Disclosed are electrochemically tunable metamaterials which are capable of complete reversibility such that the metamaterial itself can physically disappear (out of the active region) and reappear later, in a controllable manner. Some variations provide an electrochemically tunable, solid-state metamaterial-based device comprising a plurality of metamaterial unit cells, wherein each of the metamaterial unit cells comprises: an ion conductor containing mobile metal ions; a first electrode in contact with the ion conductor, wherein the first electrode is contained in a metasurface negative space disposed on the ion conductor; a second electrode in contact with the ion conductor, wherein the second electrode is electrically isolated from the first electrode; and a metal-containing region containing one or more metals, wherein the metal-containing region is contained within a metasurface positive space disposed on the ion conductor.

An electrokinetic device is configured as a dynamic lens cover and/or filter for an imaging assembly, e.g., of a mobile device, to selectively allow electromagnetic radiation to pass through a lens of the imaging assembly when the dynamic lens cover is in a first operating state or to prevent electromagnetic radiation from reaching the lens of the imaging assembly when the dynamic lens cover is in a second operating state. The electrokinetic device includes transparent first and second substrates, and a compaction trench surrounding the lens of the imaging assembly. The compaction trench stores pigment when the dynamic lens cover is in the first operating state. In the second operating state pigment is dispersed within a carrier fluid between the first and second substrates.

An electrokinetic device is configured as a dynamic lens cover and/or filter for an imaging assembly, e.g., of a mobile device, to selectively allow electromagnetic radiation to pass through a lens of the imaging assembly when the dynamic lens cover is in a first operating state or to prevent electromagnetic radiation from reaching the lens of the imaging assembly when the dynamic lens cover is in a second operating state. The electrokinetic device includes transparent first and second substrates, and a compaction trench surrounding the lens of the imaging assembly. The compaction trench stores pigment when the dynamic lens cover is in the first operating state. In the second operating state pigment is dispersed within a carrier fluid between the first and second substrates.

An article includes a reflector having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a third surface; and a first selective light modulator layer external to the first surface of the reflector; wherein the third surface of the reflector is open. A method of making an article is also disclosed.

An article includes a reflector having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a third surface; and a first selective light modulator layer external to the first surface of the reflector; wherein the third surface of the reflector is open. A method of making an article is also disclosed.

In one embodiment, a chromatic device includes a transparent conductive substrate, an active layer provided on the conductive substrate, the active layer comprising a conducting polymer, an electrolyte layer in contact with the conductive substrate and the active layer, the electrolyte comprising an oxidant and a salt but not comprising an acid, and a metal element configured to be selectively placed in and out of direct electrical contact with the conductive substrate or the active layer, wherein the active layer has a color that blocks light when the metal element is not in electrical contact with the conductive substrate but changes to a translucent color that transmits light when the metal element is placed in electrical contact with the conductive substrate or the active layer, wherein the active layer changes color without applying external energy to the active layer.

In one embodiment, a chromatic device includes a transparent conductive substrate, an active layer provided on the conductive substrate, the active layer comprising a conducting polymer, an electrolyte layer in contact with the conductive substrate and the active layer, the electrolyte comprising an oxidant and a salt but not comprising an acid, and a metal element configured to be selectively placed in and out of direct electrical contact with the conductive substrate or the active layer, wherein the active layer has a color that blocks light when the metal element is not in electrical contact with the conductive substrate but changes to a translucent color that transmits light when the metal element is placed in electrical contact with the conductive substrate or the active layer, wherein the active layer changes color without applying external energy to the active layer.

An optical path control device and a display device including the same are discussed. The optical path control device can include a first substrate, a first electrode disposed on the first substrate, a second electrode disposed on the first substrate, a second electrode disposed under the second substrate, and a photoconversion layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The photoconversion layer can include a partition portion and a receiving portion that are alternately arranged, and the receiving portion can include suspended particles. The first electrode can include a first auxiliary electrode disposed on a first area of the first substrate and a second auxiliary electrode disposed on a second area of the first substrate.

A method and system of optical communication are provided. An optical modulator device includes a first and a second waveguide segment, and is configured to modulate an incident optical signal. A first feed-forward equalization (FFE) circuit including an inner first tap and an inner second tap, is configured to equalize the first waveguide segment. A second FFE circuit including a first inner tap and a second inner tap, is configured to equalize the second waveguide segment. An FFE recombination of the first inner tap and the second inner tap of the first and second FFE circuits, is in the electrical domain, respectively. An FFE recombination of the first and second modulation signals, operative to equalize a combination of the first second waveguide segments, is in the optical domain.

An optical lens device has an actively controllable focal length. This device comprises an element with lensing effect comprising a plurality of regions. Each such region has a corresponding refractive power for providing a corresponding focal length distinct from the focal length of at least one other region of this plurality of regions. The device further comprises at least one non-centric addressable optical element integrated in or provided on the element with lensing effect. This at least one addressable optical element is adapted for changing the transmittance of at least one of the plurality of regions in response to a control signal. The device also comprises a control means for generating the control signal.