Patents by Inventor Christopher James Brown
Christopher James Brown 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).
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Patent number: 10564117Abstract: An active matrix electro-wetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device includes a plurality of array elements arranged in an array, each array element including array element circuitry, an element electrode, and a reference electrode. The array element circuitry includes an actuation circuit configured to apply actuation voltages to the electrodes, and an impedance sensor circuit configured to sense impedance at the array element electrode to determine a droplet property. The actuation circuitry includes a memory capacitor for storing voltage data corresponding to either an actuated state or an unactuated state of the array element, and an input applied to the memory capacitor operates to effect an operation of the impedance sensor circuit. Such input may isolate the array element from the actuation voltage during operation of the impedance sensor circuit, and the memory capacitor may operate as part of the impedance sensor circuit as a reference capacitor for determining the droplet property.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) LimitedInventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Christopher James Brown
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Patent number: 10497310Abstract: A pixel circuit for a display device includes a drive transistor configured to control an amount of current to a light-emitting device during an emission phase depending upon a voltage applied to a gate of the drive transistor; a second transistor connected to the gate of the drive transistor, wherein the second transistor is in an on state during a combined programming and compensation phase and in an off state during the emission phase, and when the second transistor is in an on state the drive transistor becomes diode-connected such that a gate and a second terminal of the drive transistor are connected through the second transistor; a third transistor connected to the second terminal of the drive transistor, wherein the third transistor is in an on state during the combined programming and compensation phase to permit a reference current to be applied through the drive transistor, and is in an off state during the emission phase to remove the reference current; and a capacitor having a first plate that isType: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tong Lu, Christopher James Brown, Michael James Brownlow, Tim Michael Smeeton
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Patent number: 10478154Abstract: Methods and apparatus for ultrasound imaging using ultrasound sensor elements comprising thin film transistors. Specifically, ultrasound elements for use in a two dimensional array of ultrasound elements, two dimensional arrays of ultrasound elements, ultrasound sensor element array assemblies, ultrasound imaging devices and methods of performing an ultrasound scan using a two dimensional array of ultrasound elements. A sensor element comprises: an ultrasound transducer, a transmit circuit configured to provide an electrical signal to the transducer for output of an ultrasound signal; and a receive circuit configured to receive an electrical signal from the transducer, based on a received reflected ultrasound signal, wherein the transmit and receive circuits each comprise one or more thin film transistors.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Christopher James Brown, Michael Robert Prior-Jones, Benjamin James Hadwen
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Publication number: 20190346944Abstract: A touch panel includes a plurality of touch panel elements that are operable in a sense mode and a function mode, each touch panel element comprising an array of unit cells. Each unit cell includes: a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns; a first transistor M1 that is connected at a first M1 terminal to a sense line (SEN) and at a gate of the first transistor to a first select line (SEL); a second transistor M2 that is connected at a first M2 terminal to a function line (FNC) and at a gate of the second transistor to a second select line (SELB); and amplifier circuitry that is integrated into the unit cell. During a function mode the second transistor is placed in an on state by a control signal from the SELB line to electrically connect the unit cell to the FNC line, and the first transistor is in an off state to electrically disconnect the first transistor from the SEN line.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2018Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Diego Gallardo, Christopher James Brown
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Publication number: 20190295467Abstract: A pixel circuit for a display device includes a drive transistor configured to control an amount of current to a light-emitting device during an emission phase depending upon a voltage applied to a gate of the drive transistor; a second transistor connected to the gate of the drive transistor, wherein the second transistor is in an on state during a combined programming and compensation phase and in an off state during the emission phase, and when the second transistor is in an on state the drive transistor becomes diode-connected such that a gate and a second terminal of the drive transistor are connected through the second transistor; a third transistor connected to the second terminal of the drive transistor, wherein the third transistor is in an on state during the combined programming and compensation phase to permit a reference current to be applied through the drive transistor, and is in an off state during the emission phase to remove the reference current; and a capacitor having a first plate that isType: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Tong Lu, Christopher James Brown, Michael James Brownlow, Tim Michael Smeeton
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Patent number: 10359874Abstract: An integrated touchscreen comprises display pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix of rows and columns to minimize the reduction in aperture ratio of the display pixels. A matrix of touch element is defined in the display pixels, with a touch unit cell encompassing a group of display pixels. A touch element is comprised of a matrix of touch unit cells. The common electrodes of the display pixels encompassed in the touch element are electrically connected together to form a common electrode for the touch element. The touch unit cell includes conductive lines extending in the row direction and conductive lines extending in the column direction. The touchscreen comprises a controller that can operate in either one of a self-capacitance touch sensing mode and a mutual-capacitance touch sensing mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Diego Gallardo, Christopher James Brown
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Patent number: 10346210Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards push signaling to run jobs on available servers. Users may provide jobs or job instructions to a job control node. Job control node may determine one or more available job target nodes from among a plurality of managed nodes associated with the job control node. The job target nodes may be determined based on information included in the provided job instructions. If there are available job target nodes, the job control node may provide the job instructions to each available job target node. Further, the job control node may receive communications from one or more available job target nodes that indicates that the job target node is prepared and ready to execute the received job instructions. Next, the job control node may issue a job start command that triggers the prepared job target nodes to begin executing the provided job instructions.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Chef Software, Inc.Inventors: Mark Andrew Anderson, Christopher James Brown, Kevin Allen Smith, John Braden Keiser
