Microfluidic device with programmable switching elements
Inventors
Breinlinger, Keith J. • Sluis, Johannes Paul
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12220697-B2
Publication Date
2025-02-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
Microfluidic devices having a circuit substrate with a control unit, a switching mechanism associated with a dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrode, and a memory unit are described. Switching instructions may be received, stored, and retrieved by the control unit and used to control the DEP electrode via the switching mechanism. Systems comprising the described microfluidic devices and methods of controlling the described microfluidic devices are included herein.
Core Innovation
A microfluidic device is disclosed that includes a circuit substrate made of a semiconductor material and a chamber configured to contain a fluidic medium. The device includes a first electrode in electrical contact with the fluidic medium and a second electrode disposed to be electrically insulated from the fluidic medium, together with a plurality of dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrodes at different locations on or proximate to the circuit substrate surface, each disposed to be in electrical contact with the fluidic medium.
Each DEP electrode is coupled to the second electrode through a plurality of switch mechanisms, each switch mechanism being switchable between an OFF state in which the corresponding DEP electrode is electrically isolated from the second electrode and an ON state in which the corresponding DEP electrode is electrically connected with the second electrode. The device further includes a plurality of photosensitive elements and a plurality of control circuits, each control circuit operatively connected with a corresponding photosensitive element and corresponding one or more switch mechanisms.
Each photosensitive element generates an output signal comprising instructions for controlling the corresponding one or more switch mechanisms in response to a modulated light beam directed onto the corresponding photosensitive element. Each control circuit comprises or is associated with a memory, at least temporarily stores the output signal, and controls whether the corresponding one or more switch mechanisms is in the OFF state or the ON state for each time interval of a succession of time intervals based on the instructions in the stored output signal.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim recites three inventive features centered on a microfluidic device with DEP electrodes selectively switched to an insulated second electrode, together with photosensitive elements that convert modulated light into stored instruction signals used to set OFF/ON states per time interval. Dependent refinements further address timing/frequency relationships, CMOS transistors, photodiodes, and simultaneous modulated beamlets.
DEP electrode switching via switch mechanisms
A plurality of dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrodes at different locations on or proximate to the circuit substrate surface, each disposed to be in electrical contact with the fluidic medium; a plurality of switch mechanisms disposed between a corresponding one of said DEP electrodes and said second electrode, each switch mechanism switchable between an OFF state in which said corresponding DEP electrode is electrically isolated from said second electrode and an ON state in which said corresponding DEP electrode is electrically connected with said second electrode.
Instruction-bearing output from photosensitive elements
A plurality of photosensitive elements, wherein each corresponding one photosensitive element is configured to generate an output signal comprising instructions for controlling said corresponding one or more switch mechanisms in response to a modulated light beam directed onto said corresponding one photosensitive element.
Stored-in-memory control per time interval
A plurality of control circuits, each control circuit operatively connected with a corresponding one photosensitive element and a corresponding one or more switch mechanisms, wherein each control circuit comprises or is associated with a memory, each control circuit configured to receive said output signal from said corresponding one photosensitive element and at least temporarily store said output signal in said memory, and wherein each control circuit is configured to control whether said corresponding one or more switch mechanisms is in said OFF state or said ON state for each time interval of a succession of time intervals based on said instructions in said stored output signal.
Instruction timing controlled by system clock/timing and switching control
Control of OFF/ON switching is related to time interval succession with system clock/timing signal and switching control signal relationships, including that a switching control signal operates at a frequency lower than the frequency of the system clock/timing signal and that the system clock/timing signal frequency is an integer multiple of the switching control signal frequency.
Concrete circuit technologies for switching and sensing
Switch mechanisms are made of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors and/or photosensitive elements are made of photodiodes.
Simultaneous modulated beamlets directed to corresponding photosensitive elements
Multiple light emitting elements simultaneously produce multiple modulated light beamlets and direct them onto corresponding photosensitive elements within a given field of view on the circuit substrate surface where the light emitting device is positioned.
The claim coverage centers on the combination of DEP electrodes with switch mechanisms providing OFF/ON electrical isolation or connection to an insulated second electrode, together with photosensitive elements that generate instruction-bearing output signals from a modulated light beam. Control circuits store the output signals and drive OFF/ON switching for successive time intervals based on the stored instructions, with further refinements including timing relationships, CMOS/photodiode implementation, and simultaneous beamlet illumination.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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