Abstract: An input device for a user interface comprises means to monitor movement of a user by mapping and recording deformations of their skin. The input device comprises conformable/reversibly stretchable material for placement onto the skin of a user. A plurality of sensors are mounted on, or embedded in, the stretchable material and arranged to undergo, and track in-plane and out-of-plane deformations corresponding to stretching and flexure of the underlying skin. A signal for controlling another device is then generated, based on the detected movement, gesture or positioning of the user based on the detected deformations. In wearable electronics applications, the other device may be mounted on the same stretchable material. The sensors may be arranged to provide active feedback, by selectively applying vibrations or pressure to the user's skin.

Abstract: An example embodiment there is provided an electroluminescent device comprising: an electroluminescent component, a first piezoelectric component, an alpha electrode and a first beta electrode, the electroluminescent component being located between the alpha electrode and the first piezoelectric component, the first beta electrode being in electrical contact with the alpha electrode and in electrical contact with the first piezoelectric component, the alpha electrode, first beta electrode, first piezoelectric component, and electroluminescent component being configured to generate a potential difference across the electroluminescent component responsive to a mechanical stress applied to the first piezoelectric component.

Abstract: A sensing device is provided for measuring flexural deformations of a surface. Such a sensing device may be used as a user interface in portable electronic devices. The sensing device comprises at least one cell. The cell comprises a first electrode, a central electrode, a second electrode, a first piezoelectric sensing layer placed between the first electrode and the central electrode, a second piezoelectric sensing layer placed between the central electrode and the second electrode, and a circuit connected to the first, second and the central electrodes. The circuit is configured to measure a first electrical signal between the first electrode and the central electrode, and a second electrical signal between the second electrode and the central electrode. At least one of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal is responsive to an external stress applied on the sensing device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an optically transparent sheet having an electrically conductive layer, an electrode element, and electro-vibration circuitry configured to provide a time-varying voltage signal across the electrically conductive layer and the electrode element so as to cause a user to experience electro-vibration in a first body part of the user when the first body part is moved across an exterior surface of the optically transparent sheet while a second body part of the user is in contact with the electrode element.

Abstract: An apparatus including including a first sensor configured to couple capacitively to a stylus when said stylus is in proximity to the first sensor, capacitive coupling between the first sensor and the stylus configured to generate a first touch input signal to enable detection of a first touch input; and a layer configured to couple capacitively to the stylus when said stylus is in proximity to the layer, capacitive coupling between the layer and the stylus configured to provide haptic feedback, wherein the layer is positioned adjacent the first sensor, the positioning resulting in capacitive cross-coupling between the first sensor and the layer, and wherein the layer comprises includes a first aperture configured to reduce the capacitive cross-coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus including a processor and a memory including computer program code. The memory and the computer program code are configured to cause the apparatus to, for an array of capacitive touch sensors with a proximally positioned electrotactile layer, compare the capacitance associated with a capacitive touch sensor of the array against a respective detection threshold to determine whether or not a touch input has occurred at the capacitive touch sensor by a stylus in capacitive coupling proximity to the capacitive touch sensor. The detection threshold of one or more capacitive touch sensors of the array is set to be sufficient to inhibit the erroneous generation of a touch input signal at the one or more respective capacitive touch sensors caused by capacitive cross-coupling, via the electrotactile layer, to the capacitive touch sensor which is in capacitive coupling proximity to the stylus.

Abstract: An apparatus including at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to provide a first state or a second state for an electrode, wherein in the first state, the electrode is configured for use in the detection of touch input, and in the second state, the electrode is configured for use in the provision of haptic feedback.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments described herein, there is provided an apparatus for a user interface, the user interface including a user interface surface, the user interface surface including at least part of a self cleaning composition, the composition being configured to draw away at least one dermatological contaminant from one or more contaminated regions of the user interface surface to thereby provide a self-cleaning user interface surface.

Abstract: An apparatus including an electronic display and a stationary part, the stationary part configured to overlie the display face of the electronic display such that the display face of the electronic display is positioned behind the stationary part, the electronic display/display face configured to vibrate with respect to the stationary part, vibration of the electronic display/display face configured to displace air adjacent to the plane of the electronic display to generate sound waves in the direction of the stationary part, wherein the stationary part is substantially acoustically transparent and configured such that the sound waves generated by the vibrations are able to radiate through the stationary part.

