Microfluidic feedback using impedance detection
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- a. receiving an output voltage signal produced by a power supply;
b. superimposing an excitation signal onto the output voltage signal to produce a superimposed signal;
c. connecting the superimposed signal to one or more certain electrowetting electrodes in a droplet actuator, wherein the droplet actuator comprises;
i. a first substrate and a second substrate separated to form a gap therebetween;
ii. electrowetting electrodes arranged on a gap facing surface of at least one of the first substrate and second substrate; and
iii. a filler fluid in the gap;
d. suppressing the output voltage signal when detecting an impedance of the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes; and
e. measuring the impedance of the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes produced by the excitation signal, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes.
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Abstract
Methods comprising measuring the impedance of the electrode produced by the excitation signal, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the electrode are disclosed. Computer readable mediums storing processor executable instructions for performing the method, and systems are also disclosed. The systems comprise a processor, memory and code stored in the memory that when executed cause the processor at least to: receive an output voltage signal, superimpose an excitation signal onto the output voltage signal to produce a superimposed signal, connect the superimposed signal to an electrode in a droplet actuator, suppress the output voltage signal, when detecting an impedance of the electrode, and measure the impedance of the electrode produced by the excitation signal, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the electrode.
300 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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a. receiving an output voltage signal produced by a power supply; b. superimposing an excitation signal onto the output voltage signal to produce a superimposed signal; c. connecting the superimposed signal to one or more certain electrowetting electrodes in a droplet actuator, wherein the droplet actuator comprises; i. a first substrate and a second substrate separated to form a gap therebetween; ii. electrowetting electrodes arranged on a gap facing surface of at least one of the first substrate and second substrate; and iii. a filler fluid in the gap; d. suppressing the output voltage signal when detecting an impedance of the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes; and e. measuring the impedance of the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes produced by the excitation signal, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 28)
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15. A method, comprising:
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a. generating an output voltage by a power supply; b. storing charge produced by the output voltage; c. superimposing an excitation signal onto the output voltage to produce a superimposed signal; d. connecting the superimposed signal to one or more certain electrowetting electrodes in a droplet actuator, wherein the droplet actuator comprises; i. a first substrate and a second substrate separated to form a gap therebetween; ii. electrowetting electrodes arranged on a gap facing surface of at least one of the first substrate and second substrate; and iii. a filler fluid in the gap; e. suppressing the output voltage from the power supply when detecting an impedance at the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes; f. supplying the charge to the droplet actuator to activate the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes during the impedance; and g. measuring the impedance produced by the excitation signal while the output voltage is suppressed, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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29. A system, comprising:
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a. a controller; b. memory; and c. the controller configured to; i. receive an output voltage signal; ii. superimpose an excitation signal onto the output voltage signal to produce a superimposed signal; iii. connect the superimposed signal to one or more certain electrowetting electrodes in a droplet actuator;
wherein the droplet actuator comprises;a first substrate and a second substrate separated to form a gap therebetween; electrowetting electrodes arranged on a gap facing surface of at least one of the first substrate and second substrate; and a filler fluid in the gap; iv. suppress the output voltage signal when detecting an impedance of the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes; and v. measure the impedance of the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes produced by the excitation signal, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
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a. generating an output voltage by a power supply; b. storing charge produced by the output voltage; c. superimposing an excitation signal onto the output voltage to produce a superimposed signal; d. connecting the superimposed signal to one or more certain electrowetting electrodes in a droplet actuator, wherein the droplet actuator comprises; i. a first substrate and a second substrate separated to form a gap therebetween; ii. electrowetting electrodes arranged on a gap facing surface of at least one of the first substrate and second substrate; and iii. a filler fluid in the gap; e. suppressing the output voltage from the power supply when detecting an impedance at the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes; f. supplying the charge to the droplet actuator to activate the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes during the impedance; and g. measuring the impedance produced by the excitation signal while the output voltage is suppressed, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the one or more certain electrowetting electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification