Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for an electronic display are disclosed. More specifically, the invention and disclosure relates to an electronic display that has a diffuse, paper-like reflectance characteristic for visible light, while being retroreflective and non-diffuse for infrared light, for easy image detection and analysis with infrared cameras, while preserving viewing properties of an electronic paper display for humans.

Abstract: A photopolymer mixture is capable of use for a liquid crystal alignment layer. An alignment layer is formed from such a photopolymer mixture. The mixture comprises at least two polymerisable materials which are blended together in proportion so as to give a predetermined, preferably low, surface energy. A low surface energy, e.g., less than 4×10?2 N/m, can result in an alignment layer which imparts a particular orientation to liquid crystal molecules with out requiring any post-cure treatments. The polymerisable materials may be monomers, oligomers, or diluents that form long chain molecules when cured, and the mixture may contain additives to lower the overall surface energy.

Abstract: A photopolymer mixture is capable of use for a liquid crystal alignment layer. An alignment layer is formed from such a photopolymer mixture. The mixture comprises at least two polymerisable materials which are blended together in proportion so as to give a predetermined, preferably low, surface energy. A low surface energy, e.g., less than 4×10?2 N/m, can result in an alignment layer which imparts a particular orientation to liquid crystal molecules with out requiring any post-cure treatments. The polymerisable materials may be monomers, oligomers, or diluents that form long chain molecules when cured, and the mixture may contain additives to lower the overall surface energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a patterned layer having a surface profile that provides relief structures within an electronic device. The method comprises the steps of taking a carrier film (50) having an inverse of the required surface profile formed on one side thereof, taking a layer of fixable material (54) located on a substrate (52), laminating the carrier film (50) and substrate (52) such the carrier film causes the required surface profile to be formed in the layer of fixable material with a predetermined offset, and then fixing the fixable material. Lamination may be performed using rollers (56,58) or a vacuum process. The process is designed to ensure that the offset can be kept as low as possible, preferably to within 150 nm.

Abstract: This invention relates to a photopolymer mixture capable of use for a liquid crystal alignment layer and to an alignment layer formed from such a photopolymer mixture. The mixture comprises at least two polymerisable materials which are blended together in proportion so as to give a predetermined, preferably low, surface energy. A low surface energy, e.g. less than 4×10?2 N/m can result in an alignment layer which imparts a particular orientation to liquid crystal molecules with out requiring any post cure treatments. The polymerisable materials may be monomers, oligomers or diluents that form long chain molecules when cured and the mixture may contain additives to lower the overall surface energy.

Abstract: A method of growing robust large area colloidal photonic crystals and devices produced thereby. A suspension of monosized colloidal spheres (1) is subjected to a composite shear (6) by applying a sequential set of shearing forces. The crystalline layers within the colloid experience shearing forces with components in both x and y directions, forcing the colloid into a singe face-centered-cubic structure in preference to a twinned face-centered-cubic structure. The method may also comprise the use of a dispersion medium which is capable of undergoing a controllable phase change from a liquid phase to a solid phase. The crystal may be fixed into a single face-centered cubic structure.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) comprising a one dimensional grating structure configured to act as a waveguide, preferably located at an end surface of the VCSEL, for selectively reflecting more of a first polarisation of light back into the cavity of the VCSEL than a second orthogonal polarisation of light. Preferably the VCSEL comprises an upper Bragg mirror, a gain region, and a lower Bragg mirror, and the one dimensional grating structure is located on a top layer of the upper Bragg mirror and the top layer of the upper Bragg mirror has a thickness such that the reflected light of one polarisation constructively interferes with light of said one polarisation which is reflected by the upper Bragg mirror. The VCSEL will then lase at the polarisation which is more predominantly reflected by the grating structure.