Abstract: A pixel circuit for a display device is disclosed. The pixel circuit may include a drive transistor configured to control an amount of current from a first power supply to a light-emitting device depending upon a voltage applied to a gate of the drive transistor. The light-emitting device includes a first terminal electrically connected to a second terminal of the drive transistor and a second terminal electrically connected to a second power supply. The pixel circuit may also include a storage capacitor including a first plate connected to the gate terminal of the drive transistor and a second plate connected to a first node. The pixel circuit may also include a plurality of transistors configured to couple the first power supply, a data voltage input line, and a preset voltage input line to the pixel circuit.

Abstract: A pixel circuit for a display device may be operable in three phases, including an initialization phase, a combined threshold compensation and data programming phase, and an emission phase. The pixel circuit may include a drive transistor configured to control an amount of current from a first power supply to a light-emitting device during the emission phase depending upon a voltage applied to a gate of the drive transistor. The pixel circuit may also include a second transistor and a third transistor that are connected in series between the gate and a second terminal of the drive transistor and are configured to implement the three phases. The pixel circuit may also include two capacitors, with one capacitor connected between the gate of the drive transistor and a first node of the circuit, and another capacitor connected between the gate and a second node of the circuit.

Abstract: An AM-EWOD device includes a plurality of array elements arranged in an array of rows and columns, each of the array elements including array element circuitry, an element electrode, and a reference electrode. The array element circuitry includes actuation circuitry configured to apply actuation voltages to the element and/or reference electrodes for actuating the array element, and impedance sensor circuitry configured to sense impedance at the array element electrode to determine a droplet or device property at the array element, the impedance sensor circuitry comprising a sensor capacitor and a sensor readout transistor that outputs an output current for sensing. The sensor capacitor is electrically connected to a gate of the sensor readout transistor such that during a sensing phase a voltage perturbation is coupled through the sensor capacitor (and possibly other circuit elements) to the gate of the sensor readout transistor.

Abstract: A method of operating an active matrix electro-wetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device provides for enhanced mutual capacitance sensing using integrated impedance sensing circuitry. Array element circuitry of each array element includes actuation circuitry configured to apply actuation voltages to the array element electrode for actuating the array element, and impedance sensor circuitry integrated into the array element circuitry and configured to sense impedance at the array element electrode. The method of operating includes the steps of: perturbing a voltage applied to the array element electrode of a first array element; coupling the voltage perturbation to the array element electrode of a second array element different from the first array element; and measuring the output current from the sensor readout transistor of the second array element for sensing in response to the voltage perturbation.

Abstract: An AM-EWOD device includes a plurality of array elements arranged in an array of rows and columns; each column including a column addressing line that applies control signals to a corresponding column of array elements, and each row including a row addressing line that applies control signals to a corresponding row of array elements; each array element including an element electrode for receiving an actuation voltage and a switch transistor, wherein the switch transistor is electrically connected between the column addressing line and the element electrode and is switched by the row addressing line; and a column detection circuit comprising an addressing circuit that applies an electrical perturbation during a sensing operation to the column addressing line of an array element being sensed, and a measuring circuit that measures an output signal from one of the column addressing lines, wherein the output signal varies based upon a capacitance present at the element electrode.

Abstract: A microfluidic system includes: an electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD) cartridge having an element array configured to receive liquid droplets, the element array including individual array elements each including array element circuity comprising sensing circuitry that is integrated into the array element circuitry; a microfluidic instrument that is configured to receive the EWOD cartridge and having an electrically conductive locator that is external to the EWOD cartridge; and a control system configured perform electrowetting operations by controlling actuation voltages applied to the element array to perform manipulation operations as to liquid droplets present on the element array. The control system further is configured to read an output from the sensing circuitry, determine a position of the locator relative to the element array based on the output, and determine a misalignment of the EWOD cartridge relative to the microfluidic instrument based on the position of the locator.

