System and method for capacitance-based real-time micro-object position control with the aid of a digital computer

A system for capacitance-based real-time micro-object horizontal position control with an aid of a digital computer, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to execute computer-executable code and further configured to:
• obtain one or more parameters of a system for positioning one or more micro-objects, the system comprising a plurality of electrodes, the electrodes configured to induce movements of the one or more micro-objects along a film layer on top of the electrodes when the one or more micro-objects are suspended in a fluid on top of the film layer on top of the electrodes upon a generation of one or more forces by one or more of the electrodes;
• model a capacitance of an interaction between each of the electrodes and at least one of the micro-objects as a function of a distance between that electrode and the at least one micro-object using dielectrophoretic forces acting upon that at least one micro-object, electrophoretic forces acting upon that at least one micro-object, and the system parameters comprising a drag against the film layer experienced by that at least one micro-object during the movements;
• obtain a position of one or more of the micro-objects within the fluid;
• and
• generate a control signal for each of the electrodes, the control signal comprising a command which generates one or re of the forces for a predefined period of time by that electrode, using the obtained position, the model, and a desired location of one or more of the micro-objects.

A method for capacitance-based real-time micro-object position control with an aid of a digital computer, comprising the steps of:

• obtaining one or more parameters of a system for positioning one or more micro-objects, the system comprising a plurality of electrodes, the electrodes configured to induce movements of the one or more micro-objects when the one or more micro-objects are suspended in a fluid proximate to the electrodes upon a generation of one or more forces by the electrodes;
• modeling a capacitance of an interaction between each of the electrodes and at least one of the micro-objects as a function of a distance between that electrode and the at least one micro-object using dielectrophoretic forces acting upon that at Last one micro-object, electrophoretic forces acting upon that at least one micro-object, and the system parameters comprising a viscous drag experienced by that at least one micro-object during the movements;
• obtaining a position of one or more of the micro-objects within the fluid;
• and
• generating a control signal for each of the electrodes, the control signal comprising a command which generates one or more of the forces for, a predefined period of time by that electrode, using the obtained position, the model, and a desired location of one or more of the micro-objects, wherein the steps are performed by a computer.