Microfluidic systems and methods for thermal control
First Claim
1. A method for individually controlling a plurality of resistive thermal detectors (RTDs) of a microfluidic device of a microfluidic system, wherein the RTDs are each adjacent to a portion of an associated one of the plurality of microchannels, the method comprising:
- generating heater control signals having alternating polarities to drive the plurality of RTDs;
supplying the heater control signals to the plurality of RTDs so that adjacent RTDs of the plurality of RTDs are driven with heater control signals having opposite polarities relative to each other;
minimizing current in first and second common electrodes by connecting the first and second common electrodes to a virtual ground circuit, wherein the first and second common electrodes are each connected to each RTD of the plurality of RTDs;
sensing a temperature of each of the plurality of RTDs by using the first and second common electrodes; and
updating the heater control signals using the sensed temperatures of the plurality of RTDs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device is provided that includes a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfluidic channels and a plurality of multiplexed resistive thermal detectors (RTDs). Each of the RTDs is associated with one of the microfluidic channels. The RTDs are connected to a power supply through individual electrodes and pairs of common electrodes. Adjacent RTDs may be driven with alternating polarities, and the current in the common electrodes may be minimized using a virtual ground circuit. The compact microfluidic device is capable of fast heating and highly precise thermal control. The compact microfluidic device is also capable using the RTDs to sense temperature without their heating capability.
21 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for individually controlling a plurality of resistive thermal detectors (RTDs) of a microfluidic device of a microfluidic system, wherein the RTDs are each adjacent to a portion of an associated one of the plurality of microchannels, the method comprising:
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generating heater control signals having alternating polarities to drive the plurality of RTDs; supplying the heater control signals to the plurality of RTDs so that adjacent RTDs of the plurality of RTDs are driven with heater control signals having opposite polarities relative to each other; minimizing current in first and second common electrodes by connecting the first and second common electrodes to a virtual ground circuit, wherein the first and second common electrodes are each connected to each RTD of the plurality of RTDs; sensing a temperature of each of the plurality of RTDs by using the first and second common electrodes; and updating the heater control signals using the sensed temperatures of the plurality of RTDs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification