Method of controlling the placement of micro-objects
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsAnne Plochowietz, Matthew Shreve
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are methods and systems of controlling the placement of micro-objects on the surface of a micro-assembler. Control patterns may be used to cause phototransistors or electrodes of the micro-assembler to generate dielectrophoretic (DEP) and electrophoretic (EP) forces which may be used to manipulate, move, position, or orient one or more micro-objects on the surface of the micro-assembler. A set of micro-object may be analyzed. Geometric properties of the set of micro-objects may be identified. The set of micro-objects may be divided into multiple sub-sets of micro-objects based on the one or more geometric properties and one or more control patterns.
Claims7
An apparatus, comprising:
- a memory configured to store control data;
- a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory, the processing device configured to:
- analyze a set of micro-objects located a surface of a micro-assembler, wherein the micro-assembler comprises an array of force generating pixels, wherein each force generating pixel in the array of force generating pixels comprises a phototransistor;
- identify one or more geometric properties of the set of micro-objects;
- divide the set of micro-objects into a first subset of micro-objects and a second-subset of micro-objects based on the one or more geometric properties and one or more control patterns, wherein the one or more control patterns indicate one or more force patterns on one or more portions of the array of force generating pixels;
- form an optical image comprising a light pattern corresponding with the one or more control patterns;
- and
- cause the optical image to be emitted over the array of force generating pixels to form the one or more force patterns.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instruction stored thereon that, when executed by a computer processing device, cause the computer processing device to:
- analyze a set of micro-objects located a surface of a micro-assembler, wherein the micro-assembler comprises an array of force generating pixels, wherein each force generating pixel in the array of force generating pixels comprises a phototransistor;
- identify one or more geometric properties of the set of micro-objects;
- divide the set of micro-objects into a first subset of micro-objects and a second-subset of micro-objects based on the one or more geometric properties and one or more control patterns, wherein the one or more control patterns indicate one or more voltage patterns on one or more portions of the array of force generating pixels;
- form an optical image comprising a light pattern corresponding with the one or more control patterns;
- and
- cause the optical image to be emitted over the array of force generating pixels to form the one or more control patterns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.