Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Tpo Displays Corporation

Chimei Innolux Corporation

Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited

Tpo Hong Kong Holding Limited

David Andrew Fish

Jason Roderick Hector

Mark Johnathan Childs

Nigel David Young

Mark Thomas Johnson

Steven Charles Deane

Alan G Knapp

Andrea Giraldo

Roel Van Woudenberg

Ian D French

Nijs Cornelis Van Der Vaart

Jurgen J L Hoppenbrouwers

Mark Jonathan Childs

John M Shannon

Adrianus Sempel

Neil C Bird

Antonius Maria Rijken

Gerben Johan Hekstra

Franciscus P M Budzelaar

Peter Douglas Fairley

Jay Patel

Estelle Julie Dorothee Bernhard-Fichet

Herbert Lifka

Franciscus Johannes Gerardus Hakkens

Lucas Johannes Anna Maria Beckers

Sotir Filipov Ouzounov

Wouter Oepts

John R Hughes

Marc Wilhelmus Gijsbert Ponjee

Steven Paul White

Emil Dimitrov Totev

William A Steer

Gerardus Johannus Jacobus Maria Arnoldussen

Alan G Kanpp

Gerben J Hekstra

Mark T Johnson

An ultrasound imaging system has an array of ultrasound transducers comprising a set of sub-arrays of transducers. Each transducer () has an analogue buffer (). Each sub-array of transducers has a signal path () from within the array of ultrasound transducers to outside the array of ultrasound transducers which comprises one or more hops between the buffers (). To reduce the signal line length from inside the array of ultrasound transducers to the periphery, at least some multiple hops between buffers () are provided. Each buffer hop introduces a delay, but prevents signal degradation so that a large number of analog signals can be transmitted across the large area ASIC of the transducer array.

Ultrasound imaging system and method

An ultrasound probe including a probe body having a mounting area and a flexible lip around said mounting area for sealing a space between the mounting area and a subject contacted by the ultrasound probe; and a number of ultrasound transducer elements mounted in the mounting area. The probe body further includes an inlet to said space and an outlet from said space for facilitating a fluid flow through said space when sealed. Also included are an ultrasound system including such an ultrasound probe and a method of subjecting a subject to ultrasound waves generated with such an ultrasound probe.

Coolable ultrasound probe and ultrasound system

A pliable cover adapted to cover an active area of an ultrasound probe is described. The ultrasound probe includes a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements. The pliable cover includes a polymer layer that holds a coupling agent () that couples the ultrasound transducer elements to a body surface and a regular pattern of channels extending through the pliable cover. An ultrasound probe arrangement is also described and includes the pliable cover. An ultrasound system including the ultrasound probe arrangement, and a method of positioning the ultrasound probe in a region of a body are also described.

Ultrasonic head comprising a pliable cover with a regular pattern of apertures

An active matrix array of electroactive polymer actuators () is provided, each electroactive polymer actuator () having a switching arrangement (). The switching arrangement comprises an input which is connected to a respective data line () and an output which is connected to a first terminal of the associated electroactive polymer actuator (), wherein a second terminal of each electroactive polymer actuator is connected to a control line (). A driver provides drive signals which comprise at least first and second drive levels for application to the data lines and third and fourth drive levels for application to the control line. Use is made of of common electrode driving (i.e. the control line driving) to enable low transistor control voltages to be used to switch larger voltages across the electroactive polymer actuators.

Actuator device based on an electroactive polymer

An active matrix array of electroactive polymer actuators is provided, each electroactive polymer actuator having a switching arrangement. The switching arrangement comprises a first circuit () connected to a first terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator, for selectively driving the first terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator to ground or connecting it to an open circuit. A second circuit () is connected to a second terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator, for selectively driving the second terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator to ground or connecting it to an open circuit. Furthermore, a pull-up component () is permanently connected between a drive voltage and the first terminal of the electroactive polymer generator. By controlling both terminals of the electroactive polymer actuator, it is possible to reduce static power consumption, at least when no voltage is to be stored across the electroactive polymer actuator.

Arrangements are disclosed for measuring small electrical currents with high sensitivity, for example in the context of sensing molecular entities, for example via interactions between the molecular entities and a membrane protein inserted in an amphiphilic membrane. In one arrangement there is provided a current sensing circuit () configured to integrate the current output by a sensor element () during each of a plurality of sensing frames (). In each sensing frame () first and second analogue samples of the integral are taken during first and second time windows (). A readout circuit () processes the first and second analogue samples to output a digital output signal representing the current output by the sensor element (). The processing comprises analogue to digital conversion processing and output processing. The output processing is performed exclusively during periods outside of the first and second time windows.

