Microfluidic chips, microfluidic processing systems, and microfluidic processing methods with magnetic field control mechanism

A microfluidic processing system, comprising:

• a control apparatus;
• and
• a microfluidic chip, comprising:
• a top plate;
• and
• a microelectrode dot array, being arranged under the top plate and comprising a plurality of microelectrode devices connected in a series, wherein each of the microelectrode devices comprises:
• a microfluidic electrode, being arranged under the top plate;
• a multi-functional electrode, being arranged under the microfluidic electrode;
• and
• a control circuit, being arranged under the multi-functional electrode and comprising a first storage circuit, a second storage circuit, a microfluidic control and location-sensing circuit coupled to the microfluidic electrode, and a temperature and magnetic control circuit coupled to the multi-functional electrode,
• wherein the control apparatus is configured to provide a first clock signal, a second clock signal, a plurality of sample operation configurations, a plurality of magnetic field control configurations, a sample control signal, and a magnetic field control signal,
• wherein each of the first storage circuits is configured to read in one of the sample operation configurations during a sub-time interval of a first time interval according to the first clock signal,
• wherein each of the second storage circuits is configured to read in one of the magnetic field control configurations during a sub-time interval of a second time interval according to the second clock signal,
• wherein each of the microfluidic control and location-sensing circuits is configured to enter a sample control status corresponding to one of the sample operation configurations during a third time interval according to the sample control signal, and
• wherein each of the temperature and magnetic control circuits is configured to enter a magnetic control status corresponding to one of the magnetic field control configurations during a fourth time interval according to the magnetic field control signal.

A microfluidic processing method for use in a control apparatus of a microfluidic processing system to control a microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip comprising a top plate and a microelectrode dot array, the microelectrode dot array being arranged under the top plate and comprising a plurality of microelectrode devices connected in a series, each of the microelectrode devices comprising a microfluidic electrode being arranged under the top plate, a multi-functional electrode being arranged under the microfluidic electrode, and a control circuit being arranged under the multi-functional electrode, each of the control circuits comprising a first storage circuit, a second storage circuit, a microfluidic control and location-sensing circuit coupled to the corresponding microfluidic electrode, and a temperature and magnetic control circuit coupled to the corresponding multi-functional electrode, the microfluidic processing method comprising the following steps:

• providing a first clock signal to the microfluidic chip;
• providing a second clock signal to the microfluidic chip;
• providing a plurality of sample operation configurations to the microfluidic chip;
• providing a plurality of magnetic field control configurations to the microfluidic chip;
• providing a sample control signal to the microfluidic chip;
• and
• providing a magnetic field control signal to the microfluidic chip,
• wherein each of the first storage circuits is configured to read in one of the sample operation configurations during a sub-time interval of a first time interval according to the first clock signal, wherein each of the second storage circuits is configured to read in one of the magnetic field control configurations during a sub-time interval of a second time interval according to the second clock signal,
• wherein each of the microfluidic control and location-sensing circuits is configured to enter a sample control status corresponding to one of the sample operation configurations during a third time interval according to the sample control signal, and
• wherein each of the temperature and magnetic control circuits is configured to enter a magnetic control status corresponding to one of the magnetic field control configurations during a fourth time interval according to the magnetic field control signal.