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Patent number: 10330920Abstract: A microfluidic system includes an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device comprising an array of elements that are actuatable for manipulation of a liquid droplet within the EWOD device. The system has a pattern generator that generates an actuation pattern for actuating a portion of the elements in the array of elements, and a signal generator that generates voltage signals for actuating elements in the array of elements in accordance with the actuation pattern. The pattern generator generates an actuation pattern in which voltage signals applied to elements in at least part of a region at or adjacent to a contact line of the droplet are different from voltage signals applied to elements that are not in the part of the region at or adjacent to the contact line. The system further may include a sensor for sensing the droplet contact line constituting a boundary of the liquid droplet.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) LimitedInventors: Christopher James Brown, Benjamin James Hadwen, Pamela Ann Dothie
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Publication number: 20190137380Abstract: An impedance cytometry device is described along with methods of accurately measuring particle size of particles contained in a fluid that is passed through the impedance cytometry device. The impedance cytometry device includes a substrate, and an electrode arrangement deposited on the substrate in a co-planar fashion. The electrode arrangement includes a drive electrode and a plurality of measurement electrodes located in a same plane as the drive electrode. The plurality of measurement electrodes includes at least two pairs of measurement sub-electrodes, each pair of measurement sub-electrodes including a first measurement sub-electrode positioned adjacent to the drive electrode, and a second measurement sub-electrode separated from the drive electrode by a respective first measurement sub-electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2017Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Christopher James Brown, Pamela Ann Dothie
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Publication number: 20190079036Abstract: An active matrix electro-wetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device includes a plurality of array elements arranged in an array, each array element including array element circuitry, an element electrode, and a reference electrode. The array element circuitry includes an actuation circuit configured to apply actuation voltages to the electrodes, and an impedance sensor circuit configured to sense impedance at the array element electrode to determine a droplet property. The actuation circuitry includes a memory capacitor for storing voltage data corresponding to either an actuated state or an unactuated state of the array element, and an input applied to the memory capacitor operates to effect an operation of the impedance sensor circuit. Such input may isolate the array element from the actuation voltage during operation of the impedance sensor circuit, and the memory capacitor may operate as part of the impedance sensor circuit as a reference capacitor for determining the droplet property.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Christopher James Brown
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Publication number: 20190004009Abstract: A pixel circuit acts as a sensing element in a sensing device. The pixel circuit includes a sensing electrode, a first gate electrically connected to the sensing electrode, a second gate in electrical communication with the first gate, and a readout device that is electrically connected to the second gate. An input voltage applied to the sensing electrode is amplified between the first gate and the second gate, the amplification being measured as an output signal from the readout device to perform a sensing operation. For example, the output signal may be relatable to pH, analyte measurements, or other properties of sample liquids analyzed by the sensing device. A sensing device may include multiple pixels disposed on a substrate, each pixel including said pixel circuit. Driver circuits controlled by control electronics are configured to generate signals that selectively address the pixels and to read out voltages at the sensing electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Campbell Donald Brown, Christopher James Brown, Gregory Gay, Sally Anderson
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Patent number: 10126883Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor includes a sensor substrate and an array of electrode elements formed over the sensor substrate. Each electrode element of the array includes at least one of a first electrode group comprising at least two drive electrodes and at least one sense electrode, or a second electrode group comprising at least two sense electrodes and at least one drive electrode. The respective electrodes of the first or second electrode group are arranged to form multiple capacitances over different coupling distances. A controller is operatively coupled to the array of electrode elements, the controller configured to determine a distance of an object relative to the surface of the touch sensor based on variations in the multiple capacitances.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2012Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Michael Paul Coulson, Christopher James Brown, Dauren Slamkul
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Patent number: 10121445Abstract: An active matrix LCD display of the multi-pixel drive (MPD) type, in which a pixel comprises a plurality of sub-pixels with each sub-pixel of a pixel being associated with a respective storage capacitor address lines so that the voltage applied across an individual sub-pixel depends on both the signal voltage and the voltage applied to the associated storage capacitor address line, is driven such that the relationship between at least a first one of the capacitor line voltages and a second one of the capacitor line in a first display refresh period of the frame is different to the relationship between the first of the capacitor line voltages and the second of the capacitor line voltages in a second display refresh period of the frame. This allows the root-mean-square (RMS) voltage applied over the frame across a first of the sub-pixels to be controlled at least partially independently of the RMS voltage applied over the frame across a second of the sub-pixels, thereby providing increased resolution.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2014Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Paul Antony Gass, Benjamin John Broughton, Emma Jayne Walton, Christopher James Brown
