Microfluidic modulating valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A valve, comprising:
- a housing that defines a cavity;
an inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity;
an outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity;
a fluid path within the cavity that extends between the inlet port and the outlet port, the fluid path having a cross-sectional area;
a diaphragm positioned in the cavity, at least part of the diaphragm defining at least part of the fluid path;
at least three electrodes for use in electrostatically actuating at least part of the diaphragm between at least three stable positions, wherein each stable position results in a different cross-sectional area of the fluid path, and wherein the different cross-sectional areas are sized such that fluid can flow between the inlet port and the outlet port in at least two of the stable positions;
wherein, in at least one of the stable positions, the diaphragm is in a generally planar configuration; and
wherein at least two of the three or more electrodes are fixed relative to the diaphragm and spaced side-by-side from one another in a lateral direction, and at least one of the at least three electrodes is fixed relative to the housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve is provided that can selectively change the size of a flow channel in a valve in order to modulate the fluid flow through the valve. In one illustrative embodiment, the valve includes a housing that defines a cavity, with an inlet and an outlet extending into the cavity. A diaphragm is positioned in the cavity, where at least part of the diaphragm defines at least part of the fluid path. One or more electrodes are fixed relative to the diaphragm, and one or more electrodes are fixed relative to the housing such that the diaphragm can be electrostatically actuated to modulate the fluid flow through the valve.
157 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A valve, comprising:
-
a housing that defines a cavity; an inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; an outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; a fluid path within the cavity that extends between the inlet port and the outlet port, the fluid path having a cross-sectional area; a diaphragm positioned in the cavity, at least part of the diaphragm defining at least part of the fluid path; at least three electrodes for use in electrostatically actuating at least part of the diaphragm between at least three stable positions, wherein each stable position results in a different cross-sectional area of the fluid path, and wherein the different cross-sectional areas are sized such that fluid can flow between the inlet port and the outlet port in at least two of the stable positions; wherein, in at least one of the stable positions, the diaphragm is in a generally planar configuration; and wherein at least two of the three or more electrodes are fixed relative to the diaphragm and spaced side-by-side from one another in a lateral direction, and at least one of the at least three electrodes is fixed relative to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 35)
-
-
17. A valve, comprising:
-
a housing that defines a cavity; an inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; an outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; a fluid path within the cavity that extends between the inlet port and the outlet port, the fluid path having a cross-sectional area; a diaphragm positioned in the cavity, at least part of the diaphragm defining at least part of the fluid path; and at least two independently controllable diaphragm electrodes fixed relative to the diaphragm; and at least one housing electrode fixed relative to the housing; the at least two diaphragm electrodes and the at least one housing electrode are configured such that when a sufficient voltage is applied between a first one of the diaphragm electrodes and the at least one housing electrode at least part of the diaphragm is actuated to provide a first cross-sectional area of the fluid path, and when a sufficient voltage is applied between a second one of the diaphragm electrodes and the at least one housing electrode at least part of the diaphragm is actuated to provide a second cross-sectional area of the fluid path; wherein the diaphragm assumes a generally planar configuration when no voltage is applied between the at least two diaphragm electrodes and the at least one housing electrode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 36)
-
-
27. A valve, comprising:
-
a housing that defines a cavity, wherein the cavity is at least partially defined by two opposing sides; an inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; an outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; a fluid path within the cavity that extends between the inlet port and the outlet port, the fluid path having a cross-sectional area; a diaphragm positioned in the cavity between the two opposing sides of the cavity, at least part of the diaphragm defining at least part of the fluid path; and at least two independently controllable diaphragm electrodes fixed relative to the diaphragm; at least one housing electrode fixed relative to the housing; the at least two diaphragm electrodes and the at least one housing electrode configured such that when a sufficient voltage is applied between a first one of the diaphragm electrodes and the at least one housing electrode at least part of the diaphragm corresponding to the first one of the diaphragm electrodes is actuated independently from the remainder of the diaphragm, and when a sufficient voltage is applied between a second one of the diaphragm electrodes and the at least one housing electrode at least part of the diaphragm corresponding to the second one of the diaphragm electrodes is actuated independently from the remainder of the diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
37. A valve, comprising:
-
a housing that defines a cavity; an inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; an outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; a fluid path within the cavity that extends between the inlet port and the outlet port, the fluid path having a cross-sectional area; a diaphragm positioned in the cavity, at least part of the diaphragm defining at least part of the fluid path; and at least two independently controllable diaphragm electrodes fixed relative to the diaphragm, wherein the at least two independently controllable diaphragm electrodes are spaced side-by side in a spacing direction along at least part of the diaphragm, and wherein the flow path extends normal or substantially normal to the spacing direction; at least one housing electrode fixed relative to the housing; and the at least two diaphragm electrodes and the at least one housing electrode are configured such that when a sufficient voltage is applied between a first one of the diaphragm electrodes and the at least one housing electrode at least part of the diaphragm is actuated to provide a first cross-sectional area of the fluid path, and when a sufficient voltage is applied between a second one of the diaphragm electrodes and the at least one housing electrode at least part of the diaphragm is actuated to provide a second cross-sectional area of the fluid path.
-
Specification