Dynamically configurable electrode formed of pixels
First Claim
1. A dynamically configurable electrode comprising:
- a shielding layer located in a first region;
a planar array of pixels in a second region such that the shielding layer isolates the planar array of pixels from a driving circuit on the side of the shielding layer opposite from the planar array of pixels, said planar array of pixels having an insulating layer thereon, said pixels individually addressable by a time-varying waveform voltage and, adjacent pixels receiving, at any instant in time, either the same voltage waveform or a different voltage waveform such that said planar array of pixels, upon receiving different voltage waveforms, forms a means for initiating recirculation of a polarizable liquid medium and movement of dipolar entities parallel to the planar array and towards one or more regions adjacent said planar array of pixels, wherein the double-layer capacitance at the polarizable liquid medium-pixel interface is smaller than the capacitance of the insulating layer, but is far greater than the stray capacitance between the planar array of pixels and the shielding layer, andwherein the dipolar entities reside in the polarizable liquid medium and can include dipolar molecules, ions, cells or polarized particles;
wherein said polarizable liquid medium resides adjacent said insulating layer and between a planar electrode, lying parallel to the planar array of pixels and located in a third region, andwherein the planar electrode provides a reference voltage to the polarizable liquid medium.
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Abstract
A dynamically configurable electrode includes a first planar electrode and a planar array of pixels in a different plane, wherein a polarizable liquid medium (including electrolyte solutions) is to reside in the gap between electrodes. The pixels are individually addressable by a time-varying voltage, and adjacent pixels receive, at any instant in time, either the same voltage waveform or a different voltage waveform. Adjacent pixels receiving different voltage waveforms generate corresponding movement of dipolar entities, including dipolar particles, ions, or dipolar molecules in the polarizable liquid medium between the electrodes, which can in turn generate fluid flow and movement of particles suspended in the fluid along the planar array surface.
79 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A dynamically configurable electrode comprising:
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a shielding layer located in a first region; a planar array of pixels in a second region such that the shielding layer isolates the planar array of pixels from a driving circuit on the side of the shielding layer opposite from the planar array of pixels, said planar array of pixels having an insulating layer thereon, said pixels individually addressable by a time-varying waveform voltage and, adjacent pixels receiving, at any instant in time, either the same voltage waveform or a different voltage waveform such that said planar array of pixels, upon receiving different voltage waveforms, forms a means for initiating recirculation of a polarizable liquid medium and movement of dipolar entities parallel to the planar array and towards one or more regions adjacent said planar array of pixels, wherein the double-layer capacitance at the polarizable liquid medium-pixel interface is smaller than the capacitance of the insulating layer, but is far greater than the stray capacitance between the planar array of pixels and the shielding layer, and wherein the dipolar entities reside in the polarizable liquid medium and can include dipolar molecules, ions, cells or polarized particles; wherein said polarizable liquid medium resides adjacent said insulating layer and between a planar electrode, lying parallel to the planar array of pixels and located in a third region, and wherein the planar electrode provides a reference voltage to the polarizable liquid medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11)
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6. A programmable dynamically configurable substantially planar electrode for generating recirculation of polarizable liquid medium and movement of dipolar entities, including dipolar molecules, ions, cells and particles, in a polarizable medium, parallel to the planar electrode, comprising:
- a shielding layer;
a planar array of pixels in a different plane from the shielding layer such that the shielding layer isolates the planar array of pixels from a driving circuit on the side of the shielding layer opposite from the planar array of pixels, said planar array of pixels having an insulating layer thereon, said pixels individually addressable by a time-varying waveform voltage and, adjacent pixels receiving, at any instant in time, either the same voltage waveform or a different voltage waveform such that said planar array of pixels, upon receiving different voltage waveforms, forms a means for initiating movement of dipolar entities parallel to the planar array and towards one or more regions adjacent said planar array of pixels, wherein the double-layer capacitance at the polarizable liquid medium-pixel interface is smaller than the capacitance of the insulating layer, but is far greater than the stray capacitance between the planar array of pixels and the shielding layer, the polarizable liquid medium being suspended between a second planar electrode, lying parallel to the array of pixels, and the pixels and wherein the second planar electrode provides a reference voltage to the polarizable liquid medium; and
a computer and user interface for controlling the addressing of and the voltage waveforms received by the pixels. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
- a shielding layer;
Specification