Active matrix device
An active matrix device is provided which includes N array elements arranged spatially in a sequence of first through Nth array elements (where N is an integer ≧2); the N array elements each including a write input for receiving a corresponding write input signal which controls operation of the array element, and a sense circuit for sensing a property of the array element and providing a sensor output based on the sensed property; and further including a manipulation circuit including logic circuitry connecting the sensor output from an nth array element in the sequence directly to the write input of an (n+1)th array element and configured to provide the write input signal to the write input of the (n+1)th array element based on the sensor output from the nth array element.
1. An active matrix device, comprising:
N array elements arranged spatially in a sequence of first through Nth array elements (where N is an integer ≧2);
the N array elements each including a write input for receiving a corresponding write input signal which controls operation of the array element, and a sense circuit for sensing a property of the array element and providing a sensor output based on the sensed property; and
a manipulation circuit including logic circuitry connecting the sensor output from an nth array element in the sequence directly to the write input of an (n+1)th array element and configured to provide the write input signal to the write input of the (n+1)th array element based on the sensor output from the nth array element.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the array elements is a hydrophobic cell having a surface of which the hydrophobicity is controlled by the application of the corresponding write input signal, and the property sensed by the sense circuits is a property associated with a droplet being present in the respective array element.
3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the property comprises an impedance of the droplet.
4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein upon the sensor output of the nth array element indicating the droplet is present in the nth array element, the logic circuitry is configured to provide the write input signal to the (n+1)th array element to change the hydrophobicity of the (n+1)th array element.
5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein when the droplet is initially present at the first array element the logic circuitry provides the write input signals to the remaining array elements in the sequence to cause the droplet to move along the sequence of array elements.
6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the logic circuitry is configured to sequentially provide the write input signals to the remaining array element in the sequence so that at any moment in time two or more adjacent array elements are in a state to receive or retain the droplet.
7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the manipulation circuit includes additional logic circuitry connecting the sensor output of the nth array element directly to the write input of the nth array element to return the nth array element to a previous status following a change in the sensor output of the nth array element.
8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the logic circuitry comprises an AND gate and an inverter associated with each of the array elements, the sensor output of an nth array element is connected to a first input of the AND gate associated with an (n+1)th array element and to an input of the inverter associated with the nth array element, and an output of the inverter associated with the (n+1)th array element is connected to a second input of the AND gate associated with the (n+1)th array element.
9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the logic circuitry comprises an AND gate, an OR gate and an inverter associated with each of the array elements, the sensor output of an nth array element is connected to a first input of an OR gate associated with an (n+1)th array element and to a second input of an OR gate associated with the nth array element, an output of the OR gate associated with the nth array element is connected to a first input of the AND gate associated with the nth array element, an input of the inverter associated with the nth array element is connected to the sensor output of the (n+2)th array element, an output of the inverter associated with the nth array element is connected to a second input of the AND gate associated with the nth array element, and an output of the AND gate associated with the nth array element is connected to the write input of the nth array element.
10. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the logic circuitry is configured to provide write input signals to the array elements in the sequence to cause a droplet to split among the array elements.
11. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the logic circuitry is configured to provide write input signals to the array elements in the sequence to cause droplets amongst the array elements to merge or mix.
12. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the logic circuitry is configured to provide write input signals to the array elements in the sequence to cause a droplet to be eluted from a reservoir.
13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the array elements include a reset input for initiating a reset operation.
14. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the array elements include a power down input for initiating a low power consumption state.
15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein a sensor output of an array element earlier in the sequence is coupled to a power down input of a subsequent array element in the sequence, a change in the sensor output of the array element earlier in the sequence causing the subsequent array element in the sequence to awake from the low power consumption state.
16. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising an additional array element spatially adjacent an nth array element in the sequence, and the manipulating circuit including additional logic circuitry configured to selectively provide write input signals to the (n+1)th array element and the additional array element in accordance with a predefined analysis function.
17. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the additional logic circuitry comprises a timer control circuit and the predefined analysis function incorporates a timeout condition.
18. The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first array element comprises an initialization circuit to initialize the write input of the first array element.
19. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sense circuit utilizes at least one of impedance sensing, optical sensing or thermal sensing to sense the property of the array element.
20. The device according to claim 2 , comprising multiple sets of the N array elements each including a corresponding manipulation circuit.
21. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the multiple sets of N array elements are arranged to effect control of multiple droplets simultaneously.
22. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the multiple sets of N array elements are arranged to effect control of a droplet which spatially extends over multiple array elements simultaneously.
23. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the multiple sets of N array elements are arranged to effect control of a droplet in series.