Patents by Inventor Michael Benjamin Franklin
Michael Benjamin Franklin 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: 11543383Abstract: A liquid droplet manipulation system has a substrate with at least one electrode array and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing the electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting. A working film is placed on top of the electrodes for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with the electrode array. At least one selected individual electrode of the electrode array is configured to be penetrated by light of an optical detection system for the optical inspection or analysis of samples in liquid droplets that are located on the working film. Also disclosed is working film that is to be placed on the electrode array and a cartridge that includes such a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2017Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Travis Lee, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Kailiang Wang, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
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Publication number: 20180074013Abstract: A liquid droplet manipulation system has a substrate with at least one electrode array and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing the electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting. A working film is placed on top of the electrodes for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with the electrode array. At least one selected individual electrode of the electrode array is configured to be penetrated by light of an optical detection system for the optical inspection or analysis of samples in liquid droplets that are located on the working film. Also disclosed is working film that is to be placed on the electrode array and a cartridge that includes such a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicant: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: TRAVIS LEE, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Kailiang Wang, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
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Patent number: 9857332Abstract: A liquid droplet manipulation system has a substrate with at least one electrode array and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing the electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting. A working film is placed on top of the electrodes for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with the electrode array. At least one selected individual electrode of the electrode array is configured to be penetrated by light of an optical detection system for the optical inspection or analysis of samples in liquid droplets that are located on the working film. Also disclosed is working film that is to be placed on the electrode array and a cartridge that includes such a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Travis Lee, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Kailiang Wang, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
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Patent number: 9630176Abstract: Digital microfluidics system manipulates samples in liquid droplets within a gap of at least one disposable cartridge. It is also provides additional space for collecting and/or storing waste fluids in this digital microfluidics system. It includes at least one waste hollow which is fluidly connected with a gap of a disposable cartridge that includes a bottom layer with a first hydrophobic surface and a top layer with a second hydrophobic surface. The waste hollow is located next to at least one individual waste electrode that is positioned next to at least one individual electrode of an electrode array. Each individual waste electrode is operatively connected to a central control unit and covers in each case a waste electrode area.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Tiffany Lay, Thomas D. Perroud, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
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Patent number: 8936708Abstract: Liquid droplet manipulation instrument has electrode array for inducing movement of a droplet by electrowetting, substrate supporting the array and control with electrode selector connected to a voltage control. The selector selects each electrode and provides each with a controlled voltage. The control includes central processing unit for providing the selected electrode with an individual voltage pulse which is a drive voltage or a ground voltage or a stop voltage. The control defines a path for movement of a liquid portion of a larger volume that covers more than one electrode by the simultaneous selection of a group of two or more subsequent drive electrodes and to provide each selected drive electrode with a drive voltage pulse along the path. The control simultaneously provides a group of two or more electrodes adjacent to or identical with the pulsed drive electrodes, with a ground or stop voltage pulse.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Tecan Trading AGInventors: Marc N. Feiglin, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Timothy Francis Lee, Joseph Mamone
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Patent number: 8821705Abstract: A digital microfluidics system manipulates samples in liquid droplets within disposable cartridges and has disposable cartridges each with a bottom layer, a top layer and a gap therebetween. A base unit with cartridge accommodation sites and at least one electrode array with electrodes works with a cover plate at the sites and a control unit for controlling selection of the electrodes and for providing them with voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the cartridges by electrowetting. The cover plate has an electrically conductive material that extends parallel to the array. A selection of disposable cartridges and a method for manipulating samples in liquid droplets that adhere to a hydrophobic surface can be used with the system.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Tecan Trading AGInventors: Torleif Ove Bjornson, Marc Nathan Feiglin, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, Travis Lee, Kailiang Wang
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Publication number: 20140190832Abstract: Digital microfluidics system manipulates samples in liquid droplets within a gap of at least one disposable cartridge. It is also provides additional space for collecting and/or storing waste fluids in this digital microfluidics system. It includes at least one waste hollow which is fluidly connected with a gap of a disposable cartridge that includes a bottom layer with a first hydrophobic surface and a top layer with a second hydrophobic surface. The waste hollow is located next to at least one individual waste electrode that is positioned next to at least one individual electrode of an electrode array. Each individual waste electrode is operatively connected to a central control unit and covers in each case a waste electrode area.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Tecan Trading AGInventors: Tiffany Lay, Thomas D. Perroud, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
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Publication number: 20130134039Abstract: A digital microfluidics system manipulates samples in liquid droplets within disposable cartridges and has disposable cartridges each with a bottom layer, a top layer and a gap therebetween. A base unit with cartridge accommodation sites and at least one electrode array with electrodes works with a cover plate at the sites and a control unit for controlling selection of the electrodes and for providing them with voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the cartridges by electrowetting. The cover plate has an electrically conductive material that extends parallel to the array. A selection of disposable cartridges and a method for manipulating samples in liquid droplets that adhere to a hydrophobic surface can be used with the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventors: Torleif Ove Bjornson, Marc Nathan Feiglin, Michael Benjamin Franklin, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, Travis Lee, Kailiang Wang