The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

China Patent Investment Limited

Rsm Technologies Limited

Er Display Limited

Weijia Wen

Ping Sheng

Che Ting Chan

Weikun Ge

Lei Zhou

Shihe Yang

Bo Hou

Limu Wang

Chau Kwan Nam

Xiuqing Gong

Claude Weisbuch

Guancong Ma

Zhiyu Yang

Xiang Wang

Zheng You Liu

Maijia Liao

Xize Niu

Ya Ying Hong

Liyu Liu

Zhi Yu Yang

Xixiang Zhang

Mengying Zhang

Man Tse

Xi Xiang Zhang

Suili Peng

Zongjin Li

Jiaxing Li

Nelson Cue

Jun Mei

Shunbo Li

Kin Lun Chan

Jensen Li

Rongfu Xiao

The present subject matter relates generally to the use of thermally induced self-assembly of surfactants, such as poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) or 4-octylphenol polyethoxylate, to vary the transparency or opacity of a composition containing the same. The compositions of the present subject matter can be used in smart window technologies.

Compositions containing thermally-induced self-assembly of nonionic surfactants and their application in smart glass technologies

GER fluids are improved by the addition of a polar molecule additive. By addition of a polar molecule additive, yield stresses under electric field are improved by over 50% while the current density is reduced to less than a quarter of the original GER. The reversible response time still remains the same, and the sedimentation stability is greatly enhanced. The zero field viscosity of the modified GER fluid remains the same as that of the original GER fluid without the additive. The improved GER characteristics improve general functionality as an electrical-mechanical interface, attendant with applications to car clutches, fluid brakes, and vehicle shock absorbers.

Giant electrorheological fluid surfactant additives

An apparatus for controlling flow of ER fluid. The apparatus has a first channelfor conveying carrier fluidof a first dielectric constant and dropletsof a second dielectric constant in the carrier fluid. The apparatus further comprises a second channelconveying the ER fluid and a first conductorfor conveying an electrical potential from the second channel to the first channel. A circuitis provided for applying potential difference between the first and second channels. When a droplet is present in the first channel, the ER fluid is solidified in the second channel; when no droplet is present, the ER fluid flows as liquid in the second channel. Therefore the apparatus acts as an IF gate. Arrangements for other types of fluidic logic gate are also disclosed.

Fluidic logic gates and apparatus for controlling flow of ER fluid in a channel

The microspheres have many possible applications including smart drug delivery, breaking and damper devices. In one arrangement, a microsphere comprises a shelland a core. The core comprises a liquid, which may be a drug, while the shell comprises magnetic particles. The microsphere is deformable in response to application of an external magnetic field. Also disclose is an arrangement in which a microsphere has a magnetic core and a PDMS shell.

Magnetic microsphere and method of forming a microsphere

Electronic-fluidic hybrid form dividers, constructed by a simple planer droplet generation structure, a pair of signal electrodes, and a responsive control valve, which is programmed to respond to only certain signal droplets, by a basic electronic principle: change of voltage share between impedances. Detected fluidic information is addressed in both electronic and fluidic forms, and the fluidic pathway is well-confined in a simple planar structure, although its control valve is in a second layer, thereby minimizing any fluidic disturbance. Various configurations comprise a plurality of identical structures, which can alter their cumulative function by re-assignment of required voltage share. The hybrid divider can be assembled into a fluidic universal logic gate, of a simple two inlet and one outlet signal channels structure, and switch between sixteen functions by re-assigning voltage share.

Liquid-electronic hybrid divider

An acoustic energy absorption metamaterial includes at least one enclosed planar frame with an elastic membrane attached having one or more rigid plates are attached. The rigid plates have asymmetric shapes, with a substantially straight edge at the attachment to said elastic membrane, so that the rigid plate establishes a cell having a predetermined mass. Vibrational motions of the structure contain a number of resonant modes with tunable resonant frequencies.

Acoustic energy absorption metamaterials

We present an invention on the synthesis of elastic, bio-compatible functional microstructures wherein the designed electrical functionalities are achieved by mixing conducting nano to micro-particles with PDMS gels. The methodology for constructing planar and three-dimensional microstructures by soft-lithographic technique is presented. Applications such as electrodes, conducting strips, two and three-dimensional microstructures for electrical wiring connections, micro heaters, micro heater arrays, flexible thermochromic displays, and applications for microfluidic devices are demonstrated, all with demonstrated elastic flexibility and fall-proof characteristics while maintaining their functionalities. Results obtained are very promising for the utilization of such composites in future micro-fabrications, especially for the bio-chips and microfluidic devices.

Constructing planar and three-dimensional microstructures with PDMS-based conducting composite

A waveguide structure is described wherein microwaves or radio-frequency waves can be guided in their propagation through channels whose cross-sections contain fractal patterns, with relevant dimensions much smaller than the wavelengths of the guided waves. A finite section of such waveguide can be used as an efficient delay line.

Subwavelength waveguide and delay line with fractal cross sections

A three dimensional (3D) fractal structure with H as the mother element is hereby disclosed. Such a 3D structure can act as selective total microwave reflectors or selective microwave filters in transmission. When excited through current injection, such a 3D fractal structure can act as highly efficient antenna for radiating or detecting pre-determined microwaves, with the relevant wavelength much larger than the size of the radiation or detection structure.

Three-dimensional H-fractal bandgap materials and antennas

There is disclosed a sound attenuation panel comprising, a rigid frame divided into a plurality of individual cells, a sheet of a flexible material, and a plurality of weights. Each weight is fixed to the sheet of flexible material such that each cell is provided with a respective weight and the frequency of the sound attenuated can be controlled by suitable selecting the mass of the weight.

Sound attenuating structures

Acoustic attenuation materials are described that comprise outer layers of a stiff material sandwiching a relatively soft elastic material therebetween, with means such as spheres, discs or wire mesh being provided within the elastic material for generating local mechanical resonances that function to absorb sound energy at tunable wavelengths.

Acoustic attenuation materials

The present invention provides novel configurations for the electrodes in a range of applications for ER fluids. The electrodes are configured so that they generate an electrical field a significant portion of which extends parallel to any anticipated applied force of direction of likely distortion that may act to disrupt the agglomeration of ER particles. By so arranging the electric field to be parallel to such a force there is a strong binding force that acts to counter and tendency for the particles to be disrupted.

Parallel field electrode configurations for electrorheological fluid applications

A 'paper look-alike' display comprises pixels formed of dielectric particles suspended in a non-conducting liquid. By applying a voltage to electrodes the particles may be switched between positions in which they are stored in vertical columns normal to the surface of the pixel and have no effect on the color of the pixel, and a position in which they occupy a major part of the surface area of the pixel and influence the color of the pixel accordingly.

Display apparatus

There is described an electrorheological fluid comprising coated nanoparticle suspended in an electrically insulated hydrophobic liquid. The core particles consist of TiOor metal salts of the form M1M2TiO(CO)where M1 is selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr and Ca and wherein M2 is selected from the group consisting of Rb, Li, Na and K. The particle shell is made of highly polar molecules selected from the group consisting of thiourea and urea.

Fluid suspensions with electrorheological effect

An electrorheological clutch comprises drive and driven members that selectively engage by the application of a voltage to an electroheological fluid (ER) provided between the driven and driven members. The drive and driven members are formed with axially-oriented surfaces that define between then axially-oriented spaces for the ER fluid so as to minimize problems with settlement of the ER particles.

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Hong Kong, China

Weijia Wen