Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100177172 | STEREOSCOPIC SCREEN SHARING METHOD AND APPARATUS - Apparatus, systems and methods of providing respective video signals to at least two viewers using a common display are disclosed. An image from a first video signal corresponding to a left perspective of a scene and an image from a second video signal corresponding to a right perspective of the scene are alternately displayed with the display. A first shuttered filter is synchronized to the display such that the first filter is shuttered when the left perspective image is displayed and a second shuttered filter is synchronized to the display such that the second filter is shuttered when the right perspective image is displayed, thereby alternately providing left and right perspective images for perception as a 3D images. In addition, display of one or more images from an additional video signal on the display is synchronized with shuttering of one or more additional shuttered filters. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177174 | 3D SHUTTER GLASSES WITH MODE SWITCHING BASED ON ORIENTATION TO DISPLAY DEVICE - A shuttered filter apparatus comprises a frame, one or more shuttered filters attached to the frame, and a tracker attached to the frame. Each shuttered filter is configured to selectively prevent a viewer from seeing through the filter in response to a signal from a controller. The tracker is configured to sense an orientation of the one or more shuttered filters relative to a video screen. The controller may use a signal from the tracker indicative of an orientation of the shutter filter(s) relative to enable shuttering when the shuttered filter apparatus is facing toward the video screen and disable shuttering when the shuttered filter apparatus is facing away from the video screen. | 07-15-2010 |
20100182407 | DISPLAY DEVICE WITH 3D SHUTTER CONTROL UNIT - A system for providing respective video signals to at least two viewers is disclosed. The system includes a control unit; and a display connected to the control unit. The control unit is operable to control the display to alternately display an image from a first video signal and an image from a second video signal, to synchronize a first shuttered filter to the display such that the first filter is shuttered when the second video signal image is displayed, and to synchronize a second shuttered filter to the display such that the second filter is shuttered when the first video signal image is displayed. In this way only the first video signal image is provided to a first viewer using the first shuttered filter and only the second video signal image is provided to a second viewer using the second shuttered filter. | 07-22-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140090981 | FLOW CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUSES - Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to the flow of analytes, particles or other materials. As consistent with one or more embodiments described herein, an apparatus includes a membrane having one or more pores in a membrane. First and second electrodes facilitate electrophoretic flow of analytes through the pore, and a third electrode controls movement of the particles in the pore by modulating the shape of an electric double layer adjacent sidewalls of pore. This modulation controls the strength of an electroosmotic field that opposes the electrophoretic flow of the analytes via the pore | 04-03-2014 |
20140174928 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR FILTERING WATER FLUID BY SCREENING IONIC MINERALS - Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatus and methods method for filtering water fluid by screening ionic minerals including sodium chloride from the water fluid. In one embodiment, the water fluid is passed into a work zone defined at least in part by oppositely-arranged first and second porous structures, each of which have a plurality of gated channels. The water fluid is processed in the work zone by applying respective electric voltages to electrically bias the first porous structure and the second porous structure. The respective electric voltages deplete sodium chloride ions in the water fluid in the work zone due to ion-flux continuity. In response to processing of the water fluid, ion-filtered water is collected from the work zone. | 06-26-2014 |
20160003798 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING ANALYTE CHARGE - The present disclosure provides a sensor including a pore and an applied electric field that is capable of detecting analytes such as nucleic acids. In accordance with various embodiments, the sensor comprises a fluidic chamber having electrically opposing portions with a membrane between, the membrane providing a pore suitable for the passage of an electrolyte between the electrically opposing portions of the fluidic chamber, and having at least one charged analyte tethered in proximity to the pore, a first circuit configured to apply an electric field capable of passing the electrolyte through the pore and pulling the at least one charged analyte into the pore, and a second circuit configured to measure a signal indicative of the charge of the at least one charged analyte. Also provided are methods for using the sensor, for example, to sequence a nucleic acid molecule. | 01-07-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100143963 | Modular Droplet Actuator Drive - The invention provides a droplet actuator drive. In certain embodiments, the droplet actuator drive may include a detection apparatus for sensing a property of a droplet on a droplet actuator; circuitry for controlling the detection apparatus electronically coupled to the detection apparatus; a droplet actuator cartridge connector; circuitry for controlling a droplet actuator coupled to the droplet actuator connector; and/or a means for coupling the droplet actuator circuitry to a processor. Systems, kits and methods of conducting assays are also provided. | 06-10-2010 |
20100270156 | Droplet Actuator Configurations and Methods of Conducting Droplet Operations - A droplet actuator with a droplet formation electrode configuration associated with a droplet operations surface, wherein the electrode configuration comprises one or more electrodes configured to control volume of a droplet during formation of a sub-droplet on the droplet operations surface. Methods of making and using the droplet actuator are also provided. | 10-28-2010 |
