Patents by Inventor Helen FUNG
Helen FUNG 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: 11953464Abstract: A device for base calling is provided. The device includes a receptacle configured to hold a biosensor having a sample surface holding a plurality of clusters during a sequence of sampling events, an array of sensors sensing information from clusters disposed in corresponding pixel areas of the sample surface during the sampling events and generate sequences of pixel signals and a communication port configured to output the sequences of pixel signals. The device also includes a signal processor coupled to the communication port and configured to receive and process at least one pixel signal in the sequences of pixel signals that mixes light gathered from at least two clusters in a corresponding pixel area, and to base call each of the at least two clusters using the at least one pixel signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Dietrich Dehlinger, Ali Agah, Tracy Helen Fung, Emrah Kostem
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Publication number: 20240014179Abstract: A system includes an image sensor structure and a flow cell. The image sensor structure includes an image layer disposed over a base substrate. A device stack is disposed over the image layer. A bond pad is disposed in the device stack. A passivation stack is disposed over the device stack and the bond pad. An array of nanowells is disposed in a top layer of the passivation stack. A through-silicon via (TSV) is in electrical contact with the bond pad. The TSV extends through the base substrate. A redistribution layer (RDL) is disposed on a bottom surface of the base substrate. The RDL is in electrical contact with the TSV. The flow cell is disposed upon the top layer of the passivation stack to form a flow channel therebetween. The flow channel is disposed over the array of nanowells and the bond pad.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Tracy Helen FUNG, Hai Quang TRAN
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Publication number: 20230417675Abstract: Light detection devices and related methods are provided. The devices may comprise a reaction structure for containing a reaction solution with a relatively high or low pH and a plurality of reaction sites that generate light emissions. The devices may comprise a device base comprising a plurality of light sensors, device circuitry coupled to the light sensors, and a plurality of light guides that block excitation light but permit the light emissions to pass to a light sensor. The device base may also include a shield layer extending about each light guide between each light guide and the device circuitry, and a protection layer that is chemically inert with respect to the reaction solution extending about each light guide between each light guide and the shield layer. The protection layer prevents reaction solution that passes through the reaction structure and the light guide from interacting with the device circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Xiuyu CAI, Joseph Francis PINTO, Thomas A. BAKER, Tracy Helen FUNG
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Patent number: 11784161Abstract: A system includes an image sensor structure and a flow cell. The image sensor structure includes an image layer disposed over a base substrate. A device stack is disposed over the image layer. A bond pad is disposed in the device stack. A passivation stack is disposed over the device stack and the bond pad. An array of nanowells is disposed in a top layer of the passivation stack. A through-silicon via (TSV) is in electrical contact with the bond pad. The TSV extends through the base substrate. A redistribution layer (RDL) is disposed on a bottom surface of the base substrate. The RDL is in electrical contact with the TSV. The flow cell is disposed upon the top layer of the passivation stack to form a flow channel therebetween. The flow channel is disposed over the array of nanowells and the bond pad.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Tracy Helen Fung, Hai Quang Tran
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Patent number: 11781985Abstract: Light detection devices and related methods are provided. The devices may comprise a reaction structure for containing a reaction solution with a relatively high or low pH and a plurality of reaction sites that generate light emissions. The devices may comprise a device base comprising a plurality of light sensors, device circuitry coupled to the light sensors, and a plurality of light guides that block excitation light but permit the light emissions to pass to a light sensor. The device base may also include a shield layer extending about each light guide between each light guide and the device circuitry, and a protection layer that is chemically inert with respect to the reaction solution extending about each light guide between each light guide and the shield layer. The protection layer prevents reaction solution that passes through the reaction structure and the light guide from interacting with the device circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Xiuyu Cai, Joseph Francis Pinto, Thomas A. Baker, Tracy Helen Fung
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Publication number: 20230314326Abstract: An example sensor includes a flow cell, a detection device, and a controller. The flow cell includes a passivation layer having opposed surfaces and a reaction site at a first of the opposed surfaces. The flow cell also includes a lid operatively connected to the passivation layer to partially define a flow channel between the lid and the reaction site. The detection device is in contact with a second of the opposed surfaces of the passivation layer, and includes an embedded metal layer that is electrically isolated from other detection circuitry of the detection device. The controller is to ground the embedded metal layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Tracy Helen FUNG, Xiuyu CAI, Lisa KWOK, Hai TRAN, Kevan SAMIEE, Liangliang QIANG, Boyan BOYANOV
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Patent number: 11680906Abstract: An example sensor includes a flow cell, a detection device, and a controller. The flow cell includes a passivation layer having opposed surfaces and a reaction site at a first of the opposed surfaces. The flow cell also includes a lid operatively connected to the passivation layer to partially define a flow channel between the lid and the reaction site. The detection device is in contact with a second of the opposed surfaces of the passivation layer, and includes an embedded metal layer that is electrically isolated from other detection circuitry of the detection device. The controller is to ground the embedded metal layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2018Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Tracy Helen Fung, Xiuyu Cai, Lisa Kwok, Hai Tran, Kevan Samiee, Liangliang Qiang, Boyan Boyanov
