Abstract: A microfluidic AM-EWOD device and a method of filling such a device are provided. The device comprises a chamber having one or more inlet ports. The device is configured, when the chamber contains a metered volume of a filler fluid that partially fills the chamber, preferentially maintain the metered volume of the filler fluid in a part of the chamber. The device is configured to allow displacement of some of the filler fluid from the part of the chamber when a volume of an assay fluid introduced into one of the one or more inlet ports enters the part of the chamber, thereby causing a volume of a venting fluid to vent from the chamber.

Abstract: An EWOD device includes a first and second substrate assemblies, and a spacer that spaces apart the first substrate assembly from the second substrate assembly to define a channel between them. The spacer defines fluid input ports that are in fluid communication with the channel, and the spacer is configured for directing fluid from the fluid input ports into the channel. The spacer has a combed spacer configuration to define the fluid input ports, including alternating teeth that extend into the channel from a base region, and the teeth isolate adjacent fluid input ports from each other. The spacer may contact only a portion of the first and second substrate assemblies to form a spacerless region within the EWOD device, and the spacer includes regions that are in contact with both the first and second substrate assemblies and extend into the channel to define a cell-gap of the channel.

Abstract: An EWOD device includes a first and second substrate assemblies, and a spacer that spaces apart the first substrate assembly from the second substrate assembly to define a channel between them. The spacer defines fluid input ports that are in fluid communication with the channel, and the spacer is configured for directing fluid from the fluid input ports into the channel. The spacer has a combed spacer configuration to define the fluid input ports, including alternating teeth that extend into the channel from a base region, and the teeth isolate adjacent fluid input ports from each other. The spacer may contact only a portion of the first and second substrate assemblies to form a spacerless region within the EWOD device, and the spacer includes regions that are in contact with both the first and second substrate assemblies and extend into the channel to define a cell-gap of the channel.

Abstract: An EWOD device includes a first substrate assembly and a second substrate assembly; wherein one of said substrate assemblies includes electrowetting electrodes, and the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly are spaced apart to define a channel between the substrate assemblies; and a housing for receiving the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly, the housing comprising an alignment feature for locating at least one of the first and second substrate assemblies within the housing. The device further includes a fixing feature for fixing the first and second substrate assemblies within the housing. The second substrate assembly is located within the housing such that the second substrate assembly is an outer component of the EWOD device. The device further may include a spacer that spaces apart the first substrate assembly from the second substrate assembly to define the channel between the first and second substrate assemblies.

Abstract: An EWOD device includes a first substrate assembly and a second substrate assembly; wherein one of said substrate assemblies includes electrowetting electrodes, and the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly are spaced apart to define a channel between the substrate assemblies; and a housing for receiving the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly, the housing comprising an alignment feature for locating at least one of the first and second substrate assemblies within the housing. The device further includes a fixing feature for fixing the first and second substrate assemblies within the housing. The second substrate assembly is located within the housing such that the second substrate assembly is an outer component of the EWOD device. The device further may include a spacer that spaces apart the first substrate assembly from the second substrate assembly to define the channel between the first and second substrate assemblies.

Abstract: 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.

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.

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.

Abstract: 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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.