Abstract: An electrical zipper-type connector is provided which can be used in wearable electronics applications. The connector has a first connector part (20) with an array of connector members (21, 24) and a second connector part (30) with an array of connector members (31, 34), which can mate with the first array of connector members. The first and second connector parts (20, 30) have contacts for forming a conductive path when the connector parts (20, 30) are mated with one another. Once the connector parts (20, 30) have been mated a force is applied between the contacts, which maintains them in electrical contact. The force can be applied in a variety of ways, such as by: a resilient coating (26) on the connector parts; a cord which pulls the connector parts together; having one connector part clasp the other connector part; or binding the connector parts together.

Abstract: A filament or fibre (2) comprising: a first conductive layer (4); an electro-optically active layer (6); a second conductive layer (8); wherein the filament or fibre has an off-state and an on-state, the electro-optically active layer comprising a combination of an electro-optically active substance and a polymer.

Abstract: A filament or fiber (2) comprising a volume modulation coloration producing substance (6); containment means (8) for containing the substance in the form of an elongated core which containment means is at least partially light transmitting; and stimulation means (4) for stimulating the substance to produce a change in the volume of the substance, thereby changing the color of the filament or fiber.

Abstract: A fabric (2; 20) formed from a plurality of first fibers or filaments (4), and a plurality of second fibers or filaments (6); the first fibers or filaments being non-conductive and comprising an electro-optically active material; and the second fibers or filaments being conductive; whereby a voltage difference between two second fibers causes a colour change in a first fiber positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A textile is formed from interwoven electrically conductive and non-conductive yarns to provide an array of connection points on one or both surfaces of the textile, facilitating the connection of electronic components to the surface of the textile, in an array. The textile comprises a multi-layer warp having electrically conductive and non-conductive yarns and a weft having electrically conductive and non-conductive yarns. At least some of the electrically conductive weft yarns cross selected electrically conductive warp yarns without electrical contact therebetween by being separated from the electrically conductive warp yarns by at least one non-conductive warp yarn in each layer of the multi-layer warp. Loops formed by the electrically conductive weft yarns provide electrical connection points together with proximal portions of electrically conductive warp yarns.

Abstract: A fabric (2; 20) formed from a plurality of first fibres or filaments (4), and a plurality of second fibres or filaments (6); the first fibres or filaments being non-conductive and comprising an electro-optically active material; and the second fibres or filaments being conductive; whereby a voltage difference between two second fibres causes a colour change in a first fibre positioned therebetween.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an alignment layer capable of aligning liquid crystal material, the alignment layer comprising: a first sublayer having regions capable of aligning the liquid crystal material in a first alignment, a second sublayer having regions capable of aligning the liquid crystal material in a second alignment, the first and the second alignment being different, the second sublayer overlaying the first sublayer and covering in accordance with a pre-determined pattern the first sublayer to provide, at desired locations, second sublayer regions capable of aligning the liquid crystal material and, at desired locations, regions of the underlying first sublayer that are not covered by the second sublayer, and to a method of making this alignment layer. The invention further relates to an optical or electro-optical device comprising said alignment layer.