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Publication number: 20230158494Abstract: In one embodiment, a sample surface of a biosensor includes pixel areas and holds a plurality of clusters during a sequence of sampling events such that the clusters are distributed unevenly over the pixel areas. In another embodiment, a biosensor has a sample surface that includes pixel areas and an array of wells overlying the pixel areas, the biosensor including two wells and two clusters per pixel area. The two wells per pixel area include a dominant well and a subordinate well. The dominant well has a larger cross section over the pixel area than the subordinate well. In yet another embodiment, an illumination system is coupled to a biosensor that illuminates the pixel areas with different angles of illumination during a sequence of sampling events, including, for a sampling event, illuminating each of the wells with off-axis illumination to produce asymmetrically illuminated well regions in each of the wells.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Dietrich DEHLINGER, Ali AGAH, Tracy Helen FUNG, Emrah KOSTEM, Craig HETHERINGTON
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Publication number: 20230125640Abstract: Light detection devices and related methods are provided. The devices may comprise a reaction structure for containing a reaction solution with a relatively high or low pH and a plurality of reaction sites that generate light emissions. The devices may comprise a device base comprising a plurality of light sensors, device circuitry coupled to the light sensors, and a plurality of light guides that block excitation light but permit the light emissions to pass to a light sensor. The device base may also include a shield layer extending about each light guide between each light guide and the device circuitry, and a protection layer that is chemically inert with respect to the reaction solution extending about each light guide between each light guide and the shield layer. The protection layer prevents reaction solution that passes through the reaction structure and the light guide from interacting with the device circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Applicant: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Xiuyu CAI, Joseph Francis PINTO, Thomas A. BAKER, Tracy Helen FUNG
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Publication number: 20230039010Abstract: A device for base calling is provided. The device includes a receptacle configured to hold a biosensor having a sample surface holding a plurality of clusters during a sequence of sampling events, an array of sensors sensing information from clusters disposed in corresponding pixel areas of the sample surface during the sampling events and generate sequences of pixel signals and a communication port configured to output the sequences of pixel signals. The device also includes a signal processor coupled to the communication port and configured to receive and process at least one pixel signal in the sequences of pixel signals that mixes light gathered from at least two clusters in a corresponding pixel area, and to base call each of the at least two clusters using the at least one pixel signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Dietrich DEHLINGER, Ali AGAH, Tracy Helen FUNG, Emrah KOSTEM
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Patent number: 11561196Abstract: In one embodiment, a sample surface of a biosensor includes pixel areas and holds a plurality of clusters during a sequence of sampling events such that the clusters are distributed unevenly over the pixel areas. In another embodiment, a biosensor has a sample surface that includes pixel areas and an array of wells overlying the pixel areas, the biosensor including two wells and two clusters per pixel area. The two wells per pixel area include a dominant well and a subordinate well. The dominant well has a larger cross section over the pixel area than the subordinate well. In yet another embodiment, an illumination system is coupled to a biosensor that illuminates the pixel areas with different angles of illumination during a sequence of sampling events, including, for a sampling event, illuminating each of the wells with off-axis illumination to produce asymmetrically illuminated well regions in each of the wells.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2019Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Dietrich Dehlinger, Ali Agah, Tracy Helen Fung, Emrah Kostem, Craig Hetherington
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Patent number: 11543352Abstract: Light detection devices and related methods are provided. The devices may comprise a reaction structure for containing a reaction solution with a relatively high or low pH and a plurality of reaction sites that generate light emissions. The devices may comprise a device base comprising a plurality of light sensors, device circuitry coupled to the light sensors, and a plurality of light guides that block excitation light but permit the light emissions to pass to a light sensor. The device base may also include a shield layer extending about each light guide between each light guide and the device circuitry, and a protection layer that is chemically inert with respect to the reaction solution extending about each light guide between each light guide and the shield layer. The protection layer prevents reaction solution that passes through the reaction structure and the light guide from interacting with the device circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Xiuyu Cai, Joseph Francis Pinto, Thomas A. Baker, Tracy Helen Fung
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Publication number: 20220299470Abstract: A device for base calling is provided. The device includes a receptacle configured to hold a biosensor having a sample surface holding a plurality of clusters during a sequence of sampling events, an array of sensors sensing information from clusters disposed in corresponding pixel areas of the sample surface during the sampling events and generate sequences of pixel signals and a communication port configured to output the sequences of pixel signals. The device also includes a signal processor coupled to the communication port and configured to receive and process at least one pixel signal in the sequences of pixel signals that mixes light gathered from at least two clusters in a corresponding pixel area, and to base call each of the at least two clusters using the at least one pixel signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Applicant: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Dietrich DEHLINGER, Ali AGAH, Tracy Helen FUNG, Emrah KOSTEM