20100282609 | Reagent Storage and Reconstitution for a Droplet Actuator - On-board reagent storage, handling, and dispensing apparatuses and methods for droplet actuator systems are provided. In one embodiment, a fluidic analyzer is provided and includes a droplet actuator including a substrate including a plurality of electrodes configured to actuate a droplet and a reagent storage component in selective fluid communication with the droplet actuator and including a reagent configured to combine with a solvent at a time of use. In another embodiment, a method of conducting fluidic analysis is provided and includes storing a reagent within a reagent storage component in fluid communication with a droplet actuator including a plurality of electrodes configured to actuate a droplet and combining the reagent with a solvent at a time for use within the droplet actuator. | 11-11-2010 |
20110086377 | Bead Manipulations on a Droplet Actuator - A droplet actuator comprising: (a) a base substrate comprising electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations on a droplet operations surface thereof; (b) a droplet comprising one or more beads situated on the droplet operations surface; (c) a barrier arranged in relation to the droplet and the electrodes such that a droplet may be transported away from the beads using one or more droplet operations mediated by one or more of the electrodes while transport of the beads is restrained by a barrier. Related methods and kits are also provided. | 04-14-2011 |
20130233712 | Method of Manipulating a Droplet - A method of manipulating a droplet comprising providing a substrate comprising a surface; an elongated transport electrode disposed on the substrate surface, the elongated transport electrode having a first and a second end and configured to impart a gradient force to the droplet; and one or more wires for providing power to the transport electrode; and providing power to the one or more wires to effect the gradient force and thereby transport the droplet along the length of the elongated transport electrode from the first end to the second end. | 09-12-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100129872 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOVEMENT AND POSITIONING OF REACTION MIXTURE DURING NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION - A system for accurately positioning a reaction mixture during amplification of a nucleic acid includes a reaction vessel that contains the reaction mixture, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and a pump assembly. The reaction vessel can include .a first zone and a second zone. The first heat exchanger is positioned near the first zone, and the second heat exchanger positioned near the second zone. The first heat exchanger adjusts the temperature of the reaction mixture so the reaction mixture is at a first temperature when the reaction mixture is in the first zone. The second heat exchanger adjusts the temperature of the reaction mixture so the reaction mixture is at a second temperature. The pump assembly adjusts the pressure within the reaction vessel to selectively position the reaction mixture relative to the first zone and the second zone during amplification. The system can include a sensor that monitors the position of the reaction mixture within the reaction vessel. The system can also include a second pump that cooperates with the pump assembly to adjust the position of the reaction mixture within the reaction vessel. | 05-27-2010 |
20110100823 | Droplet-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Apparatus and System - The present invention relates to a droplet-based nucleic acid amplification apparatus and system. According to one embodiment, a droplet microactuator is provided made using a first substrate including a fluorescing material and including a detection region for detecting a fluorescence signal from a droplet, which detection region is coated with a light absorbing, low fluorescence or non-fluorescing material. | 05-05-2011 |
20130092539 | DROPLET-BASED NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS - Aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a simulator including a visual display capable of outputting to a user a display one or more effects of a command series selected and a system including a droplet microactuator electronically coupled to and controlled by a processor capable of executing instructions, the droplet microactuator including a substrate comprising electrodes for conducting droplet operations. Further aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a droplet operations troubleshooting apparatus. Other aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a computer implemented method of displaying simulated microactuator droplets. | 04-18-2013 |
20130293246 | Capacitance Detection in a Droplet Actuator - The embodiments described herein provide methods of measuring capacitance, detecting a droplet at a position, determining a thickness of an oil film and determining temperature in a droplet actuator. Specifically, the capacitance detection method may be used as a real-time verification tool in order to detect the absence, presence, and/or partial presence of a droplet at an electrode, analyze droplet properties, measure droplet size or volume, optimize the speed of droplet operation and detect air bubbles. | 11-07-2013 |
20140231259 | Filler Fluids for Droplet Operations - The present invention relates to filler fluids for droplet operations. According to one embodiment of this aspect, a droplet microactuator including an opaque filler fluid and a transparent droplet thereon is provided. The droplet microactuator may further include a first substrate comprising electrodes configured to effect electrowetting mediated droplet operations on a surface of the first substrate; a second substrate spaced apart from the surface of the first substrate by a distance sufficient to define an interior volume between the first substrate and second substrate; and wherein the droplet and the filler fluid are in the interior volume, and wherein the droplet is surrounded by the filler fluid and arranged with respect to the electrodes in a manner which permits electrowetting mediated droplet operations to be effected on the droplet using the electrodes. | 08-21-2014 |
20140332380 | Capacitance Detection in a Droplet Actuator - A method, circuit and apparatus for detecting capacitance on a droplet actuator, inter alia, for determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at an electrode on a droplet actuator by: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; (b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode. | 11-13-2014 |
20150174577 | Filler Fluids for Droplet Operations - The present invention relates to filler fluids for droplet operations. According to one embodiment of this aspect, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a first substrate comprising electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (b) a second substrate spaced from the surface of the substrate by a distance sufficient to define an interior volume between the first substrate and second substrate, wherein the distance is sufficient to contain a droplet disposed in the space on the first substrate; and (c) a droplet arranged in the interior volume and arranged with respect to the electrodes in a manner which permits droplet operations to be effected on the droplet using the electrodes. | 06-25-2015 |