Apparatus and methods for measuring an electrical current

An actuator device comprises an active matrix array of rows and columns of electroactive polymer actuators, each electroactive polymer actuator having a switching circuit. The switching circuit has a drive transistor and a capacitor arrangement. The capacitor arrangement is charged to a voltage derived from a drive voltage for the electroactive polymer actuator combined with a voltage derived from the drive transistor threshold voltage. During this programming of the capacitor arrangement, the EAP actuator is isolated from any current flowing. The switching circuit enables compensation for age-related changes in the threshold voltage. Thus, a low performance (i.e. with poor threshold voltage stability) transistor may be used, with measurement of the threshold voltage of the current-providing TFT once per frame time (or once per multiple frame times) to compensate for the aging effect.

The present invention provides a device for DNA sequencing, comprising DNA base calling at an early stage in the detection and processing of time controlled fluorescence detection for DNA sequencing applications.

Device for time controlled fluorescence detection

A delivery device () includes a source () of pressurized fluid and a nozzle () which defines an outlet (). A fluid pathway () fluidly connects the source of pressurized fluid with the nozzle outlet () for delivery of a spray of fluid from the nozzle outlet. A delivery mechanism () releases a dose () of particles () into the fluid pathway from an associated cartridge (), such that the dose of the particles is carried by the pressurized fluid through the nozzle outlet in the spray. The particles include a dental care agent.

Device for delivery of a tooth whitening agent

The appliance includes a brushhead having conductive fiber bristles by which a potential is applied to electrochemically activate a teeth whitening substance, such as peroxide, in the vicinity of the teeth. An impedance appliance system () or an optical appliance system () provides information concerning whether the conductive fiber bristles are adjacent a tooth surface or gum region. The impedance system uses an electrical signal through the fiber to determine the impedance of a circuit which includes the tooth or gum surface, the impedance being different, depending on whether a tooth or gum surface is in the circuit. The optical system generates a light beam which is directed to the mouth surface through a conductive fiber, the color of the returning light indicating whether the surface is a tooth or gum region. If a tooth is determined, the teeth whitening substance is activated at that bristle, while if gum tissue is determined, the teeth whitening substance is not activated at that bristle.

System for protection of soft tissues against a teeth whitening substance

The present invention relates to a device and detector for monitoring a plurality of discrete fluorescence signals, in particular for DNA sequencing by use of fluorescently labeled nucleotides. The particular detector () is proposed comprising a plurality of pixels () for individually detecting said fluorescence signals from the plurality of fluorescent signal sources (), wherein each pixel () comprises a predetermined number of at least two detection elements (D, Dn) for detecting a received fluorescent signal and for generating detection signals. Further, a signal conversion circuit () is provide for receiving said detection signals from said at least two detection elements (D, Dn) and for generating a pixel output signal indicating which of said at least two detection elements (D, Dn) generated the strongest detection signal.

Device for monitoring a plurality of discrete fluorescence signals

An active matrix LED display has a light-dependent device for detecting the brightness of the display element and threshold voltage measurement circuitry for measuring a threshold voltage of a pixel the drive transistor. Compensation for ageing of the display element is thus provided by an optical feedback path, and compensation for drive transistor threshold variations is provided by measurement of the threshold voltage. This provides a reliable compensation scheme for the threshold voltage variations, while also providing ageing compensation.

Active matrix display device compensating for ageing of the display element and variations in drive transistor threshold voltage

A method is provided of determining the pixel drive signals to be applied to the pixels of an array of light emitting display elements arranged in rows and columns, with a plurality of the pixels in a row being supplied with current simultaneously along a respective row conductor. Target pixel drive currents are determined from a model of the pixel current-brightness characteristics. These are modified to take account of the voltage on the respective row conductor at each pixel resulting from the currents drawn from the row conductor by the plurality of pixels and the dependency of the pixel brightness characteristics on the voltage on the row conductor at the pixel. This addresses the problem of horizontal cross-talk that occurs in active matrix LED displays due to the finite output impedance of the current providing TFTs as well as the finite resistance of metals used to form power supply lines.

Light emitting display devices

The invention relates to different designs of a microelectronic device comprising an array of heating elements (HE) with local driving units (CU) and optionally with an array of sensor elements (SE) adjacent to a sample chamber (SC). By applying appropriate currents to the heating elements (HE), the sample chamber can be heated according to a desired temperature profile. The local driving units comprise means for compensating variations of their individual characteristics.

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Haywards Heath, United Kingdom

David Andrew Fish