates that include spacer dots comprising a nanocomposite material. The present invention also provides methods of ink jet printing spacer dots for touch panel applications. The spacer dots and methods of making spacer dots can lead to spacers that have good durability, have controllable sizes, shapes, and spacings, and have desirable optical properties.

Abstract: Components for electronic displays containing a polyimide substrate and an electrical conductor are disclosed. The components are suitable for use in touch panel displays. The invention is also directed to electronic displays incorporating the components of the invention, and methods of making the display components. The combined polyimide substrate and electrical conductor are selected such that they have high internal radiation transmissivity, and typically have an effective radiation absorption coefficient of less than 0.02 per micron at wavelengths from 400 to 450 nm. In addition, the polyimide substrate permits processing of the display components at elevated temperatures, and usually has a glass transition temperature greater than 300° C.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparation of chlorofluoroethers ClCF2CFClOR8f and Cl2CFCFClOR8f by direct fluorination of Cl2CHCH2OR8 and Cl3CCH2OR8, respectively, wherein R8 is a C1-C20 alkyl-or acyl-containing group optionally up to 5 ether oxygen atoms and optionally substituted by functional groups and R81, is the corresponding perfluoroalkyl or perfluoracyl-containing group.

Abstract: Acrylates having a high degree of halogenation, as well as polymers that include one or more mer units derived from such acrylates provide materials having tailorable optical and physical properties. The polymers find utility particularly in optical devices including optical waveguides and interconnecting devices.

Abstract: Optical devices using reflective polarizers and, in particular, diffusely reflective polarizers are provided. Many of the optical devices utilize the diffusely reflecting and specularly transmitting properties of diffusely reflecting polarizers to enhance their optical characteristics. The optical devices include a lighting system which uses a reflector formed from a diffusely reflecting polarizer attached to a specular reflector. Another optical device is a display apparatus which uses a diffusely reflecting polarizer layer in combination with a turning lens which folds shallow angle light toward a light modulating layer. Other optical devices exploit the depolarizing characteristics of a diffusely reflecting polarizer when reflecting light. Still other optical devices use diffusely reflecting polarizers to recycle light and improve display illumination.

Abstract: Acrylates having a high degree of halogenation, as well as polymers that include one or more mer units derived from such acrylates provide materials having tailorable optical and physical properties. The polymers find utility particularly in optical devices including optical waveguides and interconnecting devices.

Abstract: Acrylates having a high degree of halogenation, as well as polymers that include one or more mer units derived from such acrylates provide materials having tailorable optical and physical properties. The polymers find utility particularly in optical devices including optical waveguides and interconnecting devices.

Abstract: An optical film includes a reflective polarizing element and a particle-containing layer. The reflective polarizing element substantially reflects light having a first polarization state and substantially transmits a second polarization state. The particle-containing layer is disposed on the reflective polarizing element and in a same optical path as the reflective polarizing element. The particle-containing layer is configured and arranged to transmit light and includes a plurality of particles that roughen an exterior surface of the optical film. Preferably, using the optical film in an optical device does not substantially reduce the gain advantage of the optical device when compared with an optical device utilizing the same optical film without particles in the surface layer. Also described are optical devices using the optical film and methods of making and using the optical films.

Abstract: Acrylates having a high degree of halogenation, as well as polymers that include one or more mer units derived from such acrylates provide materials having tailorable optical and physical properties. The polymers find utility particularly in optical devices including optical waveguides and interconnecting devices.

Abstract: A fluorescent ionophoric compound is disclosed that includes a complexing moiety, such as a cryptand or crown-ether portion, and a fluorescing moiety such as a coumarin portion. The coumarin portion may be substituted at the 3-position with an electron withdrawing or polarizable group such as a substituted aromatic group or a substituted heterocyclic group having a heteroatom in at least one of its alpha positions. The compound, which exhibits good photostability, can be incorporated into cation-sensing composite structures by means of convenient points of covalent attachment.

Abstract: An integrated optical coupler comprises a substrate with fiber-aligning grooves and waveguiding channels and a covering with complementary grooves and, optionally, channels. These couplers can be made from reproducible masters and electroplated molds made from those masters.

Abstract: A second order nonlinear optically-active azo monomer comprising a benzimidazole moiety. The monomers can be incorporated into both linear and crosslinked polymers useful in electrooptical devices.

Abstract: Nonlinear-optic (NLO) compositions containing functionalized merocyanine dyes, such that the molecules, comprising the NLO-active compositions have a functional group at each end of the molecule and each functional group differing in reactivity, thus permitting stepwise reaction of each functional group, and NLO-active molecules prepared from hemioxonol dyes derviatived with (meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylamide groups, and their uses in devices such as second harmonic generators or polymer integrated optics.