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Valveless liquid microswitch

  • US 5,726,404 A
  • Filed: 05/31/1996
  • Issued: 03/10/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A liquid microswitch comprising:

  • a first, a second and a third microchannel, each having a junction end and a port end, said first, second and third microchannels joined at said junction ends to form a first junction;

    a first, a second and a third liquid reservoir, attached to the port ends of said first, second and third microchannels, respectively;

    a pressure control means for applying a first driving pressure, P1, a second driving pressure, P2, and a third driving pressure, P3, to said first, second and third liquid reservoirs, respectively, wherein, in a first switching state, P1 is greater than or less than P2, and P3 is approximately equal to PJ, the pressure at said first junction; and

    a switching means, connected to said pressure control means, for switching said first, second or third driving pressure to a second switching state, wherein P1 '"'"' is greater than or less than P3 '"'"', and P2 '"'"' is approximately equal to PJ '"'"'.

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