Operating devices in diffusion-limited fluid regimes
AssigneeCBN Nano Technologies Inc.
InventorTad Hogg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods are disclosed for operating devices in diffusion-limited regimes, where diffusion rates are sufficiently low that device operation can be optimized by taking the rate of diffusion into account when directing devices what actions to take.
Claims24
A method for operating a plurality of devices in a fluid environment where a chemical of interest has a rate of diffusion that is sufficiently low, with respect to chemical influx attainable by absorption action of a selected device in the plurality having at least one port, that such absorption can materially affect concentrations of the chemical of interest in the fluid environment within one radius of the selected device, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing a value for a selected parameter related to concentration of the chemical of interest in the fluid environment at the location of the selected device, the sensed parameter being selected from the group of:
- concentration, flux, and a parameter that combines concentration and flux;
- and
- responsive to the sensed value of the selected parameter, directing the selected device to take at least one action to change the rate of absorption of the chemical of interest by at least one port of the selected device, said at least one action including an action selected from the group of:
- moving relative to the fluid environment to a previously presented location having a different concentration of the chemical of interest, thereby causing a different rate of absorption,
- moving to a previously presented location relative to another device in the plurality that is actively absorbing the chemical of interest;
- changing orientation relative to the fluid environment to expose a selected port that is absorbing the chemical of interest to fluid having a different concentration of the chemical of interest, thereby causing a different rate of absorption for the selected port;
- changing orientation relative to another device in the plurality that is actively absorbing the chemical of interest;
- and
- changing the influx rate of one or more influx ports of the selected device.
A method of operating a device in a fluid environment where a chemical of interest has rate of diffusion that is sufficiently low, with respect to chemical influx attainable by operating the device, that operation of the device can materially affect concentrations of the chemical of interest in the fluid environment within one radius of the device, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining an initial value of a selected parameter related to concentration of the chemical of interest, such parameter being selected from the group of concentration, flux, and a parameter that combines concentration and flux;
- determining a diffusion coefficient of the chemical of interest in the fluid environment at the location of the device;
- determining a target value for the selected parameter in the fluid environment at the location of the device;
- and
- directing the device to take at least one action to bring the value of said selected parameter closer to the determined target value in the fluid environment at the location of a selected port on the device, such at least one action being selected from the group of:
- changing the rate of influx of selected port to change the concentration of the chemical of interest in the fluid environment at the location of the selected port;
- moving to a location having a different concentration of the chemical of interest, thereby allowing a different rate of absorption;
- and
- changing the orientation of the device to change the position of the selected port with respect to the fluid environment to expose the selected port to fluid having a different concentration of the chemical of interest, thereby allowing a different rate of absorption.
A method of operating a plurality of devices in a fluid environment where a chemical of interest has a rate of diffusion that is sufficiently low, with respect to chemical influx attainable by operating a selected device of the plurality, that operation of the selected device can materially affect concentrations of the chemical of interest in the fluid environment within one radius of the selected device, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining an initial value of a selected parameter related to concentration of the chemical of interest, such parameter being selected from the group of concentration, flux, and a parameter that combines concentration and flux;
- determining a diffusion coefficient of the chemical of interest in the fluid environment at the location of the selected device;
- determining a target value for said selected parameter in the fluid environment at the location of the selected device;
- and
- directing the selected device to take at least one action to bring the value of said selected parameter closer to the determined target value in the fluid environment at the location of the selected device, said at least one action being selected from the group of:
- changing the rate of influx of the selected device to change the concentration of the chemical of interest in the fluid environment at the location of the selected device;
- moving to a location having a different concentration of the chemical of interest thereby allowing a different rate of absorption;
- moving to a different location relative to another device in the plurality;
- changing the orientation of the selected device to change the position of a selected port on the device to expose the selected port to fluid having a different concentration of the chemical of interest, thereby allowing a different rate of absorption;
- and
- changing the orientation of the selected device to change the position of at least one port with respect to another device in the plurality.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.