Abstract: An apparatus including first and second electrodes separated by an electrolyte, at least one of the first and second electrodes including an actuating substrate configured to undergo reversible deformation during actuation, wherein reversible deformation of the actuating substrate causes a decrease in the internal resistance of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method, a computer program and a computer program product for interacting with a device via an interaction unit, wherein the interaction unit comprises a plurality of interaction areas that can be activated by an activation unit to effect the interaction, the method comprising detecting approached interaction areas, wherein the approached interaction areas are interaction areas that are approached by the activation unit without yet being activated; displaying representations of the approached interaction areas on a display of the device. The invention further relates to the device itself and to a module for such a device.

Abstract: A battery cell including: an anode configured to operate as a source of cations during discharge of the battery cell; and an electrolyte configured to transport the cations from the anode to the a cathode during discharge of the battery cell, wherein the cathode includes material that is configured to enable the reversible insertion of transported cations during discharge of the battery cell and that has optical properties that are dependent upon cation insertion and that is viewable by a user.

Abstract: A coating including a liquid-phobic and/or liquid-philic material, the coating configured to control the shape of a corresponding liquid to form a liquid lens of specific focal length on the coating.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, apparatus comprising a waveguide and a spectral dispersion element, the apparatus being configured to be moveably attachable to a portable device, the portable device comprising a radiation sensing element and a radiation source, the apparatus being configured to be moveably attachable to the portable device to provide a first configuration in which the waveguide is positioned to transmit radiation from the radiation source towards an analyte region and/or from the analyte region towards the dispersion element; and such that the dispersion element is positioned to disperse radiation from the analyte region to form a spectrum which is provided towards the radiation sensing element for spectral analysis, and a second configuration in which the radiation sensing element and radiation source are able to capture and illuminate a scene for image capture.

Abstract: An apparatus including a microphone; and a profilometer system including the microphone. The profilometer system is configured to use vibrations received at the microphone to create a Surface Texture File (STF).

Abstract: A sensing device is provided for measuring flexural deformations of a surface. Such a sensing device may be used as a user interface in portable electronic devices. The sensing device comprises at least one cell. The cell comprises a first electrode, a central electrode, a second electrode, a first piezoelectric sensing layer placed between the first electrode and the central electrode, a second piezoelectric sensing layer placed between the central electrode and the second electrode, and a circuit connected to the first, second and the central electrodes. The circuit is configured to measure a first electrical signal between the first electrode and the central electrode, and a second electrical signal between the second electrode and the central electrode. At least one of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal is responsive to an external stress applied on the sensing device.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, apparatus comprising a waveguide and a spectral dispersion element, the apparatus being configured to be moveably attachable to a portable device, the portable device comprising a radiation sensing element and a radiation source, the apparatus being configured to be moveably attachable to the portable device to provide a first configuration in which the waveguide is positioned to transmit radiation from the radiation source towards an analyte region and/or from the analyte region towards the dispersion element; and such that the dispersion element is positioned to disperse radiation from the analyte region to form a spectrum which is provided towards the radiation sensing element for spectral analysis, and a second configuration in which the radiation sensing element and radiation source are able to capture and illuminate a scene for image capture.

Abstract: An apparatus including: a touch sensitive input responsive to manual actuation; a display output associated with the touch sensitive input; and a controller configured to provide and maintain, in response to a manual actuation at a user selected location of the touch sensitive input, an output at the user selected location to facilitate additional manual actuation via the touch sensitive input in the region of the user selected location.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises: a material attachable to skin, the material capable of detecting a magnetic field and transferring a perceivable stimulus to the skin, wherein the perceivable stimulus relates to the magnetic field.

Abstract: A sensing device is provided for measuring flexural deformations of a surface. Such a sensing device may be used as a user interface in portable electronic devices. The sensing device comprises at least one cell. The cell comprises a first electrode, a central electrode, a second electrode, a first piezoelectric sensing layer placed between the first electrode and the central electrode, a second piezoelectric sensing layer placed between the central electrode and the second electrode, and a circuit connected to the first, second and the central electrodes. The circuit is configured to measure a first electrical signal between the first electrode and the central electrode, and a second electrical signal between the second electrode and the central electrode. At least one of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal is responsive to an external stress applied on the sensing device.