Patents by Inventor Emma Jayne Walton
Emma Jayne Walton 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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Publication number: 20180369814Abstract: An electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device includes a first substrate assembly and a second substrate assembly spaced apart to define a channel between them; an input port in fluid communication with the channel, the input port defining an input well for receiving a fluid for inputting into the channel; and a control port in fluid communication with the channel, the control port defining a control well for receiving a fluid and having a seal that seals the control port in a sealed state in which fluid is restricted from entering the control well from the channel. When the seal is pierced, the control port is placed in an unsealed state permitting fluid to enter the control well from the channel. The electrowetting force may be manipulated to remove the dispensed droplets via an exit port. Multiple cycles of fluid input/droplet manipulation/fluid extraction may be repeated to perform complex reaction protocols.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones
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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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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: 20180104687Abstract: A fluid loader is provided for loading fluid into a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device having upper and lower spaced apart substrates defining a fluid chamber therebetween and an aperture for receiving fluid into the fluid chamber. The fluid loader comprises a fluid well communicating with a fluid exit provided in a base of the fluid loader. The base of the fluid loader is shaped, in use, to locate the fluid loader relative to the aperture, and to direct fluid leaving the fluid loader via the fluid exit preferentially in a first direction in the fluid chamber of the microfluidic device. In one embodiment the base of the fluid loader comprises a protruding portion having at least first and second legs, the first leg being shorter than the second leg. In use, the fluid loader is positioned such that the first leg of the fluid loader is between a fluid loading area associated with the aperture (14) and an operating area of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones
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Patent number: 9841402Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 15, 2015Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) LimitedInventors: Robert Julian Amos, Benjamin James Hadwen, Adrian Marc Simon Jacobs, Emma Jayne Walton, Christopher James Brown, Jonathan Buse
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Publication number: 20160305906Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2015Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Robert Julian Amos, Benjamin James Hadwen, Adrian Marc Simon Jacobs, Emma Jayne Walton, Christopher James Brown, Jonathan Buse
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Publication number: 20160155407Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Paul Antony GASS, Benjamin John BROUGHTON, Emma Jayne WALTON, Christopher James BROWN
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Patent number: 9257095Abstract: A display includes a backlight portion having at least one broad spectrum emitter (such as white) and at least one narrow spectrum emitter (such as red, green, and blue), a liquid crystal panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and control electronics configured to receive input image data and output control signals to both the backlight portion and liquid crystal panel. The control electronics is configured to use color rendering capabilities of the liquid crystal panel under illumination from each of the emitter types individually to calculate a minimum power combination of emission from each emitter type required to display the input image data. The control electronics is further configured to modify the input image data according to the calculated minimum power combination of emitter powers so a resulting display of colors in the image data remains despite changing illumination conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Edward David Heywood-Lonsdale, Benjamin John Broughton, Emma Jayne Walton, John Patrick Nonweiler, Fumitaka Seki
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Publication number: 20150379960Abstract: A display includes a backlight portion having at least one broad spectrum emitter (such as white) and at least one narrow spectrum emitter (such as red, green, and blue), a liquid crystal panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and control electronics configured to receive input image data and output control signals to both the backlight portion and liquid crystal panel. The control electronics is configured to use color rendering capabilities of the liquid crystal panel under illumination from each of the emitter types individually to calculate a minimum power combination of emission from each emitter type required to display the input image data. The control electronics is further configured to modify the input image data according to the calculated minimum power combination of emitter powers so a resulting display of colours in the image data remains despite changing illumination conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2014Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Edward David HEYWOOD-LONSDALE, Benjamin John BROUGHTON, Emma Jayne WALTON, John Patrick NONWEILER, Fumitaka SEKI
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Patent number: 8514352Abstract: A phosphor-based multi-colored display is provided which includes a spatial light modulator comprising an addressable array of apertures each corresponding to a respective sub-pixel in the display; an array of phosphor regions each indexed to a corresponding aperture of the spatial light modulator; and a backlight which provides quasi-monochromatic light to phosphor within each of the phosphor regions. The phosphor within each of the phosphor regions, upon being excited by the quasi-monochromatic light of the backlight, emits light having a color different from a color of the quasi-monochromatic light, through the corresponding aperture of the spatial light modulator.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: David James Montgomery, Peter John Roberts, Lesley Ann Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
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Patent number: 8314918Abstract: A display includes a display device having a first polarizer and a second polarizer or a reflector, and a display layer disposed between the first polarizer and the second polarizer or the reflector. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the display layer and one of the first polarizer and the second polarizer or reflector. The liquid crystal molecules of at least one region of the liquid crystal layer are switchable between a first state in which the display has a first display mode with a first viewing angle range and a second state in which the display has a second display mode having a second viewing angle range smaller than the first viewing angle range.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Diana Ulrich Kean, Anthony John Carver, Paul A. Gass, Heather Ann Stevenson, Emma Jayne Walton
