Abstract: An apparatus includes a flow cell body, a plurality of electrodes, an imaging assembly, and one or more barrier features. The flow cell body defines one or more flow channels and a plurality of wells defined as recesses in the floor of each flow channel. Each well is fluidically coupled with the corresponding flow channel. The flow cell body further defines interstitial surfaces between adjacent wells. Each well defines a corresponding depth. Each electrode is positioned in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells. The electrodes are to effect writing of polynucleotides in the wells. The imaging assembly is to capture images of polynucleotides written in the wells. The one or more barrier features are positioned in the wells, between the wells, or above the wells. The one or more barrier features contain reactions in each well, reduce diffusion between the wells, or reduce optical cross-talk between the wells.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for non-volatile storage include a well activation device operable to modify one or more wells from a plurality of wells of a flow cell to provide a set of readable wells. Readable wells are configured to allow exposure of a well to substances from nucleotide sequencing fluids, and prevent exposure to other substances and fluids, such as nucleotide synthesizing fluids. The well activation device may also modify wells to provide a set of writeable wells. This set of wells is configured to allow exposure to the nucleotide synthesizing fluids and substances; and prevent exposure to the nucleotide sequencing fluids and substances. There may also be provisions made for risk mitigation for data errors such as generating commands to write specified data to a nucleotide sequence associated with a particular location in a storage device, reading the nucleotide sequence and performing a comparison.

Abstract: A system writes input data to a storage device as machine-written polynucleotides; and reads machine written polynucleotides from the storage device as output data. The storage device includes a flow cell including a plurality of storage wells in which machine written polynucleotides may be stored. The storage device may include a set of electrodes corresponding to the storage wells that allow for selective interactions with wells across the surface of a flow cell. Operation of the storage device may include receiving a read request associated with a particular location in the storage device, creating a copy of a nucleotide sequence located at the particular location in the storage device, transferring the copy of the nucleotide sequence to a read location, and reading the copy of the nucleotide sequence at the read location.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flow cell body, a plurality of electrodes, an imaging assembly, and one or more barrier features. The flow cell body defines one or more flow channels and a plurality of wells defined as recesses in the floor of each flow channel. Each well is fluidically coupled with the corresponding flow channel. The flow cell body further defines interstitial surfaces between adjacent wells. Each well defines a corresponding depth. Each electrode is positioned in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells. The electrodes are to effect writing of polynucleotides in the wells. The imaging assembly is to capture images of polynucleotides written in the wells. The one or more barrier features are positioned in the wells, between the wells, or above the wells. The one or more barrier features contain reactions in each well, reduce diffusion between the wells, or reduce optical cross-talk between the wells.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flow cell body, a plurality of electrodes, an integrated circuit, and an imaging assembly. The flow cell body defines one or more flow channels and a plurality of wells. Each flow channel is configured to receive a flow of fluid. Each well is fluidically coupled with the corresponding flow channel. Each well is configured to contain at least one polynucleotide. Each electrode is positioned in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells. The electrodes are operable to effect writing of polynucleotides in the corresponding wells. The integrated circuit is operable to drive selective deposition or activation of selected nucleotides to attach to polynucleotides in the wells to thereby generate polynucleotides representing machine-written data in the wells. The imaging assembly is operable to capture images indicative of one or more nucleotides in a polynucleotide.

Abstract: One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a tactile layer including a deformable region and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region; a substrate coupled to the tactile layer, the substrate defining fluid channel and cooperating with the deformable region to define a variable volume fluidly coupled to the fluid channel; a displacement device coupled to the bladder, displacing fluid into the variable volume to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting, and displacing fluid out of the variable volume to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting, the displacement device defining a equilibrium range of fluid pressures within the fluid channel; a reservoir fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and supporting a reserve volume of fluid; and a valve selectively controlling transfer of fluid from the reservoir to the fluid channel.

Abstract: The user interface system of the preferred embodiment includes: a layer defining a surface, a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity, a displacement device coupled to the cavity and adapted to expand the cavity thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface, and a display coupled to the substrate and adapted to output images to the user. The user interface system of the preferred embodiments has been specifically designed to be incorporated into an electronic device, such as the display of a mobile phone, but may be incorporated in any suitable device that interfaces with a user in both a visual and tactile manner.

Abstract: A user interface system of one embodiment includes a layer defining a surface; a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity; a displacement coupled to the cavity that expands the cavity, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface; and a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface. The layer and the substrate are connected at an attachment point, and the location of the attachment point relative to the layer, substrate, and cavity at least partially defines the shape of the deformed particular region of the surface.

Abstract: One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate defining a fluid channel and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid channel; a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region and a deformable region, the peripheral region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over the fluid conduit, disconnected from the substrate, and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting; a tube comprising a first end fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and constrained relative to the substrate; a volume of fluid within the tube; and a rotary actuator coupled to the tube remote from the first end and configured to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting by winding the tube to displace a portion of the volume of fluid within the tube into the fluid channel.