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Patent number: 11378544Abstract: A biosensor for base calling is provided. The biosensor comprises a sampling device, which includes a sample surface that has an array of pixel areas and a solid-state imager that has an array of sensors. Each sensor generates pixel signals in each base calling cycle. Each pixel signal represents light gathered in one base calling cycle from one or more clusters in a corresponding pixel area of the sample surface. The biosensor further comprises a signal processor configured for connection to the sampling device. The signal processor receives and processes the pixel signals from the sensors for base calling in a base calling cycle, and uses the pixel signals from fewer sensors than a number of clusters base called in the base calling cycle. The pixel signals from the fewer sensors include at least one pixel signal representing light gathered from at least two clusters in the corresponding pixel area.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Dietrich Dehlinger, Ali Agah, Tracy Helen Fung, Emrah Kostem
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Publication number: 20210208072Abstract: Light detection devices and related methods are provided. The devices may comprise a reaction structure for containing a reaction solution with a relatively high or low pH and a plurality of reaction sites that generate light emissions. The devices may comprise a device base comprising a plurality of light sensors, device circuitry coupled to the light sensors, and a plurality of light guides that block excitation light but permit the light emissions to pass to a light sensor. The device base may also include a shield layer extending about each light guide between each light guide and the device circuitry, and a protection layer that is chemically inert with respect to the reaction solution extending about each light guide between each light guide and the shield layer. The protection layer prevents reaction solution that passes through the reaction structure and the light guide from interacting with the device circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Applicant: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Xiuyu CAI, Joseph Francis PINTO, Thomas A. BAKER, Tracy Helen FUNG
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Patent number: 10998273Abstract: An electronic assembly, comprising a carrier wafer having a top wafer surface and a bottom wafer surface; an electronic integrated circuit being formed in the carrier wafer and comprising a wafer contact pad on the top wafer surface; said carrier wafer comprising a through-wafer cavity joining the top and bottom wafer surfaces; a component chip having a component chip top surface, a component chip bottom surface and component chip side surfaces, the component chip being held in said through-wafer cavity by direct contact of at least a side surface of said first component chip with an attachment metal that fills at least a portion of said through-wafer cavity; said component chip comprising at least one component contact pad on said component chip top surface; a first conductor connecting said wafer contact pad and said component contact pad.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLCInventors: Florian G. Herrault, David Brown, Hasan Sharifi, Joel C. Wong, Dean C. Regan, Yan Tang, Helen Fung
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Patent number: 10955343Abstract: Light detection devices and related methods are provided. The devices may comprise a reaction structure for containing a reaction solution with a relatively high or low pH and a plurality of reaction sites that generate light emissions. The devices may comprise a device base comprising a plurality of light sensors, device circuitry coupled to the light sensors, and a plurality of light guides that block excitation light but permit the light emissions to pass to a light sensor. The device base may also include a shield layer extending about each light guide between each light guide and the device circuitry, and a protection layer that is chemically inert with respect to the reaction solution extending about each light guide between each light guide and the shield layer. The protection layer prevents reaction solution that passes through the reaction structure and the light guide from interacting with the device circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Illumina, Inc.Inventors: Xiuyu Cai, Joseph Francis Pinto, Thomas A. Baker, Tracy Helen Fung
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Publication number: 20210050329Abstract: A system includes an image sensor structure and a flow cell. The image sensor structure includes an image layer disposed over a base substrate. A device stack is disposed over the image layer. A bond pad is disposed in the device stack. A passivation stack is disposed over the device stack and the bond pad. An array of nanowells is disposed in a top layer of the passivation stack. A through-silicon via (TSV) is in electrical contact with the bond pad. The TSV extends through the base substrate. A redistribution layer (RDL) is disposed on a bottom surface of the base substrate. The RDL is in electrical contact with the TSV. The flow cell is disposed upon the top layer of the passivation stack to form a flow channel therebetween. The flow channel is disposed over the array of nanowells and the bond pad.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Tracy Helen FUNG, Hai Quang TRAN
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Patent number: 10861829Abstract: A system includes an image sensor structure and a flow cell. The image sensor structure includes an image layer disposed over a base substrate. A device stack is disposed over the image layer. A bond pad is disposed in the device stack. A passivation stack is disposed over the device stack and the bond pad. An array of nanowells is disposed in a top layer of the passivation stack. A through-silicon via (TSV) is in electrical contact with the bond pad. The TSV extends through the base substrate. A redistribution layer (RDL) is disposed on a bottom surface of the base substrate. The RDL is in electrical contact with the TSV. The flow cell is disposed upon the top layer of the passivation stack to form a flow channel therebetween. The flow channel is disposed over the array of nanowells and the bond pad.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2017Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Tracy Helen Fung, Hai Quang Tran
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Publication number: 20200132605Abstract: An example sensor includes a flow cell, a detection device, and a controller. The flow cell includes a passivation layer having opposed surfaces and a reaction site at a first of the opposed surfaces. The flow cell also includes a lid operatively connected to the passivation layer to partially define a flow channel between the lid and the reaction site. The detection device is in contact with a second of the opposed surfaces of the passivation layer, and includes an embedded metal layer that is electrically isolated from other detection circuitry of the detection device. The controller is to ground the embedded metal layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Tracy Helen Fung, Xiuyu Cai, Lisa Kwok, Hai Tran, Kevan Samiee, Liangliang Qiang, Boyan Boyanov