Multiple color reflection in a single unit cell using double-layer electrochromic reaction

Multiple color states have been realized in single unit cell using double electrochromic (EC) reaction. The precise control of bistability in EC compounds which can maintain several colors on the two separated electrodes allows this new type of pixel to be realized. The specific electrical driving gives a way to maintain both sides in the reduced EC states and this colors overlapping in the vertical view direction can achieve the black state. The four color states (G, B, W, BK) in one cell/pixel can make a valuable progress to achieve a high quality color devices such like electronic paper, outdoor billboard, smart window and flexible display using external light source. © 2012 Optical Society of America.

智能玻璃建筑节能特性分析

智能玻璃能够根据人的意愿或者外界环境的变化动态的调节太阳光的输入，是新一代的建筑节能玻璃，目前引起广泛的关注。本文选取了两种典型的智能玻璃——电致变色玻璃和VO2热色玻璃，采用动态能耗分析软件EnergyPlus分别对其建筑节能特性进行了分析，具体研究内容如下： （1）讨论了电致变色玻璃不同控制方式对其节能效果的影响。结果表明，电致变色玻璃选用合适的控制方式可以显著降低建筑的能耗，但如果控制方式选用不当，采用电致变色玻璃后建筑的能耗反而会高于采用普通白玻的能耗。此外，无论在何种控制方式下，采用电致变色/LOW-E的节能效果都要优于电致变色/白玻中空玻璃。 （2）对VO2光学薄膜的膜系结构进行了优化，研究了外观颜色与膜层厚度的关系，设计出的TiO2(135nm)/VO2(50nm)/ITO(45nm)/glass三层膜结构相对于VO2(50nm)/glass的单层膜结构，太阳能调节量提高了从3.7%提高到9.8%，半导体状态时的可见光透过率从33.6%提高到55.5%，金属状态时的可见光透过率从34.0%提高到50.0%，同时半导体与金属状态时的膜面发射率都有很大程度的降低。 （3）研究了VO2热色玻璃的热学性能和建筑节能特性，重点分析了膜层结构、膜面位置、建筑的地理位置等因素对VO2热色玻璃建筑节能效果的影响。结果表明，对于单层VO2热色玻璃，其功能膜面朝向室内比朝向室外可以获得更好的节能效果，而对于由VO2热色玻璃与白玻组成的双层玻璃，其功能膜面位于室内玻璃的外侧时VO2很难起到相应的调节作用。另外，与其他类型的玻璃相比，虽然一定膜层结构下VO2热色玻璃在不同地区的建筑能耗低于白玻，但是在全年以采暖为主的严寒地区和全年以空调为主的夏热冬暖地区，VO2热色玻璃的节能效果分别不及高透型和遮阳型LOW-E玻璃。

Gelatin-based protonic electrolyte for electrochromic windows

Proton-conducting gel polymer electrolytes based on gelatin plasticized with glycerol and containing acetic acid were investigated, characterized, and applied to electrochromic window. For glycerol contents varying from 7% to 48%, the conductivity of the uniform and predominantly amorphous gel electrolyte was found to follow a Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher behavior with the temperature. Typically, for the electrolyte chosen to make 7 x 2 cm(2) electrochromic smart window with the configuration: glass/fluor-doped tin oxide (FTO)/WO(3)/gelatin electrolyte/CeO(2)-TiO(2)/FTO/glass and containing 28% of glycerol, the conductivities were found to be of the order of 5 x 10(-5) S/cm at room temperature and 3.6 x 10(-4) S/cm at 80 A degrees C. The device was characterized by spectroelectrochemical techniques and was tested up to 10,000 cycles showing a fast coloring/bleaching behavior, where the coloring process was achieved in 10 s and the bleaching in 2 s. The transmission variation at the wavelength of 550 nm was about 15%. The cyclic voltammograms showed a very good reversibility of the cathodic/anodic processes, and the charge density was about 3.5 mC/cm(2). The memory tests showed that the transmittance in the colored state increased by 8% in 90 min after removing the potential.

Dynamic modulation of detection window in conducting polymer based biosensors.