Abstract: An AM-EWOD device includes a plurality of array elements arranged in an array of rows and columns, each of the array elements including array element circuitry, an element electrode, and a reference electrode. The array element circuitry includes actuation circuitry that applies actuation voltages to the element and reference electrodes, and impedance sensor circuitry that senses impedance at the array element electrode to determine a droplet property at the array element. At least one component of the impedance sensor circuitry is a shared component that is shared between more than one of the array elements. The shared component may include a shared sensor readout transistor that passes a sensor current to a sensor output line, or a shared reset transistor that applies a reset voltage to a gate of the shared sensor readout transistor, with such components being shared by array elements in adjacent rows.

Abstract: A microfluidic system includes: an electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD) cartridge having an element array configured to receive liquid droplets, the element array including individual array elements each including array element circuity comprising sensing circuitry that is integrated into the array element circuitry; a microfluidic instrument that is configured to receive the EWOD cartridge and having an electrically conductive locator that is external to the EWOD cartridge; and a control system configured perform electrowetting operations by controlling actuation voltages applied to the element array to perform manipulation operations as to liquid droplets present on the element array. The control system further is configured to read an output from the sensing circuitry, determine a position of the locator relative to the element array based on the output, and determine a misalignment of the EWOD cartridge relative to the microfluidic instrument based on the position of the locator.

Abstract: An AM-EWOD device includes a plurality of array elements arranged in an array of rows and columns, each of the array elements including array element circuitry, an element electrode, and a reference electrode. The array element circuitry includes actuation circuitry configured to apply actuation voltages to the element and/or reference electrodes for actuating the array element, and impedance sensor circuitry configured to sense impedance at the array element electrode to determine a droplet or device property at the array element, the impedance sensor circuitry comprising a sensor capacitor and a sensor readout transistor that outputs an output current for sensing. The sensor capacitor is electrically connected to a gate of the sensor readout transistor such that during a sensing phase a voltage perturbation is coupled through the sensor capacitor (and possibly other circuit elements) to the gate of the sensor readout transistor.

Abstract: A method of operating an active matrix electro-wetting on dielectric (AM-EWOD) device provides for enhanced mutual capacitance sensing using integrated impedance sensing circuitry. Array element circuitry of each array element includes actuation circuitry configured to apply actuation voltages to the array element electrode for actuating the array element, and impedance sensor circuitry integrated into the array element circuitry and configured to sense impedance at the array element electrode. The method of operating includes the steps of: perturbing a voltage applied to the array element electrode of a first array element; coupling the voltage perturbation to the array element electrode of a second array element different from the first array element; and measuring the output current from the sensor readout transistor of the second array element for sensing in response to the voltage perturbation.

Abstract: An AM-EWOD device includes a plurality of array elements arranged in an array of rows and columns; each column including a column addressing line that applies control signals to a corresponding column of array elements, and each row including a row addressing line that applies control signals to a corresponding row of array elements; each array element including an element electrode for receiving an actuation voltage and a switch transistor, wherein the switch transistor is electrically connected between the column addressing line and the element electrode and is switched by the row addressing line; and a column detection circuit comprising an addressing circuit that applies an electrical perturbation during a sensing operation to the column addressing line of an array element being sensed, and a measuring circuit that measures an output signal from one of the column addressing lines, wherein the output signal varies based upon a capacitance present at the element electrode.

Abstract: An AM-EWOD device includes a plurality of array elements arranged in an array of rows and columns, each of the array elements including array element circuitry, an element electrode, and a reference electrode. The array element circuitry includes actuation circuitry that applies actuation voltages to the element and reference electrodes, and impedance sensor circuitry that senses impedance at the array element electrode to determine a droplet property at the array element. At least one component of the impedance sensor circuitry is a shared component that is shared between more than one of the array elements. The shared component may include a shared sensor readout transistor that passes a sensor current to a sensor output line, or a shared reset transistor that applies a reset voltage to a gate of the shared sensor readout transistor, with such components being shared by array elements in adjacent rows.