20150174578 | Droplet Actuator Configurations and Methods of Conducting Droplet Operations - A droplet actuator with a droplet formation electrode configuration associated with a droplet operations surface, wherein the electrode configuration comprises one or more electrodes configured to control volume of a droplet during formation of a sub-droplet on the droplet operations surface. Methods of making and using the droplet actuator are also provided. | 06-25-2015 |
20160096174 | Capacitance Detection in a Droplet Actuator - A method, circuit and apparatus for detecting capacitance on a droplet actuator, inter alia, for determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at an electrode on a droplet actuator by: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; (b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode. | 04-07-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090242125 | Carrier Head Membrane - A method and apparatus for planarizing a substrate are provided. A substrate carrier head with an improved cover for holding the substrate securely is provided. The cover may have a bead that is larger than the recess into which it fits, such that the compression forms a conformal seal inside the recess. The bead may also be left uncoated to enhance adhesion of the bead to the surface of the groove. The surface of the cover may be roughened to reduce adhesion of the substrate to the cover without using a non-stick coating. | 10-01-2009 |
20100173566 | Carrier Head Membrane Roughness to Control Polishing Rate - An apparatus comprises a flexible membrane for use with a carrier head of a substrate chemical mechanical polishing apparatus. The membrane comprises an outer surface providing a substrate receiving surface, wherein the outer surface has a central portion and an edge portion surrounding the central portion, wherein the central portion has a first surface roughness and the edge portion has a second surface roughness, the first surface roughness being greater than the second surface roughness. | 07-08-2010 |
20100311311 | Carrier Head Membrane - A flexible membrane includes a horizontal central portion, a vertical portion coupled to the central portion, a thick rim portion coupled to the vertical portion, and an extension coupled to the thick rim portion. An outer surface of the horizontal central portion provides a mounting surface configured to receive a substrate. The thick rim portion has a thickness that is greater than a portion directly adjacent to the thick rim portion. The thick rim portion is between the extension and the vertical portion and a greatest dimension of the extension is less than the thickness of the thick rim portion. | 12-09-2010 |
20100330879 | LEAK PROOF PAD FOR CMP ENDPOINT DETECTION - In one aspect, a polishing pad includes a homogeneous unitary polishing layer having a polishing surface, an opposed bottom surface, a recess in the polishing surface extending partially but not entirely through the polishing layer, and a solid light-transmissive window is secured in the recess. In another aspect, a polishing pad includes a polishing layer having a polishing surface, and the polishing surface includes a first region having a first plurality of grooves with a first depth extending partially but not entirely through the polishing layer and a second region surrounded by the first region and having a second plurality of grooves with a second depth extending partially but not entirely through the polishing layer, the second depth greater than the first depth. | 12-30-2010 |
20120264360 | Carrier Head With Shims - A carrier head includes a base, a substrate mounting surface, a retaining ring secured to the base, and a plurality of stacked shims located between the base and the retaining ring. The retaining ring has a bottom surface for contacting a polishing pad during polishing. | 10-18-2012 |
20130035022 | Two-Part Plastic Retaining Ring - A retaining ring includes a generally annular lower portion and a generally annular upper portion. The lower portion has a bottom surface for contacting a polishing pad during polishing and a top surface. The upper portion has a bottom surface secured to the top surface of the lower portion and a top surface configured to be mechanically affixed to and abut a rigid base of a carrier head. The lower portion is a first plastic, and the upper portion is a different second plastic that is about the same or more rigid than the first plastic. | 02-07-2013 |
20130324017 | TWO-PART RETAINING RING WITH INTERLOCK FEATURES - A retaining ring includes an annular lower portion and an annular upper portion. The annular lower portion has a main body with a bottom surface for contacting a polishing pad during polishing, an inner rim projecting upward from the main body, an outer rim projecting upward from the main body and separated from the inner rim by a gap, and a plurality of azimuthally separated interlock features positioned between the inner rim and the outer rim, each interlock feature projecting upwardly from the main body. The annular upper portion has a top surface and a bottom surface and a plurality of azimuthally separated recesses in the bottom surface, the recesses defining thin portions of the upper portion, the plurality of interlock features fitting into the plurality of recesses. The lower portion is a plastic and the upper portion is a material that is more rigid than the plastic. | 12-05-2013 |
20140273776 | REINFORCEMENT RING FOR CARRIER HEAD - A reinforcement ring is for placement in a carrier head to abut an inner surface of a perimeter portion of a flexible membrane. The reinforcement ring includes a substantially vertical cylindrical portion, a first flange projecting inwardly from the bottom of the cylindrical portion, and a second flange projecting outwardly from a bottom of the cylindrical portion. The second flange projects downwardly at a non-zero angle from vertical. | 09-18-2014 |
20140287662 | RETAINING RING WITH ATTACHABLE SEGMENTS - A retaining ring includes a generally annular upper portion having a top surface configured to be connected to a base of a carrier head and a lower surface, and a plurality of substantially identical arcuate segments detachably secured to the upper portion to form an annular lower portion. Each of the arcuate segments has an upper surface that abuts the lower surface of the upper portion and a bottom surface for contacting a polishing pad during polishing. | 09-25-2014 |