Capacitance detection in a droplet actuator
First Claim
1. A method of determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet that is at least partially bounded by a filler fluid liquid at an electrode on a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising;
(i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate, wherein the electrodes are configured for performing droplet operations by electrowetting;
(ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes;
(b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and
(c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, circuit and apparatus for detecting capacitance on a droplet actuator, inter alia, for determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at an electrode on a droplet actuator by: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; (b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode.
214 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet that is at least partially bounded by a filler fluid liquid at an electrode on a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a droplet actuator comprising; (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate, wherein the electrodes are configured for performing droplet operations by electrowetting; (ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; (b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode.
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2. A method of determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet that is at least partially bounded by a filler fluid liquid at an electrode on a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a droplet actuator comprising; (i) a substrate comprising droplet operations electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate, wherein the electrodes are configured for performing droplet operations by electrowetting; and (ii) an impedance detection circuit coupled to;
(1) one or more of the droplet operations electrodes; and
(2) a second electrode and arranged for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes;(b) detecting impedance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the impedance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification