Patents by Inventor Yu-Hwa Lo

Yu-Hwa Lo 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: 20240094129
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for imaging particles and/or cells using flow cytometry. In one aspect, a method includes transmitting a light beam at a fluidic channel carrying a fluid sample containing particles; optically encoding scattered or fluorescently-emitted light at a spatial optical filter, the spatial optical filter including a surface having a plurality of apertures arranged in a pattern along a transverse direction opposite to particle flow and a longitudinal direction parallel to particle flow, such that different portions of a particle flowing over the pattern of the apertures pass different apertures at different times and scatter the light beam or emit fluorescent light at locations associated with the apertures; and producing image data associated with the particle flowing through the fluidic channel based on the encoded optical signal, in which the produced image data includes information of a physical characteristic of the particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yuanyuan Han
  • Publication number: 20230404420
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a speed of blood flow in a blood vessel which include interacting light with blood in the blood vessel, measuring, using a light detector, a characteristic related to time variations of electric field of light which interacted with the blood in the blood vessel, and generating a numeric value indicative of the blood flow speed in the blood vessel using an autocorrelation function of the electric field associated with the light which interacted with the blood in the blood vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Ce Zhang
  • Publication number: 20230384208
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices and methods for imaging and image-based sorting of particles in a flow system, including cells in a flow cytometer. In some aspects, a system includes a particle flow device to flow particles through a channel, an imaging system to obtain image data of a particle during flow through the channel, a processing unit to determine a property associated with the particle and to produce a control command for sorting the particle based on sorting criteria associated with particle properties, and an actuator to direct the particle into one of a plurality of output paths of the particle flow device in real-time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yuanyuan Han, Yi Gu, Ce Zhang
  • Patent number: 11774362
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for imaging particles and/or cells using flow cytometry. In one aspect, a method includes transmitting a light beam at a fluidic channel carrying a fluid sample containing particles; optically encoding scattered or fluorescently-emitted light at a spatial optical filter, the spatial optical filter including a surface having a plurality of apertures arranged in a pattern along a transverse direction opposite to particle flow and a longitudinal direction parallel to particle flow, such that different portions of a particle flowing over the pattern of the apertures pass different apertures at different times and scatter the light beam or emit fluorescent light at locations associated with the apertures; and producing image data associated with the particle flowing through the fluidic channel based on the encoded optical signal, in which the produced image data includes information of a physical characteristic of the particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yuanyuan Han
  • Publication number: 20230175948
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices, systems and techniques in connection with particle sorting in liquid, including cytometry devices and techniques and applications in chemical or biological testing and diagnostic measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Chun Hao Randy Chen, Sung Hwan Cho, Shang-Feng Tsai
  • Patent number: 11668641
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices and methods for imaging and image-based sorting of particles in a flow system, including cells in a flow cytometer. In some aspects, a system includes a particle flow device to flow particles through a channel, an imaging system to obtain image data of a particle during flow through the channel, a processing unit to determine a property associated with the particle and to produce a control command for sorting the particle based on sorting criteria associated with particle properties, and an actuator to direct the particle into one of a plurality of output paths of the particle flow device in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yuanyuan Han, Yi Gu, Ce Zhang
  • Patent number: 11670731
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for low noise and high efficiency photoelectric amplification based on cycling excitation process (CEP). In some aspects, a device for amplifying signals of light-induced photocurrent includes an anode connected to a positive terminal of a voltage source; a disordered material layer coupled to the anode, wherein the disordered material layer is structured to have a thickness of 100 nm or less; and a cathode coupled to the disordered material layer and connected to a negative terminal of the voltage source, in which the device is operable to amplify photoexcited carriers based on photon absorption to produce an external quantum efficiency of the device that is at least 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the Unversity of California
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, David Hall, Yu-Hsin Liu, Zihan Xu, Lujiang Yan
  • Patent number: 11637216
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing high conversion efficiency solar cells. In one aspect, an optical-to-electrical energy conversion device includes a substrate formed of a doped semiconductor material and having a first region and a second region, an array of multilayered nanoscale structures protruding from the first region of the substrate, in which the nanoscale structures are formed of a first co-doped semiconductor material covered by a layer of a second co-doped semiconductor material forming a core-shell structure, the layer covering at least a portion of the doped semiconductor material of the substrate in the second region, and an electrode formed on the layer-covered portion of the substrate in the second region, in which the multilayered nanoscale structures provide an optical active region capable of absorbing photons from light at one or more wavelengths to generate an electrical signal presented at the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yuchun Zhou, Yu-Hsin Liu
  • Publication number: 20230033475
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are described that relate to uncooled long-wave infrared (LWIR) photodetectors capable of operating at room temperature and having a simple structure that can be manufactured at low cost. One example LWIR photodetector includes a layer of amorphous silicon (a-Si) disposed on a silicon substrate and a layer of amorphous germanium (a-Ge) disposed on the a-Si layer, wherein the a-Ge layer is operable to absorb infrared light and provide photoconductive gain, and the a-Si layer is operable to produce carrier multiplication via cycling excitation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Jiayun Zhou, Mohammad Abu Raihan Miah, Yong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20220387786
    Abstract: Retinal prostheses are described with visual acuity better than 20/150, and higher sensitivity, dynamic range, and FOV than the state-of-the-art. At least two different techniques are presented, the first being an optically-switched vertical single-transistor amplifier for ultrahigh photocurrent amplification, and the second being nanopatterned pillar electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Hsin Liu, Yu-Hwa Lo, Hiren D. Thacker, Nicholas Oesch
  • Publication number: 20220384672
