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).

  • Publication number: 20190137380
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher James Brown, Pamela Ann Dothie
  • Publication number: 20190079036
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Christopher James Brown
  • Publication number: 20190004009
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Campbell Donald Brown, Christopher James Brown, Gregory Gay, Sally Anderson
  • Patent number: 10126883
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michael Paul Coulson, Christopher James Brown, Dauren Slamkul
  • Patent number: 10121445
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Paul Antony Gass, Benjamin John Broughton, Emma Jayne Walton, Christopher James Brown
  • Patent number: 10113985
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Christopher James Brown
  • Publication number: 20180284424
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher James BROWN, Benjamin James HADWEN, Pamela Ann DOTHIE
  • Patent number: 10082481
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Campbell Donald Brown, Christopher James Brown, Gregory Gay, SAlly Anderson
  • Patent number: 10069685
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Chef Software Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Stephen DeLeo, Adam Brent Jacob, Christopher James Brown, Marc Alan Paradise
  • Publication number: 20180232088
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Diego GALLARDO, Christopher James BROWN
  • Publication number: 20180104695
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Christopher James Brown
  • Publication number: 20180011053
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin James HADWEN, Campbell Donald BROWN, Christopher James BROWN, Gregory GAY, Sally ANDERSON
  • Patent number: 9841402
    Abstract: An EWOD (or AM-EWOD) device includes a reference electrode and a plurality of array elements, each array element including an array element electrode, and control electronics. In a first mode optimized for EWOD actuation, the control electronics is configured to control a supply of time varying voltages to the array element electrodes and the reference electrode, thereby generating an actuation voltage as a potential difference between voltages at the array element electrodes and the reference electrode. The reference electrode includes a first electrical connection and a second electrical connection. In a second mode, the control electronics further is configured to supply an electrical current flow between the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection to generate resistance heat for controlling temperature of the EWOD device. Control may include sensing a temperature of the EWOD device, and switching between operating in the first or second mode based on the sensed temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Robert Julian Amos, Benjamin James Hadwen, Adrian Marc Simon Jacobs, Emma Jayne Walton, Christopher James Brown, Jonathan Buse
  • Publication number: 20170326524
    Abstract: A method of driving an element of an active matrix electro-wetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device comprise applying a first alternating voltage to a reference electrode of the AM-EWOD device; and either (i) applying to the element electrode a second alternating voltage that has the same frequency as the first alternating voltage and that is out of phase with the first alternating voltage or (ii) holding the element electrode in a high impedance state. The effect of applying the second alternating voltage to the element electrode is to put the element in an actuated state in which the element is configured to actuate any liquid droplet present in the element, while the effect of holding the element electrode in the high impedance state is to put the element in a non-actuated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin James HADWEN, Christopher James BROWN
  • Patent number: 9764294
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid-gas mixer including a central passageway provided about an injector axis, and first and second gas passageways. The first gas passageway is radially outward of the central passageway and radially inward of the second gas passageway. A turbulator is provided between the first and second gas passageways, and includes a plurality of first disturbance generators and a plurality of second disturbance generators. The first and second disturbance generators are provided about the turbulator in an alternating arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher James Brown
  • Publication number: 20170244603
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Stephen DeLeo, Adam Brent Jacob, Christopher James Brown, Marc Alan Paradise
  • Publication number: 20170235611
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Anderson, Christopher James Brown, Kevin Allen Smith, John Braden Keiser
  • Patent number: 9727187
    Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor includes an array of electrode elements, each electrode element including a drive electrode and a sense electrode, the drive electrode and the sense electrode forming at least one mutual coupling capacitor in each electrode element. A controller is operatively coupled to the array of electrode elements, the controller configured to measure the at least one mutual coupling capacitance over at least one measurement period. In addition, excitation signals applied during the at least one measurement period are balanced to reduce the effect of baseline capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Dauren Slamkul, Christopher James Brown, Andrew Kay
  • Patent number: 9674109
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Chef Software Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Stephen DeLeo, Adam Brent Jacob, Christopher James Brown, Marc Alan Paradise
  • Publication number: 20170074814
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Christopher James Brown