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Patent number: 8301024Abstract: A camera flash comprises a light guide arranged to extract light at least through one surface; and one or more light sources arranged, in use, to emit light into the lightguide. Each light source is an LED or a laser diode. The camera flash is connectable, in use, to drive circuitry, the drive circuitry being for driving the light source(s) to emit a pulse of light. The waveguide spreads out the light from the light source(s), so that a flash of light from the camera flash does not present a safety risk, while minimizing loss of the light from the light source(s). The camera flash can thus provide a high overall optical output, spread over an extended area (as defined by the waveguide). The lightguide may for example be disposed around a camera module of a mobile telephone camera.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jonathan Mather, Andrew Kay, David James Montgomery, James Rowland Suckling, Emma Jayne Walton, Yasunori Kanazawa, Yukio Watanabe, Hirofumi Oda, Taro Sugita
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Patent number: 8289458Abstract: A display is switchable between a first display mode with a first viewing angle range, a second display mode having a second viewing angle range smaller than the first viewing angle range and a multiple view directional display mode. The display includes an image display layer and a control element that is switchable between a first state in which it cooperates with the image display layer to provide the first display mode, a second state in which it cooperates with the image display layer to provide the second display mode, and a third state in which it cooperates with the image display layer to provide the multiple view directional display mode.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2006Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Adrian Marc Simon Jacobs, Heather Ann Stevenson, Paul A. Gass
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Patent number: 8262271Abstract: A display comprises: a single-view image display panel (6); and a parallax optic (8) disposed over a display face of the image display panel for restricting the angular spread of light output from the display face of the image display panel. This enables light to be concentrated in a desired viewing angle range (66), and avoids a user (56) seeing unwanted reflections that may occur as a result of a greater viewing angle range (64) if the parallax optic (8) is not provided. The display may be used, as an example, in a motor vehicle to prevent unwanted reflections from the windscreen (62) of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Martin David Tillin, Jonathan Mather, Emma Jayne Walton
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Publication number: 20120147296Abstract: A phosphor-based multi-coloured display is provided which includes a spatial light modulator comprising an addressable array of apertures each corresponding to a respective sub-pixel in the display; an array of phosphor regions each indexed to a corresponding aperture of the spatial light modulator; and a backlight which provides quasi-monochromatic light to phosphor within each of the phosphor regions. The phosphor within each of the phosphor regions, upon being excited by the quasi-monochromatic light of the backlight, emits light having a colour different from a colour of the quasi-monochromatic light, through the corresponding aperture of the spatial light modulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventors: David James MONTGOMERY, Peter John Roberts, Lesley Ann Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
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Patent number: 8136955Abstract: An illumination system comprises at least one light source (2) and a light-guide (1). A first part of the light-guide (1) is defined by a surface (12) for light emission and a back surface (13), and a second part of the light-guide is defined by a light receiving surface (14) and a light reflecting surface (15). The light source (2) is disposed adjacent or substantially adjacent to the light receiving surface (14), and light from the light source enters the light-guide through the light receiving surface (14), and is reflected by the light reflecting surface (15) into the first part of the light-guide. Light is emitted from the waveguide through the surface (12) for light emission, and may be used to illuminate, for example, a display device placed over the surface (12) for light emission. The light source and the light receiving surface are on the same side of the waveguide as the surface for light emission.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2007Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Stephen James Fasham, David James Montgomery, Emma Jayne Walton, Tong Zhang
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Publication number: 20110164211Abstract: A reflective display comprises a pixellated display device and an optical structure which concentrates light of a plurality of colours onto pixels of a plurality of sets, respectively. Each pixel is associated with a respective sub-structure which passes light of a first colour propagating towards the pixel but which redirects light of a second colour, propagating towards the pixel, to another pixel. The display device comprises a relief structure having reconfigurable contents for modulating light.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Alistair Paul CURD, Allan EVANS, Emma Jayne WALTON, Lesley Anne PARRY-JONES
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Publication number: 20110162712Abstract: A low concentration solar apparatus for collecting solar radiation and concentrating it to a receiving device such as a photovoltaic cell or thermovoltaic cell, comprising a non-tracked waveguide concentrator with integral light turning element. It is thus possible to provide a solar apparatus for generating power in a very cost effective manner compared to conventional solar apparatus such as photovoltaic modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventors: Martin David TILLIN, Emma Jayne WALTON, Paul Antony GASS, Pierre-Jean ALET
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Publication number: 20110123184Abstract: A camera flash comprises a light guide arranged to extract light at least through one surface; and one or more light sources arranged, in use, to emit light into the lightguide. Each light source is an LED or a laser diode. The camera flash is connectable, in use, to drive circuitry, the drive circuitry being for driving the light source(s) to emit a pulse of light. The waveguide spreads out the light from the light source(s), so that a flash of light from the camera flash does not present a safety risk, while minimising loss of the light from the light source(s). The camera flash can thus provide a high overall optical output, spread over an extended area (as defined by the waveguide). The lightguide may for example be disposed around a camera module of a mobile telephone camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Jonathan MATHER, Andrew KAY, David James MONTGOMERY, James Rowland SUCKLING, Emma Jayne WALTON, Yasunori KANAZAWA, Yukio WATANABE, Hirofumi ODA, Taro SUGITA
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Publication number: 20110018860Abstract: A display is provided having private and public viewing modes. The display comprises a display device and a parallax optic (3) comprising an array of parallax elements (4). Each of the elements (4) co-operates with a set of pixels (1,2) having at least one first pixel (1) and at least one second pixel (2). A line (23) passing through the centre (21) of each first pixel (1) and the centre (22) of the cooperating parallax element (4) extends into a first viewing region (20a). The parallax elements (4) re-strict viewing of the first pixels (1) to the first viewing region and permit viewing of the second pixels (2) in a second viewing region. The display device displays a private image in the private viewing mode by means of only the first pixels (1) and displays a non-private image in the public viewing mode by means of at least the second pixels (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Grant Bourhill, Ben John Broughton, Jonathan Mather, Nathan James Smith, Emma Jayne Walton, Michel Sagardoyburu