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Patent number: 10113985Abstract: An active matrix electro-wetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device includes a plurality of array elements arranged in an array, each array element including array element circuitry, an element electrode, and a reference electrode. The array element circuitry includes an actuation circuit configured to apply actuation voltages to the electrodes, and an impedance sensor circuit configured to sense impedance at the array element electrode to determine a droplet property. The actuation circuitry includes a memory capacitor for storing voltage data corresponding to either an actuated state or an unactuated state of the array element, and an input applied to the memory capacitor operates to effect an operation of the impedance sensor circuit. Such input may isolate the array element from the actuation voltage during operation of the impedance sensor circuit, and the memory capacitor may operate as part of the impedance sensor circuit as a reference capacitor for determining the droplet property.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) LimitedInventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Christopher James Brown
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Publication number: 20180284424Abstract: A microfluidic system includes an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device comprising an array of elements that are actuatable for manipulation of a liquid droplet within the EWOD device. The system has a pattern generator that generates an actuation pattern for actuating a portion of the elements in the array of elements, and a signal generator that generates voltage signals for actuating elements in the array of elements in accordance with the actuation pattern. The pattern generator generates an actuation pattern in which voltage signals applied to elements in at least part of a region at or adjacent to a contact line of the droplet are different from voltage signals applied to elements that are not in the part of the region at or adjacent to the contact line. The system further may include a sensor for sensing the droplet contact line constituting a boundary of the liquid droplet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Christopher James BROWN, Benjamin James HADWEN, Pamela Ann DOTHIE
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Patent number: 10082481Abstract: A pixel circuit acts as a sensing element in a sensing device. The pixel circuit includes a sensing electrode, a first gate electrically connected to the sensing electrode, a second gate in electrical communication with the first gate, and a readout device that is electrically connected to the second gate. An input voltage applied to the sensing electrode is amplified between the first gate and the second gate, the amplification being measured as an output signal from the readout device to perform a sensing operation. For example, the output signal may be relatable to pH, analyte measurements, or other properties of sample liquids analyzed by the sensing device. A sensing device may include multiple pixels disposed on a substrate, each pixel including said pixel circuit. Driver circuits controlled by control electronics are configured to generate signals that selectively address the pixels and to read out voltages at the sensing electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) LimitedInventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Campbell Donald Brown, Christopher James Brown, Gregory Gay, SAlly Anderson
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Patent number: 10069685Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards employing a configuration management system to report one or more assumptions based on whether or not prerequisites for a resource are satisfied. The configuration management system may determine at least one prerequisite that corresponds to a provided resource. The prerequisites may indicate what the resource requires in order to put the system into the target state. If the prerequisites are unsatisfied, then assumptions regarding the system may be determined and reported to a user of the system. The assumptions may include at least a state transition that upon occurrence puts the system into the target state. If the system is in a non-operational mode, such that state actions and state transitions are simulated, rather than being executed, the system may be enabled to perform other actions as if the prerequisites were satisfied and the state transition occurred, even if it is not.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Chef Software Inc.Inventors: Daniel Stephen DeLeo, Adam Brent Jacob, Christopher James Brown, Marc Alan Paradise
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Publication number: 20180232088Abstract: An integrated touchscreen comprises display pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix of rows and columns. A matrix of touch element is defined in the display pixels, with a touch unit cell encompassing an k×j group of display pixels where k denotes the number of rows of pixels and j denotes the number of columns of pixels. A touch element is comprised of an n×m matrix of touch unit cells. The common electrodes of the display pixels encompassed in the touch element are electrically connected together to form a common electrode for the touch element. The touch unit cell includes a conductive lines extending in the row direction and b conductive lines extending in the column direction, where a?k and b?j and at least one of a and b is non-zero.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2016Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Diego GALLARDO, Christopher James BROWN
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Publication number: 20180104695Abstract: A method of extracting assay fluid from an EWOD device, the EWOD device comprising two opposing substrates defining a fluid space there between and an aperture for extraction of fluid from the fluid space. The method comprises providing, in the fluid space of the EWOD device, a droplet of assay fluid adjacent to the aperture such that the droplet blocks extraction, via the aperture, of filler fluid contained in the fluid space of the EWOD device, and extracting, via the aperture, at least some of the assay fluid of the droplet from the fluid space. The method comprises, during the extracting, controlling the assay fluid droplet by electrowetting to maintain the blocking of extraction of filler fluid. By controlling the position of the unextracted portion of the assay fluid droplet relative to the aperture during the extraction process, the unextracted portion of the assay fluid droplet continues to block extraction of filler fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Christopher James Brown
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Publication number: 20180011053Abstract: A pixel circuit acts as a sensing element in a sensing device. The pixel circuit includes a sensing electrode, a first gate electrically connected to the sensing electrode, a second gate in electrical communication with the first gate, and a readout device that is electrically connected to the second gate. An input voltage applied to the sensing electrode is amplified between the first gate and the second gate, the amplification being measured as an output signal from the readout device to perform a sensing operation. For example, the output signal may be relatable to pH, analyte measurements, or other properties of sample liquids analyzed by the sensing device. A sensing device may include multiple pixels disposed on a substrate, each pixel including said pixel circuit. Driver circuits controlled by control electronics are configured to generate signals that selectively address the pixels and to read out voltages at the sensing electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2016Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Benjamin James HADWEN, Campbell Donald BROWN, Christopher James BROWN, Gregory GAY, Sally ANDERSON