According to one embodiment, a template includes a base body, and a first film. The base body has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes silicon oxide and spreads along a first plane. The second surface crosses the first plane. The first film includes aluminum oxide. A direction from the second surface toward the first film is aligned with a direction perpendicular to the second surface. A thickness of the first film along the direction perpendicular to the second surface is not less than 0.3 nm and not more than 10 μm. The first surface includes an unevenness.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for producing meander-line polarizers. In some implementations, a meander-line polarizer includes a dielectric substrate made of a polyester polymer material and meander-line arrays formed on a surface of the dielectric substrate. Each meander-line array includes a sequence of alternating perpendicular conductive traces that are formed the surface of the dielectric substrate by applying conductive ink to the surface of the dielectric substrate using a template that defines a location and dimensions of each conductive trace of each meander-line array.

According to one embodiment, a template includes a base body, and a first film. The base body has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes silicon oxide and spreads along a first plane. The second surface crosses the first plane. The first film includes aluminum oxide. A direction from the second surface toward the first film is aligned with a direction perpendicular to the second surface. A thickness of the first film along the direction perpendicular to the second surface is not less than 0.3 nm and not more than 10 μm. The first surface includes an unevenness.

According to one embodiment, a template includes a base body, and a first film. The base body has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes silicon oxide and spreads along a first plane. The second surface crosses the first plane. The first film includes aluminum oxide. A direction from the second surface toward the first film is aligned with a direction perpendicular to the second surface. A thickness of the first film along the direction perpendicular to the second surface is not less than 0.3 nm and not more than 10 μm. The first surface includes an unevenness.

The invention relates to a marking device (02) for marking circuit boards (04) tested by means of a test device (01, 08), wherein the marking device (02) can be fixed to the test device (01, 08) in a defined target position, and wherein the marking device (02) has a marking member (06) which can engage the surface (05) of a circuit board (04), and wherein the marking member (06) can be driven by a drive mechanism (16) in order to apply a marking to the surface (05) of the circuit board (04) by an operating movement of the marking member (06) depending on the test result. The marking device (02) includes a fixation module (10) and a quick change module (11), wherein the marking device (02) can be fixed to the test device (01, 08) in the defined target position by means of the fixation module (10), and wherein the quick change module (11) includes the marking member (06) and the drive mechanism (16), and wherein the quick change module (11) can be replaced without removing the fixation module (10).

A method for modifying an elongate structure including providing a fluid deposited onto the substrate, the fluid containing a dispersion of electrically polarizable nanoparticles and applying an AC voltage across a portion of the elongate structure so as to cause an alternating electric current to pass through the narrow section such that a break in the elongate structure is formed at the narrow section, the break being defined between a first broken end and a second broken end of the elongate structure, and then cause, when the break is formed, an alternating electric field to be applied to the fluid such that a plurality of the nanoparticles contained in the fluid are assembled to form a continuation of the elongate structure extending from the first broken end towards the second broken end so as to join the first and second broken ends.

A method for modifying an elongate structure including providing a fluid deposited onto the substrate, the fluid containing a dispersion of electrically polarizable nanoparticles and applying an AC voltage across a portion of the elongate structure so as to cause an alternating electric current to pass through the narrow section such that a break in the elongate structure is formed at the narrow section, the break being defined between a first broken end and a second broken end of the elongate structure, and then cause, when the break is formed, an alternating electric field to be applied to the fluid such that a plurality of the nanoparticles contained in the fluid are assembled to form a continuation of the elongate structure extending from the first broken end towards the second broken end so as to join the first and second broken ends.

The invention relates to a process of fabricating a beaded path on the surface of a substrate, the process comprising: preparing a dispersion of particles in a liquid; supplying the prepared dispersion to at least one electrically conductive microcapillary in a continuous manner; forming and maintaining a convex meniscus of the dispersion at the outlet end of the microcapillary positioned above and/or below the surface of a substrate; applying alternating voltage to the microcapillary so that a beaded structure is formed between the dispersion meniscus and the surface of the substrate; and moving the microcapillary relative to the substrate and/or the substrate relative to the microcapillary so as to deposit the particles of the formed beaded structure on the surface of the substrate and simultaneously rebuild the beaded structure formed between the dispersion meniscus and the surface of a substrate. The invention also relates to a system for realizing this process and the use of the beaded path fabricated in accordance with the process of the invention for the production of electrodes in photovoltaic cells, new generation clothing, electronic components, including flexible electronics, artificial flagella, photonic and optomechanical materials, as well as for the regeneration of damaged paths on the surface of a substrate. The present invention also relates to a kit comprising a substrate and a beaded path fabricated on the surface of that substrate according to this process. The invented process is simple, efficient, hence economical, and enables fabricating beaded paths that retain their properties after turning off the voltage initially used to form a beaded structure. Moreover, the process occurs outside a liquid environment and enables fabricating of paths in a continuous manner, that is, through the formation of the beaded structure and its simultaneous depositing on the surface of a substrate allowing the fabrication of beaded paths of arbitrary length.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for producing meander-line polarizers. In some implementations, a meander-line polarizer includes a dielectric substrate made of a polyester polymer material and meander-line arrays formed on a surface of the dielectric substrate. Each meander-line array includes a sequence of alternating perpendicular conductive traces that are formed the surface of the dielectric substrate by applying conductive ink to the surface of the dielectric substrate using a template that defines a location and dimensions of each conductive trace of each meander-line array.

The invention relates to a marking device (02) for marking circuit boards (04) tested by means of a test device (01, 08), wherein the marking device (02) can be fixed to the test device (01, 08) in a defined target position, and wherein the marking device (02) has a marking member (06) which can engage the surface (05) of a circuit board (04), and wherein the marking member (06) can be driven by a drive mechanism (16) in order to apply a marking to the surface (05) of the circuit board (04) by an operating movement of the marking member (06) depending on the test result. The marking device (02) includes a fixation module (10) and a quick change module (11), wherein the marking device (02) can be fixed to the test device (01, 08) in the defined target position by means of the fixation module (10), and wherein the quick change module (11) includes the marking member (06) and the drive mechanism (16), and wherein the quick change module (11) can be replaced without removing the fixation module (10).