Abstract: A system that detects and transitions a configuration of a dynamic tactile interface coupled to a computing device incorporating a touchscreen. The dynamic tactile interface includes a tactile layer and a substrate, wherein the tactile layer defines a tactile surface, a deformable region, and a first region adjacent the deformable region and coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile surface. A variable volume fluidly coupled to a fluid channel and a displacement device that transitions the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting in response to actuation of an input actuator coupled to the displacement device. A sensor detects a change in a position of the input actuator. In response to the change in the position, the configuration of the deformable regions of the dynamic tactile interface is correlated to a rendered graphical user interface on the touchscreen.

Abstract: A device having a dynamic tactile interface communicates with an external electronic device to provide tactile output (e.g., tactile display) based on communication with the external electronic device. Data is tactilely displayed on a computing device. Data is received from an external electronic device. The data is converted into a tangible data structure and a portion of a dynamic tactile layer is deformed corresponding to the tangible data structure. The dynamic tactile layer is arranged over a surface of the computing device and includes a set of deformable regions, wherein each deformable region deforms into an elevated tactile formation. The portion of the dynamic tactile layer includes a subset of deformable regions in the set of deformable regions.

Abstract: A dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate including a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface, an open channel opposite the attachment surface, and a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface; a tactile layer including a second transparent material and defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region bonded to the attachment surface opposite the tactile surface, and a deformable region adjacent the fluid conduit and disconnected from the attachment surface; a closing panel bonded to the substrate opposite the attachment surface and enclosing the open channel to define a fluid channel; a working fluid; and a displacement device configured to displace the working fluid into the fluid channel and through the fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting.

Abstract: A method for actuating a tactile interface layer for a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of detecting a gesture of the user along the surface of the tactile interface layer that includes a movement of a finger of the user from a first location on the surface to a second location on the surface; interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region; and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.

Abstract: One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate coupled to the peripheral region, a fluid conduit adjacent the deformable region, a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and a via fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and passing through the back surface; a bladder fluidly coupled to the via and the substrate; a structure adjacent a first side of the bladder; and a platen adjacent a second side of the bladder opposite the first side and compressing the bladder against the structure substantially perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the bladder and substantially parallel the substrate to displace fluid from the bladder and into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting.

Abstract: One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate including a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface, an open channel opposite the attachment surface, and a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface; a tactile layer including a second transparent material and defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region bonded to the attachment surface opposite the tactile surface, and a deformable region adjacent the fluid conduit and disconnected from the attachment surface; a closing panel bonded to the substrate opposite the attachment surface and enclosing the open channel to define a fluid channel; a working fluid; and a displacement device configured to displace the working fluid into the fluid channel and through the fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting.

Abstract: A system that detects and transitions a configuration of a dynamic tactile interface coupled to a computing device incorporating a touchscreen. The dynamic tactile interface includes a tactile layer and a substrate, wherein the tactile layer defines a tactile surface, a deformable region, and a first region adjacent the deformable region and coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile surface. A variable volume fluidly coupled to a fluid channel and a displacement device that transitions the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting in response to actuation of an input actuator coupled to the displacement device. A sensor detects a change in a position of the input actuator. In response to the change in the position, the configuration of the deformable regions of the dynamic tactile interface is correlated to a rendered graphical user interface on the touchscreen.

Abstract: Input is detected on a dynamic tactile interface based on pressure events and touch sensor outputs. The dynamic tactile interface includes a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, and a compressible material. When both a pressure event and touch sensor output are correlated to identify an input, the input is processed by a display device associated with the dynamic tactile interface. The flexible material may be implemented as a variable volume associated with a deformable region, such that when the deformable region is depressed the variable volume decreases and the pressure sensor detects increased pressure. The flexible material may be implemented as a compressible layer between two layers that comprise the touch sensor, such that when an input is received on an upper layer of the touch sensor, the middle layer having the flexible volume may compress. The multi-layer touch sensor can be a capacitance touch or resistive touch sensor.

Abstract: The dynamic tactile interface includes: a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting; a substrate including an attachment surface and coupled to the peripheral region and defining a fluid conduit adjacent the deformable region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a border region proximal a periphery of the substrate and defining a cavity configured to receive an instrument, the cavity supporting the instrument in a first configuration and releasing the instrument in a second configuration; and a bladder fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and coupled to the cavity, the instrument compressing a portion of the bladder in the first configuration to displace fluid from the bladder into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting.

Abstract: A method for actuating a tactile interface layer for a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of detecting a gesture of the user along the surface of the tactile interface layer that includes a movement of a finger of the user from a first location on the surface to a second location on the surface; interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region; and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.

Abstract: A dynamic tactile interface including a substrate including an attachment surface, a cavity, and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the cavity; a pedestal arranged within the cavity, pivotable within the cavity, and including a mating surface and an exterior surface; a tactile layer including a peripheral region coupled to the attachment surface, a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over the pedestal, and a tactile surface opposite the substrate; and a displacement device displacing fluid to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the pedestal pivotable within the cavity between a first position and a second position in the retracted setting, the deformable region flush with the peripheral region in the first position and the pedestal partially elevated out of the cavity and the deformable region defining a second formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.