Device for forming, transporting and diffusing small calibrated amounts of liquid
First Claim
1. A device for diffusing calibrated small volumes or drops of at least one liquid, comprising:
- at least one displacement path for the liquid defined by a series of pairs of close-together surfaces constructed and arranged to enable the liquid to be retained and to be moved from one pair of surfaces to another; and
means for applying an electric field between the pairs of surfaces in order to move the liquid from one pair of surfaces to another;
wherein;
the series of pairs of close-together surfaces defining at least one displacement path co-operate to store the liquid, to form drops of liquid, and to move liquid drops to an outlet from said path leading towards a drop destination site; and
the means for applying an electric field applies a predetermined sequence of electric fields between the pairs of close-together surfaces so as to form drops of liquid from the liquid storage and so as to move the drops to the drop outlet of said path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for diffusing drops of at least one liquid, the device being of the type comprising at least one liquid displacement path defined by a series of pairs of close-together surfaces (4a, 6a, . . . , 14a) enabling liquid to be retained and to be displaced from one pair of surfaces to another. The device comprises:
both a series of pairs of close-together surfaces (4a, 6a, . . . , 14a) defining at least one displacement path, and co-operating to store the liquid, to form drops of liquid, and to move liquid drops to an outlet from said path leading towards a drop destination site; and
electric field application means applying a determined sequence of electric fields between the pairs of close-together surfaces so as to form drops of liquid from the liquid storage, and to move and mix the drops of liquid to the drop outlet of said path.
127 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A device for diffusing calibrated small volumes or drops of at least one liquid, comprising:
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at least one displacement path for the liquid defined by a series of pairs of close-together surfaces constructed and arranged to enable the liquid to be retained and to be moved from one pair of surfaces to another; and
means for applying an electric field between the pairs of surfaces in order to move the liquid from one pair of surfaces to another;
wherein;
the series of pairs of close-together surfaces defining at least one displacement path co-operate to store the liquid, to form drops of liquid, and to move liquid drops to an outlet from said path leading towards a drop destination site; and
the means for applying an electric field applies a predetermined sequence of electric fields between the pairs of close-together surfaces so as to form drops of liquid from the liquid storage and so as to move the drops to the drop outlet of said path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
at least one device for forming, moving, and diffusing drops according to claim 1;
control electronics for generating electrical potentials for delivering control signals in programmable manner to the means for applying an electric field;
at least one reservoir of liquid to be diffused; and
an electrical power supply source.
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26. An assembly according to claim 25, wherein the package is substantially planar, having the format of a smart card or credit card.
Specification