An optical element includes a nanovoided polymer layer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Compression or expansion of the nanovoided polymer layer, for instance, can be used to reversibly control the size and shape of the nanovoids within the polymer layer and hence tune its refractive index over a range of values, e.g., during operation of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.

Examples include a device including a nanovoided polymer element having a first surface and a second surface, a first plurality of electrodes disposed on the first surface, a second plurality of electrodes disposed on the second surface, and a control circuit configured to apply an electrical potential between one or more of the first plurality of electrodes and one or more of the second plurality of electrodes to induce a physical deformation of the nanovoided polymer element.

An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, which may be located at least in part between the electrodes. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids, including a gas, and separated from each other by polymer walls. The device may be an electroactive device, such as an actuator having a response time for a transition between actuation states. The gas may have a characteristic diffusion time (e.g., to diffuse half the mean wall thickness through the polymer walls) that is less than the response time. The nanovoids may be sufficiently small (e.g., below 1 micron in diameter or an analogous dimension), and/or the polymer walls may be sufficiently thin, such that the gas interchange between gas in the voids and gas absorbed by the polymer walls may occur faster than the response time, and in some examples, effectively instantaneously.

A promotional product including an emitter is provided. One or more tobacco-containing articles may be received in the package. The promotional product may include an actuator for facilitating delivery of power from a power source to the emitter to provide a visual, audio, and/or haptic effect to the promotional product. The emitter specifically can be a visual emitter, such as an electroluminescent emitter. A related method is also provided.

A leaky-mode acousto-optical modulator may be used to generate visual images suitable for direct viewing, without image-forming optics. To extend a field of view of the modulator to limits suitable for visual displays, an array of acoustic transducers is coupled to a waveguide along its length. Each acoustic transducer generates an acoustic wave causing a corresponding leaky mode to appear. A reflector is disposed proximate each transducer for directing the out-coupled light portion at a unique angle, providing a corresponding field of view portion for that direction. The field of view portions coalesce into a continuous synthetic field of view suitable for wide-angle visual display applications.

A leaky-mode acousto-optical modulator may be used to generate visual images suitable for direct viewing, without image-forming optics. To extend a field of view of the modulator to limits suitable for visual displays, the leaky-mode acousto-optical modulator may be equipped with a switchable beam redirector, e.g. a switchable-angle reflector, providing field of view portions one by one in a time-sequential manner. The field of view portions coalesce into a continuous synthetic field of view suitable for wide-angle visual display applications.

The optical device includes: a first coupler having an adjustable beam splitting ratio; a sensing arm and a programmable modulation arm which are connected to the first coupler; and a second coupler having an input port connected to the sensing arm and the programmable modulation arm and an output port connected to a photodetector. The sensing arm is used for generating, by means of a slot waveguide, a first signal from a first light wave beam outputted by the first coupler. The programmable modulation arm is used for obtaining, by utilizing a grating, a second signal according to a second light wave beam outputted by the first coupler, and the grating is a nano grating generated under a pre-programmed voltage parameter of a programmable piezoelectric transducer of the programmable modulation arm. An electronic device and a programmable photonic integrated circuit are also disclosed herein.

A promotional product including an emitter is provided. One or more tobacco-containing articles may be received in the package. The promotional product may include an actuator for facilitating delivery of power from a power source to the emitter to provide a visual, audio, and/or haptic effect to the promotional product. The emitter specifically can be a visual emitter, such as an electroluminescent emitter. A related method is also provided.

A graded-index optical element may include a nanovoided material including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The nanovoided material may be transparent between the first surface and the second surface. Additionally, the nanovoided material may have a predefined change in effective refractive index in at least one axis due to a change in at least one of nanovoid size or nanovoid distribution along the at least one axis. Various other elements, devices, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.

A glass component of an electronic device housing may define a textured surface having micro-scale tactile friction features that provide a specified friction between a user's finger and the glass component. More specifically, the tactile friction features may reduce a contact surface area that is in contact with the user's finger in order to produce a reduced or specified coefficient of friction.