Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein related to the avoidance of undesirable optical effects in a liquid crystal display used with a touch-sensitive display input device. For example, one embodiment provides a user interface comprising a body, a light source disposed within the body, and a liquid crystal display configured to create an image displayable on one or more display surfaces coupled to the body. The user interface device further includes a light delivery system positioned optically between the light source and the liquid crystal display to deliver light produced by the light source to the liquid crystal display. The light delivery system comprises a light exit surface spaced from the liquid crystal display to form a gap positioned between the light exit surface of the light delivery system and the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to a multi-section light guide and computing devices comprising a plurality of wedge light guides are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises a multi-section light guide having a monolithic wedge-shaped body comprising a plurality of logical light guide sections. Each logical light guides section is configured to direct light via total internal reflection between a first light input/output interface located at a first end of the logical light guide section and a second light input/output interface located at a major face of the logical light guide section.

Abstract: A dynamic projected user interface includes a light source for generating a light beam and a spatial light modulator for receiving and dynamically modulating the light beam to create a plurality of display images that are respectively projected onto a plurality of keys in a keyboard. An optical arrangement is disposed in an optical path between the light source and the spatial light modulator for conveying the light beam from the light source to the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: End reflectors, flat panel lens that may utilize the end reflector, and methods are provided. The end reflector for a flat panel lens may include a first grating having a first set of parallel planes. The first set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a first angle with a central plane of the flat panel lens. The end reflector may also include a second grating having a second set of parallel planes. The second set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a second angle with the central plane. The second angle may be equivalent to the first angle reflected about the central plane.

Abstract: A light guide of the tapered-waveguide type includes an input slab (30) for expanding a projected image between an input end and an output end (40); and a tapered output slab (10) arranged to receive rays from the said output end of the input slab, and to emit them at a point on its face that corresponds to the angle at which the ray is received. The taper is calculated so that all rays injected into the input end undergo the same number of reflections before leaving the output face. The thickness of the input slab light guide (30) is greater in the transverse direction away from the centre line C, so that light travelling at the critical angle from the input face of the slab waveguide towards the output waveguide (10) bounces the same number of times in the input slab, regardless of its fan-out angle, in order to further reduce image distortion.

Abstract: A flat panel lens system as a tapered light guide that has minimal or no margin for fan out. The tapered light guide includes a thin end, and a thick end of which is a bevelled mirror or an optical equivalent. Light is injected into the thin end and the mirror is such that rays injected through a point at the thin end emerge collimated from one of the light guide surfaces, and that collimated rays injected at an appropriate angle through one of the light guide surfaces emerge from a point at the thin end. Bragg gratings can be utilized for color implementations as well. The tapered light guide can be fabricated as a single piece, by extrusion, injection molding, or the combination/variation of extrusion and injection molding, as well as other commonly known techniques.

Abstract: A flat panel lens system as a tapered light guide that has minimal or no margin for fan out. The tapered light guide includes a thin end, and a thick end of which is a bevelled mirror or an optical equivalent. Light is injected into the thin end and the mirror is such that rays injected through a point at the thin end emerge collimated from one of the light guide surfaces, and that collimated rays injected at an appropriate angle through one of the light guide surfaces emerge from a point at the thin end. Bragg gratings can be utilized for color implementations as well. The tapered light guide can be fabricated as a single piece, by extrusion, injection molding, or the combination/variation of extrusion and injection molding, as well as other commonly known techniques.

Abstract: An ink management system for supplying or receiving liquid at a controlled pressure, comprising: a closed reservoir; a weir disposed in the reservoir, configured to separate the reservoir into a first and a second chamber; the first chamber having an inlet for receiving liquid from a first remote location; and the weir being disposed such that the level of liquid in the first chamber can be maintained at a constant height; wherein the reservoir is sealed from the surrounding atmosphere and the system further comprises a pumped outlet disposed in the second chamber and arranged to remove liquid and gas contained within the reservoir.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ejection apparatus for ejecting material from a fluid. An ejection cell (5) contains fluid from which the material is to be ejected and has an ejection upstand (6) which defines a location from which the material is ejected. One or more ejection electrodes (9) are disposed in the cell substantially surrounding the ejection upstand (6).

Abstract: An apparatus for ejecting material from a liquid has an ejection location 91) with an electrode (3). An electrical potential is applied to the ejection location electrode to form an electric field at the location together; liquid is supplied to the ejection location which contains the particulate material to be ejected from the ejection location. A secondary electrode (5, 8) is disposed adjacent to the ejection location and the voltage on the ejection location electrode is controllable so as to reduce the sensitivity of the head to influence by external electric fields.

Abstract: An ejection apparatus for ejecting material from a liquid has an ejection cell (2) for containing the liquid in use. The cell (2) has a protrusion (3) disposed so as to be contacted by liquid in the cell on more than one side and defining a predetermined location for a meniscus of the liquid at an opening in the cell. An ejection electrode (6) is disposed in the cell at a position inwardly of the cell with respect to the predetermined location of the meniscus.

Abstract: A method of depositing material on a surface (136) is described in which a bulk medium (for example ink 122) in the form of a composition of dispersed insoluble material (for example ink particles) and a support medium is supplied to a cell (120). A movement of the insoluble material within the bulk medium is effected towards a transfer aperture (128) within the cell, thereby concentrating the insoluble material within the bulk medium. Thereafter the insoluble material is removed from the concentration within the bulk medium through the aperture (128) and deposited onto the surface (136).

Abstract: A laser drilling process capable of producing a plurality of holes in a pharmaceutical dosage form, at high speed, is presented. The process utilizes a high power CO.sub.2 laser steered by an acousto-optic deflector together with various mirrors and optical components to achieve the correct beam path geometry, in order to produce an unlimited number of holes through the surface or coating of a dosage form, at rates up to 100,000 units or more per hour.

Abstract: An inhaler for dispensing droplets of liquid medicament to a patient comprising a body having a mouthpiece or nasal adaptor and a reservoir of liquid medicament in communication with an aerosol generator. The aerosol generator includes a chamber for the liquid medicament and a nozzle arrangement having a plurality of orifices. Means are provided for cyclically pressurizing the liquid medicament in the chamber such that liquid from the chamber is periodically expelled through the orifices of the nozzle arrangement as atomizer droplets of liquid medicament. Dosage control means are also provided for deactivating the aerosol generator after a predetermined time or after a predetermined volume of liquid medicament has been expelled from the chamber.