Here we demonstrate a novel application that employs the ion exchange properties of conducting polymers (CP) to modulate the detection window of a CP based biosensor under electrical stimuli. The detection window can be modulated by electrochemically controlling the degree of swelling of the CP associated with ion transport in and out of the polymer. We show that the modulation in the detection window of a caffeine imprinted polypyrrole biosensor, and by extension other CP based biosensors, can be achieved with this mechanism. Such dynamic modulation in the detection window has great potential for the development of smart biosensors, where the sensitivity of the sensor can be dynamically optimized for a specific test solution.

The efficacy of SMART Arm training early after stroke for stroke survivors with severe upper limb disability:a protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Recovery of upper limb function after stroke is poor. The acute to subacute phase after stroke is the optimal time window to promote the recovery of upper limb function. The dose and content of training provided conventionally during this phase is however, unlikely to be adequate to drive functional recovery, especially in the presence of severe motor disability. The current study concerns an approach to address this shortcoming, through evaluation of the SMART Arm, a non-robotic device that enables intensive and repetitive practice of reaching by stroke survivors with severe upper limb disability, with the aim of improving upper limb function. The outcomes of SMART Arm training with or without outcome-triggered electrical stimulation (OT-stim) to augment movement and usual therapy will be compared to usual therapy alone.

Real-Time Multiple Event Detection and Classification Using Moving Window PCA

This paper proposes a method for the detection and classification of multiple events in an electrical power system in real-time, namely; islanding, high frequency events (loss of load) and low frequency events (loss of generation). This method is based on principal component analysis of frequency measurements and employs a moving window approach to combat the time-varying nature of power systems, thereby increasing overall situational awareness of the power system. Numerical case studies using both real data, collected from the UK power system, and simulated case studies, constructed using DigSilent PowerFactory, for islanding events, as well as both loss of load and generation dip events, are used to demonstrate the reliability of the proposed method.

Home automation controller for a water-flow window

Facing the EU energy efficiency and legal scenarios related to buildings (2010/31 EU directive), new sustainable advanced concepts for envelopes are required. These innovative designs must be able to offer an elevated level of energy efficiency based on a high performance architecture. According to this, smart glazings, and particularly active water-flow glazings, represent a promising alternative to other solar control glazings, since they can reduce the building energy demand avoiding well known drawbacks as high cost, glare problems and high response time that affect to other smart glazings. This kind of glazing, as any other active one, needs to be operated by a control system. In order to operate a water-flow based window, a new controller based on an inexpensive microcontroller board has been developed

A smart micro-drill for cochleostomy formation:a comparison of cochlear disturbances with manual drilling and a human trial

Background: Cochleostomy formation is a key stage of the cochlear implantation procedure. Minimizing the trauma sustained by the cochlea during this step is thought to be a critical feature in hearing preservation cochlear implantation. The aim of this paper is firstly, to assess the cochlea disturbances during manual and robotic cochleostomy formation. Secondly, to determine whether the use of a smart micro-drill is feasible during human cochlear implantation. Materials and methods: The disturbances within the cochlea during cochleostomy formation were analysed in a porcine specimen by creating a third window cochleostomy, preserving the underlying endosteal membrane, on the anterior aspect of the basal turn of the cochlea. A laser vibrometer was aimed at this third window, to assess its movement while a traditional cochleostomy was performed. Six cochleostomies were performed in total, three manually and three with a smart micro-drill. The mean and peak membrane movement was calculated for both manual and smart micro-drill arms, to represent the disturbances sustained within cochlea during cochleostomy formation. The smart micro-drill was further used to perform live human robotic cochleostomies on three adult patients who met the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence criteria for undergoing cochlear implantation. Results: In the porcine trial, the smart micro-drill preserved the endosteal membrane in all three cases. The velocity of movement of the endosteal membrane during manual cochleostomy is approximately 20 times higher on average and 100 times greater in peak velocity, than for robotic cochleostomy. The robot was safely utilized in theatre in all three cases and successfully created a bony cochleostomy while preserving the underlying endosteal membrane. Conclusions: Our experiments have revealed that controlling the force of drilling during cochleostomy formation and opening the endosteal membrane with a pick will minimize the trauma sustained by the cochlea by a factor of 20. Additionally, the smart micro-drill can safely perform a bony cochleostomy in humans under operative conditions and preserve the integrity of the underlying endosteal membrane. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2013.