Abstract: A device and method of making and using the same. The device includes first and second substrates that are spaced to define a fluid space. Polar and non-polar fluids occupy the fluid space. A first electrode, with a dielectric layer, is positioned on the first substrate and electrically coupled to at least one voltage source, which is configured to supply an electrical bias to the first electrode. The fluid space includes at least one fluid splitting structure that is configured to facilitate the movement of the non-polar fluid into a portion of the polar fluid. Fluid splitting structure assisted movement of the non-polar fluid splits the polar fluid.

Abstract: Electrofluidic devices, visual displays formed from the electrofluidic devices, and methods for making and operating such electrofluidic devices Each electrofluidic device has a fluid vessel with first and second regions that contain an electrically conductive polar fluid and a non-polar fluid The polar and/or the non-polar fluids are externally visible external through a viewable area of the second region A voltage source is electrically connected to a capacitor having a hydrophobic surface that contacts the polar fluid and provides a first principal radius of curvature of the polar fluid that is convex and smaller than a second principal radius of curvature of the polar fluid in the first region The voltage source applies an electromechanical force to the polar fluid, thereby transferring the polar fluid from the first region to the second region and causing a spectral property of light transferred through the viewable area to change.

Abstract: A tunable optical component includes comprises a plurality of individual tunable liquid cells regularly arranged and integrated to at least one cell structure forming an array on the supporting substrate. A single liquid cell comprises several integrated cell walls, the cell walls projecting away from the supporting substrate and having a closed base area and an open cell surface at the cell wall edges. The liquid cell is filled with at least two liquids or fluids to provide at least one tunable interface area for varying the optical characteristic of the liquid cell.

Abstract: Electrofluidic devices, visual displays formed from the electrofluidic devices, and methods for making and operating such electrofluidic devices Each electrofluidic device has a fluid vessel with first and second regions that contain an electrically conductive polar fluid and a non-polar fluid The polar and/or the non-polar fluids are externally visible external through a viewable area of the second region A voltage source is electrically connected to a capacitor having a hydrophobic surface that contacts the polar fluid and provides a first principal radius of curvature of the polar fluid that is convex and smaller than a second principal radius of curvature of the polar fluid in the first region The voltage source applies an electromechanical force to the polar fluid, thereby transferring the polar fluid from the first region to the second region and causing a spectral property of light transferred through the viewable area to change

Abstract: A tunable optical component includes comprises a plurality of individual tunable liquid cells regularly arranged and integrated to at least one cell structure forming an array on the supporting substrate. A single liquid cell comprises several integrated cell walls, the cell walls projecting away from the supporting substrate and having a closed base area and an open cell surface at the cell wall edges. The liquid cell is filled with at least two liquids or fluids to provide at least one tunable interface area for varying the optical characteristic of the liquid cell.

Abstract: Switchable retroreflector devices that are modulated via electrowetting. The devices include an electrically-conductive polar fluid and a non-polar fluid that is immiscible with the polar fluid. The polar and the non-polar fluids differ in at least one optical property. The fluids are contained in a fluid vessel, or an array of fluid vessels. The fluids are at least partially viewable. A voltage source is configured to selectively apply an electromechanical force to the polar fluid causing repositioning and/or geometrical change of the fluids such that retroreflection in created, or suppressed, by optical refraction or by optical attenuation.

Abstract: Electronic devices (10, 30, 50) utilizing electrically-controlled liquid components to accomplish device switching. Electric fields are used in a device structure to manipulate the position and/or geometrical shape of a conductive fluid or liquid (60, 24) using electrowetting. This manipulation regulates the flow of current between electrodes of the device structure, such as the source and drain regions (16, 20) of a transistor construction, by bridging a non-conductive channel (15) separating the electrodes (16, 20) so that the electrodes (16, 20) are electrically coupled.

Abstract: The invention relates to textiles, reservoirs, or films which may be switchably rendered hydrophilic or hydrophobic for liquid wicking, repelling, moving, holding, absorbing, drying, wetting, dispensing, and other means of electrically manipulation of liquids.

Abstract: A signage device comprising one or more light sources, a waveguide or arrangement of waveguides and photoluminescent features coupled thereto. In one embodiment, a waveguide is adapted to receive light of a first wavelength and the photoluminescent features are adapted to emit light of a second wavelength in response to receiving light of the first wavelength.

Abstract: Electroluminescent waveguide amplifier and methods for amplifying optical data signals in a fiber optical telecommunications system to achieve signal enhancement that compensates for losses incurred by attenuation, optical splitting, and routing through the optical communication system. The waveguide amplifier (30) includes an electroluminescent active layer (38) having a host medium doped with luminescent dopant atoms capable of amplifying a propagating optical data signal (45) by stimulated emission of photons (41). Confining and insulating cladding layers (36, 40) surround the active layer (38) and confine the propagating optical data signals (45) being amplified to the active layer (38) and cladding layers (36, 40).

Abstract: A light emissive display having a specular waveguide that propagates short wavelength light and photoluminescent features adjacent to the waveguide that fluoresce, for example, in visible red, green, blue, and mixed colors when selectively coupled with the short wavelength light. The photoluminescent layers emit light primarily and, therefore, efficiently in the direction of an observer only. This light emissive display may be utilized as a planar light source, as patterned information signage, or as a re-configurable information display containing intensity modulated pixels. The light emissive display may be enhanced optically such that only a small portion of ambient light is reflected from the display while preserving the majority of emitted display luminance.