    Abstract: High speed, and high timing resolution photon detecting systems and methods are presented with multiplication and self-quenching and self-recovering functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yu-Hsin Liu, Hiren D. Thacker
  • Publication number: 20220317017
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices, systems and techniques in connection with particle sorting in liquid, including cytometry devices and techniques and applications in chemical or biological testing and diagnostic measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Chun Hao Randy Chen, Sung Hwan Cho, Shang-Feng Tsai
  • Publication number: 20220299421
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, devices, systems and applications for camera-less, high-throughput three-dimensional imaging of particles in motion. In some aspects, a system includes a particle motion device to allow particles to move along a travel path; an optical illumination system to produce an asymmetric illumination area of light in a region of the travel path of a particle that scans over a plurality of sections of the particle at multiple time points while the particle is moving; an optical detection system optically interfaced with the particle motion device to obtain optical signal data associated with different parts of the particle corresponding to the particle's volume during motion in the travel path; and a data processing unit to process the optical signal data obtained by the optical detection system and produce data including information indicative of 3D features of the particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yuanyuan Han
  • Patent number: 11371929
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, devices, systems and applications for camera-less, high-throughput three-dimensional imaging of particles in motion. In some aspects, a system includes a particle motion device to allow particles to move along a travel path; an optical illumination system to produce an asymmetric illumination area of light in a region of the travel path of a particle that scans over a plurality of sections of the particle at multiple time points while the particle is moving; an optical detection system optically interfaced with the particle motion device to obtain optical signal data associated with different parts of the particle corresponding to the particle's volume during motion in the travel path; and a data processing unit to process the optical signal data obtained by the optical detection system and produce data including information indicative of 3D features of the particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yuanyuan Han
  • Publication number: 20220034785
    Abstract: A cell sorting system is provided to comprise: an imaging device including abeam scanner scanning abeam along a first direction to obtain a cell image data including fluorescent information or cell image information of a cell, the beam applied to the cell flowing in a channel along a second direction with an angle to the first direction; a data processing and control device in communication with the imaging device, the data processing and control device including a processor configured to process the cell image data obtained by the imaging device to determine one or more properties associated with the cell from the processed cell image data and to produce a control command based on a comparison of the determined one or more properties with a sorting criteria, and a cell sorting device in communication with the imaging device and the data processing and control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa LO, Yi Gu
  • Publication number: 20220011216
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices and methods for imaging and image-based sorting of particles in a flow system, including cells in a flow cytometer. In some aspects, a system includes a particle flow device to flow particles through a channel, an imaging system to obtain image data of a particle during flow through the channel, a processing unit to determine a property associated with the particle and to produce a control command for sorting the particle based on sorting criteria associated with particle properties, and an actuator to direct the particle into one of a plurality of output paths of the particle flow device in real-time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yuanyuan Han, Yi Gu, Ce Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210181113
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for imaging particles and/or cells using flow cytometry. In one aspect, a method includes transmitting a light beam at a fluidic channel carrying a fluid sample containing particles; optically encoding scattered or fluorescently-emitted light at a spatial optical filter, the spatial optical filter including a surface having a plurality of apertures arranged in a pattern along a transverse direction opposite to particle flow and a longitudinal direction parallel to particle flow, such that different portions of a particle flowing over the pattern of the apertures pass different apertures at different times and scatter the light beam or emit fluorescent light at locations associated with the apertures; and producing image data associated with the particle flowing through the fluidic channel based on the encoded optical signal, in which the produced image data includes information of a physical characteristic of the particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yuanyuan Han
  • Publication number: 20210156788
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, devices, systems and applications for camera-less, high-throughput three-dimensional imaging of particles in motion. In some aspects, a system includes a particle motion device to allow particles to move along a travel path; an optical illumination system to produce an asymmetric illumination area of light in a region of the travel path of a particle that scans over a plurality of sections of the particle at multiple time points while the particle is moving; an optical detection system optically interfaced with the particle motion device to obtain optical signal data associated with different parts of the particle corresponding to the particle's volume during motion in the travel path; and a data processing unit to process the optical signal data obtained by the optical detection system and produce data including information indicative of 3D features of the particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa LO, Yuanyuan HAN
  • Patent number: 11016017
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices and methods for imaging and image-based sorting of particles in a flow system, including cells in a flow cytometer. In some aspects, a system includes a particle flow device to flow particles through a channel, an imaging system to obtain image data of a particle during flow through the channel, a processing unit to determine a property associated with the particle and to produce a control command for sorting the particle based on sorting criteria associated with particle properties, and an actuator to direct the particle into one of a plurality of output paths of the particle flow device in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Yu-Hwa Lo, Yuanyuan Han, Yi Gu, Ce Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210121685
    Abstract: Optoelectronic retinal prostheses transduce light into electrical current for neural stimulation. A novel optoelectronic pixel architecture is presented comprising a vertically integrated photo junction field-effect-transistor (Photo-JFET) and neural stimulating electrode. Experimental measurements demonstrate that optically addressed Photo-JFET pixels utilize phototransistive gain to produce a broad range of neural stimulation current and can effectively stimulate retinal neurons in vitro. The compact nature of the Photo-JFET pixel can enable high resolution retinal prostheses with a theoretical visual acuity ˜20/60 to help restore vision in patients with degenerative retinal diseases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Samir Damle, Yu-Hsin Liu, Nicholas W. Oesch, Yu-Hwa Lo