Droplet Actuators, Systems and Methods
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Accused Products
Abstract
A droplet actuator with arrays of electrodes electrically coupled to a number of controllable voltage sources that is less than the number of electrodes. A method of defining partitions for pin layouts in a droplet actuator for a specific assay, the method including: defining droplet traces for the assay; and defining a guard ring along the traces. Other methods, systems, droplet actuators, and algorithms are also provided.
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Citations
133 Claims
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1-88. -88. (canceled)
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89. A method of defining partitions for pin layouts in a droplet actuator for a specific assay, the method comprising:
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(a) defining droplet traces for the assay; and (b) defining a guard ring along the traces. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
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99. A method for performing one or more droplet operations using an electrical field generated by a droplet actuator having a plurality of control pins used to electrically actuate a plurality of electrodes configured to communicate the electrical field to the droplet, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving a plurality of respective activation sequences for each electrode of the plurality electrodes; (b) identifying a compatible activation sequence that is compatible with the plurality of respective activation sequences by logically manipulating a signal value used to determine a status of an electrode at a given time-step of the respective activation sequence of the electrode; (c) communicating the compatible activation sequence to the plurality of electrodes using a common control pin of the plurality of control pins; and (d) performing one or more droplet operations according to the compatible activation sequence.
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100. A droplet actuator for performing one or more droplet operations using an electrical field, the method comprising:
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(a) a plurality of electrodes configured to communicate the electrical field to the droplet; (b) a plurality of control pins used to electrically actuate the plurality of electrodes; and (c) a processor in communication with both the plurality of electrodes and control pins and configured to receive a plurality of respective activation sequences for each electrode of a plurality electrodes, to automatically identify based on the received activation sequences a compatible activation sequence that is compatible with the plurality of respective activation sequences, to communicate the compatible activation sequence to the plurality of electrodes using a common control pin of a plurality of control pins, and to perform droplet operations according to the compatible activation sequence.
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101-114. -114. (canceled)
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115. A method of performing one or more droplet operations using an electrical field generated by a droplet actuator having rows and columns corresponding to electrodes configured to communicate the electrical field to the droplet, the method comprising:
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(a) logically grouping a plurality of droplets into first and second groups; and (b) concurrently moving a plurality of droplets of the first group, while a droplet of the second group is stationary.
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116-131. -131. (canceled)
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132. A droplet actuator for performing one or more droplet operations using an electrical field, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of electrodes arranged in rows and columns and configured to communicate the electrical field to the droplet; and (b) a processor in communication with the plurality of electrodes and configured to logically group a plurality of droplets into first and second groups, and to concurrently initiate movement of a plurality of droplets in the first group, while a droplet of a second group is stationary.
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133-148. -148. (canceled)
Specification