Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Diego Gallardo

Yasuhiro Sugita

Christopher James Brown

Andrew Kay

Benjamin John Broughton

Hywel Hopkin

Valerie Berryman-Bousquet

Matthias Kauer

Edward David Heywood-Lonsdale

James Andrew Robert Dimmock

Sean Thomas George Maguire

Biregeya Jean De Dieu Mugiraneza

A unit cell for use in an optical active pixel sensor (APS) includes a photodiode having a first terminal connected to a photodiode biasing PDB line, and a second terminal opposite from the first terminal; a reset switch transistor having a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the photodiode, and a second terminal connected to a reference voltage line, and a gate of the reset switch transistor is connected to a reset signal RST supply line; and an amplification transistor having a first terminal connected to an output readout line, and a second terminal connected to a driving voltage supply line, and a gate of the amplification transistor is connected to a node constituting the connection of the second terminal of the photodiode and the first terminal of the reset switch transistor. An optical APS device includes a sensor matrix formed of a plurality of unit cells according to any of the embodiments arranged in an array of rows and columns.

Optical active pixel sensor using TFT pixel circuit

A shape sensor employs light guide technology to determine curvature of a flexible substrate to which the shape sensor is applied. The shape sensor includes a flexible two-dimensional lattice of first light guides that extend in a first direction and second light guides that extend in a second direction that intersects with the first direction. The light guides include a core having a refractive index that is greater than a refractive index of a cladding material in which the light guides are embedded, and intersect at intersecting core regions at which crosstalk of light travel occurs between the first light guides and the second light guides. A controller transmits excitation control signals to light sources of the light guides and reads output signals from photodetectors. The controller further determines a curvature of the shape sensor based on the output signals read from the photodetectors.

Optical shape sensor for determining shape of a flexible substrate

A shape sensor is used to determine the shape configuration of a flexible substrate. The shape sensor includes a matrix of coils with a first subset of coils and a second subset of coils; and a controller coupled to the matrix of coils, wherein the controller is configured to generate and transmit an excitation signal to the first subset of coils and measure, on the second subset of coils, an induced signal, and wherein, the controller is configured to determine a spatial configuration of the second subset of coils relative to the first subset of coils based on the induced signal. The shape sensor may be incorporated into a flexible display system so as to determine the degree or state of flexing of the flexible display system.

System for determining shape of flexible display device

A switchable reflective colour filter is provided for use in a display device. The switchable reflective colour filter includes a plurality of sub-pixel regions of at least two colour types, each including a layer of phase change material which is switchable between a first state and a second state, the first and second states being two solid but structurally distinct states having different optical properties. Each sub-pixel region further includes two electrode layers, a mirror layer, and a spacer layer or air gap. The phase change material layer in each sub-pixel region is positioned between the two electrode layers, and separated from the mirror layer by the spacer layer or air gap. The switchable reflective colour filter may be incorporated into a display device including a pixelated switchable absorber. A luminance of coloured light reflected from any of the sub-pixel regions is controllably attenuated by the pixelated switchable absorber.

Solid state reflective display

A capacitive touch panel that improves detection of non-conductive objects includes a substrate; a first drive line; a first and second sense line disposed on the substrate; a first plurality of electrode elements, each electrode element of the first plurality of electrode elements is coupled to the first drive line, and the first plurality of electrode elements includes a first drive element; a second plurality of electrode elements, each electrode element of the second plurality of electrode elements is coupled to the first sense line, and the second plurality of electrode elements includes a first sense element disposed adjacent to the drive element; and a third plurality of electrode, each electrode element of the third plurality of electrode elements is coupled to the second sense line, and the third plurality of sensor elements includes a second sense element disposed in a nearest neighbor position relative to the first drive element.

Reduced line count touch panel for mutual capacitance measurements

A touch panel includes a. plurality of electrodes arranged in an electrode array, wherein the plurality of electrodes includes a plurality of touch panel elements. A controller is configured to measure a charge that flows into or out of an electrode of the electrode array when the electrode is charged or discharged to a particular voltage, and configured to connect neighboring electrodes in the electrode array to a reference potential and to a voltage waveform. A sensing system makes a first measurement of the charge flowing into or out of the electrode while a set of neighboring electrodes are driven with the voltage waveform, and makes a second measurement while the set of neighboring electrodes are connected to the reference potential. The controller further is configured to distinguish conductive from non-conductive objects, based on a comparison of the two measurements.

Capacitive touch sensing with conductivity type determination

An electrode array device has integrated programming circuitry within the unit cells for stable connection of individual electrode elements of the unit cells to one or more control signal lines. An array of unit cells are arranged in a two-dimensional array of rows and columns. Each unit cell includes an individual electrode element that is electrically connectable to at least one function line, and programming circuitry that is integrated into the unit cell and is operable to place the unit cell in a plurality of connection states corresponding to different states of electrical connection or disconnection to the at least one function line. The unit cells are individually selectable for programming and operation in one of the plurality of connection states. The programming circuitry includes storage elements and electronic switches that are operable to place the unit cells in different connection states.

Programmable active matrix of electrodes

An integrated touchscreen comprises display pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix of rows and columns to minimize the reduction in aperture ratio of the display pixels. A matrix of touch element is defined in the display pixels, with a touch unit cell encompassing a group of display pixels. A touch element is comprised of a matrix of touch unit cells. The common electrodes of the display pixels encompassed in the touch element are electrically connected together to form a common electrode for the touch element. The touch unit cell includes conductive lines extending in the row direction and conductive lines extending in the column direction. The touchscreen comprises a controller that can operate in either one of a self-capacitance touch sensing mode and a mutual-capacitance touch sensing mode.

Integrated active matrix touch panel

A ballistic carrier spectral sensor includes a photon absorption region to generate photo-generated carriers from incident light; a first potential barrier region adjacent the photon absorption region and having an adjustable height defining a minimum energy of the photo-generated carriers required to pass therethrough; a second potential barrier region having an adjustable height defining a minimum energy of the photo-generated carriers required to pass therethrough; a spillage well region disposed between the first potential barrier region and the second potential barrier region and configured to collect photo-generated carriers having an energy lower than that required to pass through the second potential barrier region; and a collection region adjacent the second potential barrier region and configured to collect carriers that cross the second potential barrier region. A total thickness of the first potential barrier region and the spillage well region is less than a mean free path of the photo-generated carriers.

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Oxford, United Kingdom

Diego Gallardo