Patents by Inventor Yu-An Chiou

Yu-An Chiou 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).

  • Publication number: 20100101960
    Abstract: Described herein are single-sided lateral-field optoelectronic tweezers (LOET) devices which use photosensitive electrode arrays to create optically-induced dielectrophoretic forces in an electric field that is parallel to the plane of the device. In addition, phototransistor-based optoelectronic tweezers (PhOET) devices are described that allow for optoelectronic tweezers (OET) operation in high-conductivity physiological buffer and cell culture media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Aaron Ohta, Pei-Yu Chiou, Hsan-Yin Hsu, Arash Jamshidi, Ming-Chiang Wu, Steven L. Neale
  • Patent number: 7612355
    Abstract: An optical image-driven light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus and method are described which provide for the manipulation of particles or cells with a diameter on the order of 100 ?m or less. The apparatus is referred to as optoelectric tweezers (OET) and provides a number of advantages over conventional optical tweezers, in particular the ability to perform operations in parallel and over a large area without damage to living cells. The OET device generally comprises a planar liquid-filled structure having one or more portions which are photoconductive to convert incoming light to a change in the electric field pattern. The light patterns are dynamically generated to provide a number of manipulation structures that can manipulate single particles and cells or groups of particles/cells. The OET preferably includes a microscopic imaging means to provide feedback for the optical manipulation, such as detecting position and characteristics wherein the light patterns are modulated accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Ming Chiang Wu, Pei Yu Chiou, Aaron T. Ohta
  • Publication number: 20090175405
    Abstract: A shift register is used for outputting an output pulse at output end in response to a delay of an input pulse received at an input end. The shift register includes a controller, a pre-charging switch, a level shifting switch, and an output generator. The controller is used for generating a level switching signal. The pre-charging switch is used for conducting a first supply voltage to a level shifting node in response to the input pulse. The level shifting switch turns on in response to the level switching signal. The output generator is used for generating the output pulse at the output end, when the level shifting switch turns on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chung-chun Chen, Hung-yu Chiou, Cheng-chiu Pai
  • Publication number: 20090170186
    Abstract: An optical image-driven light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus and method are described which provide for the manipulation of particles or cells with a diameter on the order of 100 ?m or less. The apparatus is referred to as optoelectric tweezers (OET) and provides a number of advantages over conventional optical tweezers, in particular the ability to perform operations in parallel and over a large area without damage to living cells. The OET device generally comprises a planar liquid-filled structure having one or more portions which are photoconductive to convert incoming light to a change in the electric field pattern. The light patterns are dynamically generated to provide a number of manipulation structures that can manipulate single particles and cells or groups of particles/cells. The OET preferably includes a microscopic imaging means to provide feedback for the optical manipulation, such as detecting position and characteristics wherein the light patterns are modulated accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Ming Chiang Wu, Pei Yu Chiou, Aaron T. Ohta
  • Patent number: 6958132
    Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that manipulate droplets in a microfluidic environment. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention manipulate droplets by controlling the electro-wetting characteristics of a surface with light, thereby inducing a gradient in the surface tension of a droplet. The gradient in the surface tension propels the droplet by capillary force. A variety of operations, such as transporting, joining, cutting, and creating can be performed. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention obviate the need to create a relatively large and complex control electrode array. A plurality of photoconductive cells or a layer of a photoconductive material selectively couples an electrode carrying an electrical bias to otherwise floating conductive cells in response to a beam of light. The electrical bias applied to the conductive cell generates a localized electric field, which can change the contact angle of the droplet, thereby permitting the droplet to be propelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Pei Yu Chiou, Ming C. Wu
  • Publication number: 20030224528
    Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that manipulate droplets in a microfluidic environment. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention manipulate droplets by controlling the electro-wetting characteristics of a surface with light, thereby inducing a gradient in the surface tension of a droplet. The gradient in the surface tension propels the droplet by capillary force. A variety of operations, such as transporting, joining, cutting, and creating can be performed. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention obviate the need to create a relatively large and complex control electrode array. A plurality of photoconductive cells or a layer of a photoconductive material selectively couples an electrode carrying an electrical bias to otherwise floating conductive cells in response to a beam of light. The electrical bias applied to the conductive cell generates a localized electric field, which can change the contact angle of the droplet, thereby permitting the droplet to be propelled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Pei Yu Chiou, Ming C. Wu
  • Patent number: 6157949
    Abstract: The present invention optimizes data placement in reference to the service of cyclic re-broadcast, typical of a media server. When the media data to be re-broadcast and the cycle of the re-broadcast are known, it is possible, according to the present invention, to calculate the portions of all the media data that will be read simultaneously and place sequentially such portions of data, so that the search time of the read/write head in the data blocks of direct access devices, such as magnetic disks, magnetic disk arrays, read-and-write optical disks, and other storage devices, can be reduced. Using the inventive data placement technology, the search time of the read/write head can be significantly reduced and the efficiency of bandwidth use can be improved, without altering typical hardware devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chui Chu Cheng, Chin Cheng Chuo, Jinshuan Eric Lee, Chien-Ming Tsao, Yih-Woei Liang, Chih-Yu Chiou