Patents by Inventor Andrew David Ward

Andrew David Ward has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Droplet deformation
    Patent number: 8183540
    Abstract: A technique for shaping droplets is disclosed. Multiple optical traps, or at least one variable geometry trap, are used to deform a droplet. The surface tension of the droplet is lowered to be comparable with the force which can be applied using the optical traps, for example by using a surfactant such as Aerosol OT, with heptane droplets in a solution of sodium chloride. Solidification of deformed droplets can be achieved using polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities Council
    Inventors: Andrew David Ward, Colin David Bain, Christopher Daniel Mellor
  • Droplet Formation
    Publication number: 20100258964
    Abstract: A technique for shaping droplets is disclosed. Multiple optical traps, or at least one variable geometry trap, are used to deform a droplet. The surface tension of the droplet is lowered to be comparable with the force which can be applied using the optical traps, for example by using a surfactant such as Aerosol OT, with heptane droplets in a solution of sodium chloride. Solidification of deformed droplets can be achieved using polymerization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew David Ward, Colin David Bain, Christopher Daniel Mellor
  • Optical tweezers
    Patent number: 7750329
    Abstract: An imaging device using an array of active pixels, with a readout control for outputting from selected regions of interest is disclosed. When used to detect the positions of optically trapped objects, the fast readout rate enables fine control of the optical traps to stabilize the objects. Multiple objects can be controlled while being moved relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities Council
    Inventors: Stanley Walter Botchway, Andrew David Ward, Renato Andrea Danilo Turchetta, Mark Prydderch, Michael Towrie
  • Optically controllable device
    Patent number: 7525088
    Abstract: A device for manipulation by a plurality of optical traps is disclosed. Connected trapping elements such as transparent beads are also connected to a tip, which is spaced from the trapping elements by a distance greater than the effective range of the optical trapping fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities Council
    Inventors: Stanley Walter Botchway, Andrew David Ward, Michael Towrie
  • Method and process for capuring, storing, processing and displaying customer satisfaction information
    Publication number: 20040143478
    Abstract: A process and method for collecting, storing, scoring and presenting consumer satisfaction feedback on the delivery of goods and services sold to consumers by service providers. The feedback of consumers is collected by using electronic forms to capture consumer responses to questions on surveys. Consumer feedback is scored over at least three recent periods of time including the past 12 months, the past 6 months and past 3 months. The customer satisfaction scores are presented on a plurality of advertising medias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Andrew David Ward