Flexible microfluidic motion sensors

A flexible microfluidic sensor, comprising:

• a flexible microfluidic structure that defines at least one microfluidic chamber;
• a first material and a second material disposed in the at least one chamber, the second material having at least one physical property that is different than a physical property of the first material, and the second material having at least one electronic property that is different than an electronic property of the first material;
• and
• an electrode arrangement including at least one pair of electrodes that are spaced apart from each other with at least a portion of the at least one chamber located functionally directly between the electrodes such that at least one electronic property measured across the at least one pair of electrodes is based on a relationship between the second material and the at least one pair of electrodes;
• wherein:
• the relationship between the second material and the at least one pair of electrodes is based on a physical condition of the microfluidic structure;
• the at least one chamber includes a microfluidic cavity that extends along a first axis and along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis:
• the first material is a first fluid;
• the second material is a second fluid that forms a bubble within the first fluid in the microfluidic cavity;
• the at least one electronic property measured across the at least one pair of electrodes is based on a relationship between the bubble and the at least one pair of electrodes;
• and
• the physical condition of the microfluidic structure includes at least one of the group consisting of:
• an acceleration of the microfluidic structure along the first axis;
• an acceleration of the microfluidic structure along the second axis;
• an orientation of the second axis relative to a direction of gravity;
• an orientation of the first axis relative to the direction of gravity;
• and
• a rotation of the microfluidic structure about a third axis perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis;
• the microfluidic cavity has a first diameter, and is configured to flex due to rotation of the microfluidic structure about the third axis such that the first diameter increases;
• and
• the bubble has a second diameter that is based on the first diameter, such that the second diameter is based on the rotation of the microfluidic structure about the third axis.

A flexible electronic device, comprising:

• at least one flexible electronic circuit;
• and
• a flexible microfluidic sensor homogeneously integrated with the at least one flexible electronic circuit, the flexible microfluidic sensor including:
• a flexible microfluidic structure that defines at least one microfluidic chamber;
• a first material and a second material disposed in the at least one chamber, the second material having at least one physical property that is different than a physical property of the first material, the second material having at least one electronic property that is different than an electronic property of the first material, and at least one of the group consisting of the first material and the second material being a fluid;
• and
• an electrode arrangement including at least one pair of electrodes that are spaced apart from each other with at least a portion of the at least one chamber located functionally directly between the electrodes such that at least one electronic property measured across the at least one pair of electrodes is based on a relationship between the second material and the at least one pair of electrodes;
• wherein the relationship between the second material and the at least one pair of electrodes is based on a physical condition of the microfluidic structure.